Cyberpunk platformers, gallivanting geckos and different new indie video games value testing

Welcome to our newest roundup of what is going on on within the indie sport area. As soon as once more, there are some neat new video games so that you can take a look at this weekend. We have a bunch of updates and bulletins for upcoming titles to inform you about too.

There have been a bunch of strong indie showcases recently (and highlights from one other one to inform you about under). If you wish to study a ton of different video games ASAP, you would possibly wish to set your alarm fairly early on April 25.

Beginning at 5AM ET that day, the newest version of Indie Life Expo takes place on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Bilibili and elsewhere. This one will function greater than 200 video games! A rapid-fire Indie Waves section will energy by means of 160 of them. Organizers acquired 1,100 submissions for this installment, so hats off to them for that includes a large proportion of these.

Earlier than that, you may take a look at one other showcase on April 21. High Hat Studios Presents: Spring Showcase 2026 will begin at midday ET on the writer’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

The stream will function Motorslice, Properly Dweller and survival horror sport Becrowned, as nicely premieres and different High Hat video games. I have been trying ahead to Motorslice, which has a Might launch window. I wager we’ll get a exact launch date for that in this stream.

In the meantime, there’s an fascinating Steam occasion going down quickly. InterfaceX26 will run from April 27 till Might 4. This one is concentrated on video games that take care of made-up working methods and different customized interfaces. Organizers have introduced collectively greater than 150 builders and publishers, who’re asking Valve to introduce an official “Pretend OS” tag for video games on Steam.

Some neat video games might be included in a sale and a showcase on Might 2, together with Blippo+, TR-49 and The Roottrees are Lifeless. Count on demos and related new releases too. Talking of which…

New releases

We have been ready a very long time for Changed. This cyberpunk journey from Unhappy Cat Studios and writer Thunderful finally landed this week on Steam, GOG, Xbox on PC and Xbox Series X/S. It is on Recreation Cross Final and PC Recreation Cross. In any other case, the bottom sport prices $20. A supporter version that features the soundtrack is $25. It’s going to hit the Epic Games Store at a later date.

The sport was initially presupposed to arrive in 2022. It actually did not assist that Unhappy Cat Studios was pressured to relocate from Belarus to Cyprus after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However the sport is lastly right here and it debuted to usually optimistic critiques.

Changed is a 2.5D motion platformer set in an alternate model of Eighties America, through which you play as an AI trapped in a human physique that will or could not dream of electrical sheep. I have never but had an opportunity to correctly leap into this gorgeous-looking sport, however I am hoping to take action this weekend.

Talking of video games I’ve lengthy had on my wishlist, Gecko Gods arrived this week. I feel I first clapped eyes on this round 2022. Varied trailers charmed me with the concept of a puzzle exploration platformer that casts you within the position of a gecko that is in a position to run alongside partitions and ceilings.

I’ve performed round 90 minutes of this one thus far. I dig the look and the gecko may be very cute (having the ability to customise its look is a pleasant contact). I really like that you simply “acquire” several types of bugs by consuming them. It is a pretty stress-free sport, which is broadly what I would like on the minute.

I feel there are some points right here, although. I’ve explored two of the principle 5 islands within the open world and it feels a bit sparse thus far. The enjoyment of having the ability to clamber up and round any object complicates issues in relation to extra exact platforming sections. Whereas the crusing sections are fairly, the boat is clunky to regulate on the uneven water. I bumped into some gentle technical points as nicely on PS5 with occasional framerate dips and objects popping in. Hopefully, that is one thing the builders at Inresin are in a position to handle.

Gecko Gods — from publishers Tremendous Uncommon Originals and Gamersky Video games — is out there now on Steam, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. It is usually $20, however there is a 10 p.c launch low cost till April 30 (on PS5, this solely applies to PlayStation Plus members)

One other extremely anticipated sport landed this week within the type of Mouse: PI for Rent. We have had our eyes on this first-person shooter/detective sport with luxurious rubberhose-style animation for fairly a while. Evaluations have been usually optimistic thus far, and it appears that evidently there’s sufficient substance right here to dwell as much as these stellar visuals.

