A Summer Storm of Indie Gems
10 excellent released and upcoming indie games to play
Coming out of hibernation to celebrate some of the outstanding games that July and August. The last few years have been really incredible for games released, but there were so many awesome games shipped in these two months alone that it felt worth it to highlight them!
The games themselves are organized by month but in no particular order other than how they popped into my head.
July
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Released: July 17
A more traditional dungeon-crawler style game with a fun art style and theme.
Flock
Released: July 15
Available on Steam
From the team that brought absolute bangers like Loot Rascals, Wilmot’s Warehouse, and I Am Dead, comes a beautifully illustrated game about discovering and collecting a variety of fantastical creatures.
Valley Peaks
Released: July 23
Available on Steam and Itch.io
At some point we decided the rock climbing was a great theme for video games and I am here for it. Valley Peaks combines climbing with a fun art style that combines the vibes of A Short Hike and Lil Gator Game.
August
Arco
Released: August 14
Available on Steam
Arco is a magical tactical western with a beautiful art-style and an interesting take on the Western genre. Published by Panic, a famous indie Mac developer shop in Portland who also published Untitled Goose Game and Firewatch.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Releasing: August 21
Perhaps my most anticipated release of the year. It’s another tactical game with magic, the ability to rewind time, witty writing, sharp levels and a great art style.
Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers
Released: August 7
Available on Steam and Itch.io
Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers rounds out our year of Gambling-ish games (Balatro and Bingle Bingle) . This one is a take on Blackjack but leans into the absurdity further by allowing you to play with Tarot Cards, Yugioh(ish) cards, Room Key Cards, and even more.
One Btn Bosses
Released: August 5
Available on Steam
The game is in the name. It’s a fast paced bullet hell style game about a series of hard fights, where you only have one button.
Super Dungeon Muncher
Released: August 5
Available on Steam
The smallest game on my list, this a fun little game that mixes infinite runner style gameplay with dungeon exploration.
To the Stars
Released: August 12
Available on Steam, Epic, and Gog.
Another one in my most anticipated games of 2024, this is an indie take on a real time strategy game. It reminds me a lot of Slipways, one of my favorite games of the last 5 years.
Demon Loop
Releasing: August 28 (Early Access)
Available on Steam
Really excited to see more board game designers get involved in the video game space. Demon Loop is designed by Alexander Pfister, designer of board games like Broom Service and Great Western Trail. I’m excited to see what happens here.
What a Summer For Games
The last few years have been marred by financial turbulence and uncertainty in the games industry, but indie games like these are a testament to the breadth of creativity and splendor of the people making games. I would encourage you to pick a game, dive in and support these creators so we continue to get excellent interactive experiences for years to come. Feel free to sound off in the comments about any I may have missed!