All right! Been wanting to do an indie game rec video for awhile, so here it is finally. Hopefully there is something in here that is new to you and that you really enjoy. If not, I am sorry that I failed you.
I know you probably have a huge backlog, but check out phenotopia awakening, it's one of the greatest games I've ever played and I never hear anyone talk about it
For real though, everyone reading this comment, please please please play CrossCode. Raz is absolutely right and it should be talked about the same way we talk about other indie masterpieces.
I've played CrossCode and I honestly don't get what people see in it. Seems like it does just about everything on-par but never excels. I haven't finished it but I did experience pretty much all sides of the game - tried out all the dungeons I unlocked so far, got good grade loot by keeping the combo multiplier up, found a bunch of secret spots (except for bosses, the rewards were underwhelming) and tried to talk with people and do guild stuff. There are great combat games or great puzzle games or great exploration games or great narrative games and I don't care if they do something absolutely poorly but CrossCode is just "good" at best and "kind of OK" at worst (assuming they fixed some bugs since I played - which I've heard they did!)
The big problem with it, for me, is... It's extremely long. Ain't nobody got time for that. Especially if I could do Mass Effect trilogy or the Witcher 3 in a similar time.
Dude this game is a legit hidden gem. Even for how popular it is there are SO many gamers who don't know about this game and it's a shame. Anyone who is a fan of really crisp and fun combat mixed with Zelda-style puzzle dungeons and boss fights and world exploration is seriously missing out on CrossCode.
Im glad so many people are talking about crosscode but kinda feels like its overshadowing the rest of the games on the list! All of these games deserves some love im sure!
Is it too hard to play? I see games like hollow night, binding of isaac or celeste reccomended all the time but hard games frustrate me a lot and make me abandon the game, so i haven't bought them.
@@helloguy8934 depends on where you are. i'd say the first major dungeon is the big early game hook, and the jumping puzzles have a massive spike in complexity in the zone immediately afterwards. that's also about when you start running into more interesting overworld enemies
Crosscode is a game with my favourite elements combined: 1) An open world with tons of secrets to find 2) Puzzles that incorporate well the mechanics of the game, and are pretty much just the right difficulty 3) Awesome fluid combat 4) That sweet sweet pixel art
I used to never like pixel-art, and I still often prefer 3D, but some games just get it right, you know? Right now imo, 3D games are too common and most art styles are boring because they all try to be realistic. Pixel-art often gives the chance to try something new. I only ever like the pixel-art if it actually tries to do that something new
@@littlehorn0063 Played that too, great game! There are some similarities, but they're very different games. You could compare them to Sekiro vs Dark Souls/Elden Ring. Where HLD focuses on a very narrow set of polished combat abilities, CrossCode has an insane variety of combat and equipment options where each fight feel like puzzles of their own! CrossCode also has a very touching story. I still recall it years later. Unsighted is also a very similar game to these two, btw, with its own strengths.
Maybe my expectations were too high because everyone and their mother was calling it the saddest game ever, but Before Your Eyes didn’t really click with me. That’s not to say it isn’t a good game, of course. It’s gorgeous, and the writing is solid, but I just sort of... lost interest after the big turning point. (Trying to avoid spoilers, but I can go into more detail if you're interested in discussing it further.)
I just want to know how long the game is, and how good your webcam needs to be to play it. I'm running an old ass HP that has the webcam quality of an iPhone 3
@@nokutenda4081 you can still play it with a mouse if you're having webcam issues and still enjoy the story. The total time it took me to complete it is about 90 minutes so you can finish it in one session.
its so good to see momodora being recomended, as an brazilian its really makes me happy to see national games being acknowledge by others, especially because you are one of my favorite youtubers
I'm happy with how much love Crosscode is getting in the comments, I didn't think this many people were into it! Thanks for bringing more attention to it, I completely agree that it should be mentioned along with all the other Indie darlings.
i don´t know if you are aware, what power you hold, Razbuten... i literally put every single game in this video on my Steam wishlist. it´s incredible how passionate you talk about the things you love. if i ever make my own game, i´ll have to make sure you play it :D
May I add “What Remains of Edith Finch”. it’s a game you can just play over and over again and everytime you play you start to find ways that all the stories tie together. seriously an amazing play
@@risu2312 I get that! but when i replayed it i got so much more of the story and found a lot of things that you don’t really notice when you’re just figuring out the game
I haven’t actually played any of these, so looks like I have plenty to do, I had the intention of playing Obra Dinn after hearing you talk about it on stream before but I had no idea half these existed, so thanks raz.
@@st.altair4936 I’ve seen so many good things from the comments on this video about crosscode, so it must be good. I can’t wait to try it as it seems like something I’d love, and it looks great too.
Grab yourself a copy of Obra Dinn, PLEASE! It's a really well put together title, and, as Mr Bag-over-his-face said, makes you feel both stupid and smart. If you've got someone to play with I would recommend with. Having another person to bounce thoughts off of helped me putting together clues faster than I could have on my own. Plus, it's more fun to play Sherlock when you have a Watson 😄
I saw this and immidiately thought, "if crosscode isn't on this list, I'm going to be really, REALLY disappointed." Needless to say, I am not disappointed
@@BirdMoose The new home DLC adds some really great story elements to the game as well as a new area and a really awesome dungeon. I would definitely recommend playing the DLC after beating the base game
@@BirdMoose Yes. The game is considered a little 'unfinished' by many without the DLC. That's not to say the base game is lacking in content at all(it's genuinely a large scale RPG with all that entails), it's that it leaves some story threads loose. Further, the base game and DLC are so affordable given what you get for it, it's a no brainer. Though if you're concerned about it, there's no harm in just getting the base game first, and then buying the DLC later once you're sure you're enjoying the game enough to want it, as the DLC is all post-base game content, essentially.
I'm definitely guilty of gushing about how great CrossCode is to all my friends. Since its story is really the core, one can say only so much without spoiling the experience tho. Can't really be streamed or let's played. I feel this is a part of why it seems to be a bit of a hidden gem.
I've been loving indie games recently, partly due to the fact that the mainstream studios really aren't doing much and partly because the indie genre has some of the most creative ideas I've ever seen in a videogame
That's the great thing about Indies, they have to be good or revolutionary to get noticed while AAA Studios can just release 10 games in like 3 years hoping that one of them is good
Same. I don't even really blame AAA publishers. They're sales first oriented and a lot have shareholders they have a responsibility to. And as much as we want it to, "different" doesn't have nearly as good a track record sales wise as "safe". There's a reason why most AAA games are long running franchises that get destroyed by fans when they do something off course or have a single blemish. Large companies HAVE to focus on recouping costs and have a lot more expenses (employees, marketing, etc) and AAA publishers have employees dedicated to researching what sales and capitalizing on that. Not that there aren't great AAA games, but indies have somewhat more freedom to just be creative and fun projects (though I'm sure there are indie studios focusing on money). I even love how often indie games are shorter (whereas it feels like every AAA game wants 200% of my time). But most of what I love indies for wouldn't sell well enough to the general market. Plus there's just a much larger volume of indies, so better chances for finding a gem you love.
@@zUJ7EjVD While they have dramatically greater costs and so can't afford to be as niche as indies, AAA games don't need to be nearly as broad appeal as they generally go for. Stuff like Monster Hunter and Fromsoftware's work turn away plenty of people with difficulty. All manner of strategy games instantly lose a massive potential audience simply by being a strategy. The issue isn't so much turning a profit as it is satisfying those who will only accept the largest profit. The idea investors, execs, all those higher up, detached individuals that hold the financial power have that they can't only make money, they need to make _more_ money than before, that's a toxic idea. Being morally corrupt and subverting the ideals of a 'free market' such individuals (supposedly) support isn't required to make money, but it makes more. People have a hard time letting go of the idea of _more_.
