Indie Games
Ongoing coverage on Indie Games.
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Surreal narrative match-3 game Titanium Court has sold over 25,000 copies, giving designer AP Thomson enough time to peacefully work on his next game
The surreal narrative match-3 game Titanium Court has sold over 25,000 copies on PC, exceeding expectations for designer AP Thomson and publisher Fellow Traveller. This success provides Thomson with the financial runway to develop his next game at his own pace. The article also touches on Recreate Games cancelling an AI video competition for Party Animals due to community backlash.
EdCorp - A New Publisher and Developer with Fair, Dev-Focused Terms Arrives!
Former Coatsink founders Eddie, Tom, Paul, and Simon have launched EdCorp, a new developer and publisher focused on supporting independent game creators with fair terms. EdCorp will fund, market, and develop original and licensed projects for PC and consoles, offering up to a 75% revenue share for developers. Their first signed title is the post-apocalyptic exploration sim GARBAGE COUNTRY from developer Thomas van den Berg.
ALRUNA: END OF HISTORY Steam Release: June 4th 2026
Swedish solo-developer Niklas Hallin announced that Alruna: End of History will be released on Steam for PC on June 4th, 2026. This pixel-art sidescroller is the second game in the Alruna series and features a unique "Alruna Art Bomb" initiative, commissioning nearly 40 pieces of art from various artists.
Meet Studio Reset: A New Canadian Indie Studio Unveiled With Talent From BioWare, Inflextion & Timbre
Studio Reset, a new Canadian indie game studio founded by former BioWare, Inflextion, and Timbre Games developers Kaelin Lavallée, Kris Schoneberg, and Francis Lacuna, has been unveiled. The studio aims to create smaller-scale narrative-driven games and has shared a glimpse of its debut project: a neon-noir supernatural mystery game featuring a unique 'Parallax Deduction' narrative design.
Maseylia: Echoes of the Past Release Date Reveal Next Week at AG French Direct
The atmospheric 3D Metroidvania game Maseylia: Echoes of the Past will reveal its release date during the AG French Direct showcase on May 27th. The game, inspired by Metroid Prime, Hollow Knight, and Pseudoregalia, focuses on exploration, movement mechanics, and environmental storytelling within a non-linear 3D world.
Every gaming showcase in May and June 2026
The period of late May to mid-June 2026 is set to be exceptionally busy with numerous gaming showcases, trailers, and announcements. This includes the main Summer Game Fest 2026 hosted by Geoff Keighley on June 5, alongside a variety of indie, publisher, and regional spotlights. Major events like PlayStation's State of Play and the Xbox Showcase are also scheduled, creating a festival-like season for game announcements.
Former BioWare, Inflexion Games, and Timbre Games developers launch Studio Reset
Studio Reset, a new Canadian indie studio founded by former developers from BioWare, Inflexion Games, and Timbre Games, has officially launched. The studio is working on a neon-noir supernatural mystery title and aims for a sustainable, lean operating model. Key founding members include Kaelin Lavallée, Kris Schoneberg, and Francis Lacuna, who have experience with major franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
'We're Not Standing Still': Returnal Director Forms New Studio to Make Games That Trust You
Harry Krueger, director of Returnal and a 14-year Housemarque veteran, has founded a new studio called Cosmic Division. The company is already working on its first project, a single-player, gameplay-first experience with a strong emotional story, planned for PC and consoles. Cosmic Division has secured initial funding and is seeking further investment and talent.
Returnal director and Housemarque veteran Harry Krueger launches Finland-based game studio Cosmic Division
Returnal game director Harry Krueger has launched a new independent game studio in Finland called Cosmic Division. The studio, founded by veterans from Housemarque, will focus on creating ambitious, gameplay-first single-player experiences with a strong sense of mystery and immersion. Their first project, a new intellectual property targeting consoles and PC, is expected to celebrate the studio's heritage and deliver impactful stories.
ShackStream: Indie-licious Episode 202 - Marvel Cosmic Invasion The Thing & Cyclops DLC
This week's Indie-licious livestream, episode 202, features Marvel Cosmic Invasion with DLC characters The Thing and Cyclops. The stream showcases gameplay of these characters fighting within the game.
