Indie Games
Ongoing coverage on Indie Games.
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"There's nothing worse than an AI-generated pitch": Bloober, Jagex, 11 bit and indie devs on the bruising hurdle of funding a videogame prototype
Independent game developers face significant hurdles in securing funding for prototypes, with many publishers requiring playable builds before committing to a project. Companies like Bloober Team, Jagex, and 11 bit studios acknowledge the necessity of prototypes but express concerns about the increasing reliance on generative AI for their creation. While AI tools can boost productivity, publishers are wary of AI-generated pitches, as they offer less proof of a team's genuine capabilities and artistic vision, leading to a more risk-averse industry.
Teutonic.Games 2026 Opens Pre-Registration for Germany’s Premier Indie Game Showcase
GameTikker.com has opened pre-registration for the Teutonic.Games - Indie Game Event 2026, a showcase for German indie game development. The online event will feature new titles, demos, sales, and announcements, building on the success of previous indie showcases. Pre-registration is open for German solo developers, studios, and publishers.
One Solo Developer. One Big Finish: The Game Marketer Helps ShantyTown Reach 100,000+ Steam Wishlists
Solo developer Erik Rempen's cosy diorama builder ShantyTown, developed under Silk Softworks, achieved over 100,000 Steam wishlists with the help of marketing agency The Game Marketer. The comprehensive campaign included strategy, PR, paid media, and creative asset production, leading to 1.5 million Steam page visits and 70,000 demo downloads.
Köp Indiespelklubbens tshirt #3 – PaperKlay!
Indiespelklubben is releasing a t-shirt featuring characters Chick & Nugget from the indie game PaperKlay. Members of Indiespelklubben receive a 20% discount on the t-shirt if ordered by June 30th. The article also provides information on how to become a member and purchase the shirt.
The Hidden Power of Indie Games in Shaping Gaming’s Future
Indie games are significantly shaping the future of the gaming industry by introducing innovative art styles, gameplay mechanics, and business models that are increasingly adopted by larger publishers. These smaller, passion-driven projects often serve as the originators of transformative shifts in game design and narrative, with platforms like Roblox and digital marketplaces like Eneba facilitating their reach and impact.
Akupara Games partners with Pixeljam and Behold Studios
Akupara Games has announced new publishing partnerships with indie developers Pixeljam and Behold Studios. This collaboration will bring several existing titles, including Chroma Squad and Out of Space, to new platforms, and will also support Pixeljam's upcoming releases, Cornhole Hero and Dino Jump.
Best Summer Game Fest 2026 Games You Might Have Missed
This article highlights several upcoming indie games that may have been overlooked amidst the major announcements from Summer Game Fest and other showcases. It features a diverse range of titles, including action, RPG, horror, and simulation genres, with brief descriptions and personal endorsements from the writers.
Akupara Games Join Forces With Pixeljam & Behold Studios to Bring Nostalgia Back to 2026
Akupara Games has announced new publishing partnerships with Pixeljam and Behold Studios, aiming to bring their catalogs to new platforms. This collaboration will see Akupara Games publish and expand titles like Chroma Squad and Out of Space, while Pixeljam will release new games such as Cornhole Hero and Dino Jump on July 23, 2026. The move aims to introduce these cult-classic indie titles to a new generation of players.
Toys for Bob says independence has allowed the studio to rediscover what it loves
Toys for Bob, known for Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4, has become an independent studio following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This independence allows the team to focus on character-driven games, moving away from support roles on titles like Call of Duty. The studio is partnering with Activision to develop the newly announced Spyro: A Realm Beyond, set for release in spring 2027 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.
'COLORBOUND' WILL LAUNCH IN AUGUST 2026, DEMO AVAILABLE DURING STEAM NEXT FEST
Colorbound, a puzzle-platformer developed by Panpipe Studio and published by Whitethorn Games, is set to launch in August 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch. A demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from June 15-22. The game features a young Aymara boy who uses color to solve puzzles and reshape the environment.