Hell yeah, Crosscode! One of my absolute favourite indie games, it truly deserves to be considered an indie classic I bought a limited steelcase physical copy of it because I fell that much in love. It's got some of my favourite music in gaming, not to mention characters, lore, and one of my all-time favourite protagonists and stories.
It's painful that CrossCode doesn't get more recognition since it's got some of the best puzzle design I've seen in any video game ever and deserves dissection just for that alone.
Yes! The Sexy Brutale is so great and I feel like no one else played it. Years later, I still think about possibly making some of the masks from the game to hang up on my walls.
Crosscode also has one of the best OSTs ever put in a game in my opinion. Absolutely stunning music throughout. It was one of the main reasons I kept playing and exploring the game!
Crosscode is something I recommend wholeheartedly too! I admit that I still haven't finished the game, albeit just played a few hours of it and not anymore. Why I quit? Idk. I just did. I gotta get back to it!
crosscode is one of the best indie rpgs and rpg in general, I've ever played, so hyped for the dlc also obra dinn is amazing, if you like to feel like a detective, that game is for you
Supraland really is cool. I was surprised by how much it rewards exploration, to an almost asinine extent as there are chests in every damn nook and cranny.
Bro seeing crosscode at the start got me so happy I have to go back and finish that game now love the art love the gameplay love the soundtrack. Thank you for reminding me of it
I have a recommend! Ender Lilies! A beautiful japanese metroidvania where you, a white priestess, explore a kingdom corrupted by blight while saving/purifying lost souls that you find along the way. People have been comparing it to Hollow Knight, but I've see more connections with games like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, in that not only do you gather blighted souls for use as new abilities, but gameplay and traversal just feel a lot more like that game. Not to mention, this games art is freaking beautiful and the music is something I would absolutely consider to listen to on its own.
Spoilers for both games, obviously, but like. They're snappy, crisp controlling metroidvanias with prominent somber piano music, a stark white/light gold/deep blue color palette, very obvious Dark Souls inspiration with crumbling towers and berserk knights and such. Not to mention, morally sketchy kings that directly created the protags to be used as tools to fix their problems for them, with a particular focus on being the receptacle or vessel to take in all of the corruption affecting the setting, and that the protag never gets the opportunity for revenge or closure against them. And they take hard left turns into full-on body horror before too long, with main endings that involve being trapped in Hell/imprisoned forever with the corruption you've gathered into yourself, and true endings that involve putting a more permanent stop to the blight. The main thing setting Ender Lilies apart, besides Mili having done the entire Soundtrack and the basic gameplay feeling different (not exactly any nail pogo-ing, underwater exploration is a thing, etc.), is just that A: It borrows very heavily from Child of Light's artstyle and general aesthetic with how fallen fairy-tale everything (and especially Lily herself) looks, and B: that a core part of the gameplay involves summoning Spirits to fight for you instead of swinging your own sword. While functionally this is the same for the basic attacks from your main knight and the other, alternate "Basic Attacks", most spirits equippable can be deployed without stopping, albeit on cooldowns. To contrast, Hollow Knight lets The Knight continue moving around enemies during basic swings, but using spells with Soul requires you stop.
Obra Dinn is hands down the most creative game I've played in a long time. I highly recommend you play it with a party of friends, bouncing ideas off each other and having an extra set of eyes to catch things that you may miss.
Great list took plenty of notes for the future. I’d recommend Wondersong to a list like this but I understand that these are all games that went by without much press coverage.
As someone who, apparently unlike most people, actually LOVES pinball, Yoku’s Island Express sounds like an absolute must-play for me! And Momodora!! So glad to see it on the list! I actually bought it on a complete whim a few months ago and still haven’t even started it up yet, so I’m glad to see it gets your recommendation. I’ll have to finally play it!
This was great! Yoku and CrossCode have been on my long wishlist for awhile. This definitely moved them up. Other indie games I would plug are Gris and BroForce
I was NOT expecting Sexy Brutale to be on this list but I am so glad it is! I was OBSESSED when I finally got to play it, I stayed awake for far too long to finish it. This game got me into a new genre of jazzy music Id never heard before. The costumes and characters are really fun to learn about. Seriously, this game is so worth it!
I'm a bit disappointed that Wandersong wasn't mentioned. It's actually so underated, it's such a fun and wholesomely cute game as well as having a good ost
Yes! Return of the Obra Dinn was one of the coolest games I have ever played. I remember my friend and I played til like 5 in the morning cause we were so invested in figuring out how everyone died😂
Momodora reverie under the moonlight is definitely one of my top 3 metroidvanias under hollow knight and the latest bloodstained. The combat feels nice to me and I really just love the atmosphere the game gives you accompanied with its music.
Game recommandations : - Metaware Highschool demo : inspired by DDLC, it's actually better ! A lot of méta, a lot of humor and émotions and the only game that made me cry. - Omori : if you liked Undertale or like psychological horror, it's a must-play !! A vast RPG with funny, dark, émotionnal, scary, whacky, epic stuff. - Underhero : the turn based RPG... Without turns ! Not happy with the last Paper Marios ? This is the game you need ! Compelling and incredibly original story (a bit méta too) and original gameplay ! - OFF : the belgian RPG that inspired Undertale. Very myterious, very unique, very very unsettling. Nothing like you ever seen. - One Shot : yes, I like RPGs XD This one is charming, you'll get attached to the characters pretty easily and... They'll get attached to you. Yep, it's méta. No fighting but exceptionnaly original puzzles and concept : you have one shot to beat the game.
All the é makes me think you are a French speaker. There is a French translation of Omori underway, I am looking forward to playing it then as I am learning French at the moment.
@@perrydimes6915 yes XD Nice I didn't know. I wonder how they're gonna handle the french speaking sproutmole joke. Probably just gonna make him speak english.
So glad you shouted out the Sexy Brutale as I don't see nearly enough people talking about it. It's one of my all time favourites and deserves way more recognition!
Phenotopia awakening really really needs more love. Honestly it's top 10 for me and I think should be held up there with Stardew valley, cave story Undertale and all the other games made by small teams.
*Phoenotopia. Just correcting the spelling in case anybody wants to look it up. As I just did! And damn, yea, it looks excellent and seems to have pretty rave reviews. This seems to be a more proper 'hidden gem' than all those listed in this video, as I've heard of all them. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@maynardburger Thanks! Was typing on the fly at work and was pretty sure I misspelled it haha Seriously though it it's one of my. Favorite games. I have about 75 hours in a single playthrough. It was the first game in maybe 15 years that I've actually had to pull out pen and paper to attempt to solve puzzles and they're the kind that make you feel amazing when you finally do! Combat takes a little while to get used to at first but then it feels great when you get it down. The world, story, characters, all really well made. I can't recommend it enough!
@IGNACIO ROJAS LOPEZ Have you played the new version yet? I had heard of the flash version but never got around to playing it. If you haven't played it yet you're in for a treat!
I’m not sure if it’s niche enough to be relevant here, but I would absolutely recommend The Company Of Myself to just about anyone. It’s short enough to not be a huge investment, but the story is amazing and the ending hits you like a ton of bricks. The main gameplay features are really interesting, and tie into the story really well. It may be hard to access due to it being a flash game, but I would absolutely say it’s worth playing and I’m surprised nobody really talks about it.
