Check out these fantastic looking Indie games that were funded on Kickstarter and should hit digital marketplaces sometime in 2014. If you haven’t heard of them, get to it and check ’em out.
Chasm by Discord Games
Chasm is a 2D action platformer RPG that bursts with pixels and pixels of pure sweetness.
From the Discord Games website:
In Chasm, players take up the role of a conscripted soldier fighting a war in distant lands. One day you receive a mysterious letter warning that everyone and everything you know is in danger, and to come home immediately. You abandon your post and set off into the wilderness towards home, and eventually pass through a remote mining town nestled deep in the mountains. Now trapped in the town by supernatural forces, you’re left with no option but to explore, battle enemies and bosses, and increase your abilities in hopes of finally escaping and returning home.
For me personally, the game reminds me a lot of Casltevania Symphony of the Night, which is of course a good thing. The pixel art is fantastic, and the gameplay is smooth and exactly what you’d expect from a metroidvania. It has equipment, spells, levelling, and tons of varied baddies in six different randomly generated areas.
Chasm raised $191k on Kickstarter last summer, and is available for pre-order on the game’s website at three different tiers (including Steam keys!). You can also download a short demo from the Kickstarter page (I’m not sure if there is a newer demo available or not).
Do yourself a favor and grab a copy.
Cosmic Star Heroine by Zeboyd Games
Cosmic Star Heroine is your classic RPG that will have all the fun, depth, story, and wackiness that RPG legends Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger had. On top of that, this is Zeboyd we’re talking about, so expect plenty of humor, parody, and spoofs.
From Zeboyd:
Cosmic Star Heroine is a turn-based sci-fi Japanese-style RPG from Zeboyd Games currently scheduled to come out in 2014. Alyssa L’Salle is one of the galactic government’s top agents and always manages to save the day! But when she accidentally uncovers a dark conspiracy, her own government outs her as a legendary spy and the people’s champion! Sure, now she has hordes of adoring fans but every villainous organization she’s ever crossed in her career knows who she is and is out for her blood! Can she save the day once more while she faces her greatest challenge… Everyone!?
I’ve been a fan of Zeboyd’s growing collection of games since Breath of Death VII and Cthulu Saves the World first appeared on XBOX Live Indie Games. Since then, Zeboyd has refined their methods, artwork, and engine into this fantastic sci-fi RPG that should deliver every bit of fun that it promises.
Cosmic Star Heroine raised a whopping $132k on Kickstarter in October 2013, and looks to be another solid title for Zeboyd. You’ll be able to pick this game up on Steam with all of Zeboyd’s other titles. Every one of them is worth it, so what are you waiting for?
Night in the Woods by Infinite Fall
Live. Dream. Believe.
Just watching the video for Night in the Woods will give anyone with a soul goosebumps and conjure your imagination right in front of your eyes.
From Infinite Fall:
Night In The Woods is a 2D story-focused adventure/exploration game with many extracurricular activities to enjoy, characters to meet, and secrets to discover. Run, jump and use astral projection to explore the many sides of town of Possum Springs and the surrounding environs. Waste time around town with your crew of loser friends. Gain abilities that grant passage to new areas. Discover the secrets of a large cast of characters and the town itself. Experience a big crazy world and the remarkable events unfolding there. Play bass. Break stuff.
I’m not exactly sure what this game is about or how it plays, but the animation itself is reason enough to check it out. Even if this game ends up being an LSD trip with a controller in your hands, I can almost guarantee it will be worth playing. Oddly, it reminds me of “Where the Wild Things Are”.
Night in the Woods kittened up $209k during its run on Kickstarter, and could be one of the most artistic games in production right now. It’s available for pre-order on the official website, and should be available sometime early 2015. At the end of everything, hold onto this game.
The Hero Trap by Smashworx
And now for one you probably haven’t heard of yet.
The Hero Trap is a fiery-fast top-down hack-and-slash action-RPG that couldn’t possibly use more hyphens to describe it.
From Smashworx:
“The Hero Trap” is a frenetic, roguelike dungeon-crawler. A glorious treasure has been promised, but all who’ve sought to attain it have found only death. But you have a plan! You can gather the souls of great warriors past, who’ve failed where you now seek success, to aid you on your epic quest. These heroes are strong, but not invincible–their spirit energy can only withstand so much punishment before returning back to the ethereal ooze.
Very well-made and solid graphics, The Hero Trap looks to deliver a nice fast-paced action game with randomized dungeon levels and lots of loot. Think “Diablo” meets “Gauntlet”.
The Hero Trap raised $26k on Kickstarter, which is certainly nothing to turn your sword hand to. You can download the alpha demo directly from the Kickstarter page (or here). Seeing as the Kickstarter just finished, keep your eye on this game and when you might be able to pre-order, and help it get the props it deserves.
Any other indie games on Kickstarter you’ve seen recently that you are excited about? Let me know!
Gigaloth Games - 2D Indie Game Developer 