Audiosurf 2
I’d normally avoid including a currently in-progress title, but after previewing the title myself, I’ve seen more than enough of Audiosurf 2's progress to call it buy-worthy. Audiosurf 2 one part music analyzer and one part game; it deconstructs any song you throw at it and then creates a level around it, which is where you, the player, come in. Steer a wakeboard, control a jet, or build puzzles as you literally surf through your music library—and smile gleefully upon realizing that every last inch of the game, from avatars to skins, is fully customizable thanks to the game’s deep Steam Workshop support. If you like music, you like Audiosurf 2. It’s that simple.
Outlast
Games like FEAR 3 and Dead Space 3 suggest that true horror has gone extinct. Well, leave it to independent development to say otherwise.
Outlast is of the vein of horror that strips all means of combating threats from the protagonist, instead reducing them to a quivering ninny who’s got no choice but to run or be eaten. Your helplessness is only augmented by the game’s plethora of gorgeously realized ghouls and goblins which are sure to get you quite familiar with your own heartbeat. This is to say nothing of the engrossing atmosphere and chilling soundtrack, mind you.
Don’t expect to Resident Evil your way through this one, but buy it nonetheless if you’re looking for a good scare. Oh, and read our own Mike Splechta's review to find out how much he cried after playing Outlast.
Spelunky
Spelunky bears an unlikely resemblance to the previous contender in that, although your adventure is quite a bit more cheerful, your adventurer is equally prone to horrible, horrible dying.
Spelunky takes the rogue-like pledge to difficulty that spawned the permadeath mechanic and turns the dial to 11, cackling all the while as it leads you astray with its deceptively adorable visuals. Dungeoneer to your heart’s content with an infinite array of randomly generated levels, arm yourself with everything from torches to jetpacks, and pray that this run is indeed the last run as you trudge deeper.
That is, the last run where you kill yourself with a bomb—not your last playthrough, of course. Find out just how impossible Spelunky is and isn't in our review.
Papers, Please
Point-and-click adventure titles are a dime-a-dozen in the indie scene, but the left-field approach of this self-titled dystopian document thriller is a true eye-catcher. Papers, Please puts you in a claustrophobic ticket booth at a country’s border and hands you the task of inspecting immigrants’ documentation. However, beyond simply slapping a stamp, the game integrates moral weight into each newcomer. Deny a lost mother a visit to her son, weigh the odds of unknowingly admitting an assassin against having your already meager pay docked, and stress over the welfare of your desperate family.
I realize this isn’t coming off as hugs and roses, but trust me, the game is a true demonstration of palpable tension. Time-trial-y to the bone, Papers, Please is a unique hybridization of point-and-click and puzzling that’s worth your time. At least, the time you can spare before the next person arrives.
Check out our full review of Papers, Please if you’re looking for more detail on this indie oddball.
Risk of Rain
“How do you make the rogue-like genre more difficult?” they asked. “Put the difficulty on a timer, thereby making everything your fault!” Risk of Rain answered without hesitation.
This 2D shooter puts the player between a rock and a hard place: Do you explore the level to upgrade your gear and level your character, or rush to the end lest the difficulty timer run too high rendering the boss nigh-on impossible? Everything boils down to weighing the odds with Risk of Rain, as each precious second brings you closer to a spike in difficulty. Levels are immense, enemy variety is a veritable rainbow and the soundtrack is downright enchanting, so if you’re a fan of the teeth-grindingly difficult, grab an umbrella and play Risk of Rain.
Fall 2013 saw the release of the most powerful gaming consoles to date, but also brought the release and reveal of some of the most promising indie games in the genre’s history. Independent development has received a serious boon in recent months thanks to new, open publication platforms and development opportunities, so we’re sure to see the indie scene maintain its momentum going forward. So, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on the fantastic independent titles and hidden gems that we found this year.
In no particular order, here are 10 of 2013’s best indie games — that you should have already played.
Antichamber
In contrast to the typical horde of rogue-like titles, the puzzle side of indie gaming saw a resurgence this past year and has since grown into a sizeable archive of brain-benders. Sitting pretty atop that puzzling tower is Antichamber, a first-person adventure title that takes the player on a philosophical romp through non-Euclidian nonsense. Gravity is negotiable, time and space swap hats as they please, and colors are only as trustworthy as their distance from you — these traits and more define the controlled chaos that is Antichamber. Any fan of puzzles owes it to themselves to pick this one up.
The Stanley Parable
Although there were several compelling entries this past year alone, video games don’t hold a reputation as narrative masterminds. Luckily, games like The Stanley Parable are working to change that—and everything else you know about video games. Simple on the surface but perplexing practice, The Stanley Parable is an ostensive deconstruction of interactive entertainment. What does it mean to design a game? What does it mean to play a game? How should the player view a game? These questions and plenty more are asked, answered, and bounced off walls throughout The Stanley Parable, and the result is a unique mix of wall-breaking introspection masquerading as an excellent adventure title.
Gunpoint
Gunpoint is unique even among indie titles for its treatment of guns as a means to an end rather than the answer itself. Conventional shooters rely on magazine size, various scopes, firing rate and other bits and bobs of firearms to build depth, whereas Gunpoint forces the player to analyze their way through situations with the trigger left as a last resort. Stealth pervades the puzzle aspects of the game, and a refreshing sense of humor dominates an overt espionage theme that would have James Bond blue in the face. Gunpoint is definitely the perfect not-shooter for every PC gamer—if you don't believe me, check out our full review.
Rogue Legacy
Ah, the rogue-like; where would indie development be without it? Well, it’d probably be significantly more coherent, but that’s beside the point.
The point is that Rogue Legacy has innovated upon the concept of randomization by expanding the depths of its own randomness. The game is built upon a progression system that sends the player stumbling down an ever-lengthening lineage of incredibly unfortunate knights. Comical ailments run amuck, and because each new hero is several shades darker than their parent, you’ll never approach the equally random dungeons the same way twice. Add that to a delightful retro aesthetic, a surprisingly deep construction system in the form of castle management, and a die-hard adherence to crushing difficulty, and you’ve got Rogue Legacy, the most enjoyable bag of deaths since Dark Souls. More on that here.
Sanctum 2
Even when you’re shooting things, you’re not really shooting things in Sanctum 2. You’re simply picking up the slack that you’re no-doubt formidable defenses have let slip through. A fitting sequel to the original hit, Sanctum 2 is a hands-on approach to tower defense that hands the player all the management and tactics they can ask for, and then a gun, to jump into the waves of enemies themselves. First-person tower defense hasn’t gotten any less fun since the original game, and with gorgeous visuals and immense weapon variety, Sanctum 2 is a must-have for any strategy or shooter fan. If you happen to be a fan of both, you won't even need to read our review to know you'll like this one—but you totally should anyway.