Two indie games I'd also recommend are Everhood and Katana Zero. Everhood is like a bullet hell combined with a rhythm game-- a rhythm hell, if you will. It's characters, weirdness, and look are very Undertale/Deltarune inspired, so if you liked those games, I think you'll enjoy this one too. The gameplay is super satisfying, the story is weird and funny with solid emotional beats, and the music is fantastic. Katana Zero is like Hotline Miami, with it's fast paced, bloody, one hit kill action, except it's about a samurai dude on drugs. The game's action is super satisfying, it's story is intriguing, and it has a beautiful neo noir pixel art aesthetic and a great soundtrack to boot. It's also getting a free dlc at some point, so that's pretty cool.
I second you, Raz! APE OUT is one HELL of a game. It gets a lot of mileage out of its simple gameplay, and it never gets old. The style and music is just PHENOMENAL. Plus, it easily has one of my favorite endings to any video game EVER.
Thanks for this list! I really want to check out before your eyes, that sounds awesome. And I actually just started Return of the Obra Dinn so I was happy to see that there. Indies tend to have the best ideas since AAA will go with whats proven and therefore not new, whereas you end up with these small guys taking the risk on doing something amazing.
If you like the time loop element of The Sexy Brutale, there's another indie game I love with a similar mechanic that I never see anyone talk about: Elsinore. To put it simply, you play as Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and when you die, you're brought back to the beginning and have to use the information you've learned on previous loops to keep yourself alive and prevent the tragedy of the play from taking place (or at least find a different tragic way to end the story). It's a huge favorite of mine and seriously underrated.
CrossCode (as with nearly all of the titles mentioned here) have been in my Steam Wishlist Purgatory for a while, and this video has given me enough of a push to actually get off my ass and buy them. So for that I thank you, but my wallet curses you! Also I'd like to offer a couple of recommendations of my own: - Jet Lancer: An awesome twin-stick shooter with aerial dogfighting and bullet hell elements. The prog rock/math rock soundtrack is on point too. - Going Under: A really endearing roguelike that's a well-written satire of the tech industry, as all the dungeons are the ruins of failed tech startups. It even parodies the Corporate Memphis art style that people make fun of big tech companies for using. The dialogue doesn't miss, and all of the characters are really funny and likeable.
Raz: Mentions Wildermyth And here I am just about to explode about how much I love that game, god that game needs more recognition, despite occasionally weird dialogue it is a fantastic, wonderful game
so while every one is talking about cross code, I would like to recommend another indie game called everhood, I don't know if it's somewhat popular, but I haven't heard anyone talk about it, which is a shame, it's a really good mesh of RPG with rhythm games
In a lot of indie game recommendation videos, I see a lot of the same games all the time, so props to this one for introducing me to ones I’d actually never heard of. Excited to check them out.
These all sound neat, but I don't know where they're available! Perhaps a small ~5-second segment could be added onto future videos when talking about games mentioning on what platforms the game is available?
I've just completed Obra Dinn and at times it made me feel like a genius which is not something any other game achieves, as they either hold your hand or don't give you the right clues to make the conclusions. Absolutely Brilliant (wink)
all of these look great, and I can guarantee you before your eyes is an absolute masterpiece, but I thought that maybe adding a couple of games to the pile could be useful to some. i've got a whole lot more recommendations than the ones i'll give, but it should do. Rain world: a game about exploration in which you're a cute little slugcat in a not so cute, yet absolutely gorgeous, world. nature is not by your side, but you can get some creatures to be by feeding them, full on manhandling them to jump higher or swim faster, or trading to up your reputation with a specific species. this game's environment might be pretty brutal, but trust me when i say that getting your first kill makes you feel like a giant. no spoilers, but the game does have an ending, just in case since people do seem to get confused and might put the game down because of that being a turn off. Also trust me when I tell you not to look at reviews, you want to go in as blind as you can. Have in mind this is not a game for casual players, since the AI hunts and moves while being offscreen which means they'll never be where you expect the creatures to be. Oneshot: a more story based game, that i can't really dig into without spoiling a but of its story, so be warned. you wake up in a bedroom without knowing anything about your surroundings, and end up with the responsability of carrying the sun of this new world you know nothing about, and taking it _somewhere_ to make one final decision. However, if you really want to get the most of this game, you'll esnt to play it twice. thrice if you genuinely loved your first playthrough. just know that there's a route called solstice that you can only do once, so you might want the playthrough of said route to be the last time you play the game for... reasons. Sally face: batshit crazy story. engaging from the start to the very end. again, not much to say unless you want spoilers, so get out and play the game you loser. Everhood: stylish as fuck and absolutely great soundtrack. gameplay is just so incredibly fun and anyone can try it out since there are many difficulties for every kind of player. a lot, and i mean a lot, of trial and error but it doesn't really mean anything since you just get to keep on hearing its ost. enemies are fun, have a lot of charm, and honestly aren't that tough to work around... which is actually nothing but a huge lie. Fran bow: psychological horror. same as sally face, play the damn thing. it's a huge must. go in blind. shoo. you might want to check these out, too: omori, lisa the painful, gris, papers please, night in the woods, journey and blahblahblah i'm going to stop myself right there. just check some of these out and i'll be very happy.
One of my cousins introduced me to Return of the Obra Dinn a couple years ago. It felt so rewarding being able to piece together the mystery, and I'm sad I'll never be able to experience it for the first time again. I'm glad you mentioned it in this video.
Appreciate seeing Wildermyth get a shout-out. That game surprised me in how invested I became with my party members that all essentially started out as blank slates. Seeing them develop relationships while gaining new armor, battle scars, and abilities, that made them unique as heroes. I wish more games would experiment with the idea of organic emergent storytelling like that.
I would like to also bring a fairly small title to attention: Hyoer Light Drifter. A pixel art, action adventure rpg. A relatively short game full of mystery and sound effects and visuals that gave me chills. The combat system is smooth and challenging. The story of this game is told through the world and npc dialog. Npcs however speak with beautiful pixel art images leaving some meanings up to interpretation. This game is very beautiful and I find myself coming back to it time and time again. (Btw best upgrade imo is the chain dash :p )
I played it a while back. I didn't even like challenging games back then but I loved it! Well... what I played of it. I couldn't figure out where to go next. But I'd absolutely say it's worth checking out.
Im shocked that you have not included Everhood, that game is still so unknown even though everyone who played it believes it can gain as much popularity as undertale
I agree with everything you said about Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight. It's so underappreciated while being one of the only games I've ever loved 100%ing. Incredible game that needs more attention.
Obra Dinn is one of my favorite games, it takes murder mystery to the extreme, and I love how the story evolves from a family predictable mutiny to something truly its own. The art style and musical elements are also fantastic!
As someone who has coincidentally played every game on this list to varying degrees of enjoyment, Yoku's Island Express and Before your eyes deserve SO much more love than they've gotten. Yoku's is just pure joy in a game, with myself only getting frustrated at a single room in the entire game, everything else was a blast. Before your Eyes in my opinion is a MUST PLAY no questions asked, ESPECIALLY if you are someone who'd be considered creative or artistic. It touches on a lot of things I think creative kids would relate to, and it's only a couple hours long so even if you somehow don't like it, you'll be done with it quick.