Drums, cash grants, and bubbling capybaras: How Latin America's game dev creatives are outgrowing outsourcing
Latin American game developers are increasingly recognized for their creative output, with original titles like Family Reunion and Black Sailors emerging. While many studios engage in outsourcing to secure funding and gain experience, there's a growing movement to leverage the region's rich cultures and histories for unique game development. Government grants and international exposure are playing crucial roles in supporting these original projects, though challenges in securing direct funding and competing with established markets persist.
Hollowbody Review – A Chilling Return to Classic Survival Horror | Invision Game Community
Hollowbody offers a chilling return to classic survival horror, focusing on atmosphere and a personal, short-story-like narrative set in a post-apocalyptic UK. While it may lack jump scares and innovative gameplay, its strong environmental design, sound, and multiple endings make it a compelling experience for fans of retro-style horror games. The game is available on Xbox Series X.
The Complete Inkle Library on Humble: 11 games for $12, plus Heaven's Vault ebook deal
Inkle has partnered with Humble and Breakthrough T1D Play to offer a bundle of 11 of their narrative games for $12, available until July 1. The bundle includes titles like Heaven's Vault, 80 Days, and Steve Jackson's Sorcery!, with a portion of sales supporting type 1 diabetes research. Additionally, four Heaven's Vault ebooks are available in a separate $20 tier.
After a 'corporate mandate' demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took 'many mini miracles' to buy their independence from Activision
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, has successfully bought back its independence from Activision Blizzard. Studio head Paul Yan stated that a 'corporate mandate' to support Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 was not the right fit for the studio's identity. Following layoffs at Microsoft, Toys for Bob proposed a radical plan to spin out as a separate company, focusing on making the types of games they are best known for.
Stranger Than Heaven's regional price creep on Steam is one more reason I'm feeling wary
The article discusses the increasing regional price creep of games on Steam, using Stranger Than Heaven and Persona 4 Revival as examples of titles with higher UK prices compared to their US counterparts. It highlights Geoff Keighley's comments on the success of affordable indie games and contrasts these with the rising costs of new releases, also touching on the controversial inclusion of Tupac Shakur in Stranger Than Heaven.
TACS Classic Collection Preserves a Lost Piece of PlayStation History
Rock It Games has released The TACS Classic Collection for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC, featuring 10 titles by developer Thomas Hopper. This collection aims to preserve and make accessible Hopper's experimental games, many of which were previously lost media from the PlayStation Mobile era. The collection includes titles like Console Saga, Shuttle Quest 2000, and Super Tank Poker, with assistance from porting studio Poppy Works.
Podd-dags - Kontrollrummet intervjuar PaperKlay-pappan
Kevin Andersson, the developer behind the indie game PaperKlay, discusses his creative process and inspirations in an interview with the Kontrollrummet podcast. He shares how he overcame development challenges independently and his approach to making the game more than just a nostalgic experience. The interview also features hosts Viktor and Björn from Kontrollrummet, who share their favorite indie titles and their passion for games as a cultural medium.
Morning Multiplex
This article rounds up recent trailers and demos for several indie games. It features official trailers for the puzzle adventure game Dodo Duckie and Hat Together, announces the Steam Next Fest demo for Knuckle Creek, and highlights PRISON OF HUSKS from the Future Games Show 2026, alongside The Scroll of Taiwu.
Nintendo Direct June 2026: Everything Announced!
Nintendo held a surprise Nintendo Direct presentation showcasing numerous upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The showcase included new releases, ports of existing games, and DLC announcements across various genres, with many titles slated for release in late 2026 and into 2027.
DELTARUNE chapter 5 launches this month
Indie developer tobyfox announced that DELTARUNE Chapter 5 will launch on June 24th for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This new chapter arrives approximately one year after the release of chapters 3 and 4, with development on Chapter 6 also progressing well.
