Cowboys ...and indie ones!
From battling robot rustlers to becoming a space explorer, these independent titles will keep you entertained if you’re on a budget
I DON’t know about you, but watching my spending feels like a full time job at the moment.
Between spiralling energy prices, rising supermarket costs and the insidious increase of interest rates, it’s hard to keep track of things.
With all that in mind, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to justify dropping £50+ on the latest AAA games.
That’s why indie games have been my saviour – a more pocket friendly, and often more rewarding gaming experience.
It’s an exciting year for indie fans, with some of the smaller studios behind the big hits of 2017 and 2018 preparing to release follow up titles.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for a cheap gaming fix that doesn’t compromise on quality, check out these titles which are due for release this February.
Dust & Neon
(PEGI 16) Switch, PC Price: £24.99
If you’re after a serious challenge this month, then look no further than this twin-stick roguelite shooter.
Dust & Neon is set in a postapocalyptic Wild West that’s overrun by villainy – and robots.
You play as Gunslinger, a legendary sharpshooter from the past brought back to life by a mad scientist to fight the robot oppression.
With more than 2,000 unique weapons in your arsenal to unlock, each gunfight allows you to upgrade Gunslinger and change his game style.
Reloading involves you popping each round in the chamber – even in the heat of battle. Prepare to die a lot, especially when you come up against the brutal bosses.
Tails: The Backbone Preludes (PEGI NA) PC Price: £12.99
This is the follow up to 2021’s superb Backbone, which followed the adventures of private eye racoon Howard Lotor in a dystopian Vancouver.
As the name suggests, this game is set before the events of Backbone while keeping the post-noir theme.
It follows the lives of four characters – all animals – as they experience moments of change, circumstance, and consequences.
Each character has their own little story arc, playing out through a series of interactive vignettes.
It’s surprising just how deep this game’s narrative is, paired with the impressive pixel graphics to create complex and often heartbreaking moments.
While there is currently no PEGI rating I could find for this game, it does deal with very mature themes – abuse, violence, racism and sexism, alcohol, drug abuse, depression and death. So not one to share with your kids.
Knights of Braveland (PEGI 7) PC Price: £12.79
Gaming is fun, but it’s even better when you can share the experience with friends. Knight of Braveland is a co-op beat’em up that allows you to do just that.
As part of the Heroes Guild, you’ll fight your way from rookie to hero
of the kingdom.
This game feels heavily inspired by the likes of Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theatre, cartoon action with a lighthearted script.
As enjoyable playing through on story mode as it is to team up with up to four friends to hack and slash your way to glory – this is more fun than it has any right to be.
Rooftop Renegade
(PEGI 7) PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch, PC Price: £14.99
If you like living on the edge, then this could be the game for you.
Rooftop Renegade is all about speed and flow, lacing up your hoverblades and taking to the city skyline in a bid to evade capture by the sinister Globacorp.
Bright, neon soaked graphics make this a joy to look at, while the fast and fluid gameplay makes you think fast on your feet.
Collecting scattered time crystals as you go, you’ll need to make split second decisions to stay in the game – so not one to play when you’re not feeling your sharpest.
You can up the ante by playing this in co-op with up to four others, so you can grind, boost and warp your way through the map.
SpaceBourne 2 (PEGI NA) PC Price: £16.75
A sequel to 2020’s Spacebourne, this game has been in early access for a few weeks and is rapidly gaining gamers’ attention.
Billed as an RPG-based, openuniverse, single-player space shooter, it picks up where the previous game left, and it’s your turn to build a new empire in the galaxy.
There’s a wealth of features here allowing you to go about things however you want.
Sitting alongside SpaceBourne 2’s main objective are half a dozen side events you can take part in, from mining for loot, salvaging from the wrecks of spaceships, to bounty hunting and exploring the outer regions by jumping through wormholes.
It’s going to take a very long time for you to get bored with this one.