I played a lot of sonic spinball as a kid. Never got very far, because I was not good at pinball, but there's a lot of nostalgia there. It's lovely to learn that there's more than one game in the genre of exploration adventure via pinball, and I hope to play Yoku's Island Express sometime soon!
crosscode is SUCH a good game. holy shit its amazing. i like wildermyth to but havent played all that much of it. crosscode is a masterpiece in its genre. finally a good "silent" protagonist
There are quite a few good silent protagonists, but she's one of the few I've seen actually have some solid characterization. Haven't seen a silent character this good since Transistor
@@TraRobins234 I would suggest that she's not a true silent protagonist, she's simply mute, but does have an actual established character. "Silent protagonists" are specifically about the *void* of character that leaves the personality up to interpretation or projection by the player.
@@LordSoulSicarious with that argument, there hasn't been a true silent protagonist in a very long time since they are usually characterized in some way. Even Lea wouldn't count.
@@TraRobins234 I would agree that they're pretty rare these days. They're still around, but now that there's no longer any major technical advantage to using one, they're a lot less common.
I am SOOO grateful that u mentioned Crosscode. I stumbled over it by accident, played it as "early access" to the point where the story suddenly stopped because it wasnt finished yet. This game gave me such a good time, and took me way back to my childhood playing SNES games. If Zelda ALTTP, Secret of Mana and Lufia II had a child, it would be this game!! extremely satisfying combat, insanely good puzzles and a very compelling story with very well written characters! 9.5/10 love this game!!
It’s not listed here in this video, but another great indie game is Paradise Killer. It’s an open world investigation mystery game with a vaporwave aesthetic and amazing soundtrack. It’s truly like nothing I’ve ever played before and it’s incredible. Definitely a game I wish I could play again for the first time
For what a random comment on a video is worth, PLEASE play OMORI, it is a role-playing game but it has the best depiction of things like depression and psychological horror that I've ever seen in a videogame, the story is nothing short of stellar and the gameplay is fun
Still waiting for any information on a Switch version. I have totally stopped playing my other systems and I'd rather have it on my Switch whenever they finally set a date. *sigh*
@@helloguy8934 It's not about portability but about ease of access and *shifting* my attention. There's something about turning on the TV that helps me get into a gaming mood (whereas I've had AM2R on my PC for months and have yet to actually turn it on despite not having anything else to play on Switch but more Splatoon).
I've neglected starting CrossCode and finishing Obra Dinn for a while now so when this video came out I immediately started playing them and by now have finished both twice... Thanks alot for giving me the motivation to finally finish these amazing titles.
I bought yokus island express a few years ago for my switch, bought it because it was in sale and pretty cheap, not expecting much, but ooomg I was blown away. Ended up loving every second playing it. Like razbuten said, you can't help but smile while playing this game. Top notch game. Feels like a warm hug on my soul. + I don't like pinball games either
I really enjoyed this video! Here are some of my personal indie games that I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on if you ever play any of them: - Spiritfarer (you used some footage but I don't think you've ever mentioned it?) - Forgotton Anne - Rakuen
Obra Dinn was another Outer Wilds for me. The perfect game experience for me - not too long, not too short, and leaving you wanting more without feeling short-changed. Wish I could play it again for the first time, went straight into my best games of all time list once I finished it.
I became OBSESSED with Wildermyth for a couple weeks, wondering what would happen to my characters next and worrying that they would die before they could retire. I'd get a new recruit in the group and owing to their lack of experience and some bad positioning, all the time and effort I spent on that character gone in an instant. Terrific game and absolutely love it.
All right! Been wanting to do an indie game rec video for awhile, so here it is finally. Hopefully there is something in here that is new to you and that you really enjoy. If not, I am sorry that I failed you.
LISTEN TO THIS MAN, PLAY OBRA DINN!
I LOVE INDIE GAMESSS. Hyper Light Drifter has the best OST of any game
Wildermyth looked so insanely good that I slam bought it after just a few seconds of footage. Good on you, mate! =D
@@mewexum7554 laughs in Gris
I know you probably have a huge backlog, but check out phenotopia awakening, it's one of the greatest games I've ever played and I never hear anyone talk about it
For real though, everyone reading this comment, please please please play CrossCode. Raz is absolutely right and it should be talked about the same way we talk about other indie masterpieces.
bro the spin is pretty much a roll, which means that it definitely could belong in the next steam dumpster dive...
Unfortunately the game has horrible pacing issues so you’ll need some insane patience to play it. It’s a real slow burn
I've played CrossCode and I honestly don't get what people see in it. Seems like it does just about everything on-par but never excels. I haven't finished it but I did experience pretty much all sides of the game - tried out all the dungeons I unlocked so far, got good grade loot by keeping the combo multiplier up, found a bunch of secret spots (except for bosses, the rewards were underwhelming) and tried to talk with people and do guild stuff.
There are great combat games or great puzzle games or great exploration games or great narrative games and I don't care if they do something absolutely poorly but CrossCode is just "good" at best and "kind of OK" at worst (assuming they fixed some bugs since I played - which I've heard they did!)
The big problem with it, for me, is... It's extremely long. Ain't nobody got time for that. Especially if I could do Mass Effect trilogy or the Witcher 3 in a similar time.
I find the appearance of the hero extremely obnoxious so that's why I'll never give it a try :/
Razbuten said CrossCode was a game everyone would gush about when mentioned.
Half of the comments are gushing about CrossCode
Razbuten is Cultured...
Dude this game is a legit hidden gem. Even for how popular it is there are SO many gamers who don't know about this game and it's a shame. Anyone who is a fan of really crisp and fun combat mixed with Zelda-style puzzle dungeons and boss fights and world exploration is seriously missing out on CrossCode.
Me: "I have too many video games to play and it's kinda overwhelming!"
Also me: *clicks on this video*
At this point my gaming hobby has morphed into watching other people review video games that I should play.
@@nefariousyawn ditto
@@nefariousyawn thiiisssss😅💯😅
Same!
Yeah, watching Raz and GMTK is not healthy for my back log
Im glad so many people are talking about crosscode but kinda feels like its overshadowing the rest of the games on the list! All of these games deserves some love im sure!
I myself left a comment about CrossCode, but I can also vouch for Obra Dinn being an absolute masterpiece! And I'm excited to try the others :D
Obra Dinn is a must
Is it too hard to play? I see games like hollow night, binding of isaac or celeste reccomended all the time but hard games frustrate me a lot and make me abandon the game, so i haven't bought them.
@@lamewalrusxd4781 Never play Cuphead, Celeste, or any Souls game then
You're right, I'm constantly begging the universe to have someone ask me about crosscode so I can gush about it
right?!?!
What is crosscode
(This is your chance)
My man. Convince me to play it. I'm 3 hours in. But after the beginning I just kinda got a little bored. When does it pick up?
@@helloguy8934 depends on where you are. i'd say the first major dungeon is the big early game hook, and the jumping puzzles have a massive spike in complexity in the zone immediately afterwards. that's also about when you start running into more interesting overworld enemies
Crosscode is a game with my favourite elements combined:
1) An open world with tons of secrets to find
2) Puzzles that incorporate well the mechanics of the game, and are pretty much just the right difficulty
3) Awesome fluid combat
4) That sweet sweet pixel art
I used to never like pixel-art, and I still often prefer 3D, but some games just get it right, you know? Right now imo, 3D games are too common and most art styles are boring because they all try to be realistic. Pixel-art often gives the chance to try something new. I only ever like the pixel-art if it actually tries to do that something new
What control scheme did you use?
That's just HLD but newer and with no clunkyness, judging from this description. It's no fun then.
@@littlehorn0063 Played that too, great game!
There are some similarities, but they're very different games.
You could compare them to Sekiro vs Dark Souls/Elden Ring.
