Inside the Game – Page 5 – Ms. Bella's World

5–8 minutes

Last time we talked, I touched on the topic of indie games, why I enjoy them, and I mentioned a few that I’ve found enjoyable to play. This week we look at a few more titles in the indie space.

Relaxing Games II – More games designed to chill out and unwind.

Coloring Pixels, 2018 – If you loved color by numbers books as a child, then this game by ToastieLabs will be right up your alley. The base game is free, and includes a number of images to color. Some are very simple images that will take only a few minutes to complete, perfect for when you don’t have much time. Others are more intricate and can take up to an hour or more to finish. The art work is fun, the controls are easy, and the accompanying music is peaceful. Or you could mute the music and put on your favorite album. Once you’ve finished the images that come free, they offer a wide range of DLC packs to expand your collection. A few are free, but most are $0.99 each. This a la cart method does add up though, to the tune of $70, if you include the soundtrack! I always wait for the packs to go on sale and save a little money. However, even just a small handful of extra packs will give you hours of fun.
Placid Plastic Duck Simulator, 2022 – While not technically what I would call a game, this little gem by Turbolento Games is one of the most enjoyable things to watch. Essentially an interactive screen, you start off with a pool. To this pool gets added one cute rubber duck. Other ducks follow, each with their own distinct appearances and, sometimes, traits. The graphics are great, the ducks are adorable (and quack when you click them), the music is very chill. On Steam for $1.99 for the base game, and $1.99 for each of the 5 DLC packs, I recommend this one if you just want to put something on the screen while you do other things.
Scream Collector, 2017 – If you enjoy idle clicker games, this free game by PuzzleRoo is well done. Halloween themed, it features pixel graphics, 4 areas to play in – 2 needing to be unlocked by completing previous areas – and tons of little minigames to do. And, while there is a cash shop, it’s completely unnecessary to spend a cent to upgrade everything. So far, I’ve managed to completely upgrade 3 of the 4 areas and am working on the 4^th. I will note however that the game appears to have been abandoned, as the last update from the developer was in 2020. However, it’s mostly complete and has tons to do. Definitely recommend picking this up.

Puzzle Games Featuring Cats – These fun puzzle games all have a common theme – cats!

Sudocats, 2022 – Do you love sudoku games and cats? Then check out this cheerful little game from Devcats, on Steam for $1.99. Featuring bright, papercut style graphics and cute furballs based on real life cats, the game is a traditional sudoku game. The game also introduces you to the cats, giving a little bio for each of them, as well as providing tips for introducing a new cat to your house. While there are only 27 static boards in the game, there is also a daily puzzle to complete, giving the game a lot of replayability. Well worth the small price tag!
Cats Organized Neatly, 2020 – This fun game by DU&I is 2D shape organizing puzzle where you arrange a cats of cute cats into a space to make them all fit. With hand illustrated graphics, relaxing music, and 80 levels, it’s both relaxing and challenging to play. The game, normally on Steam for $2.99, is currently 30% off until February 3^rd, making it $2.09. A purrfect time to buy if you enjoy spatial puzzles.
Purrfectly Hidden Cats: Kittenwood, 2023 – If you’re a sucker for hidden object games, then this little gem by GemcraftGames and Bleeding Moon Studio is a great addition to your collection. It features a hand drawn scene and lots of cats to find, both in plain sight and hidden behind other objects. Once you’ve found all the cats, you unlock a bonus minigame. There are even bits of story about the town of Kittenwood to discover in the scene. With the diminutive price of $1.29, you’ll definitely want to grab this one and watch out for the next 2 games in the series, both coming this year.
Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra, 2023 – Another hidden object game, but with a twist – each of the cats is part of an orchestra and, as you find them, they play music for you. This one has beautiful, dynamic graphics, and a great soundtrack of 10 songs to uncover as you complete each scene. By Enchant Games, and usually $4.99 on Steam, this game is currently 40% for the next day. Grab it for $2.99 while you can! And, for those of you that prefer dogs, they have a game for you too!

