PAX West 2019 had an overwhelming abundance of intriguing, innovative and inspired indie games. We were so impressed with these titles that many of them have robbed the attention of some of the bigger AAA juggernauts that were on the show floor. It’s easy to see why when you check out our list of the top 5 Indie Titles you should be keeping tabs on.
5. Untitled Goose Game
Developed by House House
It is what it is. Simply put, Untitled Goose Game is a game where you waddle around as a goose, disturbing well-to-do humans and creating a nuisance wherever you go. Developed by House House and Panic studios, the game features a beautiful watercolor aesthetic and a piano soundtrack that makes me nostalgic for those Saturday morning cartoons we all used to enjoy. The controls were simple, of course, since you’re a goose it should be simple.
But what is the goal of the game? Untitled Goose Game has light puzzles and a surprising stealth element that requires the goose to get into certain areas without being detected. You stealth your way through areas by distracting unsuspecting people. Untitled Goose Game had one of the longest lines at PAX West and for a game about a trolling goose, that seems about right. You won’t have to wait for long either, Untitled Goose Game is slated to hit PC and Nintendo Switch on September 20.
4. Hot Shot Burn!
Developed by Flaming Flamingo
Hot Shot Burn is a competitive action game that allows you to choose from a wild assortment of characters modeled after pop culture archetypes. From space marines to quirky aliens, the cast of characters looks like they just got plucked out of a Nickelodeon cartoon. Like Towerfall, one clean hit is all it takes as you have to also contend with hazardous surroundings. Use your environment wisely as you can bounce your fire off walls to gain an advantage in battle. This hilariously violent brawler was a blast to play and we can’t wait to get our hands on the game when it launches later this year on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
3. Young Souls
Developed by 1P2P
This is one of those games where I had to do a double-take as I walked past it. I was struck by its awesome 2D art style and how fluid the game looked. I had to step in and try it out for myself. What a pleasant surprise indeed. Young Souls is a dungeon-crawling RPG where a duo of red-headed warriors fights through over 70 dungeons. The game can be played solo or with a friend in co-op and part of its charm is how the duo interacts. Their style is infectious and it shines through in combat and dialogue. Young Souls doesn’t have a solid release date as of this writing but definitely keep tabs on this one.
‘Dell actually got a pretty sweet interview back at PAX East this year:
2. Blasphemous
Developed by The Game Kitchen
The 2D Souls-like genre continues to roll with Blasphemous, a brutal action platformer that demands your attention. With its tantalizing pixelated art style and swift controls, Blasphemous had me thinking about it long after I put the controller down. Unlike other games in the 2D Souls-like genre, Blasphemous allows players to move a lot more freely. You can parry, jump, and dodge in an instant without having to endure long and deliberate animation that is so prevalent in these games. Blasphemous is also unmistakably brutal, you’re slicing up enemies left and right and performing executions so violently I’m wondering how The Game Kitchen got away with it. Even so, It is as violent as it is beautiful and it’s coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on September 10.
1. Foregone
Developed by bigbluebubble
Inspired by Dark Souls gameplay, Foregone is a gorgeous combat platformer that had my eyes glued to the screen for longer than any game I played at PAX. There’s something about it’s sleek, pixel-artwork that evoked Dead Cells (a game I adore) but was different enough to make it stand out. Foregone isn’t interested in being another run-of-the-mill Dead Cells clone, It wants to take the genre in new directions by adding a strong sense of exploration as well as delivering a deep and challenging combat experience. I picked up the controls rather quickly, dodging my way through brutal enemy swings and parrying to my heart’s content.
At the center of Foregone is our protagonist, The Arbiter. She’s an all-around badass and – wait for it – she’s brown! She can wield an impressive assortment of weapons from guns, bows, to greatswords and daggers. She’s quite powerful but Foregone is still not a walk in the park, you’re expected to pick your battles wisely and maintain your distance if can’t size an enemy up. Foregone is slated for PC and Consoles in Winter 2019.
What did you think? Are any of these titles on your radar now? Leave a comment down below and keep it locked right here for more PAX West 2019 Coverage.