Where HLD focuses on a very narrow set of polished combat abilities, CrossCode has an insane variety of combat and equipment options where each fight feel like puzzles of their own!
CrossCode also has a very touching story. I still recall it years later.
Unsighted is also a very similar game to these two, btw, with its own strengths.
@@littlehorn0063 I mean you've never seen or played CrossCode if you think HLD is in any way similar. HLD's combat doesn't hold a torch to CrossCode.
Glad you mentioned Before Your Eyes, that game truly hits different.
That game has such good voice acting and really high quality sound design, I didn't even realise it was an indie game.
Maybe my expectations were too high because everyone and their mother was calling it the saddest game ever, but Before Your Eyes didn’t really click with me. That’s not to say it isn’t a good game, of course. It’s gorgeous, and the writing is solid, but I just sort of... lost interest after the big turning point. (Trying to avoid spoilers, but I can go into more detail if you're interested in discussing it further.)
I just want to know how long the game is, and how good your webcam needs to be to play it. I'm running an old ass HP that has the webcam quality of an iPhone 3
@@nokutenda4081 you can still play it with a mouse if you're having webcam issues and still enjoy the story. The total time it took me to complete it is about 90 minutes so you can finish it in one session.
I got introduced to that game through a weest stream, a great example of an indie game.
its so good to see momodora being recomended, as an brazilian its really makes me happy to see national games being acknowledge by others, especially because you are one of my favorite youtubers
I loved Momodora!
Momodora is a Brazilian made game? That's definitely something to be proud of! 🥳
é brasileiro??? que foda! o jogo é muito bom
Nunca ouvi falar, vou jogar pra experimentar.
Oh man you'll LOVE Max Payne 3 (joke!)
I'm so glad you talked about CrossCode, it's so good. It was the only game I played for a good two weeks in the summer last year.
I haven't played it yet (it is on my wishlist), but it sounds like you might like Prodigal
Return of The Obra Dinn is a stunning game, with absolutely amazing music
I'm happy with how much love Crosscode is getting in the comments, I didn't think this many people were into it! Thanks for bringing more attention to it, I completely agree that it should be mentioned along with all the other Indie darlings.
Yeah, I was suprised, but happy, to see all the Crosscode love. I hope someday it moves beyond hidden indie gem status.
i don´t know if you are aware, what power you hold, Razbuten... i literally put every single game in this video on my Steam wishlist.
it´s incredible how passionate you talk about the things you love.
if i ever make my own game, i´ll have to make sure you play it :D
May I add “What Remains of Edith Finch”. it’s a game you can just play over and over again and everytime you play you start to find ways that all the stories tie together. seriously an amazing play
Really? Edith Finch just felt like a one and done kinda game to me. Don't get me wrong it's fantastic. But I didn't feel the need to replay it.
@@risu2312 I get that! but when i replayed it i got so much more of the story and found a lot of things that you don’t really notice when you’re just figuring out the game
@@zoeyneal I like to show it to new people, makes me re-experience it again without playing. It's great for that honestly
I haven’t actually played any of these, so looks like I have plenty to do, I had the intention of playing Obra Dinn after hearing you talk about it on stream before but I had no idea half these existed, so thanks raz.
I'd highly recommend playing Crosscode too! It's amazing!
yes we crosscode fans can't stop gushing about how good it is
@@st.altair4936 I’ve seen so many good things from the comments on this video about crosscode, so it must be good. I can’t wait to try it as it seems like something I’d love, and it looks great too.
You're not alone, I haven't even played the games mentioned at the start.
obra dinn slaps, one of my faves
Grab yourself a copy of Obra Dinn, PLEASE! It's a really well put together title, and, as Mr Bag-over-his-face said, makes you feel both stupid and smart.
If you've got someone to play with I would recommend with. Having another person to bounce thoughts off of helped me putting together clues faster than I could have on my own.
Plus, it's more fun to play Sherlock when you have a Watson 😄
I remember Joseph Anderson saying CrossCode is one of his few 10/10 and since that exact second I've been wanting to play it
You know when he gives it a 10/10, that means something!
Do you remember when/where he says that?
Real shit that's high praise from the internet's hardest game critic (though he'll insist that he's not one lol)
@@DrEcho for every positive thing he says about a game he likes, he says like 10 negative things along with it, lol
I saw this and immidiately thought, "if crosscode isn't on this list, I'm going to be really, REALLY disappointed." Needless to say, I am not disappointed
CrossCode is frankly why I decided to finally make a video like this lol
I'm thinking of picking it up, is it worth getting the A new home DLC with the game in your opinion?
@@BirdMoose The new home DLC adds some really great story elements to the game as well as a new area and a really awesome dungeon. I would definitely recommend playing the DLC after beating the base game
@@BirdMoose Yes. The game is considered a little 'unfinished' by many without the DLC. That's not to say the base game is lacking in content at all(it's genuinely a large scale RPG with all that entails), it's that it leaves some story threads loose. Further, the base game and DLC are so affordable given what you get for it, it's a no brainer. Though if you're concerned about it, there's no harm in just getting the base game first, and then buying the DLC later once you're sure you're enjoying the game enough to want it, as the DLC is all post-base game content, essentially.
@@maynardburger Theirs also a demo for Crosscode too.
100% agree on CrossCode! I'd also recommend Iconoclasts! Still thinking of that game months after finishing in.
Honestly... The two of them might be about my favorite games ever.
Loved them both.
I supported CrossCode as soon as it way in early access and its truly a masterpiece. I can recommend it to anyone.
I'm definitely guilty of gushing about how great CrossCode is to all my friends. Since its story is really the core, one can say only so much without spoiling the experience tho. Can't really be streamed or let's played. I feel this is a part of why it seems to be a bit of a hidden gem.
Oh man! All the comments here are about CrossCode. I feel left out LMAO *buys it immediately*
The story and the characters and oh h*ck the music - it's all good.
To be honest, I like the game, but the story is probably one of the worst aspects of tje game. There's only one spoiler to avoid.
@@umbium Just because there are less plot twists than usual, it doesnt mean the story is bad.
And I can remember of 2 or 3 spoiler actually
I've been loving indie games recently, partly due to the fact that the mainstream studios really aren't doing much and partly because the indie genre has some of the most creative ideas I've ever seen in a videogame
That's the great thing about Indies, they have to be good or revolutionary to get noticed while AAA Studios can just release 10 games in like 3 years hoping that one of them is good
Same. I don't even really blame AAA publishers. They're sales first oriented and a lot have shareholders they have a responsibility to. And as much as we want it to, "different" doesn't have nearly as good a track record sales wise as "safe". There's a reason why most AAA games are long running franchises that get destroyed by fans when they do something off course or have a single blemish. Large companies HAVE to focus on recouping costs and have a lot more expenses (employees, marketing, etc) and AAA publishers have employees dedicated to researching what sales and capitalizing on that. Not that there aren't great AAA games, but indies have somewhat more freedom to just be creative and fun projects (though I'm sure there are indie studios focusing on money). I even love how often indie games are shorter (whereas it feels like every AAA game wants 200% of my time). But most of what I love indies for wouldn't sell well enough to the general market. Plus there's just a much larger volume of indies, so better chances for finding a gem you love.
@@zUJ7EjVD big mood
Idk i just prefer indies because i feel there's a lot more creative freedom than studio games.
@@zUJ7EjVD While they have dramatically greater costs and so can't afford to be as niche as indies, AAA games don't need to be nearly as broad appeal as they generally go for. Stuff like Monster Hunter and Fromsoftware's work turn away plenty of people with difficulty. All manner of strategy games instantly lose a massive potential audience simply by being a strategy.
