Category: Indie

Blood Dungeon is the kind of game that makes its intentions clear almost immediately: enter a dungeon, kill whatever gets in the way, collect blood, improve the character and try to survive the increasingly chaotic waves that follow. On paper, that sounds like another entry in the increasingly crowded survivors-like or bullet-heaven genre, and the basic loop certainly isn’t unfamiliar. The difference is that Messhof, the studio behind Nidhogg, has built that formula around 2D platforming rather than a conventional top-down arena. That one decision gives Blood Dungeon a much stronger identity than its familiar progression structure might suggest, although it doesn’t completely prevent the repetition that eventually comes with the territory. Continue reading “Blood Dungeon review (PS5)”

The indie scene continues to deliver games willing to put their own spin on familiar genres, even when the results don’t always hit the mark. In this roundup, we take a look at three recently released titles across PS5, from the nostalgic arcade skating of Skatesterre and the tongue-in-cheek beat ’em up action of John Fox to the cute-but-chaotic horde survival of Pets Survivors. Each approaches its chosen formula from a different angle, with some finding more success than others, but all three offer an interesting glimpse at the ideas smaller developers are bringing to the table. Here’s what we thought of them. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Skatesterre, John Fox & Pets Survivors”

From reality-bending hotels and nightmare worlds to underground labyrinths and inventive environmental puzzles, this latest batch of indie releases shows just how differently smaller studios can approach familiar genres. Hyperdrive Inn puts a wonderfully strange spin on the point-and-click adventure, Wake Up, Lia turns precision platforming into a story about confronting trauma, while Plungeez swaps combat for exploration and puzzle solving in a distinctly Brazilian setting. None of these games are without their rough edges, but each brings its own ideas and personality to the table, making them three very different experiences that nevertheless demonstrate why there is always something interesting to discover in the indie scene. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Hyperdrive Inn, Wake Up, Lia & Plungeez”

Indie releases continue to fill the gaps between the year’s biggest blockbusters, often experimenting with familiar ideas in ways that larger studios rarely attempt. This latest batch showcases that variety, ranging from tense multiplayer deception to inventive arcade action and a fresh spin on a classic formula. Not every experiment is an unqualified success, but each title brings at least one distinctive hook to the table, making for an interesting cross-section of the kinds of experiences that continue to keep the indie scene thriving. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Forest of Deceit, Mechaconda & Blast’N Bounty”

Not every indie release is trying to become the next breakout hit. Some experiment with unusual ideas, others focus on refining a single mechanic, and plenty are content to carve out a niche for a specific audience. This latest roundup covers three very different examples: a VR motocross stunt simulator that prioritises skill over speed, a psychological horror visual novel built around unsettling family secrets, and an unexpectedly addictive shooter that turns blasting away at a giant wall into a surprisingly compelling gameplay loop. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Stunt X Mania, The Fissure & Shoot The Wall”