A DEAD PERIOD
As the big studios wait for spring release dates, indie designers fill the void... mostly with horror adventures
IT’S a brand new year, and we’re all hoping that it’s very different from the last one.
Publishers always face a bit of a quandary at this time of year – do they hit the ground running with a big release, or keep their powder dry for later when consumers have some cash to spare?
For this very reason January and February are well known in the industry as ‘limbo’ months – as the big AAA studios take the time to finish off their projects.
But that’s great news for indie developers, who get a chance to showcase their titles to starving gamers.
As well as Indie games being much gentler on your budget during the arduous wait for payday, they are often just as good – if not better than – the big studio games.
With that in mind, here are five indie gems worth checking out this month.
Hidden Deep (PEGI TBC) PC Release: January 24
There’s a strong leaning toward horror this January, and this is the first of three titles launching towards the end of the month.
Hidden Deep is a 2D action and exploration sci-fi thriller, set in a mining and research facility that’s been built more than a mile under the ocean floor.
A research mission sent to get to the bottom of some odd anomalies has gone missing, and as part of a rescue team you must gain access to the site to hunt for survivors.
Drawing heavily on such films as Aliens, The Thing and games like Half Life, you’ll get to run, blast and crawl your way through the creepy sub-oceanic facility and the horrors it contains.
Kingdom of the Dead (PEGI TBC) PC Release: January 26
One of the most unique looking games I’ve seen in a very long time lands on PCS towards the end of this month.
In Kingdom of the Dead the gates of the underworld have opened, and you play as Agent Chamberlain, a professor turned army general, who now works for the government and its secret new program known as Gatekeeper.
Graphically this is stunning, drawn in a pen and ink style that adds to the horror as you try to defeat death and his armies.
With eight creepy levels to explore, this first person shooter promises players 22 different types of enemies to face, along with the challenge of ‘old school bosses’.
Blank Frame (PEGI TBC) PC Release: January 28
Another game which is sure to intrigue horror fans arrives at the end of the month.
Blank Frame is a claustrophobic, surreal horror that draws heavy inspiration from late 90s/early 2000’s Playstation 2 games.
You play as Henri, who finds himself trapped inside his apartment when a large metal cabinet falls through the ceiling from the apartment above.
The world outside Henri’s window continues apace, oblivious to the fact he’s stuck – and that he may not be completely by himself.
Blank Frame leans more towards the psychological rather than relying on jump scares, and offers players two endings – the one you see will depend on the choices you make as you play through.
Super UFO Fighter (PEGI TBC) Switch Release: January 12
If you like a little cuteness with your intergalactic violence, then this is the game for you.
Featuring super easy controls, this 1v1 sports battler sees you smashing fallen capsules to unveil the ‘targets’ inside.
Once the targets have been released, you then use your Shwoop Beam to pull it up into your waiting UFO.
Each stage has its own ‘gimmick’ to help you score goals faster than your opponent – and emerge triumphant.
With bright graphics, and a fastpaced soundtrack, this is sure to set your pulse racing.
Pupperazzi (PEGI TBC) PC Release: January 20
Could you imagine anything better than a world populated entirely by dogs?
This glorious little game by Sundae Month sets you the task of photographing various canines in your role as a ‘pupperazzi.’
Your aim is to build your career by getting snaps of the daftest, sweetest and silliest hounds.
Even better, you can interact with the pups around you, from petting the goodest boys, to playing fetch and even dressing them up in some dapper hats.
The better your shots, the more you can upgrade your equipment to add filters and effects such as slowmo.
You can also share snaps online, to share the love with your fellow canine photographers .