For One Night Only is a UK-Focused Games Showcase Taking Place on 29th July
A new UK-focused video game showcase event called 'For One Night Only' will take place on July 29th, 2026, aiming to highlight British game development talent globally. Hosted by UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), the event will feature developer interviews, exclusive reveals, and a concurrent Steam sale of over 100 UK-developed games. Several prominent UK studios, including IO Interactive and Two Point Studios, are confirmed to participate.
Rune Dice Review 🎲
Rune Dice is an indie roguelike that features clever dice-based gameplay where matching dice numbers creates combos for attacks, healing, and coins. The game offers a variety of unlockable characters and items, with pixel-perfect visuals and charming sprites. While generally engaging, the core gameplay can become repetitive, and occasional frustrating dice physics are noted.
First Silksong, Now Mina The Hollower Is Causing Other Indie Devs To Delay Their Games
The release of the indie game Dark Scrolls has been delayed to June 22nd to avoid a direct clash with the launch of Mina The Hollower on May 29th. Both games are retro-inspired titles releasing on Nintendo Switch. The developers of Dark Scrolls stated there is room for both pixelated fantasy action games and expressed understanding for the scheduling adjustment.
What happened when one game writer tried making a game in 30 days with Godot
A game writer details their 30-day journey creating a game using the Godot engine, aiming to assess its approachability for solo developers. Despite encountering common development hurdles and bugs, the author found Godot to be a more accessible tool compared to larger engines, ultimately fostering a sense of accomplishment for a solo creator.
Snail Games partners with three Polish studios to support emerging regional talent
Snail Games and its indie imprint Wandering Wizard are partnering with three Polish development studios: Above The Desk, Donkey Crew, and Frozen Way Games. This initiative aims to support emerging regional talent by publishing their titles, including Bellwright, Above The Snow, and Honeycomb: The World Beyond. The games span various genres like medieval survival RPG, alpine resort tycoon, and alien life-form exploration.
Demon Lord: Just A Block Achieves 1,000+ Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews
Demon Lord: Just A Block, an action roguelite developed by YuWave and published by Skystone Games, has surpassed 1,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. The game features a unique mechanic where the world only moves when the player does, offering strategic combat and build customization.
Sektori's Switch 2 Launch Has Proven A Huge Success For Its Solo Developer
Sektori, a spiritual successor to Geometry Wars, has achieved significant success on the Nintendo Switch, according to its solo developer Kimmo Lahtinen. The port has generated enough sales to provide Lahtinen with a living wage, a stark contrast to the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox releases which only recouped indirect costs. The game, praised for its immaculate presentation and gameplay, has sold approximately 30,000 units on the Switch.
Steam Indie Game Explosion Surprises Gaming Community | Invision Game Community
Several indie titles have achieved unexpected success on Steam, driven by word-of-mouth, streaming visibility, and community hype rather than traditional marketing. Games like Subnautica 2 and Windrose have reached hundreds of thousands of concurrent players and significant sales, demonstrating the potential for small studios to compete with AAA releases. This trend is expected to continue due to Steam's algorithm, wishlist momentum, and accessible development tools.
Steam rejigs tags in a potential win for game visibility. And, more importantly, capybaras
Valve has updated Steam's game tagging system, removing 28 tags and adding 17 new ones, including 'Bullet Heaven' and specific animal tags like 'Capybaras.' The changes aim to improve game discovery by streamlining subjective and overlapping tags, such as 'Cult Classic' and 'NSFW.' The 'single-player' tag remains the most prevalent on the platform.
Crowdfunding for Indie Games: Expectations vs. Reality
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Fig offer a vital financial lifeline for indie game developers struggling to secure funding. While not every campaign meets expectations, a well-prepared campaign with appealing assets, a playable demo, and clear communication can attract supporters and investors. Developers should set realistic goals, engage with their community, and understand that a successful campaign is just the beginning of fulfilling development promises.
