Indie Games
Ongoing coverage on Indie Games.
Latest coverage
Indie games have built a thriving economy in territory traditional publishers abandoned or ignored | Opinion
The indie game market has quietly become a significant economic force, occupying niches abandoned by traditional publishers and fostering new genres. Data from the Godot engine shows substantial growth in game releases and developer adoption, partly fueled by Unity's controversial runtime fee policy. This expansion has created a thriving ecosystem with its own infrastructure and economy, demonstrating that the barrier to reaching a mass audience for indie developers is lower than ever.
The studio that (technically) made Disco Elysium just dropped a trailer for its new game
The studio behind Disco Elysium, ZA/UM, has released a trailer for their new game, For Dead Spies. The game is set to launch on May 21. This announcement marks a new project from the acclaimed indie developer.
What We Played – TerraTech Legion, Saros & Mixtape
Several team members share their recent gaming experiences, including TerraTech Legion, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Silent Hill 2, and Shadow of the Colossus. Other titles mentioned include Dragon Quest I: HD-2D Remaster, Starfield, Gears of War: Reloaded, Destiny 2, and various indie games like Midnight Saturn and Duck Side of the Moon.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 11 to 15
Xbox announces a lineup of new games arriving on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC between May 11 and May 15, with many titles also available on Game Pass. The releases span various genres including survival, puzzle, horror, and action RPGs, with developers like Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Supermassive Games, and BlackMill Games featured.
Tokyo Stories Hits 50,000 Wishlists, Reemerges with a New Publisher in an Empty Tokyo
Happinet Corporation will publish the upcoming adventure game Tokyo Stories under its Happinet Indie Collection label. The title, planned and produced by Drecom Co., Ltd. with development support from CharacterBank Inc., will be playable at Kyoto BitSummit PUNCH. Tokyo Stories features a unique visual style blending pixel art and 3D graphics, set in a deserted Tokyo where players uncover intertwined stories.
Far Far West is my favorite indie in recent years, and Fanatical already has a discount for it
Far Far West, an indie game blending elements of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Deep Rock Galactic with zombie-like Easter eggs, is currently available at a discount on Fanatical. The game features robot cowboys, supernatural bounty hunts, and a repetitive yet engaging gameplay loop that has earned it an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam.
Evening Consolidation
Hell is Us is slated for a Nintendo Switch release on September 24th. Additionally, a PlayStation announcement trailer for the indie game Hauntsville has been released. Xbox Wire also announced that Catan and Deadside are available for Free Play Days.
Indie publisher New Blood has listened to over 1,000 voicemails left on its old-school tip line, including suggestions like 'you ever think about making a game where you fight bugs?'
Indie publisher New Blood has continued its interactive tip line, receiving over 1,000 voicemails from fans with game suggestions and other messages. The studio, known for titles like Dusk and Ultrakill, is also preparing to release Scavengers, a $5 roguelike DLC for Blood West on June 3.
Acclaim Launches Starting Four Pack Bundle Featuring Its First Indie Titles
Acclaim has launched the "Starting Four Pack" bundle on Steam, featuring its first four indie titles: Katanaut, Basketball Classics, The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest, and GRIDbeat!. The bundle is available for PC via Steam for $49.99, with individual games also discounted. Similar Spring Sale promotions are running on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series storefronts.
Grayson Wendell Fire & Ice RGX 2026 Guest of Honor
Professional programmer Grayson Wendell, a veteran of the game industry since 2007, will be a Guest of Honor at Fire & Ice RGX 2026. Wendell has worked at companies like id Software, EA, and Activision on titles such as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. He will also host a panel on N64 reverse engineering and randomizers at the event.
Solo dev stunned as his "first ever video game" sells 100,000 copies in 5 days on Steam while 97% "overwhelmingly positive" reviews pour in
The indie game Sledding Game, developed by a solo creator, has achieved remarkable success, selling over 100,000 copies on Steam within five days of its launch. The game, currently in early access on Steam and Xbox (including Game Pass), has also garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews. The developer plans to continue adding content over the next year.
With Mixtape out today, the tiny number of coming of age games gets just that little bit bigger
The newly released game Mixtape, developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, highlights the underutilization of the 'coming of age' genre in video games. While games like Life is Strange and Night in the Woods have explored this theme, Mixtape's focus on music and formative memories offers a refreshing perspective. The developers have opted against a DMCA-safe mode, emphasizing the importance of the licensed soundtrack to the game's experience.
This bloody vampire FPS with Splatoon movement tech is the best $5 I've spent on Steam this week
Blood Vial is a retro-inspired micro-FPS available on Steam that offers fast-paced vampire-themed combat with unique movement mechanics inspired by Splatoon. The game's core loop involves collecting spilled blood to survive and use as a tactical resource for enhanced mobility, making it a compelling $5 purchase for quick bursts of action.
iDigging Blows Up On Xbox – We May Have Reached Peak Digging!
The indie game iDigging, which involves secretly digging in your backyard to find valuables while avoiding detection by neighbors and police, has launched on Xbox Series X|S after its success on PC. Developed by TWEN and published by Dreland Enterprises, the game features a loop of mining, scavenging, and upgrading, with co-op support for up to five players. This release taps into a recent trend of popular digging-themed games.
Froggy Hates Snow Combines Cozy Vibes With Frozen Panic
Froggy Hates Snow, a "snowguelike frogventure" combining roguelike progression and survival mechanics, has been released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Developed by Crying Brick and published by Digital Bandidos, the game features destructible snow environments, unique frog characters, and various survival tools, with an option for a Peaceful Mode.
Mina the Hollower Release Date Falls in May 2026
Yacht Club Games has announced that Mina the Hollower will be released on May 29, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC with a digital price of $19.99. The game experienced several delays due to the need for final polish and balancing, with the latest delay pushing its release back by approximately 30 weeks from its initial Halloween 2025 target.
Morning Interviews
The developer of the indie game PlateUp has partnered with Yogscast Games. This collaboration aims to leverage Yogscast's publishing expertise to further develop and promote the game.
WILL: Follow The Light Sets Sail On Xbox, PlayStation And PC
The cinematic adventure game WILL: Follow The Light has launched on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Developed and published by TomorrowHead Studio, the game features stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals and an emotionally driven story about a lighthouse keeper searching for his missing son. The gameplay involves sailing, survival, and exploration across harsh northern landscapes.
Save Big On Incredible Indies With Acclaim Starting Four Pack and Spring Sale
Publisher Acclaim, Inc. has launched the Acclaim Starting Four Pack bundle on PC via Steam and initiated Spring Sale promotions for its titles on console storefronts. The bundle includes four indie games: Katanaut, Basketball Classics, The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest, and GRIDbeat!, with individual titles also available at a discount.
Assassin's Creed Hexe creative director opens new studio just 2 months after leaving Ubisoft
Clint Hocking, former creative director for Assassin's Creed Hexe, has launched a new independent game studio named Build Machine Games just two months after leaving Ubisoft. Hocking described the studio as lean, fast, bold, and ambitious, aiming to create emotionally resonant and socially relevant games.
