Indie Games – Page 2 – Ms. Bella's World

3–5 minutes

Gamers love a challenge, and bullethell games have a special way of getting the adrenaline going. Recently, I tried out several demos that caught my eye, and I think they have potential. Here are five bullethell demos that impressed me—and one bonus that isn’t a bullethell!

1) Karate Survivor
Release Date: October 30, 2024

From the Steam page: “Become a martial arts master in this survivor-like roguelite inspired by action movies of the ‘80s. Use your fists, feet, and the environment to fight off relentless thugs. Master powerful combos, enhance your skills, and remember: everything around you is a weapon!”

Graphics: Colorful pixel graphics with the charm of old kung-fu movies, evoking memories of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
Sounds: Solid music and sound effects that complement the action well.
Gameplay: Starts off fun, but the difficulty curve outpaces your character quickly—even with upgrades. Watch out: just touching mobs deals damage!
All in All: I had a great time with the demo, and I’m excited to see how the full release turns out. Hopefully, they’ll fine-tune the balance before launch.

2) Submarine Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Dive into the ocean’s depths, face fearsome sea creatures, and collect their experience crystals. In this roguelite action game, upgrade your submarines with various combinations of weapons and chips. Become the Lord of the Ocean!”

Graphics: Bright, simple visuals that still manage to look great.
Sounds: Basic but fitting music and sound design.
Gameplay: Starts easy, but things escalate fast. Each world offers unique modes like avoiding poisoned waters or dodging falling barrels. Replayability looks high, with lots of variety.
All in All: This one seems like it’ll be a solid entry in the genre. Now if only we had a release date…

3) Achilles: Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Achilles: Survivor is a dynamic single-player bullet heaven game where you face thousands of enemies, build destructive structures, develop your character, and survive waves of enemies.”

Graphics: Dark and gritty 3D graphics with a ¾ perspective—very reminiscent of aRPGs.
Sounds: Atmospheric music and sound effects that fit perfectly.
Gameplay: Easy to pick up but challenging quickly. You gather gold during each run to unlock permanent upgrades, making future runs easier.
All in All: With Greek mythology, permanent upgrades, and fast-paced action, this looks like it’ll be entertaining for several hours when it finally releases.

4) Smol Survivors
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Smol Survivors is a 2D reverse bullet-heck where smol blocks have become lost and need to find their friends while fighting through hordes of enemies.”

Graphics: Adorable blocky characters in bright, colorful worlds.
Sounds: The sound effects are nice, but I don’t recall there being any music.
Gameplay: Accessible and quirky, with fun weapons like soap, straws, and…cats? (Yes, cats.) Very easy to get into, perfect for newcomers to bullethell games.
All in All: If the price is right, this will be a great little game to pick up when you have a few spare minutes.

5) TemTem Swarm
Release Date: November 13, 2024

From the Steam page: “Unlock mighty abilities, find Tems to evolve, and discover wild synergies in this survivor-like bullet heaven. Play solo or with friends in online co-op with up to 3 players!”

Graphics: Gorgeous 3D graphics with classic TemTem characters in a colorful world.
Sounds: Excellent music and sound effects that really elevate the gameplay.
Gameplay: Easy to start but challenging as you progress. The permanent upgrades help, and the Tems can evolve during each run.
All in All: This one feels like it’s going to be a hit—if the price is right. Definitely one to watch when it releases in November!

Bonus Mention: 2048 – Dungeons
Release Date: TBD

Okay, so this isn’t a bullethell game, but I just had to mention it. If you enjoy puzzle games like 2048 and roguelike combat, this one’s worth a look.

From the Steam page: “A game that mixes 2048 puzzle mechanics with a roguelite style of play. Train your character, recruit allies, and test your luck in the dungeon of Blockshire.”

Graphics: Low-poly visuals with a high fantasy theme.
Sounds: Solid and fitting for the gameplay.
Gameplay: If you like number puzzles and strategic, turn-based combat, this is right up your alley. Just be warned—it crashed on me once and froze another time. Definitely still needs a bit of polishing before release.

There you have it—five promising bullethell demos (and one unexpected extra) that I think are worth keeping an eye on. Whether you’re dodging barrels underwater, throwing cats at enemies, or channeling your inner Achilles, these games all offer something fun and unique.

Have you tried any of these demos yet? Or maybe you’ve got a recommendation of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time—stay sharp, dodge everything, and bye for now!

2–3 minutes

Typically, when I browse Steam, I’m on the lookout for games. With a vast selection from various developers and publishers, my wishlist almost rivals the list of games I own.

But games aren’t the only offerings on Steam; there are apps too. Yesterday, a delightful productivity app was released, and it’s almost perfect in its simplicity, functionality, and aesthetic. Best of all, it’s free.

The app is called “On Track“, developed and published by GIGATANK 3000. While they’ve previously published “Wyvia” by Blast Programming, this seems to be their first self-developed title and their inaugural productivity app.

On its Steam page, “On Track” is described as “a cozy productivity tracker to help you rejuvenate, relax, and focus on tasks you want to accomplish.” After trying it out for just over an hour, I can confirm that they’ve nailed the “relaxed” aspect!

Upon opening the app, you’re greeted with a screen displaying a train ticket. You fill in your “destination” (goal) and set the ride length. Then, hit play to board the train.

You’re then seated as a passenger in a window seat of a charming little train, watching the scenery roll by. The graphics are stunning, with intricate pixel art in vibrant colors that are easy on the eyes.

The app features customizable ambient audio, including train noises, background chatter, and other ambient sounds. Each sound has its own volume slider, allowing you to create your ideal auditory environment. There’s also some soothing, wordless music, also adjustable via its own slider. I appreciate this flexibility, as it lets you tailor the atmosphere to your preference.

You can also adjust the train’s speed and the time of day, from bright daylight to a deep, serene night.

As for productivity, the app keeps things simple. You have a timer set before boarding the train and a to-do list function where you can jot down tasks. This minimalist approach means there’s nothing extra to distract you—no pets to collect, no rooms to decorate. It’s just you, on a train, watching the world go by as you tackle your tasks.

Alternatively, you can simply set the timer, adjust the sounds, and enjoy the passing scenery as a form of relaxation.

When asked on the forums why they chose to make the app free, the developers responded:

“We wanted to release a free game because being productive is something everyone should have access to. We’ll be releasing some cosmetic and additional stages as DLC if you feel like supporting the game in the future. Enjoy!”

I think that’s a very generous and fair pricing structure. It offers everyone full functionality for free while providing future opportunities for those who want to support the app.

If you’re looking for a basic yet charming productivity app, I highly recommend heading over to Steam and picking this up.

And to the developers, thank you for creating this and making it free. I’m sure many will enjoy using it, myself included!

Until next time, bye for now.