10 Indie Games You Absolutely Need

Video games

For a week, Steam users were able to try dozens of titles coming this year. Here are my favorites from the Steam Neo Fest.

NAKAWASHI / jvmag

During the Steam Neo Fest which took place this year from June 10 to 17, I was finally able to test games that were gathering dust in my wishlist. I wanted to share with you the 10 independent games that did not leave me indifferent.

In terms of flagship titles, Nintendo notably presented three upcoming games from its most famous universes.

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

>> Sort sur Steam, PS5, Xbox X|S et Nintendo Switch.

It’s a 2D platformer/adventure game with “metroidvania” elements (some passages are accessible to us after unlocking new gameplay elements) in a universe filled with Japanese folklore. I’ve been following Squid Shock studio on Twitter for a few years now, and they’ve been sharing their progress with us. So I was delighted when they offered us their demo to test on Steam.

On their Kickstarter page they mention some of their inspirations, such as the Okami games, Hollow Knight, Celeste or even Japanese anime like Attack on Titan, Spirited Away or Demon Slayer. You can also listen to the game’s soundtrack via this same page.

Our review of Paper Mario and the Millennium Door:

I totally found what I was looking for. It’s a game with a pleasant universe and one that you can easily get carried away by through the game art and sound design, a difficulty that is just right during the fights, and a story that makes you want to know more as well as nice possibilities for progression.

>> His exit is scheduled for July 18, 2024on all platforms.

Albatross

>> Sort sur Steam, PS5, Xbox X|S

It was obviously the visuals of the game that got me interested in it. In Albatroz, we play Isla, a young woman who leaves her classic daily life to go look for her missing brother while trying to reach a mountain called Albatroz.

In this third-person game, you will have to manage your food, thirst and energy gauges while having to survive surrounded by sublime landscapes, and discovering places full of mysteries.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the Among Giants studio will offer us with their full game. The Steam page tells us about an introspective tale, a story about knowing when to let go and start from scratch.

>> You can still test the demo, it’s here. The game will be available on the following platforms: PS5. Xbox X|S and Steam. It will be released in 2024.

Lost and Found Co.

Released on Steam.

Here’s a little gem that probably won’t please everyone, it’s an interactive “Where’s Waldo” – and not just for kids!

Bit Egg Games offers us this little game with boards full of details and secrets. It’s ultra-cute and yes, I’m totally a fan and they update their demo very regularly at the moment. A toaster will be enough to make it run, it’s very accessible for young AND old and in addition, it will be available in French, which is very pleasant especially for the youngest.

Unfortunately there is no no release date planned yet. You can already enjoy it quite a bit with their new demo. I’ll let you enjoy the trailer broadcast during the Wholesome Direct.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie

>> Disponible sur Steam, PS5, XBox X|S et Nintendo Switch

Here is a narrative adventure where we will make decisive choices, leading to different possible endings. We play Polly in search of her mother. She returns to her hometown after several long years, and realizes that many things have changed. Quickly, a particular event is triggered and we arrive at Reverie. I won’t say more here to leave you the pleasure of discovering for yourselves.

The system is similar to a visual novel with a tree allowing us to make our choices, freeing up unique branches to arrive at these famous different endings. I thought it was a good way to make us concerned about the Reverie situation.

The story is gripping, the game art is nice and I was immersed in the story very quickly: it seems full of twists and turns and I can’t wait for the sequel. Besides, I didn’t play the demo in full, to keep the fun once I can play the full game.

>> The game was released on June 8th on all platforms.

Phoenix Springs

>> Coming to Steam (Windows, MacOS and Linux)

Like many people, I have a great passion for points and clicks. The game art of this one is sublime, see for yourself. We play as Iris Dormer and we try to find our brother (there are definitely a lot of lost people in this article).

Here, there are no real puzzles to solve like in classic points and clicks, but we move forward in the form of an investigation.

A sort of mental map will then be formed, which will allow us to move forward and perhaps find the traces of our brother. It is Calligram Studio which offers us this beautiful immersive and interactive experience. It’s three people between France and England and if I’m not mistaken, it’s their first game. So stay tuned!

>> The game will be released September 16, 2024 on Steam for Windows, Mac and Linux!

Tiny Bookshop

>> Released on Stream (Windows, MacOS and Linux)

Neoludic games, a studio based in Cologne in Germany, offers us a narrative and cozy game with management elements where we can open our small mobile bookstore by the sea. You will have to get in touch with the local inhabitants to learn more on what they like, to supply our stock and satisfy their daily bookish needs. It is possible to personalize our trailer depending on the day and perhaps also solve a mystery that hangs over the area.

>> The game was released on June 8, 2024.

Mirthwood

>> Sort sur Stream

A 180° change of atmosphere to tell you about Mirthwood: a farm simulation RPG in a hand-drawn medieval fantasy universe. We start by defining our character according to several starting characteristics. Like any self-respecting farm simulation game, we can build our farm, plant vegetables and other seeds, improve our tools, explore the region, fight and socialize with the other inhabitants of the island.

I still find it unique in its bloody and bizarre style, I would happily play it alongside Stardew Valley. A very nice entry for this Steam Neo Fest. We are waiting for its release during the third quarter of 2024.

Wax Heads

>> Sort sur Steam (Windows, Linux)

You’ve probably already played a restaurant management game: customers arrive with their orders and you have to keep the kitchen running to serve them quickly.

Here, we’re not in Overcooked or Plate Up! to serve food: Patattie Games transforms us into vinyl sellers and I still find that rather original! We follow the lives of our customers on social networks (as well as what they think of our service, it’s quite funny). The visual universe fits the delirium absolutely well.

I recommend you to try the demo on Steam! We don’t have a set date for its release yet unfortunately.

The Star Named EOS

>> Sort sur Steam, PS5 et XBox X|S et Nintendo Switch

Silver Lining Studio already amazed us with their game Behind the Frame in 2021. Here they are again with this new title filled with puzzles and poetry on the theme of photography. The game starts with young Dei: a photographer wishing to follow in the footsteps of his missing mother (definitely).

We are in his room and immediately we start to inspect the objects around us. The puzzles fall into place and I found the difficulty well measured and logical, absolutely not far-fetched. Each of them tells a part of Dei’s life. We then understand that everything is not clear with the disappearance of his mother. We therefore set off in search of the truth about his disappearance.

>> The game releases July 23, 2024 on all platforms.

The Alters

>> Sort sur Steam, PS5 et XBox X|S

11 bits studio had already offered us various rather notable titles like Frostpunk, This war of mine, Moonlighter and The invincible. Here they are back with The Alters, an intriguing new game which seems to contain plenty of mysteries, with complete and original gameplay. The latter being tested during the Steam Neo Fest.

We play Jan Dolski, the only survivor to land on an uninhabited and unexplored planet, and must reach our base as quickly as possible. A catastrophe is coming and we can’t do anything alone. That’s the tragedy: there is no one else.

While exploring the planet, we come across a rare and sought-after resource. It will then allow us to use a machine from our base used for cloning. I found this aspect incredibly well done: the timeline of our own lives, taking a new path in order to bring to life an alternative version of ourselves.

A new person in their own right? I feel like the game introduces quite a few interesting topics and I can’t wait to play the full version.

>> He will be released in 2024 sur PS5, Steam et XBox X|S.