Indie Gaming Hidden Gems You’ve Got to Play

It seems like every day a new game drops on the market. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, particularly for hardcore gamers like yourself. But sometimes the variety of games can feel overwhelming, even more so if you play on multiple platforms. Indie games especially seem to get lost in the shuffle. Trying to find a good indie game can feel like searching for buried treasure without a map. 

Don’t fret matey! We have found the map and X marks the spot. From Android to Windows to Nintendo Switch, these are the very Best Hidden Indie Gems. 

Dark Future: Blood Red States

Platform: Microsoft Windows 

Price: $24.99

Auroch Digital’s Dark Future: Blood Red States is a car combat strategy game. In fact, Dark Future was originally a 1988 post-apocalyptic board game. The UK based indie developers have stated that they rebooted Dark Future as a video game because the themes and storylines of the game are still prevalent 30 years later. 

The premise of the game is simple: society has collapsed. Not only is there no government to keep order, the people are struggling to survive against increased pollution and climate change. Gangs roam the streets and you take on the role of sheriff in this futuristic Wild West. With only your trusty steed, you take to the roads in an attempt to keep order. 

With great graphics and controls, Dark Future: Blood Red States is one hidden gem that should be on everyone’s list. 

True Fear: Forsaken Souls 

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, Microsoft Windows, iOS, macOS

Price: $8.99 

Goblinz’s True Fear: Forsaken Souls is a mystery escape/hidden object game. This psychological thriller is the first installment in a trilogy. Play as Holly Stonehouse, a woman who has just received a letter from her sister… her missing sister. The letter contains an address that leads to an abandoned cabin in the woods. However, something is off about this cabin and the letter. You wonder if it was really your sister who sent the letter or has someone (or some thing) led her here. 

True Fear: Forsaken Souls has a simply horrifying story that will haunt you even after you step away from the screen. With the engaging plot, challenging puzzles and a great soundtrack, I think you just found your next horror game… or did it find you? 

 

Carto 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS

Price: $19.99

In this obscure indie, you play as Carto, a young girl who has lost her granny after being caught in a storm. The goal of this adventure RPG is to reunite Carto with Granny. To do this, you must puzzle together parts of the world’s map using Carto’s cartographical skills.   

 “Cute” was one of the most common words that players used when describing Sunhead Games’ Carto. So, if you are looking for some more cuteness in your life, along with and excellent adventure game, check out this hidden indie gem.  

The Supper

Platform: Microsoft Windows 

Price: free

This short adventure game will enthrall you as you play as Ms. Appleton, a cook who has a Voice that won’t go away. This Voice is very insistent that she cook up something sinisterly special to serve to some of her guests. 

Explore Ms. Appleton’s world, solve puzzles, cook and devise devious dishes. Developed by Octavi Navarro, The Supper promises to captivate anyone into adventure and devilish recipes.

Hypercharge: Unboxed 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

Price: $19.99

Described as a “love letter to the toys of the 80s and 90s,” Hypercharge: Unboxed is a nostalgic first and third-person shooter. Digital Cybercherries put a lot of love into developing this game, and players can tell. 

You play as an Action Figure and your mission is to prevent the Hypercore from being destroyed. Navigate through a home that will probably remind you of where you grew up… or at least the house from Toy Story. You will adventure through the kitchen, backyard, bedrooms and more to use everyday items to your advantage. Build up defenses and stand your ground as wave after wave of enemies try to destroy the Hypercore. With single player, multiplayer and online co-op options, Hypercharge: Unboxed has something for everybody.   

Necrobarista 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, macOS

Price: $19.99

Necrobarista is a visual novel. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this genre, visual novels are, as you might imagine, narratively driven. These text-based storylines are often punctuated with anime-styled animation. 

Route 59’s Necrobarista combines two things that almost every human often thinks about: coffee and death. Because what goes better with your morning cup of joe than necromancy? 

This visual novel is available in 14 languages, so no matter where you are in the world you can partake in this stunning and well-written title. 

Welcome to Elk 

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, macOS

Price: $14.99

Welcome to Elk is a hand drawn quirky adventure RPG like no other. This title’s developer, Triple Topping, has weaved together multiple true stories into one impactful narrative arc. Play as Frigg, a city slicker that travels to the small town of Elk for a carpentry apprentice. Frigg expects her apprenticeship to be calm and mostly boring, but she couldn’t be more wrong. 

Providing engaging characters and a masterful plotline, your emotions will be pulled in every direction. From tragic to funny to thought provoking. The title is not family friendly, however and  features adult content and themes; so keep that in mind before you download.    

Welcome to Elk has won various awards, including the Most Creative Game at Play Festival 2019 and Story Award Winner at Indie Arena Booth 2019. So, this is definitely one hidden indie gem that you don’t want to miss out on.  

The Pedestrian 

Platforms: Android, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

Price: $19.99

You are driving down the street and you see a familiar yellow street sign on the side of the road. This one is warning you that pedestrians could be crossing. You know this because the sign has a simple stick figure-esque drawing of a Pedestrian crossing a road. You have probably never given that Pedestrian a second thought. Well, that is going to change because the Pedestrian is about to become your whole world. 

Skookum Arts’ Pedestrian is a superb side-scrolling puzzle-platform game. You rearrange street signs to help the pedestrian cross to the other side of the road. This simple and unique game will captivate you with its engaging gameplay and relaxing music. 

Night in the Woods

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux

Price: $19.99

Infinite Fall’s single player adventure game follows Mae, a college dropout who returns to her small, former mining town. With no plans for her future, Mae expected to live her life aimlessly and reconnect with old friends. But things are different now. Her friends have grown and changed since she left. The town itself seems different. 

And there is something in the woods. 

Night in the Woods has everything you want: a well written story, great characters, fun animation and a rocking soundtrack. If this isn’t a hidden indie gem, then I don’t know what is. 

Contributor Macy Pingree hails from the deep valleys of Utah. She spends her time dodging hiking engagements and other outdoor activities so she can hunker down indoors to write, read, or watch an ungodly amount of television. See lots more of her work at https://www.hardcoredroid.com/author/mpingree/