Some of the best pixel art indie games that I have curated or ones that just hit you right in the nostalgia with their retro feel.
A pretty faithful recreation and demake of P.T. as if it’s running on an old HyperCard from the 90s. Created for the Merveilles #HyperJam which has 25 other entries done in the same kind of style if that’s your cup of tea.
You can watch the full video play through by Mark Medina at IGN (which is where my edit comes from).
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Release: April 11, 2020
“Six towers, each hiding a mask that grants the power of a natural element. Obtain them all by navigating through a set of increasingly difficult twists and turns in Linked Mask – a captivating call-back to the golden days of the Game Boy era.”
Platforms: Windows
Release: 2020
A cute little pixel art adventure that I’ve been following for a short while on twitter. I decided to put together a collection of some of the gifs that they’ve posted over the last year as it really is a cool project with lots of neat details like the grass blowing in the wind and the beautiful water. I guess the salamander is okay too.
The main focus of the game seems like it will be exploring the quaint town and interacting with its citizens in order to further the story. Also included will be a splash of platforming, puzzle solving, and maybe the ability to throw balls of yarn at people. There was a mention of cooperative play but I’m not certain if that is still on the table as things do tend to change and it was brought up a while ago.
I think we can all agree writing is not my strong suit so rather than listening to me any further if you would like to learn more you can follow the developer Rujik on twitter or check out their blog below. 🙃
Platforms: TBA
Release: TBA
A cyberpunk action adventure game set in the same universe as the SCP Foundation, an organization that seeks out and captures individuals that break the natural law. There isn’t too much information on this but it’s part of the China Hero Project which aims to assist Chinese developers in bringing their games to a wider audience (including the West). Right now it seems like it’s coming out for PS4, but no word whether it’s exclusive or if more platforms are planned later.
Platforms: PS4
Release: TBA
“Help Jack survive his voyage of self-discovery! A local troublemaker makes a series of earth-shattering discoveries on the day he is supposed to leave home for a new life in the city.
“Mayhem in Single Valley is a thoughtful top-down action adventure. Its focus on family and everyday struggles mixed with its combat and puzzles provides an action-packed but emotional gameplay experience.”
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Release: 2020
“A roguelike deckbuilding game in space! Explore randomly generated systems, enemies and strange encounters. Build your deck, survive and reach For The Warp gate!”
Platforms: Windows
Release: March 27, 2020
“A story driven puzzle platformer where you must alter the age of animals and plant life around you to progress. Play as Kiara, a young girl who braves through heartache and loss as she journeys across a mysterious world to discovers its secrets and herself.”
Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch
Release: 2020
A gorgeous post-apocalyptic action adventure featuring cute cats and a photographic twist. There isn’t a lot of information go on in terms of what else you can do in the game (at least that I can find with Google translate), but a demo is planned for this summer so I suppose we will find out then.
I’m not sure how many areas there are to take pictures of but even if it’s limited the sense of depth it adds is wonderful for a 2D game, and it really makes me want to go exploring. What would you like to be able to photograph? 🦋
Platforms: TBA
Release: 2021
“An all new arcade lightgun dungeon crawl developed by Griffin Aerotech in collaboration with Devolver Digital and Dodge Roll. Explore and explode your way through an ever-evolving series of floors protected by the dangerously adorable Cult of the Gundead. Use your wits to discover uniquely fantastic weapons, insane power ups and hidden secrets to gain an edge against the Gundead horde.”
Platforms: Arcade Cabinet
Release: “early” 2020 (checks calendar) 👀
“One Step from Eden combines strategic deck-building and real-time action with rogue-like elements, giving you the chance to carve a path of mercy or destruction. Fight alone or with a friend in co-op as you cast powerful spells on the fly, battle evolving enemies, and collect game-changing artifacts. Can you make it to Eden or will your destruction be imminent?”
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Release: March 26, 2020