The issue isn't so much turning a profit as it is satisfying those who will only accept the largest profit. The idea investors, execs, all those higher up, detached individuals that hold the financial power have that they can't only make money, they need to make _more_ money than before, that's a toxic idea.
Being morally corrupt and subverting the ideals of a 'free market' such individuals (supposedly) support isn't required to make money, but it makes more. People have a hard time letting go of the idea of _more_.
Hell yeah, Crosscode! One of my absolute favourite indie games, it truly deserves to be considered an indie classic I bought a limited steelcase physical copy of it because I fell that much in love. It's got some of my favourite music in gaming, not to mention characters, lore, and one of my all-time favourite protagonists and stories.
It's painful that CrossCode doesn't get more recognition since it's got some of the best puzzle design I've seen in any video game ever and deserves dissection just for that alone.
Yeah the DLC dungeon especially feels like each puzzle blows my mind to figure out.
Yes! The Sexy Brutale is so great and I feel like no one else played it. Years later, I still think about possibly making some of the masks from the game to hang up on my walls.
I almost cried when i saw someone actually talking about crosscode. Its literally my favorite game!
Crosscode also has one of the best OSTs ever put in a game in my opinion. Absolutely stunning music throughout. It was one of the main reasons I kept playing and exploring the game!
nice seeing someone appreciating crosscode
Crosscode is something I recommend wholeheartedly too! I admit that I still haven't finished the game, albeit just played a few hours of it and not anymore. Why I quit? Idk. I just did. I gotta get back to it!
I got back into CrossCode when the DLC came out, and yeah, it's still amazing.
crosscode is one of the best indie rpgs and rpg in general, I've ever played, so hyped for the dlc
also obra dinn is amazing, if you like to feel like a detective, that game is for you
The New Home dlc is already out though? Is there another dlc announcement I haven't heard of?
@@st.altair4936 They might be playing on console. DLC isn't out on console yet, but it releases in four days.
@@CiromBreeze Oh I see, thanks
"It also has a lot of cats."
I'm sold.
I'd also recommend Supraland, a puzzle platformer with unbelievably many hidden secrets.
Vouch. Supraland is fantastic.
I was really hoping it would be on this list!
Excellent game
Supraland really is cool. I was surprised by how much it rewards exploration, to an almost asinine extent as there are chests in every damn nook and cranny.
Bro seeing crosscode at the start got me so happy I have to go back and finish that game now love the art love the gameplay love the soundtrack. Thank you for reminding me of it
Momodora sounds intriguing from your description, but what has me hooked is its adorable art style
I have a recommend! Ender Lilies! A beautiful japanese metroidvania where you, a white priestess, explore a kingdom corrupted by blight while saving/purifying lost souls that you find along the way.
People have been comparing it to Hollow Knight, but I've see more connections with games like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, in that not only do you gather blighted souls for use as new abilities, but gameplay and traversal just feel a lot more like that game. Not to mention, this games art is freaking beautiful and the music is something I would absolutely consider to listen to on its own.
I have played about 5 hours of it and so far I have no idea why people compare it to hollow knight.
Spoilers for both games, obviously, but like.
They're snappy, crisp controlling metroidvanias with prominent somber piano music, a stark white/light gold/deep blue color palette, very obvious Dark Souls inspiration with crumbling towers and berserk knights and such. Not to mention, morally sketchy kings that directly created the protags to be used as tools to fix their problems for them, with a particular focus on being the receptacle or vessel to take in all of the corruption affecting the setting, and that the protag never gets the opportunity for revenge or closure against them. And they take hard left turns into full-on body horror before too long, with main endings that involve being trapped in Hell/imprisoned forever with the corruption you've gathered into yourself, and true endings that involve putting a more permanent stop to the blight.
The main thing setting Ender Lilies apart, besides Mili having done the entire Soundtrack and the basic gameplay feeling different (not exactly any nail pogo-ing, underwater exploration is a thing, etc.), is just that A: It borrows very heavily from Child of Light's artstyle and general aesthetic with how fallen fairy-tale everything (and especially Lily herself) looks, and B: that a core part of the gameplay involves summoning Spirits to fight for you instead of swinging your own sword. While functionally this is the same for the basic attacks from your main knight and the other, alternate "Basic Attacks", most spirits equippable can be deployed without stopping, albeit on cooldowns. To contrast, Hollow Knight lets The Knight continue moving around enemies during basic swings, but using spells with Soul requires you stop.
Literally started CrossCode last month, and it's my favorite game now. Though I haven't finished it yet, so no spoilers.
When does it start to pick up? I'm about 3 hours in.
@@helloguy8934 I was sold on the first few minutes. I just wanted an rpg that had more skill based combat cause I was sick of turn based.
Return of the Obra Dinn is hands down the best detective game I’ve ever played. Literally never felt better figuring mysteries out in a game before
Obra Dinn is hands down the most creative game I've played in a long time. I highly recommend you play it with a party of friends, bouncing ideas off each other and having an extra set of eyes to catch things that you may miss.
Great list took plenty of notes for the future. I’d recommend Wondersong to a list like this but I understand that these are all games that went by without much press coverage.
I'm glad to see CrossCode getting some love. It has always surprised me how few people have actually played it. :(
As someone who, apparently unlike most people, actually LOVES pinball, Yoku’s Island Express sounds like an absolute must-play for me!
And Momodora!! So glad to see it on the list! I actually bought it on a complete whim a few months ago and still haven’t even started it up yet, so I’m glad to see it gets your recommendation. I’ll have to finally play it!
This was great! Yoku and CrossCode have been on my long wishlist for awhile. This definitely moved them up. Other indie games I would plug are Gris and BroForce
I *loved* Momodora when I played it. It’s like Dark Souls meets Hollow Knight with a beautiful pixel art style. It’s incredible.
seeing crosscode first on this list has made my day
I was NOT expecting Sexy Brutale to be on this list but I am so glad it is! I was OBSESSED when I finally got to play it, I stayed awake for far too long to finish it. This game got me into a new genre of jazzy music Id never heard before. The costumes and characters are really fun to learn about. Seriously, this game is so worth it!
I'm so happy you've included return of the obra dinn. It's been my favorite video game for a while and is incredibly underrated.
I'm a bit disappointed that Wandersong wasn't mentioned. It's actually so underated, it's such a fun and wholesomely cute game as well as having a good ost
Second that for sure. Good title.
Yes! Return of the Obra Dinn was one of the coolest games I have ever played. I remember my friend and I played til like 5 in the morning cause we were so invested in figuring out how everyone died😂
Playing with a friend makes the experience so much better!
Started playing Crosscode a few days ago and holy shit thank you Shyguymask
Momodora reverie under the moonlight is definitely one of my top 3 metroidvanias under hollow knight and the latest bloodstained. The combat feels nice to me and I really just love the atmosphere the game gives you accompanied with its music.
Something about Crosscode made me instantly add it to my list of games to play. I'm also adding this entire video to my list.
Before your eyes seems like such an interesting concept for a game, I need to check it out.
Game recommandations :
- Metaware Highschool demo : inspired by DDLC, it's actually better ! A lot of méta, a lot of humor and émotions and the only game that made me cry.
- Omori : if you liked Undertale or like psychological horror, it's a must-play !! A vast RPG with funny, dark, émotionnal, scary, whacky, epic stuff.
- Underhero : the turn based RPG... Without turns ! Not happy with the last Paper Marios ? This is the game you need ! Compelling and incredibly original story (a bit méta too) and original gameplay !
