Moonlight Peaks from Little Chicken, XSEED Games, and Marvelous is an exceptionally refreshing addition to the farming and cozy simulator genre. By swapping the sun-drenched countryside for a vampire’s nightlife, the developers have managed to breathe new life into a well-worn formula. Transforming into a bat, using dark magic, and growing unique crops turn the daily routine into a fun and dynamic experience. Although the game doesn’t entirely avoid a slight sense of repetition and the need to wait for specific astronomical conditions in its later stages, its charm, witty dialogue, charismatic neighbors, and gorgeous art style more than make up for these shortcomings. If you enjoy laid-back simulators but have grown tired of classic rural farms, the nighttime homestead in Moonlight Peaks offers exactly the escape from reality that you’ll fall in love with.
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Lou’s Lagoon is exactly the sort of game you’ll reach for on a rainy evening when you need to switch off and transport yourself to a sun-drenched beach. Tiny Roar Studio has managed to combine the relaxing mechanics of cleaning and crafting with incredibly addictive seaplane flying. Despite the occasional repetitiveness of tasks in the later stages and a few minor technical glitches, this is a very successful, cosy adventure game that has its heart in the right place and is sure to charm fans of the genre.
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Akatori by Contrast Games is a very well-crafted and stylish Metroidvania which, whilst it doesn’t break new ground, executes its key ideas with panache. The mechanics of the magic staff as a universal tool for both movement and combat are refreshing, and the visuals are amongst the most striking to have been released in the indie 2.5D sphere this year. Minor flaws, such as the occasional inconsistency in hit detection and some tougher traps, do detract slightly from the overall sense of fluidity, but this is still a title that fans of platformers and action-adventure games should definitely not miss. For anyone looking for a visually captivating and fast-paced genre gem, Mako and his red phoenix are a real hit.
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Act 1 presents a solid, albeit rather rough and unpolished, framework. If you’re open to indie action and are drawn to the nostalgic atmosphere of the noughties, blended with modern film fight choreography, you’ll enjoy BLACKWOOD. However, if you demand polished gameplay and a seamless experience without technical compromises, it’s worth waiting for further patches and the release of Act 2.
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Doloc Town is an incredibly pleasant surprise and one of the most original additions to the farming genre in recent years. The combination of 2D vertical building, the relentless influence of the weather, deep automation and exploration of the wasteland works surprisingly well together. You’ll easily forgive the game’s minor flaws – such as the lack of clarity in the crafting system and the rather simplistic combat – the moment your makeshift pile of scaffolding transforms into a self-sufficient, technologically advanced oasis in the midst of a devastated world. For fans of Terraria, My Time at Sandrock and Stardew Valley, this is an absolute must-play.
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Anomaly President is a major surprise within the genre. The combination of a roguelike beat ’em up and a political campaign involving the building of your own base sounds mad on paper, but in practice it works surprisingly well. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously and offers a fresh take on a genre full of constantly repeating concepts. Although the title, currently in early access, still has its flaws – including poor responsiveness during combat with the basic weapon, the tedious repetitiveness of enemies and an underdeveloped character progression system – there’s definitely a strong foundation here. Building your own mobile staff full of cute helpers and combining political influence with brute combat power is guaranteed to keep you entertained. For fans of the indie scene who are looking for original gameplay and enjoy absurd, satirical humour, this is a very promising project.
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9 Kings is a shining example of what a truly authentic indie game should look like. Sad Socket brings us a fresh strategic mix that will draw you in and never let you go. Despite the occasional frustration caused by the vagaries of chance and a slight lack of clarity in the later stages of battles, you’ll keep coming back for another dose of gaming joy. Exploring fresh synergies between rulers and building an invincible kingdom on just a handful of squares is, quite simply, dangerously addictive. If you’re looking for a game that you can start playing for twenty minutes with a clear conscience, only to find yourself unwittingly spending the whole night on it, you’ve just found it.
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Farlands by JanduSoft is an incredibly pleasant surprise for all lovers of cosy games and farming simulators. It has managed to take the tried-and-tested gameplay of rural farming and set it against the fresh backdrop of interstellar travel. The result is an engaging title with charming graphics, a satisfying loop of exploration and an atmosphere that will easily keep you glued to the screen for dozens of hours. If you don’t mind a slow start and a bit of grinding at the beginning, buying this virtual planet will more than pay for itself in the form of pure relaxation.
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Risk of Rain Returns is not just a simple graphical upgrade, but an enhanced version of one of the best action games of the past decade. The developers at Hopoo Games and Gearbox Software have taken a perfect foundation, ironed out all the historical technical shortcomings, enriched it with a massive amount of new content, and wrapped it all up in a breathtaking audiovisual package. Whether you’re a veteran who spent hundreds of hours on the original title or a player looking for top-class, lightning-fast and uncompromising roguelike action with an unrivalled soundtrack, this return to Petrichor V is a must-play experience you won’t be able to tear yourself away from.
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