17 Indie Games To Get Excited About In October 2021
The Riftbreaker by EXOR Studios – October 14th
A heady blend of twin stick shooter, action RPG adventure, base builder, survival game and tower defence elements, The Riftbreaker by EXOR Studios is a whole lot of things in one package. The aim of the game is to build a two-way rift back to Earth on the alien planet of Galatea 37. Doing so is much easier said than done however, as the planetary flora and fauna will start to see the protagonist Mr. Riggs as a threat. Thankfully, Riggs has powerful weapons and abilities on his mech that will allow you to take on the largest of beasts. The Riftbreaker will be launching for the PC via Steam, Xbox Series X, and PS5 on October 14th.
Solar Ash by Heart Machine – October 26th
Bloody hell Solar Ash looks excellent, doesn’t it? Like a combination of The Pathless and Shadow of the Colossus, it’s both gorgeous and very intriguing. Players take on the role of Rei, a Voidrunner who will journey through a colorful, stylized world as she fights to save her planet from the Ultravoid. In order to do so, they’ll be taking on massive monsters. The traversal in Solar Ash looks astounding with fluid ice-skate like running, rail grinding and grappling. Described by the developers as “Heart Machine’s vision of the adventure platformer”, we’ll be able to play this exciting title when it launches on PC via Epic Game Store, PS4 and PS5 on October 26th.
Tandem: A Tale Of Shadows by Monochrome Paris – October 21st
Combining top down and sidescrolling gameplay, Tandem: A Tale Of Shadows looks like a very cool concept. In the game you take the roles of Emma and her teddy bear Fenton who are searching for the missing Thomas Kane, Emma’s brother. In a world inspired by the works of Tim Burton, the actions of Emma – seen from a top down perspective – influences the sidescrolling section of the screen for Fenton, and vice versa. The game boasts 45 puzzles, many of them involving manipulating shadows, to complete in order to solve the mystery. We can get platforming with Tandem: A Tale Of Shadows on October 21st when it launches on PC via Steam, Switch, Xbox and PlayStation.
Darkest Dungeon 2 by Red Hook Studios – October 26th
I don’t think my soul is ready for another Darkest Dungeon. The challenging, spirit crushing yet devilishly moreish original is rightfully held in high regard and there’s quite a buzz around the sequel. What’s quite intriguing is that developers Red Hook have been quite low key with Darkest Dungeon II. We know that it “will test your mettle and drive you to the brink of madness”, that it’ll offer players “a glimpse of the supernatural apocalypse twisting and distorting the world beyond the estate” of the first game and that it’ll have its own “creative and thematic identity” and the game will incorporate 3D visuals this time around. We’ll learn a lot more about the arduous quest before us when Darkest Dungeon II launches into Early Access exclusively on the Epic Games Store on October 26th.
Into The Pit by Nullpointer Games – October 19th
No, not the very popular FNAF song. Into The Pit is a fast-paced retro-FPS roguelite set in a gothic setting – and it looks freakin’ mental. Like a combination of Devil Daggers, Heretic and Doom, it looks like it’s going to be blisteringly fast and oh so exciting. As described on Into The Pit‘s official page, players can “experiment with various spells and powers to become an unstoppable magical force” while navigating “treacherous” but “short-paced” dungeons. Die and it’s back to the start again – but rescuing villagers will unlock shops that can grant permanent upgrades, helping prolong each run. Into The Pit launches on the 19th of October for PC via Steam and Xbox consoles, and will be on Game Pass from day one.
The Good Life by White Owls Inc – October 15th
I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that The Good Life is totally unlike the previous works of Hidetaka Suehiro AKA SWERY. The mind behind Deadly Premonition and D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die turned his hand to a new studio – White Owls Inc – and a genre that’s unfamiliar ground – A debt repayment life simulator. The Good Life is set in an idyllic British village and follows the story of Naomi Hayward, a journalist that’s on assignment to uncover the secrets of Rainy Woods. Murder is afoot and Naomi is determined to get to the bottom of it. While all of that might seem a little straight edge for a SWERY game, there is a catch – once a month, characters turn into cats and dogs. Yep. You read that right. The game will launch on PC via Steam, Switch, Xbox and PlayStation on October 15th, 2021.
Inscryption by Daniel Mullins – October 7th
Daniel Mullins has a track record for developing fascinating and offbeat indie games. I think it’s fair to say he has done it again with Inscryption, a “dark and disturbing card-based odyssey that blends deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie”. Trapped in a cabin with a mysterious stranger named Leshy, you’ll be playing grim and dark card games to “unlock the secrets lurking behind his cabin walls”. Sold. Role on October 19th when Inscryption launches on Steam.
A Little Golf Journey by Okidokico – October 14th
I’ve always enjoyed golf games more when they’re more of a relaxed physics puzzle than it is a realistic sports simulator. Usually I’d agree with saying “Golf is a good walk spoiled” but when the competitive aspect is stripped away and you’re playing for the fun of it instead of hitting a par or beating a friend, it always feels far more enjoyable. A Little Golf Journey by Okidokico seems to epitomise that concept. A golf game set across a number of different biomes, this title offers the opportunity to take your time with your shots, explore every area and go hunting for secrets. Or, y’know, play a traditional game of golf and shoot for the hole. It’s up to you. A Little Golf Journey will be launching on PC via Steam and GOG & Nintendo Switch on the 14th of October.
PREV PAGE: Echo Generation, Moonglow Bay & More Indie Games>>>
So, there you have it. 17 more indie games to keep your eyes on for the coming month. Obviously no list can be completely comprehensive – I fully expect that the very moment I publish this, several more announcements will be made that should be here. If you feel like there’s any obvious omissions, feel free to head to the comments section and drop a link to your favourite upcoming indie games. We love to discover new titles that we’ve not heard about and it’d be awesome if you point us in their direction.
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