- OFF : the belgian RPG that inspired Undertale. Very myterious, very unique, very very unsettling. Nothing like you ever seen.
- One Shot : yes, I like RPGs XD This one is charming, you'll get attached to the characters pretty easily and... They'll get attached to you. Yep, it's méta. No fighting but exceptionnaly original puzzles and concept : you have one shot to beat the game.
All the é makes me think you are a French speaker. There is a French translation of Omori underway, I am looking forward to playing it then as I am learning French at the moment.
@@perrydimes6915 yes XD
Nice I didn't know. I wonder how they're gonna handle the french speaking sproutmole joke. Probably just gonna make him speak english.
Oh mon dieu enfin quelqu'un qui parle du bijou qu'est OFF
So glad you shouted out the Sexy Brutale as I don't see nearly enough people talking about it. It's one of my all time favourites and deserves way more recognition!
Phenotopia awakening really really needs more love. Honestly it's top 10 for me and I think should be held up there with Stardew valley, cave story Undertale and all the other games made by small teams.
*Phoenotopia. Just correcting the spelling in case anybody wants to look it up. As I just did! And damn, yea, it looks excellent and seems to have pretty rave reviews. This seems to be a more proper 'hidden gem' than all those listed in this video, as I've heard of all them. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@maynardburger Thanks! Was typing on the fly at work and was pretty sure I misspelled it haha
Seriously though it it's one of my. Favorite games. I have about 75 hours in a single playthrough. It was the first game in maybe 15 years that I've actually had to pull out pen and paper to attempt to solve puzzles and they're the kind that make you feel amazing when you finally do! Combat takes a little while to get used to at first but then it feels great when you get it down.
The world, story, characters, all really well made. I can't recommend it enough!
Yep, phoenotopia is awesome
@@romulopenha7678 Absolute facts! I really hope it gets some more recognition because they said there is a possibility of a sequel
@IGNACIO ROJAS LOPEZ Have you played the new version yet? I had heard of the flash version but never got around to playing it.
If you haven't played it yet you're in for a treat!
I’m not sure if it’s niche enough to be relevant here, but I would absolutely recommend The Company Of Myself to just about anyone. It’s short enough to not be a huge investment, but the story is amazing and the ending hits you like a ton of bricks. The main gameplay features are really interesting, and tie into the story really well. It may be hard to access due to it being a flash game, but I would absolutely say it’s worth playing and I’m surprised nobody really talks about it.
Two indie games I'd also recommend are Everhood and Katana Zero.
Everhood is like a bullet hell combined with a rhythm game-- a rhythm hell, if you will. It's characters, weirdness, and look are very Undertale/Deltarune inspired, so if you liked those games, I think you'll enjoy this one too. The gameplay is super satisfying, the story is weird and funny with solid emotional beats, and the music is fantastic.
Katana Zero is like Hotline Miami, with it's fast paced, bloody, one hit kill action, except it's about a samurai dude on drugs. The game's action is super satisfying, it's story is intriguing, and it has a beautiful neo noir pixel art aesthetic and a great soundtrack to boot. It's also getting a free dlc at some point, so that's pretty cool.
I second you, Raz! APE OUT is one HELL of a game. It gets a lot of mileage out of its simple gameplay, and it never gets old. The style and music is just PHENOMENAL. Plus, it easily has one of my favorite endings to any video game EVER.
Thanks for this list! I really want to check out before your eyes, that sounds awesome. And I actually just started Return of the Obra Dinn so I was happy to see that there. Indies tend to have the best ideas since AAA will go with whats proven and therefore not new, whereas you end up with these small guys taking the risk on doing something amazing.
If you like the time loop element of The Sexy Brutale, there's another indie game I love with a similar mechanic that I never see anyone talk about: Elsinore. To put it simply, you play as Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and when you die, you're brought back to the beginning and have to use the information you've learned on previous loops to keep yourself alive and prevent the tragedy of the play from taking place (or at least find a different tragic way to end the story). It's a huge favorite of mine and seriously underrated.
CrossCode (as with nearly all of the titles mentioned here) have been in my Steam Wishlist Purgatory for a while, and this video has given me enough of a push to actually get off my ass and buy them. So for that I thank you, but my wallet curses you!
Also I'd like to offer a couple of recommendations of my own:
- Jet Lancer: An awesome twin-stick shooter with aerial dogfighting and bullet hell elements. The prog rock/math rock soundtrack is on point too.
- Going Under: A really endearing roguelike that's a well-written satire of the tech industry, as all the dungeons are the ruins of failed tech startups. It even parodies the Corporate Memphis art style that people make fun of big tech companies for using. The dialogue doesn't miss, and all of the characters are really funny and likeable.
Raz: Mentions Wildermyth
And here I am just about to explode about how much I love that game, god that game needs more recognition, despite occasionally weird dialogue it is a fantastic, wonderful game
Crosscode!!!!!!! Huge recommend, that game was amazing
Momodora Reverie Under the Moonlight is something I've been playing for years, it's so slept on.
so while every one is talking about cross code, I would like to recommend another indie game called everhood, I don't know if it's somewhat popular, but I haven't heard anyone talk about it, which is a shame, it's a really good mesh of RPG with rhythm games
In a lot of indie game recommendation videos, I see a lot of the same games all the time, so props to this one for introducing me to ones I’d actually never heard of. Excited to check them out.
Extra, play kathana Zero, trust a Rando on the Internet, its great
Yes, very good game. Made me absolutely depressed but still very good haha
Fully agree, there’s also free dlc coming at some point
I can vouch for that! Very fun! (But if you're not a fan of flashing lights, maybe skip it?)
These all sound neat, but I don't know where they're available! Perhaps a small ~5-second segment could be added onto future videos when talking about games mentioning on what platforms the game is available?
I've just completed Obra Dinn and at times it made me feel like a genius which is not something any other game achieves, as they either hold your hand or don't give you the right clues to make the conclusions. Absolutely Brilliant (wink)
I found CrossCode through this video, and it has become my favorite ARPG I've ever played. Thank you so much for bringing attention to it!
all of these look great, and I can guarantee you before your eyes is an absolute masterpiece, but I thought that maybe adding a couple of games to the pile could be useful to some. i've got a whole lot more recommendations than the ones i'll give, but it should do.
Rain world: a game about exploration in which you're a cute little slugcat in a not so cute, yet absolutely gorgeous, world. nature is not by your side, but you can get some creatures to be by feeding them, full on manhandling them to jump higher or swim faster, or trading to up your reputation with a specific species. this game's environment might be pretty brutal, but trust me when i say that getting your first kill makes you feel like a giant. no spoilers, but the game does have an ending, just in case since people do seem to get confused and might put the game down because of that being a turn off. Also trust me when I tell you not to look at reviews, you want to go in as blind as you can. Have in mind this is not a game for casual players, since the AI hunts and moves while being offscreen which means they'll never be where you expect the creatures to be.
Oneshot: a more story based game, that i can't really dig into without spoiling a but of its story, so be warned. you wake up in a bedroom without knowing anything about your surroundings, and end up with the responsability of carrying the sun of this new world you know nothing about, and taking it _somewhere_ to make one final decision. However, if you really want to get the most of this game, you'll esnt to play it twice. thrice if you genuinely loved your first playthrough. just know that there's a route called solstice that you can only do once, so you might want the playthrough of said route to be the last time you play the game for... reasons.
Sally face: batshit crazy story. engaging from the start to the very end. again, not much to say unless you want spoilers, so get out and play the game you loser.
