There’s no need to splash out...
With AAA titles costing more than a pretty penny, give these indie games a go
WHEN it comes to helping gamers save money, indie studios are absolute superheroes.
The last 12 months have seen everyone tighten their belts, especially those of us with expensive hobbies.
As the cost of living marches ever skyward, it’s harder and harder to justify dropping £50-plus on the latest AAA titles.
But that’s where indie games have got our back. Much cheaper than the big releases, these are just as good – if not better – than some of the titles being released by the bigger studios.
So if you’re looking for a new gaming fix this month, but don’t want to break the bank, here’s just a selection of what March’s releases have to offer.
Reveil
(PEGI 16) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC
Price: £15.99
This first-person psycho-thriller has gone all out to try and turn up the fear. The problem is, it never quite tips over into the truly terrifying.
You play as Walter, a man who has woken up in a strange room to find his wife and daughter missing.
As he begins his search for them, he ends up wandering down an odd road to find a circus which his family used to own.
Reality and memory begin to blend, until Walter is not sure what’s what anymore.
You’ll have to solve puzzles, piece together clues and risk Walter’s sanity to get his family back.
Death of a Wish
(PEGI 16) Switch, PC Price: £15.99
The first thing that caught my eye with this action RPG is the incredible art style.
You play as Christian, who teams up with new friends to challenge the cult that raised him.
You’ll need to take down the four Sanctum Faiths – Father, Sister, Cardinal, and Priest – to upend the order of the world, and finally find salvation.
You’ll face waves of nightmarish monsters, master brutal attacks and learn flashy combos that all play out in graphics which look like drawings on a chalkboard.
Highwater
(PEGI 12) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC Price: £16.59
This whimsical, 3D adventure game is set in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world.
After the Great Climate Catastrophe, the flooded region of Hightower – sandwiched between two dry regions – has become a kind of safe zone.
Hightower is a buffer between the ravaged land of the War Zone, and the fortified city of Alphaville, where the ultra-rich live behind giant walls.
As rumours begin to circulate that the super wealthy are planning to flee to Mars, the game’s hero, Nikos, and his friends, hatch a plot to sneak on board a rocket to the Red Planet.
Aboard your trusty inflatable rib you’ll discover islands, find new allies, and build a strong friendship with your comrades.
Rebel Transmute
(PEGI 16) Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
Price: £16.74
This metroidvania has taken five years to land on consoles.
Starting life as a kickstarter, the sci-fi adventure game hit a few snags in finding a publisher.
But the long wait is over, and gamers can finally give it a spin.
You play as Moon Mikono, a space scrapper trying to unravel the mystery surrounding her mum’s disappearance.
With sprawling 2D graphics, this side-scroller offers game-changing upgrades to suit individual play styles.
Its 16-bit style graphics take you right back the glory days of 90s gaming.
Berserk Boy
(PEGI TBC) PC
Price: £15.99
This game was also supposed to land on Switch this month, but it was pulled at the last minute due to a row over its PEGI rating.
Rated as E10 in the US, it was pulled from Nintendo’s EU store as it’s due to be listed for a higher age range.
It’s a shame, as this 2D sidescroller is an absolute joy to play.
Our hero is out to save the world from a mad scientist who wants to enslave Earth.
A love letter to classic platformers that have gone before, it combines solid gameplay with a catchy soundtrack for hours of fun.