Category: Indie

This month, a surprisingly eclectic mix of indie titles has made the jump to PlayStation 5, offering everything from surreal tactics and retro precision-platforming to atmospheric horror and inventory puzzling. It’s a reminder of how diverse the smaller end of the market can be: Remnants of the Rift brings stylised dimension-hopping strategy to the console, Red Pippy channels classic 2D platforming charm, Hannah leans into dreamlike terror and symbolic storytelling, and Save Room – The Merchant expands on its tidy puzzle roots with a new merchant-driven twist. Continue reading “Port roundup: Remnants of the Rift, Red Pippy, Hannah & Save Room – The Merchant”

Today’s slate of indie releases on PlayStation 5 serves up a mix of compact puzzlers, inventive platformers, and atmospheric expansions that each carve out their own niche. From the bomb-laden labyrinths of Bomb Kitten to the shape-shifting heist challenges of Square Brothers, these games lean on clever mechanics and approachable design, offering bite-sized thrills for players seeking strategy and timing over spectacle. Meanwhile, Plague Hunters: Pestopolis expands a beloved roguelike universe with a darker, more tactical cityscape, proving that small-scale projects can still deliver depth and replayability. Across these releases, there’s a consistent thread: tight gameplay loops, modest yet effective presentation, and enough charm to engage both newcomers and genre enthusiasts alike. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Bomb Kitten, Square Brothers & Plague Hunters: Pestopolis”

Over the past few weeks, several smaller titles have found new life on PlayStation 5, each offering a distinct spin on familiar genres. Strike Force Heroes channels old-school shooter energy with a modern co-op edge, Instruments of Destruction turns creative chaos into its own kind of spectacle, and Beaked Buccaneer delivers a cheerful throwback to side-scrolling adventures. They may not all be household names, but together they highlight how indie and mid-scale projects continue to find new homes. Continue reading “Port roundup: Strike Force Heroes, Instruments of Destruction & Beaked Buccaneer”

Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke, developed by Super16bits and published by Eastasiasoft on consoles, places itself squarely in the side-scrolling bullet-hell shoot-’em-up category, with a strong visual identity rooted in yokai folklore and retro pixel-art flair. The player selects one of four yokai-inspired heroines, each supported by a unique assistant, and barrels through five levels filled with enemy hordes culminating in giant bosses. From the outset the game makes a strong aesthetic impression: vibrant, mystical Japanese-style pixel art frames both enemies and environments in bold colours, while the large boss sprites and fluid animations deliver on style. Continue reading “Twilight Parade – Moonlit Mononoke review (PS5)”

Indie studios continue to blur genre lines and surprise with distinctive ideas, as seen in this latest trio of releases and previews. Bloodgrounds offers a visceral twist on tactical combat, combining the grit of gladiatorial arenas with the structure of a city management sim where every fighter’s life carries weight. Shroomtopia takes a gentler route, inviting players to restore balance to a colorful world through hex-based puzzles and creative level-building tools. Meanwhile, Science Skaters turns the human body into a vibrant playground, blending platforming action with accessible science-themed puzzles in classic Didactoons fashion. Together, they showcase how smaller teams continue to push creativity across genres – from strategic brutality to calming logic play and even edutainment adventure. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Bloodgrounds, Shroomtopia & Science Skaters”