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August 2021 indie game releases – part 1
Let’s get into the August 2021 indie game releases! The start of the month has some adorable games in store for us, including an interesting programming game and a mobile game – the first for the site! I know I say it every month, but I’m looking forward to jumping into these games! It’s getting to the point where there’s just too many games to play and not enough time. I’ll have to make more time for these titles! Button City Website | Twitter Genre: Adventure, exploration Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox Release date: 10th August Join cute fox Fennel and his animal friends on their quest to save their…
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Cozy Grove after 100 days – Is it worth playing?
Cozy Grove was an indie darling when it was released earlier in the year. Everyone was so excited for a gorgeous indie Animal Crossing style game, but did it live up to that hype? Initially, I didn’t think so. The game lacked polish, and many issues made it a tedious game to play, but the Spry Fox team were quick to listen to player feedback and made changes that improved the game immensely. If you haven’t heard of Cozy Grove, it is a heartfelt, casual hidden items game, but unlike other games in that genre, it is played with a real-time clock and has a rich story that takes more…
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July 2021 indie game releases – part 1
The chaos of June has calmed, and July is a quieter month for indie game releases. Currently, there are only a handful of games I want to mention in new releases, but I am still splitting them up into two, just in case we get some sneak releases throughout the month. Fortunately, a quieter month means we get more time to experience these beautiful games. Lona: Realm of Colors Website | Twitter Genre: Adventure, point & click Platforms: PC (Steam) Release date: 9th July Lona is trying to deal with the struggles of life and using art as her outlet, but as she becomes consumed by her paintings, she loses touch with…
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Luna’s Fishing Garden review
Cassie is happily fishing when a storm approaches. The next thing she knows, she’s on an island being criticised by a spirit fox named Luna. Luna isn’t sure how a human ended up on her island, but she enlists Cassie to help repair and rejuvenate the islands to their former glory. Pick up bits of scrap from the storm and trade them in for some cash. Then, it’s time to build your perfect garden while meeting some lovely spirits along the way. Gameplay The gameplay in Luna’s Fishing Garden is relatively simple, and there are some good accessibility options built-in too. Row your boat up and down the islands completing…
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June 2021 indie game releases – part 2
We’re already at the end of June, and what a chaotic month it was for indie game releases! With E3 week and Steam Next Fest, there were game releases and demos to try everywhere! It was almost more than this game writer could keep up with. Fortunately, the Wholesome Direct was a nice place to find some calm from the storm. There were quite a few sneaky surprise attack releases in the last few weeks, which meant they weren’t included in Part 1, but I’ll be covering them here. Minute of Islands Website | Twitter Genre: Adventure, 2D platformer, puzzle platformer, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam, Gog & Humble), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox…
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Nine excellent Steam Next Fest demos
The Steam Games Festival is here again, but it has been renamed Steam Next Fest to celebrate awesome upcoming indie games. As has been the case with previous Festivals, there are a vast amount of demos and events to enjoy. With over 100 demos, it can be challenging to know where to start, so I created a list of my favourites for the festival. Terra Nil Website | Twitter | Wishlist/demo Genre: Simulation, city builder, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam) Release date: 2022 Reclaim the wasteland in this reverse city builder. After touching down on barren, bare land, it’s time to get to work and restore the wasteland back to life as a thriving ecosystem.…
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Before We Leave review
The Peeps have spent decades underground. It’s been so long that they forgot what it’s like to watch the sunset, hear the chirps of a bird and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. So they have decided it’s time to come back to the surface and build a civilisation once more. Before We Leave is a combat-free worldbuilder, but there are challenges with climate, technology and resources. Oh, and the space whales, of course! Start with an island, but strive for the stars and try to keep the environment in good shape. Gameplay Before We Leave is big, like giant big! Initially, it starts small. Your peeps are emerging…
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May 2021 indie game releases – part 2
We’re halfway through May, and it’s time to check out some more indie game releases. I have a shorter list than usual for the end of the month, but that just means more time to play some excellent games. I’m looking forward to giving all these games a try over the coming weeks. The Wild at Heart Website | Twitter Genre: Action-adventure, story-rich, puzzle Platforms: PC (Steam & Humble), Xbox (inc. Gamepass) Release date: 20th May Twelve-year-old master inventor Wake has run away from home and gotten lost in the forest. He’s sad and scared, and then a tiny creature appears to show him the way. Wake follows the Spriteling further into…
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Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator review
Ever dream of escaping life in a dead-end job and starting up your own winery? Hundred days allows us to travel to the gorgeous wine region of Alba, Italy, and get a crash course in winemaking. It turns out that winemaking is a cutthroat industry and our competitors aren’t happy that we’ve been given this land. Fortunately, we have some excellent mentors helping us, so we can (hopefully) make an excellent drop of wine and shake up the industry. Hundred Days is essentially the story of Yves Hohler, lead designer and co-founder of Broken Arms Games. As a child, his family moved to Italy to give winemaking a try. They…
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May 2021 indie game releases – part 1
May is an excellent month for indie game releases. That means we’re splitting the releases into two again because that went pretty well in April. This month there is a nice spread of awesome games all through the month. Here are my picks to try for the first half of May: Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator Website | Twitter Genre: Farming sim, simulation, management sim Platforms: PC (Steam) Release date: 13th May One hundred days. That’s the amount of time it takes for a vine leaf to complete its life cycle. Nurture it through the seasons, looking after your soil and prune to get the best drop of wine you can. Every…
