Pictured above: Maize
We might be in the final weeks of 2016, but that has done little to stem the tide of new indie games being released on Steam and GOG.
The Dwarves
KING Art
$39.99
First we have The Dwarves, a tactical RPG that was Kickstarted some time back. Based on the fantasy novel of the same name, The Dwarves features 15 playable heroes total, each with their own set of skills and abilities. The most notable feature that sets the game apart from other tactical RPGs are the massive battles that put your small band of dwarves against hordes of orcs and monsters. Physics play a big part in combat too, with many skills designed to send swaths of enemies flying off cliffs and other hazards. The Dwarves is also on GOG, PS4, and Xbox One, though be aware that the console versions apparently have major performance issues.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Mimimi Productions
$39.99
Shadow Tactics is a revival of classic top-down, squad-based stealth games like Commandos and Desperados. Much like in those titles, Shadow Tactics tasks you with infiltrating enemy strongholds across feudal Japan with your team of 5 elite specialists. Take on vastly superior numbers of enemy sentries by using traps, distractions, and clever tactics. Shadow Tactics also adds an extra layer of verticality to your sneaking by allowing your ninjas to traverse rooftops. You can grab the game on GOG as well, with a free demo available on both platforms.
King Lucas
Devilish Games
$12.99
King Lucas is a 2.5D retro-inspired metroidvania that can be played alone or in competitive multiplayer. You take on the role of a knight trying to rescue three princesses locked away in a magical castle by their father, King Lucas. The game takes procedural generation to a whole new level, as every time you find a princess the castle unlocks a new region and reconfigures itself.
Maize
Finish Line Games
$19.99
Maize is a quirky new first-person adventure game where you play as a sarcastic Russian teddy bear robot exploring an abandoned farm full of sentient corn. That should tell you all you need to know about the tone of this nonsensical title. Gameplay comes in the form of environmental puzzles and item management, but the primary focus is squarely on the absurd story and characters you’ll encounter as you uncover the secrets surrounding the government experiment that accidentally created the living corn people. Maize is on GOG as well.
Rad Rodgers: World One
Interceptor Entertainment
$11.99
Published by 3D Realms, Rad Rodgers is a new Commander Keen game in all but name. You play as Rad, a young boy that finds himself sucked into a video game with his foul-mouthed game console Dusty. Jump and shoot your way through 7 stages full of crude humor and Easter eggs based on classic Apogee/3D Realms titles from the ’90s. John St John even makes an appearance voicing several characters throughout the game. Also available on GOG.
Earth’s Dawn
oneoreight
$29.99
Earth’s Dawn is a 2D shooter/beat ’em up with a fairly striking visual aesthetic and massive boss battles. You control a customizable super soldier fighting to reclaim Earth following an alien invasion. Defeat your enemies using both ranged weapons and combo-driven melee attacks. As you gain experience you’ll be able to unlock new abilities from a large skill tree and craft powerful weapons and armor. Earth’s Dawn is also on PS4 and Xbox One.
Dungeon Souls
Lamina Studios
$12.99
Finally we come to Dungeon Souls, the obligatory action roguelite for this week’s article. As with most games in the genre, you’ll explore procedurally generated dungeons full of enemies, challenging boss encounters, and loot to plunder. Dungeon Souls features 10 playable characters in all, each with their own skill trees and unique special abilities. You can also find it on GOG.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back later with more new indie release highlights.
