Indie Games
Ongoing coverage on Indie Games.
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Wax Heads Review - All sales are vinyl
Wax Heads is a music simulation game where players manage an independent record store, helping customers find records and navigating the store's narrative. The game features a distinctive 'zine' art style inspired by Scott Pilgrim and offers a wholesome experience with diverse characters and micro-narratives. Despite some minor glitches with cutscenes, the game successfully cultivates an atmosphere of curiosity and respect for musical communities.
9 Story Games Under 15 Hours to Play After Work | TAG
This guide highlights nine narrative-focused video games that can be completed in under 15 hours, ideal for playing after work. The selection includes titles like A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Return of the Obra Dinn, all offering emotional payoffs and satisfying conclusions without demanding extensive playtime. Most of these games are available on PC, with many also supporting platforms like Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Indie Games on Parade at NG26
Nordic Game Spring 2026 will feature over 100 indie developers from more than 25 countries showcasing their games in Malmö, Sweden from May 26-29. The event provides a platform for creators to connect with publishers, investors, and media, highlighting titles like Hidden Champion, Fellowship, and Project Solar. Passes for the event, designed to foster business opportunities and networking within the Nordic and international games industry, are available for purchase.
Whatever happened to Tomo Endless Blue, Ahoy, and Swordeye?
This article provides updates on the development status of three multiplayer games: Tomo: Endless Blue, Ahoy, and Swordeye. Tomo: Endless Blue continues to show previews but has not yet launched its Kickstarter. Ahoy has released new gameplay footage but missed its alpha test deadline. Swordeye has conducted a playtest and announced dates for its next test.
Wholesome Direct returns June 6 with a slew of joyful games
The Wholesome Direct, a showcase for joyful indie games, is returning on June 6. The event will feature a variety of upcoming titles, offering a glimpse into the world of wholesome gaming.
Roguelike deckbuilder Serial World releases first public demo for Steam Deckbuilders Fest 2026
The roguelike deckbuilder Serial World has released its first public demo, coinciding with the Steam Deckbuilders Fest. Developed by Serial Project, a studio founded by former Level-5 developers, and published by Kakehashi Games, the demo is available on Steam for PC and Steam Deck until May 11th. The game features turn-based combat and deck-building mechanics in a colorful world.
Meet the indie studios funding other indie studios
Several successful indie game developers, including Innersloth, Landfall, and Kinetic Games, have launched initiatives like Outersloth, Evil Landfall, and a new publishing business to financially support other independent studios. These funds aim to provide crucial investment, ranging from $50,000 to $2 million, to help indie developers bring their projects to fruition, especially during a period of low overall investment in the video game industry. The transparency of these funding models, including contract terms and recoup percentages, has been positively received by the development community.
Wholesome Direct Is Back In June 2026!
Wholesome Direct will return on June 6 as part of Summer Game Fest, showcasing over 50 indie games with uplifting themes. The event, organized by Wholesome Games, has previously inspired over a million wishlists and raised significant funds for charity. Proceeds from this year's merchandise will benefit the Transgender Law Center.
This Is Fine: Maximum Cope Released
This Is Fine: Maximum Cope, a Metroidvania game, is now available on Steam for Windows PC. The game aims to help players cope with modern times through its gameplay.
Issues and Activism
An independent developer claims that Steam is blocking their game due to an intellectual property infringement claim, despite the IP belonging to the developer themselves. This situation highlights ongoing issues with IP disputes on digital storefronts.
10 superb indies to check out in May 2026
This article highlights ten independent games releasing in May 2026 across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch. The featured titles span genres from roguelike chess and narrative sims to action RPGs and puzzle platformers, offering a diverse selection for players.
Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects (April 2026)
Nintendo Life has revealed its eShop Selects for April 2026, highlighting the top three reviewed games released on the Nintendo Switch eShop that month. Vampire Crawlers took first place, followed by OPUS: Prism Peak and Mouse: P.I. For Hire. The article also mentions several honorable mentions and games that narrowly missed the top three.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse exists because Konami loved Evil Empire’s Dead Cells crossover pitch
Evil Empire is developing the new Castlevania game, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a project that originated from a pitch for Dead Cells DLC. Initially unsure if Konami would approve the full Castlevania expansion, the team was surprised when Konami inquired about them developing the next Castlevania title.
FZ Play kör Core Keeper – Indiespelklubbens nya spel!
FZ Play is showcasing the indie game Core Keeper, a popular 2024 title where up to eight players can explore a vast underground world. The stream will feature a member of the "Indiespelklubben" (Indie Game Club) exploring, crafting, and interacting with the game's sandbox elements. Information is also provided on how to join the club to access the game.
'Not-for-profit' biz models can make for better showcases, say Triple-i Initiative organizers
Evil Empire's Benjamin Laulan argues that a 'not-for-profit' approach to game showcases, like their Triple-i Initiative, can foster better marketing outcomes by focusing on quality over sheer audience numbers. This model, which charges a participation fee to maintain a curated selection of studios, has led to significant wishlist growth for participating games. Laulan contrasts this with larger, more commercially driven events, emphasizing the importance of targeting a specific, engaged audience.
Hero shooter Last Flag halts production just 2 weeks after launch, but vows to "make sure that the game doesn't disappear"
Knight Street Games has announced that production for their hero shooter Last Flag is halting just two weeks after launch due to a lack of audience. While the team cannot support further development beyond upcoming patches, they are working with partners to ensure the game remains playable and will add features like custom lobbies. The studio aims to make sure the game "doesn't disappear" despite the financial realities.
Undead co-op shooters, gorgeous hack-and-slash action and other new indie games worth checking out
This article highlights several new indie games worth checking out, including co-op shooters and hack-and-slash titles. It also mentions the return of 'Ball x Pit'.
What we've been playing - "Meanwhile, Lara Croft and Breaking Bad's Walter White have just had their first child"
Several individuals share their current gaming experiences, highlighting titles like the visually striking cyberpunk game Replaced, the co-op party game Heave Ho 2, and the MMORPG Old School RuneScape. Other games mentioned include Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Elden Ring, Pokémon Leaf Green, and Deadlock.
Magical Blush, a Spell-Slinging Top-Down-Vania, Announced for PC and Consoles
DANGEN Entertainment announced Magical Blush, a spell-infused 2D action-adventure developed by Alkacer Game Studio. The game features top-down, combo-driven elemental combat and Metroidvania-style exploration. Magical Blush is set to launch on PC this summer, with console versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X to follow.
Move Over, Indy - This New Game Boy Color Indie Wants Some 'Fortune & Glory'
Fortune & Glory, a new Game Boy Color platformer inspired by classic Disney titles and Indiana Jones, has successfully launched its Kickstarter campaign, exceeding its goal on the first day. Developed by Matthew Loffhagen, the game features a Scrooge McDuck-inspired protagonist exploring a cat city for ancient artifacts. The project has already won second place in the Game Boy Competition 2025 jam.