Everhood: stylish as fuck and absolutely great soundtrack. gameplay is just so incredibly fun and anyone can try it out since there are many difficulties for every kind of player. a lot, and i mean a lot, of trial and error but it doesn't really mean anything since you just get to keep on hearing its ost. enemies are fun, have a lot of charm, and honestly aren't that tough to work around... which is actually nothing but a huge lie.
Fran bow: psychological horror. same as sally face, play the damn thing. it's a huge must. go in blind. shoo.
you might want to check these out, too: omori, lisa the painful, gris, papers please, night in the woods, journey and blahblahblah i'm going to stop myself right there. just check some of these out and i'll be very happy.
One of my cousins introduced me to Return of the Obra Dinn a couple years ago. It felt so rewarding being able to piece together the mystery, and I'm sad I'll never be able to experience it for the first time again. I'm glad you mentioned it in this video.
Ahh all this love CrossCode is getting in these comments brings a smile to my face
Appreciate seeing Wildermyth get a shout-out. That game surprised me in how invested I became with my party members that all essentially started out as blank slates. Seeing them develop relationships while gaining new armor, battle scars, and abilities, that made them unique as heroes. I wish more games would experiment with the idea of organic emergent storytelling like that.
Yoku's Island is amazing.
I would like to also bring a fairly small title to attention: Hyoer Light Drifter. A pixel art, action adventure rpg. A relatively short game full of mystery and sound effects and visuals that gave me chills. The combat system is smooth and challenging. The story of this game is told through the world and npc dialog. Npcs however speak with beautiful pixel art images leaving some meanings up to interpretation. This game is very beautiful and I find myself coming back to it time and time again. (Btw best upgrade imo is the chain dash :p )
I played it a while back. I didn't even like challenging games back then but I loved it! Well... what I played of it. I couldn't figure out where to go next. But I'd absolutely say it's worth checking out.
I tried it for a bit. But damn. I just didn't get into it at the time.
Im shocked that you have not included Everhood, that game is still so unknown even though everyone who played it believes it can gain as much popularity as undertale
I agree with everything you said about Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight. It's so underappreciated while being one of the only games I've ever loved 100%ing. Incredible game that needs more attention.
Agreed!
Another interesting silent protagonist: Georgio from Roundabout. She's an absolute legend.
Obra Dinn is one of my favorite games, it takes murder mystery to the extreme, and I love how the story evolves from a family predictable mutiny to something truly its own. The art style and musical elements are also fantastic!
Looking good dude
ditto
Thanks dude
Razbuten: Deja vu this guy looks similar 🤔 it’s definitely not the bag (sarcasm)
As someone who has coincidentally played every game on this list to varying degrees of enjoyment, Yoku's Island Express and Before your eyes deserve SO much more love than they've gotten.
Yoku's is just pure joy in a game, with myself only getting frustrated at a single room in the entire game, everything else was a blast.
Before your Eyes in my opinion is a MUST PLAY no questions asked, ESPECIALLY if you are someone who'd be considered creative or artistic. It touches on a lot of things I think creative kids would relate to, and it's only a couple hours long so even if you somehow don't like it, you'll be done with it quick.
CrossCode looks a lot like an old NES game called Crystalis.
Thank you so much for this video! Just started the playing crosscode and I love it! Looking forward to trying Wildermyth as well.
I want to try Crosscode after really enjoying Trials of Mana (not so much Secret of Mana). It looks like a really solid action RPG.
I think it's paced pretty slow early on.
I played a lot of sonic spinball as a kid. Never got very far, because I was not good at pinball, but there's a lot of nostalgia there. It's lovely to learn that there's more than one game in the genre of exploration adventure via pinball, and I hope to play Yoku's Island Express sometime soon!
crosscode is SUCH a good game. holy shit its amazing. i like wildermyth to but havent played all that much of it. crosscode is a masterpiece in its genre. finally a good "silent" protagonist
There are quite a few good silent protagonists, but she's one of the few I've seen actually have some solid characterization. Haven't seen a silent character this good since Transistor
@@TraRobins234 I would suggest that she's not a true silent protagonist, she's simply mute, but does have an actual established character. "Silent protagonists" are specifically about the *void* of character that leaves the personality up to interpretation or projection by the player.
@@LordSoulSicarious with that argument, there hasn't been a true silent protagonist in a very long time since they are usually characterized in some way. Even Lea wouldn't count.
@@TraRobins234 I would agree that they're pretty rare these days. They're still around, but now that there's no longer any major technical advantage to using one, they're a lot less common.
I am SOOO grateful that u mentioned Crosscode. I stumbled over it by accident, played it as "early access" to the point where the story suddenly stopped because it wasnt finished yet.
This game gave me such a good time, and took me way back to my childhood playing SNES games.
If Zelda ALTTP, Secret of Mana and Lufia II had a child, it would be this game!!
extremely satisfying combat, insanely good puzzles and a very compelling story with very well written characters!
9.5/10 love this game!!
i have actually missed all of these tyvm
It’s not listed here in this video, but another great indie game is Paradise Killer. It’s an open world investigation mystery game with a vaporwave aesthetic and amazing soundtrack. It’s truly like nothing I’ve ever played before and it’s incredible. Definitely a game I wish I could play again for the first time
For what a random comment on a video is worth, PLEASE play OMORI, it is a role-playing game but it has the best depiction of things like depression and psychological horror that I've ever seen in a videogame, the story is nothing short of stellar and the gameplay is fun
I can't promise I'll play it, but I'll definitely give it a look! Thanks for the recommendation!
I have this game. Need to play.
Still waiting for any information on a Switch version. I have totally stopped playing my other systems and I'd rather have it on my Switch whenever they finally set a date. *sigh*
@@zammich3649 My dude. What about playing it on Steam though? Is the portability that important? I mean this is a more immersive title.
@@helloguy8934 It's not about portability but about ease of access and *shifting* my attention. There's something about turning on the TV that helps me get into a gaming mood (whereas I've had AM2R on my PC for months and have yet to actually turn it on despite not having anything else to play on Switch but more Splatoon).
I've neglected starting CrossCode and finishing Obra Dinn for a while now so when this video came out I immediately started playing them and by now have finished both twice... Thanks alot for giving me the motivation to finally finish these amazing titles.
Great title (maybe? idk your opinions)
I bought yokus island express a few years ago for my switch, bought it because it was in sale and pretty cheap, not expecting much, but ooomg I was blown away. Ended up loving every second playing it.
Like razbuten said, you can't help but smile while playing this game. Top notch game. Feels like a warm hug on my soul.
+ I don't like pinball games either
"dungeons that make you feel smart and talented for solving them"
- looks at zelda -
me: you mean dumb for having to look it up?
I really enjoyed this video! Here are some of my personal indie games that I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on if you ever play any of them:
- Spiritfarer (you used some footage but I don't think you've ever mentioned it?)
- Forgotton Anne
- Rakuen
Razbuten:
That one guy that didn’t miss any of these indie games: exists
Im the guy
Obra Dinn was another Outer Wilds for me. The perfect game experience for me - not too long, not too short, and leaving you wanting more without feeling short-changed. Wish I could play it again for the first time, went straight into my best games of all time list once I finished it.
I want to play CrossCode now. Mission accomplished 😂
A wise choice
Give it some time to get good. I think
I became OBSESSED with Wildermyth for a couple weeks, wondering what would happen to my characters next and worrying that they would die before they could retire.
I'd get a new recruit in the group and owing to their lack of experience and some bad positioning, all the time and effort I spent on that character gone in an instant.
Terrific game and absolutely love it.