Monday we were able to start our day with a bevy of indie game announcements for the Nintendo Switch in a new series of Nintendo Direct titled– Indie World. Hosted by Kirk Scott and Katie Casper, the two disembodied voices divulged a deluge of delicious trailers and dates for twenty nine upcoming games. Here are some of the indie games shown that we can’t wait to play.
Hotline Miami Collection
Two games that all of us were pining for are finally being ported to the Switch with the Hotline Miami Collection. If you aren’t familiar with Hotline Miami or its sequel Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number get ready for blood, bullets, and a barrage of emotions as you maneuver yourself through this top down action game where your wits and strategy are just as important as your trigger finger. With access to a plethora of ranged and melee weapons, these two indie gems are not only a challenge to finish but exude replayability with high scores and different unlockable mask abilities that offer up additional ways to play through the games. A snappy and addicting gameplay loop is accompanied by a soundtrack that accentuates the vibe of this neon noir. Oh, and it’s out now.
SUPERHOT
A hallmark indie title, a revolutionary first person shooter, SUPERHOT blends puzzle solving with a sense of urgency due to rushing enemies. In a world where everything revolves around your movement, your enemies move and attack when you move, forcing the player to make decisive choices when planning their route through a stage. Learning when to be aggressive or defensive will ultimately help you reach your goal. Watching the red stream of bullets barreling towards your head will never get old. SUPERHOT is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Blasphemous
Blasphemous looks as if the developers– The Game Kitchen– paired the difficulty with the aesthetic. An intense action-platformer with a mix of macabre and religious tones culminating in an experience that’s seeking to etch its way into your cerebral matter. Strikinhg pixel art, a sprawling world that rewards exploration, and a narrative laced adventure are all checkmarks in the boxes of games to watch out for. Though, this is one I’ll probably need to leave the lights on for while playing. Blasphemous launches on Nintendo Switch on September 26th.
Eastward
With an art direction that meshes retro pixels with modern lighting techniques, Eastward appears to be a promising sci-fi narrative set in a crumbling world full of dungeons, monsters, and mysterious characters. Inspired by games like The Legend of Zelda and Mother (Earthbound)– you navigate this RPG as John and Sam, hoping to uncover the mystery of why the world around you is in ruin. Look for Eastward to land on the eShop sometime in 2020.
Spiritfarer
A change of pace from most of the other games shown off in the Indie World Direct, Spirtfarer is a management game where you are farming, fishing, mining, and helping your spirit friends pass over into the afterlife. Learning how to build a bond with your spirit companions and help them cross over should be an experience that may even help you deal with loss and letting go. Looking forward to sailing the mystical sea when Spiritfarer launches in Spring 2020.
Creature In The Well
Having had the opportunity to play Creature In The Well at PAX East 2019 and chat with Adam and Bohdon about their pinbrawler, I can absolutely place my stamp of approval and share my excitement for this. Set in a world buried in sand, you must help bring power back to the city and defeat the Creature that dwells within. Using your sword and energy orbs, travel throughout a collection of dungeons, solving puzzles, and upgrading your weapons and armor to help you on your journey.
For some of my impressions on the game already you can listen to episode 157 of the Pass The Controller Podcast, and look for my review to drop shortly before the game is released.
Freedom Finger
A recipient of one of Pass The Controller’s “Best Of PAX East 2019” awards, Freedom Finger is a hand drawn shmup featuring a stellar voice cast, a cavalcade of contributing musicians, and the ability to use your enemies as your weapons. If you are interested in reading our full preview from PAX East, you can check that out here.
Sparklite
Being in love with The Legend of Zelda, it’s hard for a top-down adventure game to not at least spark– I’m sorry– an interest in me. But on top of having gorgeous pixel art, the addition of rougelite elements is helping Sparklite shape up to be something worth keeping an eye on. There’s a gaggle of guns, gadgets, and weapons to acquire throughout your journey to save the world of Geodia from the devious plan that The Baron has cooked up. With an ever-changing procedurally generated overworld– due to the power of the Sparklite core occasionally affecting the game world– the game will keep things fresh by these keeping you on your toes as you traverse. Look for Sparklite to land on Switch later this Fall.
PHOGS!
PHOGS! is a franticly fun puzzle platformer for one or two players to bark and bite their way through twenty-four zany levels spread out across multiple themed worlds. Controlling the best doggos this side of the galaxy, Red and Blue, players can work together to conquer the craziness that these two connected canines have found themselves in. Sure to bring a smile to your fave, look for PHOGS! to wag its way onto the Nintendo Switch early next year.
Skater XL
In a world where skateboarding games have fallen out of the spotlight, and games in this genre are scarce, developer Easy Day Studios is looking to bring it back to the streets with Skater XL. Promising impressive physics and intuitive, fluid controls you can take your tricks to some legendary real world locations to grind, flip, and manual your way to high scores and bragging rights. With never before seen board control, each trick will never quite be the same with how the board balances between your feet each time you take to the air. Look for Skater XL to land on Switch in 2020.
What The Golf?
Not your typical game of golf. What The Golf? is about getting things in the hole– for the most part. With each course bringing something completely wacky and ridiculous to the green, using golf physics you’ll be hitting everything from houses to cars to cats. We had the chance to see the game in action this year at PAX East and it’s just the kind of crazy we wanted to see on the links. What The Golf? launches on Switch this Winter.
HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed
Big battles in even bigger settings, especially when your point of view is from the toys on the floor. HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed has you and up to three friends teaming up or squaring off in first person combat in online or offline split screen multiplayer. With over thirty buildable toys to help defend your base from enemies and a variety of unlockable customizations, you can create the toy soldier of your dreams and show off in your shiny new plastic while wiping the kitchen counter with the tears of your adversaries. HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed brings the battle to your home, and Switch this Winter.
Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition
One of the crown jewels on the Xbox is finding a new audience on the Switch next month when Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition arrives. Beautifully hand drawn and painted visuals, an orchestrated soundtrack that evokes the same love and loss that the narrative expounds, and top tier action platforming all help solidify Ori and the Blind Forest as one of the best Metroidvanias out there. You won’t want to miss out when Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition releases on the Nintendo Switch on September 27th.
Aside from these games we chose to highlight there are still tons of enticing adventures awaiting you in the other games shown off during the Indie World Direct. Here’s the full list of games that were announced as well as any dates or release windows associated with them:
- Risk of Rain 2 Summer 2019
- Eastward 2020
- Freedom Finger Fall 2019
- Roki Winter
- Torchlight II September 3rd, 2019
- Skater XL 2020
- Youropa Winter
- Superhot Available Now
- Dungeon Defenders: Awakened February 2020 timed console exclusive
- The Touryst November 2019
- Skellboy December 3rd, 2019
- Earth Night 2019
- Hotline Miami Collection Available Now
- Blasphemous September 26th, 2019
- Close To The Sun 2019
- Cat Quest II Fall 2019
- Spiritfarer Spring 2020
- Trine 4 The Nightmare Prince October
- Creature In The Well September 6th, 2019
- One Finger Death Punch 2 December
- Best Friend Forever February 14th, 2020
- PHOGS! Early 2020
- What The Gold? Winter
- KINE 2019
- HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed Winter
- Northgard September 24th, 2019
- Sparklite Fall 2019
- Munchkin: Quacked Quest Fall 2019
- Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition September 27th, 2019
For all things indie game related keep it locked to Pass The Controller. For a deeper dive on video games and nerd culture check out the Pass The Controller Podcast with new episodes weekly. Want to continue the conversation with us? Join the official Pass The Controller Discord server to chat with us and our community.
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