It’s been one of those strange, busy years where any of Polygon’s top 10 games of the year could have made the No. 1 slot. Heck, you could expand that outward to include the top 20. There was a wealth of great games throughout the year, making it impossible to keep up with everything — even here at Polygon, where many of our jobs are to keep up with video games. That’s why we’ve created this list of 10 games you might have missed, all from indie studios. They cover a bunch of different genres, from a goofy multiplayer game to an inventory management roguelike.
Morbidcore indie games deliver traumatic, personal diaries most games veer away from
08.12.2023 - 13:31 / destructoid.com / Indie Games
“Morbidcore” isn’t an established subgenre, but it’s not hard to imagine what falls into this category. These are games exploring life’s darker moments. Not for the sake of simply disturbing an audience, but instead, they’re stories communicating the more unsettling aspects of humanity — the parts we shy away from or refuse to acknowledge.
Grief, depression, trauma, and pain are all prevailing themes in these narratives, and while they don’t aim to shock, they inevitably do. Indies aren’t the only titles that attempt this, either, though they often do it best. Multimillion-dollar productions from megacorporations should have the budget to explore here, but it’s often a one-person team or a small group weaving the tales that are most impactful.
Trigger warning: don’t proceed if you’re not in a safe state of mind to read about suicide, self-harm, and rape.
Trauma is no stranger to many of us, and we see that reflected in indie games. Portraying that hurt is a difficult task, as trauma in its many shapes remains an incredibly personal experience. How it’s triggered, the intensity, and ways it manifests in someone’s life are unique to each individual, but we often share its weight and familiar ache.
When it comes to trauma-themed games, nothing affected me quite like He Fucked the Girl Out of Me. I discovered it after reading a Zoey Handley article on the game, and with a provocative title like that, I couldn’t resist. What was I expecting? A cheeky game with some transgender themes potentially thrown in. What I got was a dark, depressing tale that’s haunted me ever since.
Without spoiling too much, the game follows the life of a transwoman bearing one-too-many heavy crosses. Drawn in by a swirl of peer pressure and desperation, she finds herself relying upon work in the sex industry. It promises her financial freedom and affection, but she is instead subjected to both subtle and exploitative behavior from predatory men. These experiences chip away at her psyche until it finally shatters, permanently changing how she relates to others.
With He Fucked the Girl Out of Me, we uncover precisely why such indies pack a more powerful punch than AAA games. When a multimillion-dollar corporation attempts to craft a game, there are economic factors to consider in addition to the complexities of blending the ideas and creative visions of an entire team. As though the situation wasn’t complex enough, there’s also the audience to consider. If you’re spending millions on an entertainment product, there’s an incentive to ensure it appeals to and parallels the sensibilities of the masses. It leaves the personal behind in favor of vague, broad strokes.
Indies often aren’t as bureaucratically fettered, allowing these
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blog.playstation.com
22.12.2023 / 22:37
Shuhei Yoshida’s favorite PlayStation indie games of 2023
Hello everyone. The year 2023 has been a standout year for games, as we have been blessed with the release of countless top-notch titles. I hope everyone was able to discover new favorites that blew their minds and engaged them in amazing gaming experiences.
destructoid.com
18.12.2023 / 19:23
Destructoid’s award for Best Indie game of 2023 goes to…
It’s always the ones you don’t expect, right? In a year full of AAA powerhouses competing for the top spot, I’m actually not too surprised that Lethal Company managed to sneak in and steal hearts. Thousands of them, even.
gamesradar.com
18.12.2023 / 17:23
My favorite indie game of 2023 started as a Slay the Spire-style roguelike card game about arranged marriage before switching to an RPG about fighting exes
Thirsty Suitors started out as a concept surrounding a playable card game, its director has revealed.
screenrant.com
17.12.2023 / 12:11
10 Best Indie Games Of 2023, Ranked
2023 was a massive year for the gaming community as a whole, with many huge video games being released throughout, yet there were still numerous titles from the smaller indie developers that also managed to steal the show. From short, thought-provoking games such as to the larger retro-inspired RPG , there are many different genres to experience while supporting the indies. Indie developers don't have the financial backing of the large AAA companies, yet some can still produce incredible works of art that they share with the world.
pcgamesinsider.biz
12.12.2023 / 07:17
The average 'good' indie game makes just $25,000 in its first year on sale, says Grey Alien's Birkett
Earlier today, indie developer Jake Birkett of Grey Alien Games published some research he has conducted into how the Week One revenue of indie titles compares with that generated across a game's first year. He has kindly allowed us to republish this piece
screenrant.com
08.12.2023 / 21:47
Day Of The Devs Interview: Crafting A "Sundance Of Indie Games"
has grown a lot since it first began in 2012, now serving as one of the biggest places for indie developers to showcase games. The event started as a collaboration between iam8bit and Double Fine to shine a spotlight on smaller titles, and has featured over 500 different games since its inception. This week, Days of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition showed off a slew of upcoming titles, including multiple world premieres.
gamesindustry.biz
08.12.2023 / 17:09
Huge console sales deliver record Black Friday for UK games retail
£167 million worth of video game consoles, accessories and physical games were sold over the Black Friday week in the UK, GfK reveals.
techradar.com
08.12.2023 / 05:41
Upcoming indie game Harmonium: The Musical looks to champion accessibility in new ways
The new indie game Harmonium: The Musical was just announced at The Game Awards 2023, and it looks to champion beautiful and meaningful stories.
tech.hindustantimes.com
07.12.2023 / 04:49
IPhone 16 battery to be made in India in move away from China; Apple reveals deadline
It is no secret that Apple is working towards reducing its dependence on China for the production of its various devices, including iPhones. In recent years, Apple has shifted its focus towards India and wants to expand its partnership by planning to produce the iPhone 16 battery in India. Suppliers in India have been told to upscale their production for the same. China is Apple's massive production and supply chain country, but India is taking away a lot of their business away. The shift is happening due to the many risk factors that were exposed by the COVID-19 years. Know what Apple is planning for its new generation of iPhone.
pushsquare.com
06.12.2023 / 23:02
Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition Highlights Awesome Indie Games Today | Push Square
If The Game Awards itself isn't really your cup of tea, but you're still hankering for a gaming showcase, have no fear. Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition is happening today, 6th December 2023, showing off a wide variety of indie games heading to PC and consoles.
gamesradar.com
06.12.2023 / 20:51
Zelda and Studio Ghibli unite in beautiful indie game Europa, launching in April
It's safe to say the cozy games contingent here at GamesRadar+ is thoroughly excited for Europa, the upcoming action-adventure indie game that looks like the love child of The Legend of Zelda and Studio Ghibli. We've been gushing about its devastating portrayal of loneliness and lost civilizations, heart-stirring presentation, and relaxing gameplay from its June debut through to its gorgeous Steam demo, which is still live.