It’s the halfway point of 2021, and already, indie games are proving to be just as entertaining as 2020’s cream of the crop. Wonderfully but frustratingly–if, say, you’re in your mid-30s and unable to maintain a frankly unsustainable gaming schedule thanks to real life commitments–it’s impossible to keep up with the sheer volume of new indie game drops in 2021.
Still, the best we can do is try to keep up. Following on from my first list of five indie bangers from the year to date, here’s another quintet of titles you should try out. Sure, they’re not for everyone, but there’s a lot to love in this list–and with any luck, the second half of the year will prove just as fruitful.
Stonefly
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC
Price: $19.99
Stonefly is probably the most beautiful indie game of 2021 so far, but that’s no huge surprise. Its developer, Flight School Studio, has an incredible knack for delivering gorgeous visuals, which it not only proved with 2019’s brilliant Creature in the Well, but even manages to demonstrate within five seconds of loading Stonefly; never before has a company’s logo looked so gorgeous, and you just know you’re in for something special.
The game’s story is a weird combination of Gulliver’s Travels and MechWarrior, and sees your pint-sized character travel across the wilderness in search of your father’s beloved mech–named after your late mother–which was stolen due to your carelessness. You take a junky mech, which you upgrade along the route, meeting all sorts of wonderful, weird, and carefully developed characters along the way.
While its odd control scheme and occasionally repetitive battle mechanics may turn some people off, Stonefly’s world is ridiculously moreish–and a game that swallows you whole until you eventually finish the game eight or so hours later.
Before Your Eyes
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia
Price: $14.99
I’ve hit that moment in my life where life feels like it’s getting away from me: real “blink and you’ll miss it” stuff. To really hammer this home is Before Your Eyes: a magnificently clever game that plays on very human emotions–and fears–with a beautifully simple mechanic to underpin the entire experience.
As self-described “game maker collective” GoodbyeWorld Games’ debut title, Before Your Eyes utilizes an ingenious concept: harnessing your webcam, it tracks your blinking, which is key to advancing the game’s narrative.
Combining this with an often-brutally emotional storyline about your character, Ben–who you initially learn has passed away–Before Your Eyes gets through so much in its short runtime (around an hour), but if you’re anything like me, you’ll fire it up soon after your first playthrough to enjoy it all over again.
The Company Man
Platforms: PC
Price: $15.99
I wasn’t really aware of the Malaysian game development industry until last year’s marvelous No Straight Roads, but it’s proving to be one with incredible potential–and The Company Man is another fine example of this.
Goofy, cynical and satirical, this 2D combat-driven platformer sees your character, Jim, start out at the bottom of a corporation and literally fight his way to the top and become the CEO. Colourful and imaginative design combines with responsive controls and a spectacular soundtrack to deliver a genuinely fun, dependable platform game that has clearly learned a lot of tricks from past legends of the genre.
Curved Space
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC
Price: $19.99
As the newest entry on this list–released only days ago on June 29–Curved Space is the quintessential indie game: an amazing idea, executed pretty well, with so much scope to improve on its first outing that it almost requires a sequel to fully realise its concept.
While its repetitive action, confusing camera, and slow, stuttering storytelling occasionally take the shine off the experience, this perspective-bending shooter is furiously moreish, in that compelling RESOGUN way: you’re effectively doing the same thing over and over, but you always find new ways to improve your skills, using Curved Space’s unique take on the shoot ‘em ups of old. It also performs pretty damn well on next-gen consoles. The fact the whole thing was created by two-person Canadian outfit Only By Midnight is absolutely mind-blowing.
Just Die Already
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch
Price: $14.99
I can’t believe I’m including this, because the first time I tried the OAP murdering simulator Just Die Already, I genuinely hated it. Between its audio–which sounds like it’s being broadcast from the inside of a fridge by Guiglielmo Marconi–plus its low-quality graphics and anger-inducing controls, it may initially seem like the game’s name is apt, in that it’s the perfect thing to say as you throw your controller through the window.
And yet, there’s a real je ne sais quoi element to Just Die Already. You find yourself repeatedly coming back to it–massive, old, wrinkly warts and all. Like its predecessor Goat Simulator, the world is your (fatal) oyster, and it’s remarkably creative at murdering you. Challenges, which unlock cosmetics and tools, stretch the game’s potential out even more. It may be best suited to (and indeed created for) viral streaming, but JDA offers so much for casual gamers, and it’s a blast with friends.
Do you have an indie game that deserves to be shouted about? Let me know on Twitter–if the last 18 months has taught us anything, it’s that smaller studios deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them.
Five More Of The Best 2021 Indie Games You Must Play - Forbes
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