Nine great retro-inspired indies you can play today

25.10.2023 - 21:59 / destructoid.com / Can Play / You Can

Many indie titles in the past several years have taken visual inspiration from previous generations. Some draw from the NES and SNES eras, but lately more are taking cues from the PS1/N64 generation.

These distinctive visual echoes from years past have undoubtedly made it far easier to appreciate the aesthetic while playing something notably contemporary. At least, that’s how I view many of these games, since occasional visits to previous generations can sometimes be painful.

That said, some of the best games from the last several years have retro games to thank, be they platformers, survival horror, or RPGs. Some of these are the best in their respective years with others being quite underrated gems.

CrossCode is an ARPG with a 16-bit artstyle while retaining smoother combat and exploration. The store page makes its Zelda inspiration clear concerning how dungeons are designed around puzzle-solving and new equipment. Something that distinguishes itself from games like Link to the Past is the focus on ranged combat.

Protagonist Lea can attack at both close and long distances, with either method having a significantly faster pace than its inspirations. Couple this with a breadth of customization options for Lea’s build, and combat always stays satisfying as the player’s skill grows alongside Lea’s strength.

The story can be hit or miss as CrossCode follows the amnesiac protagonist throughout her journey across the CrossWorlds MMORPG, but the gameplay always remains engaging. Clocking in at around 30 hours for the main story, CrossCode is a lengthy and memorable retro adventure.

Titles taking inspiration from ’90s FPS’s have gained traction, but arguably none do it better than Dusk. On top of being one of the best retro shooters in recent memory, it’s potentially one of the greatest shooters ever.

It takes visual cues from games like Blood but plays like an improved version of Quake. Players practically glide across levels using a mix of mid-20th-century weapons along with some more fantastical inclusions to decimate cultists and eldritch evils.

Each weapon is exhilarating to use, and I argue movement is better than even Doom Eternal still. At around 10 hours long, Dusk doesn’t overstay its welcome and leaves a better impression of boomer shooters than even its inspirations can offer. Despite only being around five years old, its popularity helped earn it a free HD remaster.

Continuing my trend of focusing on titles released in the last five years is Katana Zero, a slick action-platformer with several interesting gimmicks. It plays almost like a 2D Ghostrunner, as the protagonist only dies in one hit and primarily uses a katana. What Ghostrunner doesn’t have is a dedicated slowdown mechanic that ties