Indie Spotlight: June 2020

As we officially push into the second half of this disastrous year, the games are still maintaining an excellent quality. The ever divisive Last of Us Part II released, Pokemon Sword/Shield is almost a full game after its new expansion launched and EA began moving all of its games back to Steam - but that’s just the big games! Independent game developers are doing all they can to bring us a much needed distraction in these strange times, so here are the ones that have caught our attention the most.

Super Soccer Blast

The insanity of arcade football is something that has been missing for years from gaming. As a big fan of the sport, I’ve never been completely keen on the FIFA or PES games and would always lean into arcade style titles like Sensible Soccer. Super Soccer Blast is an homage to those games. Fast and frantic, it’s a game based on player ability rather than the best player stats and football tactics. There’s been a few attempts to reclaim football's arcade, but Super Soccer Blast is the best attempt in the last 20 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afCXjUcYNwQ

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows (Steam), Xbox One
You should play if you like: Sensible Soccer, Virtua Striker, FIFA before the PlayStation 3 era.

GEESE vs CTHULHU

Alright, this isn’t even the most surreal title you’re going to see on this list. Grandpa Octopus tells the tale of the magical geese that defeated Cthulhu with magic. Thousands of years later, the great sea demon has arisen once again and the geese must take him down before he eats the sun! Battle huge bosses and save the geese before Cthulhu conquers all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1iu4IZ9xCw

Platforms: Windows (Steam)
You should play if you like: Geese or Cthulhu

Hylics 2

GEESE vs CTHULHU is a surrealist concept. Hylics 2 is literally defined as a ‘surreal RPG’ by the developers. Everything about it is so abstract, you can’t help but be drawn in. It’s a worthwhile experience, as is the first. It’s something that you cannot really describe with words. Watch the trailer and I’m sure you’ll be hypnotised into the strange world of Hylics 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yo8I1-kZ6U

Platforms: Windows (Itch, Steam)
You should play if you like: Hylics

No Straight Roads

If you ever feel our Indie Spotlight doesn’t contain enough indie, this indie game is about an indie rock band. How about that? Take back Vinyl City with Mayday and Zuke, two aspiring indie rockers who have been turned down by the biggest music label in town - No Straight Roads. With each level inspired by different genres of music, No Straight Roads is a creative take on the action genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fmKrB_u3LQ

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows (Epic Store) and Xbox One
You should play if you like: Brutal Legend

The Wizards - Dark Times (Virtual Reality Exclusive)

A sequel to the well received The Wizards game, this sequel puts the player in control of a powerful spellcaster, looking to save the world from an apocalypse. Rather than focusing on button combination, The Wizards - Dark Times focuses its casting on hand and arm motions. It’s a unique and challenging experience which pushes the limits of creativity with VR and its motions controls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2K503CyUoo

Platforms: Windows (Steam, Oculus)
You should play if you like: Sword and Sorcery