Low-Poly Games – These games all feature colorful, low-poly graphics and fun gameplay.

Hammerhelm, 2021- This is a game I featured in my Let’s Play series a while back and I still love the game. A blend of adventuring and town building, you play as a dwarf who has gone to the surface to live your life. Build, recruit townspeople, and don’t forget to craft armor and weapons so you can better defend your town. By SuperSixStudios, this game is on Steam for $14.99 and is worth playing.
Catlateral Damage, 2015 – This adorable game, by Manekoware and Fire Hose Games, has you playing as a small cat with the goal of knocking as much of your owner’s stuff onto the ground as possible. The houses are procedurally generated, leading to a high amount of replayability and even has over 230 photos of real-life cats to find and collect. On Steam for $9.99 for the original version, or you can get the Remeowstered version for $14.99. If you’ve even wondered what it was like to be a item slinging terror, this one is for you.
Deadpoly, 2022 – This is probably one of my favorite little low-poly games out there. A zombie survival and base building game, your goal is to survive and thrive in a zombie post-apocalypse. It’s by TFL Games, a solo developer, and on Steam for $9.99. I will add, however, that he’s in the middle of a complete rework of the game so currently the map is small and some features are missing. New content will be coming in Q1 of 2024 and the developer is very responsive in the forums. I play this solo but there are also co-op and PvP servers. At least, so I’ve heard.

Bonus – A little extra something that’s fun.

Goobies, 2023 – Another game in a long line of roguelikes, Goobies features bright, colorful graphics and … a blob? Don’t let the simplicity fool you, the game is quite challenging and you’ll find yourself saying ‘just one more round’ countless times. The skills are fun, the unlockable characters are unique, and it features a permanent upgrade system. By the developer, Knifes, this game is on Steam for $5.99. If you’re looking for a unique take on the genre, I recommend this one.

The gaming landscape is littered with indie games, many of them worth checking out. I could go on for ages about the various indie games I’ve discovered over the years. If you’re looking to expand your library of titles and find some gold scattered in the hay, I recommend looking up the tag, Indie, on Steam to see what you find.

Let everyone know in the comments, what games have you come across that deserve more love and attention?

Until next time, bye for now.

5–7 minutes

In the world of gaming, the AAA title dominates the market and, frequently, the news cycles. But just beyond them exists a small corner inhabited with gems shining with creativity and passion – the indie games. Created by small studios or solo developers with small budgets, they’re often overshadowed by big budget productions. Despite the odds, they’ve managed to carve out a space for themselves.

However, some people have misconceptions about what indie games are and aren’t. Common ones include:

They must be low quality
They’re all pixel art trash
They’re quick and easy to make
They aren’t profitable
They’re created by hobbyists

While any of these statements can be true, it’s usually not all at the same time and sometimes not at all. Yes, there are low quality indie games. I’ve run into my share of them. There are pixel art games, getting their inspiration from old-school games of the 80s and 90s. And, while some developers are hobbyists, it doesn’t diminish the love they put into their projects.

As for them being profitable, this can be the case for any game. Some may not make a lot of money but determining their financial success would require seeing their profits and loss statements. However, it’s safe to say that some have become quite successful.

And point 3? That’s highly debatable. Just because a game is small and has a singular game play loop doesn’t make it easy to design, code, or come up with graphics and sound for. I know for certain it would take me months, if not years, to do the same thing!

All this to say that I’m quite the fan of indie games. Out of the numerous titles I own, many of them are indie. Some were free, some I got at huge discounts thanks to places like Humble, Fanatical, and GOG, and others were Christmas and/or birthday gifts. So, let’s take a look at a few of my favorites.

Bulletheaven Games – These games will challenge you, your reflexes, and your creative vocabulary.

