Last week, we gave you10 2020 releasesthat you absolutely shouldn’t miss. However, that list mostly dealt with the biggest games of 2020. What about all the awesome games being made by smaller studios? Well, here’s the list for them. Below are 15 incredible-looking games coming from the indie scene in 2020.
Before we start, it’s important to note that with the continually growing indie space in games, there are hundreds of games that could easily make this list. I’ve capped the list at 15 mostly for my sanity, but the initial shortlist for this article was a mile long. Here are a few extra honorable mentions you should give a look:TemTem,Boyfriend Dungeon, Griftlands, Minute of Islands, Sable, Roki, Baldo, Garden Story, Ikenfell, Knuckle Sandwich, andShe Dreams Elsewhere. I also chose to not includeAxiom Verge 2, as that was already covered in last week’s article. Anyways, on to the list.
Lenna’s Inception
ThisLegend of Zelda-like from Bytten Studio is actuallyout this week. You play as an unlikely hero in a procedurally generated world that flips from 8- to 32-bit pixel art. It looks to turn the typical conventions of the genre on its head with a wild storyline that features multiple endings. You can also play the game with a friend in local co-op.A Link to the Pastis my all-time favorite game, so any game that looks to iterate on that excellent formula is automatically something I’ll be paying attention to.
12 Minutes
Time loops are all the rage these days after the excellentOuter Wildstook the world by storm last year. Interestingly,12 Minutesis another Annapurna-published game that explores themind-bending concept. WhileOuter Wildshad you exploring an entire galaxy,12 Minutes’ experience is a bit more intimate. As a husband trying to share a romantic evening with his wife, you’ll discover the many secrets taking place inside your apartment. On the surface, it might not sound like the most thrilling concept on this list, but everything I’ve seen has been very impressive.
Cook, Serve, Delicious 3
Before seeing this in action, I wasn’t really sure if the world needed anotherCook, Serve, Deliciousgame. After all, how much more cooking, serving, and delciousing can a person reasonably expect to do? And then I saw that the game takes place in the post-apocalyptic US and you play as the owner of a food truck. As you travel across America, you must both cook food and fight off roving bands of evil cooks. It’s hard to imagine a cooking game with a better elevator pitch than this one.
Earthbound-like games are a dime a dozen these days. The SNES classic made a major impact on the developers of today, and we’re seeing that love play out in games likeLISA,Citizens of Earth, and, of course,Undertale. However, there’s something aboutEastward’sstylethat really sticks out to me. While other games have done a great job of capturingEarthbound’scharm and gameplay,Eastwardalso nails the look. If I close my eyes and imagine whatEarthboundwould look like in 2020,Eastwardisn’t far off. Hopefully, the team at Pixpil can nail everything else it’s going for just as well.
Sports Story
Golf Storyis my favorite game for Nintendo Switch. Full stop. And now Sidebar Games is addingtennis and dungeonsand espionage and buried treasure and a meeting with a queen? I need this game yesterday. IfGolf Storywasn’t up your alley, this probably won’t be either, but for us beings of superior intellect,Sports Storyis set to be one of the most exciting releases of 2020. I cannot wait.
The Red Lantern
The Red Lanternbasically looks likeFTLexcept instead of crossing the galaxy, you’re racing the Iditarod with a team of the best boys. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the bookStone Fox. So, a game that lets me play out the fantasy of racing Searchlight through the Alaskan wilderness is very much right up my alley. My only worry is how brutal the game looks. The trailer has a scene where a bear attacks one of your dogs and I really hated watching it. Hopefully, that’s a rarity or else this might just become an idea I love and not a game I play.
Spelunky 2
Spelunkyremains one of the best rogue-likes on the market. The platforming is tight and the game has so many awesome secrets for you to discover. The sequel looks to bemore of the sameand I can’t wait to join the community in uncovering all the weirdness that lies within. This spot could also easily go toUFO 50, which is another Derek Yu project I’ve been waiting for with bated breath. Crazy to think both games are likely for 2020.
Spiritfarer
This is aresource management simthat is all about dying. You play as a ferrymaster to the deceased. As you craft your way across the world, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to improve your custom death ferry.Spiritfarerhas a unique setting that is well worth a look. However, the thing that really made me pay attention is the game’s visuals. The hand-drawn art quickly catches the eye and seeing it in motion is even better. I’m intrigued to see if the game’s look and premise are matched by its quality.
Spoiler alert for 2016’sInside.Carrionis like thatending sequencewhere you play as the gigantic amorphous blob except that’s the entire game. Oh, and this blob is straight out of a horror movie and is very interested in eating everything. Publisher Devolver Digital describes it as “a reverse horror game” and I have to agree. The way the blob moves through the levels is both deeply unsettling and incredibly cool.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Y’all remember howHollow Knightis one of the best Metroidvania games of the last decade or so? Or how it was a perfect match for Nintendo Switch? Well, how would you feel if I told you Team Cherry was going to do more of that except evenmore polished? Great news! That’s what happening and it’s going to be great.
Ori and the Will of Wisps
If you are a fan of sequels to tough-as-nails platformers with Metroidvania elements, 2020 is going to be a great year. Getting bothOri and the Will of the WispsandHollow Knight: Silksongin the same year seems like an embarrassment of riches. Plus,Axiom Verge 2is coming, which is a bit different, but still sits in that same realm. Personally,Oriis the one I’m least excited about; however, I can’t deny that this willprobably be great.
Mineko’s Night Market
Mineko’s Night Marketis maybe thecutest gameon this list. The “adventure/merchant simulator” wears itsAnimal Crossinginspiration on its sleeve. However, developer Meowza Games aims to put a much bigger emphasis on narrative and crafting. You play as a young girl named Mineko who has arrived on an island filled with cats. Your options for what to do are varied, but discovering the game’s secrets and preparing for the weeklyNight Marketis paramount.Mineko’s Night Marketlooks like it could fill a similar space to games likeStardew Valley. Great experiences to sit back, relax, and let wash over you.
Cris Tales
Cris Talesis billed as “a love letter to classic JRPGs”, but witha big twist. The game lets you simultaneously see the past, present, and future of your actions, which results in some fascinating situations. Maybe you warp your enemy into the future to make them older and weaker. Or you warp yourself to the past to make you shorter and are able to more easily dodge an attack. It’s an innovative idea that has major gameplay and narrative implications. The best part aboutCris Talesis that there is a demo out on Steam right now. So, if you’re interested, you can go check it out and see if this game is up your alley.
Murder by Numbers
Picrossis one of the best types of puzzle games in video games. However, outside ofPicross 3D, there haven’t been that many innovations in the genre.Murder by Numberslooks to change that by adding amurder mystery narrativeto the game. What a perfect marriage! And the whole thing is set to a score from Masakazu Sugimori who countsPhoenix Wright: Ace AttorneyandViewtiful Joeamong their credits. I need this game now.
Emily is Away <3
Both games in theEmily is Awayseries are incredibly moving experiences, especially for those of us who grew up in the time of MSN Messenger and AIM. The third game takes the series forward toa Facebook analogue. It’s tough to say if this release will hit as hard as the first two, but given the pedigree, I’m pretty confident in saying thatEmily is Away <3will be worth your time.
Obviously, the number of video games releasing in 2020 is vast. It would be a herculean task to try and cover everything. However, this list should be a great reference point for games to put on your radar. Of course, the best indie game of 2020 might not even be announced yet, but you can rest assured that when it is, DualShockers will be there to cover it.
