There are a lot of nifty and terrible indies games on Steam that many us have not heard of or forgot about so I figured with this years winter sale underway a thread to recommend good games and warn about bad games was in order.
I took it upon myself to do quick look styled videos for all my suggestions, but I'm not expecting everyone to do that.
Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten: [video link] This is a tower defense game with some interesting RPG mechanics. Instead of towers you get characters that each have independent levels, skill builds, and equipment. The story is also pretty decent once it gets going. This was one my top 10 games of this year.
Cargo Commander: [video link] This is an arcade-y style randomly generated exploration-based platform of sorts. You have to collect various cargo from space junk before a worm hole opens up and suck it all away. It has a really well balanced progression system where skilled players get rewarded earlier but lesser skilled players will eventually be at the same level once they play enough. Also you play as space trucker.
A Valley Without Wind: [GB quick look][Video link] This game is essentially a randomly generated metroid-vania with crafting elements. It's art style seems to put a lot of people off, but I think it's pretty nifty. It feels a bit aimless but is quite fun if you like to explore.
Colour Bind: [video link] Colour Bind is a precision platformer with some light puzzle elements. The controls have some real finesse to them which I like, but I find the game really challenging.
BEEP: [video link] If you're not already sick of physics-based puzzle platformers then BEEP has some charm to it.
Droplitz: [video link] This is a really awesome arcade-y puzzler. A great podcast listening game. It sort of like Pipe Dream but everything flows downward and splits when it hits an intersection. I've put a lot of time into this game over the years (about 10~12 hours which is a lot for this style of game.) It's frequently on sale for under a dollar, so I highly recommend it!
Critter Crunch: [Video Link] Ryan has mentioned his love for this game before and I believe it was released on PSN in 2009. Well it's on the PC now. It's another match-3-like game but is pretty cool and had a wonderful art style.
EDGE: [Video Link] This is an isometric puzzle-like game. Each level you have to get to the exit while figuring out how to collect all the little glowing cubes. It's pretty cool.
English Country Tune: [video link] Another puzzle game. This one involves block pushing but has a really abstract sense to it. It's interesting and can be really tricky and hard to describe.
Gateways: [Quick Look: Gateways][video link] What if Portal was a 2D metroid-vania and had a bunch of different types of portals? Well that's what Gateways is, and it's pretty cool. Some of the level design isn't so great, but it's nice little game that I really should have played more of.
Chantelise: [video link] This is from the same guys who brought you Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale and is a 3rd person action RPG. If you don't like cutesy anime girls then it's not for you, but from what I've played I enjoyed the basic combat.
NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits: [video link] Another physic-based puzzle platformer but this one has a cool 2.5D cell-shaded art style and is based in Greek myths. It's alright. It requires you to do some things with the mouse and the jumping feels a bit wonky at times, but it's far from a bad game.
Turba: [video link] This is a match 3 game with a musical twist. Honestly I can't recommend this game at all. The basic game play isn't all that enjoyable and the way it ties in the song that's playing isn't all that interesting. Maybe pick it up if it's part of a greater indie game package but avoid it on it's own.
Fairy Bloom Freesia: [video link] Holy hot damn this game is pretty freaking awesome! It's a 2.5D spectacle fighter that's similar to say Devil May Cry or Bayonetta but with an obviously smaller scale and tighter focus. It does have a cutsy anime protagenist that may scare some people off it, but the game play (which is 90% combat) feels so great and so fluid I can't help but recommend to anyone who likes games with tight controls. Especially if you like fighting games as it has a lot of ideas taken straight out of that genre. There's also some light RPG mechanics and character building. Seriously I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed this game. It's only 8 bucks regularly but I'm pretty sure it's on sale now for %50 off. Check it out!
Ok! So those are my suggestions. Feel free to add more and help us all liberate our hard earned money from the prisons of our bank accounts. hah.
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