Vampire Survivors, 2022 – considered the game that really made the genre take off, Vampire Survivors is a bulletheaven game featuring lots of different characters, various weapons, increasingly challenging levels, and a couple of DLC to expand the game further. The base game is $4.99 on Steam, and the 3 DLC add another $6.47. A small price for hours of challenging fun! I personally have almost 120 hours in the game and am no where near completing everything.
Brotato, 2023 – Another fun bulletheaven, Brotato features a wide variety of strange characters, each with strengths and weaknesses that will help determine what build you go for in a run. Unlike Vampire Survivors, this game doesn’t have any permanent stat unlocks, giving it a more old-school game feel. While it doesn’t have any DLC, there is mod support and modders have already created more unique characters to try out. Coming in at $4.99 on Steam, but on sale for $3.99 until January 12th, 2024, this one is definitely worth a try.
HoloCure – Save the Fans! , 2023 – This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning HoloCure. Created by a solo developer, this game features popular Vtubers from the company Hololive. Each character has her own unique weapon sets and, aside from being incredibly fun, it’s also very cute. Bonus, this one is FREE on Steam! Run, don’t walk, to your computer and grab this gem.

Relaxing Games – These games are great to chill out and unwind after a long day.

Dorfromantik, 2022 – This lovely little game is a relaxed strategy where you place tiles down, organizing them to get the maximum points and unlock more tiles. It ends when you’ve placed your last tile. With colorful graphics, peaceful music and sound effects, and no timer, this no pressure game is perfect for those moments when you just want a bit of peace. Going for $13.99 on Steam, it’s worth the price, or wait for a sale and get it a bit cheaper.
Cloud Gardens, 2021 – This has to be the chillest little game with a post-apocalyptic theme ever. Decorate dioramas with plants and other items and get enough points to advance to the next diorama. The graphics are lovely, the music relaxing, and the theme thought provoking. On Steam for $17.99 , it’s not the cheapest on the list but definitely worth a try if you find it on sale.
Plant Therapy, 2023 – A game about collecting and caring for plants & decorating your apartments. This features lovely graphics, instrumental music and plants. Lots of plants. Plants that don’t die if you don’t open the game for a while. The base game is free on Steam, and there are 4 DLC packs, two of them being an optional soundtrack and coloring book. Altogether, they’ll set you back $9.96, or $5.98 if you just want the items that directly affect the game. If you like plants and just want to decorate and grow some, this game is perfect.

RPG Games – The indie market has a wealth of fun RPG games to try out.

Cat Quest, 2017 – One of the older games on the list, nonetheless this game is worth mentioning. You play as a cat going on adventures to save your catnapped sister from sinister claws. Great graphics, funny characters and enough challenge to keep it interesting while still being somewhat casual. Steam lists it at $12.99, a fair price for this little gem. And, if you really love it, it has a sequel too.
Torchlight 2, 2012 – Another older game, this RPG was created by Runic Games, a studio created by several developers, including one of the co-founders of Blizzard North. A fun dungeon crawl, this game features colorful characters and graphics, and a game play loop that is both simply yet can be challenging. Unfortunately, Runic Games has long since closed so if you choose to play this one multiplayer it will require jumping through a few hoops. It’s $19.99 on Steam, so wait for a sale or look and see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere. However, I do recommend trying it out.
Grim Dawn, 2016 – This aRPG is now my favorite, beating out even Diablo II. Set in an apocalyptic fantasy world, you create your hero by choosing 2 of a selection of classes, to create new ones, then go out and face the darkness crawling its way across the lands. The base game comes in at $24.99 on Steam and there are multiple DLC packs available bringing the price up by another $58 if you don’t buy the soundtrack. Pricey indeed, so keep an eye out for sales and bundles featuring the game with DLC included. I got mine from one such bundle and am glad I did!

These are but a small fraction of the indie games I’ve played and really enjoyed over the years. Next week, we’ll look at a few more.

Do you enjoy indie games and what are some of your favorites? Drop a comment below and let everyone know!

Until next time, bye for now!