Mouse: PI for Rent — from Fumi Video games and writer PlaySide — is out now for $30. It is out there on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Thirsty Suitors developer Outerloop Video games and co-publisher Outersloth served up the cooking-themed Dosa Divas this week. It tells the story of two sisters who set out on a journey with their mech to take down a quick meals empire and reconnect communities by means of cooking.

It caught my eye after I noticed it throughout a showcase some time again and it has a fantastic idea, although I do not precisely love turn-based fight. I’ve learn a couple of lukewarm reviews of the sport, and the consensus appears to be that the cooking mechanics and fight maybe wanted some extra time to simmer.

If you would like to attempt Dosa Divas your self, you may decide it up on Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. It’s going to normally run you $20, however there is a 10 p.c launch low cost till April 28.

When you’re searching for a puzzle sport that may be stress-free or reasonably darkish, relying in your temper, it is likely to be value testing A Storied Life: Tabitha. As you pack up the house of a late liked one, you may have to resolve which gadgets to maintain within the restricted cupboard space you’ve gotten and discard the remaining. You will have to wrap fragile gadgets in bubble wrap and vacuum pack comfortable gadgets to save lots of room within the bins.

As you save gadgets, you may unlock phrases that you need to use to fill within the blanks of your beloved’s life and inform their story, Mad Libs-style. Given that you will discover gadgets like a blackmail letter and a shirt with lipstick on the collar, it looks like there’s lots of selection to the sorts of tales you may inform.

A Storied Life: Tabitha is out there on Steam now. It’s going to usually run you $15, however it can save you 10 p.c in case you purchase it earlier than April 28.

To spherical out this part, I’ll shortly word that Hades 2 is out now on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S for  $30, with a 20 p.c launch low cost. It is on Recreation Cross Final, Recreation Cross Premium and PC Recreation Cross too.

I purchased Hades 2 when Supergiant Video games introduced it to Steam early entry two years in the past, telling myself I might wait till the total sport was out. However I nonetheless have not gotten round to it but. There are at all times too many video games tugging at my fragile consideration span and Hades 2 light into the background for me. I actually should play it, I do know!

Upcoming

I am retaining an eye fixed out for Agefield Excessive: Rock the College from Refugium Video games. This non secular successor to Rockstar’s Bully is ready to reach this summer time on Steam. It emerged this week that it’s going to hit PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S later within the 12 months.

It is a coming-of-age journey through which you play as Sam, a younger lad who has moved to a brand new faculty within the early 2000s. He needs to make his previous few months of highschool a time to recollect.

There is a branching narrative with a number of endings right here — you may choose to go to lessons and be a very good scholar, or skip faculty and trigger bother. As a largely rule-abiding scholar approach again when, I might be tempted to go for the latter. This looks like a little bit of a life sim with a broad array of actions and methods to get into trouble. I’m trying ahead to it.

The newest version of the Galaxies Showcase — one more indie highlight occasion — came about this week and The Backworld caught my consideration. This can be a Mother-inspired RPG from Numor Video games and writer High Hat with charming artwork path (sure, I did see that one character doing a Naruto run), an intriguing mixture of characters and…

Oh no, why did the music cease? Why did it get so darkish hastily? What are these horrifying beasts which might be chasing my character? Yup, there is a heavy horror component right here. Numor took inspiration from The Backrooms as nicely.

The Backworld might be launched later this 12 months. A demo simply hit Steam.

A Examine in Blue, from Relate Video games, was one other spotlight of the Galaxies Showcase, thanks largely to that spectacular animation. This can be a point-and-click journey through which you play as two characters with advanced pasts: non-public detective Kenneth and runaway Blue.

You will discover a semi-open world and clear up crimes by accumulating clues and calling out characters’ lies. There are three intertwined story acts and a number of endings. A Steam demo that includes a aspect quest from the principle sport that’ll take round two hours to finish is out there now.

I am at all times going to be serious about any sport that riffs on The Legend of Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous. On the face of this trailer, Elementallis developer AnKae Video games appears to borrow fairly a little bit of the design language and different concepts from the SNES basic. Nonetheless, if you are going to crib from something, it might as nicely be the very best sport of all time.

This 2D motion RPG, which can be printed by High Hat and has a heavier deal with elemental powers than A Hyperlink to the Previous, appears very very similar to my type of jam. It is coming to Steam, GOG, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Collection X/S and Xbox One on April 28. Per the eShop itemizing, it’s going to value $18.