I have a hard time thinking of a January as packed with quality indie games as this one. In just its last week, I numbered nine eye-catching titles on the site’s release calendar. And the week before that? Eleven. Even if you didn’t need to eat, sleep, or pay bills, playing through everything would stretch the bounds of possibility. So, as we head into a new month (which doesn’t seem to be slowing down), I want to make sure a few of January’s hits don’t slip by.
Wanderling
Think, but think fast in Wanderling. This platformer had me on my toes at every moment, whether I was scrambling to unravel its labyrinth, searching for keys, or desperately attempting to outrun the coming night. Deeply unique, this game gives players seven days to search a maze for two objectives: A key that will unlock a bonus-granting chest back at my base, and a lever that opens a gate elsewhere in the level connected to the next biome. At the end of my allotted days, trying to blast through the ever-growing path to gain the final key while still beating the setting sun offers all the adrenaline that conquering a boss in another game might.
I Hate This Place
So do I. Not known for my love of creepy forest exploration or playing around with demonic powers, I found myself drawn into I Hate This Place with its comicbook visuals and engaging gameplay. It’s largely a survival stealth title, with healthy heaps of crafting and a sprinkling of horrifying combat. I never have enough gear, I’m always watching my hunger drop with dread, but the mutant spiders might just be the pinnacle of the Nope mountain for me. What I do love is the feedback I receive from the game in the form of bold and bubbled descriptor words telling me when I’m making too much noise and the feeling of campy horror.
The Perfect Pencil
The Perfect Pencil is a disquieting dream. It’s not the nightmare that the previous game was. It’s also not the world I hope to visit when my head hits the pillow. A 2D platforming metroidvania, the game’s opening is noticeably cerebral. I am a cape without a head being crafted by a mysterious figure who thinks a film camera perfectly suits me and mounts it on my head with finality. This opens up the ability to scan the world around me to discover hints about objects and enemies. Which comes in handy when you run into things like pillow/caterpillar/men crawling along the floor. And it gets stranger from there.
This article is made possible by The Indie Informer’s generous Friend supporters who joined the site’s Patreon to ensure the team’s ability to bring the community more content. We couldn’t be more grateful for their help and, from our hearts, thank you all.
Thank You To Our Patrons:
Zachary Pligge
Jawarhello
Leave a Reply