The most popular games are still big-budget projects from well-known studios. But many users recognize that they use the same mechanics, rarely developing something really new, so they prefer playing slots at Tonywin instead. The situation is the opposite in the sphere of games from independent developers: they don’t have big budgets or a big team, but they have a sincere desire to make a quality game and please gamers. These are the best indie games on PC and consoles to try first.
Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is a project inspired by cult video games. At the same time, the game carefully rethinks favorite mechanics and gives a new look at familiar aspects. The project has become a successor to classic Japanese role-playing games. Sea of Stars adheres to the spirit of the genre, but it isn’t afraid of experimentation: clichés and canons are ironically played with as the story progresses without losing the balance between jokes and drama.
Hades
If you like ancient Greek mythology but haven’t played Hades yet, it’s time to catch up. However, even if you were not fascinated by the stories about the treacherous Kronos, mighty Zeus, and Olympus, you shouldn’t put an end to getting acquainted with this wonderful game.
The plot in Hades is traditionally family-oriented, but not without a unique interpretation of already familiar legends.
The story is told on behalf of Zagreus, the son of Hades and the master of the Kingdom of the Dead, a world similar to a labyrinth. The prince will try to escape from his father into the world of the living, become more independent, and get long-awaited answers, in which he is helped by a whole pantheon of Greek gods and heroes. The world leads to bosses in non-linear ways, and the narrative doesn’t stop for a second, thanks to the next battles, victories, and deaths.
Cocoon
Cocoon was awaited by all fans of Limbo and Inside because the game designer of these games, Jeppe Carlsen, is responsible for the new game. Players will have to solve a cosmic mystery before solving a lot of puzzles. The unique mechanics allow you to travel to worlds inside other worlds. It’s impossible to convey in words; it’s much better to see it in person.
Each of the worlds is a sphere, which the protagonist carries on his back. He can rearrange such spheres to solve complex puzzles. Not without fierce battles because each world is guarded by dangerous guards. Having defeated them, the player gets a unique tool in his hands, allowing him to go further and further into the history of the unusual universe and the local ancient civilization.
Blood West
Taking a look at Blood West, you’ll realize that the developers were inspired by brutal games from the nineties. Low polygon count design and creepy monsters refer to Quake, but this time, the events take place in the times of the Wild West, which suffers from the reanimated dead, ghosts, and other evil things. But you shouldn’t grab your gun and go into battle because one of the main sources of inspiration in the gameplay was the immersive shooter System Shock.
Due to the high complexity of battles, you need to look for hiding places, buy weapons, and make your own set of equipment. For example, an amulet can increase health but take away stamina. During the story, you have to break the curse of the main character, who was a fearless cowboy, but after his death, he couldn’t rest in peace and turned into a reanimated dead man.
Journey
For a long time, Journey was one of the major PlayStation exclusives, only making its way to PC in 2019. And it’s not at all about big budgets, incredible graphics, or dynamic special effects. In Journey, players will take on the role of a mysterious hero who must reach a distant mountain. The key message of the developers was the insignificance of a person in a giant world. This feeling is perfectly conveyed in the game, especially during the meetings with abandoned ruins, reminding us of the existence of civilization in this world.
An unusual mechanic was the multiplayer mode, in which you could run into other players. You can’t communicate with them, but you can try to reach the mountain together. This is how the developers wanted to create an emotional connection between anonymous users who can only communicate by wordless shouting.
