Indie Video Game Round-Up #6 - HELLBOY WEB OF WYRD, CUPHEAD, GRIS, and More
It’s been really crazy the last couple of weeks and so I’ve missed sharing some indie video game news. I’m going to try getting caught up, but there’s been a lot of news. If I missed a recent piece of indie gaming news for video games feel free to throw it in the comments below.
First, developer Erik Rempen and publisher Green Man Gaming Publishing launched V1.0 of Kainga: Seeds of Civilization. This brought the roguelite village-builder out of Early Access with a bunch of new content including new maps, new Thinkers, new technologies, new combat units, and more.
Next, the popular game Cuphead got a new physical release from the teams at Studio MDHR, iam8bit, and Skybound Games. You can purchase the physical copy from iam8bit for $39.99 or pre-order the Collector’s Edition for $199.99 that also comes with a 2xLP vinyl soundtrack from the Delicious Last Course and a repress of the 2xLP vinyl soundtrack for the core game. More recently, the teams shared a behind the scenes video for the physical edition.
Third, Conan Exiles got a major update with the launch of Chapter 2 for Age of Sorcery. The content is a free update and there are also new Twitch Drops available until January 3 by watching your favorite streamers play the game.
Funcom is also excited to announce three new Twitch Drops, running from today until January 3rd, letting players acquire two wall ornaments and the beautiful and festive Crested Lapdog pet simply by watching Conan Exiles streams on Twitch. Players need only link their account to Twitch through a button in the in-game menu to get started.
The arrival of sorcery has shaken the foundations of the Exiled Lands. Strange rituals are performed everywhere as sorcerers run rampant with the newfound power. In Chapter 2, players will come across the camps of Khitan Headhunters in both the Exiled Lands and The Isle of Siptah. To understand the new sorcery that has burgeoned, they will task you with hunting down and bringing them sorcerer NPCs across the lands. Although their skull will do, living bodies provide much higher rewards, including a new armor set.
On their journeys, players will also run into the new Witch Hunt Encounter, where they can interrupt the powerful rituals of one of four different boss-level sorcerers. These sorcerers cannot be taken alive, but their skulls can also be brought to the Khitan camps for a big payout.
This next one is really interesting. The team at mod.io announced that there is now official mod support through them for games on basically every platform: Android, Epic Games Store, GOG, iOS, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Steam, Xbox, and VR.
The critically acclaimed game GRIS has made its way to current-gen consoles with some improvements and new features. The Xbox Series consoles will be able to play the game in 2K at 120fps and the Series X can also choose 4K at 60fps. Meanwhile, PS5 owners will be able to play in 4K at 120fps with DualSense features including haptics, speaker, and more.
PC Building Simulator 2 has received its first major update making it version 1.1. The update brings 25+ new components including NVIDIA 4000 series GPUs and AMD 7000 series CPUs, a new partnership with ENDORFY (used to be called SilentiumPC), and a new Medieval decoration theme for your workshop.
Meanwhile, The Retro Room Games launched Airball on the NES and Game Boy Advance for $49.99. Airball was originally released in 1987 from the team of Ed Scio, Pete Lyon, and Paul Shields for the Dragon 32/64 and TRS-80 Color Computer with a canceled version for the NES. Now, it’s finally making its way to the 8-bit platform and it’s localized in English, German, French, and Arabic making it the first NES game in Arabic! The GBA version has enhanced graphics.
In Airball, you will be turned into a ball of air and sent deep into a mansion by an evil wizard. Find the spellbook and the ingredients that may give you clues on how to transform yourself back into a human in a maze containing 150 isometric rooms.
Disney Dreamlight Valley has launched a couple of content updates including the addition of the Toy Story Realm. This brought classic characters like Buzz Lightyear and Woody to the mix. Also, the team released the new Festive Star Path with new items for you to collect like clothes and furniture.
The Sixth Hammer released the “Mootroidvania” called Moo Lander on GOG that just looks ridiculous and incredible! The game was previously available on other platforms including ItchIO, PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox (affiliate link) so now you have one additional option for playing this game that looks amazing.
Also, the hit game Sifu got a new update on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation. This update brought with it a new replay editor with recording tools, four new cheats and three new modifiers for new playstyles, new outfits, and some quality of life updates.
The adorable upcoming game Mineko’s Night Market from Meowza Games and Humble Games got a new trailer as well. It looks like a fun and a little more lighthearted title to enjoy. You can wishlist the game now on Nintendo Switch and PC via Humble Store (affiliate link) and Steam.
Fans of Hellboy will be excited to hear that Good Shepherd Entertainment will be releasing a game from Upstream Arcade based on Mike Mignola’s Hellboy franchise. The game is titled Hellboy Web of Wyrd and it will be a roguelite action-adventure game for all major consoles and PC. The story will be an original made in collaboration with Mignola and Lance Reddick will be providing the voice for Hellboy.
Welcome to the Butterfly House, a mysterious manor of perverse angles and non-Euclidean geometry built by occultist Pasquale Deneveaux to open a gateway to the Wyrd, a vast, interdimensional web of wondrous and horrifying planes of existence beyond our world. When a B.P.R.D. agent vanishes inside the mansion, it’s up to Hellboy and his team of agents to uncover its forbidden secrets.
Journey into the deepest realms of the Wyrd, each hiding a unique investigation into the unknown. Battle powerful creatures in search of forgotten godforms and magnificent treasures, but beware: ancient evil festers within the Wyrd’s darkest reaches… evil that wants out.
Outright Games announced that the PHL Collective’s game DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos will be releasing on March 10, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), PS4/5, and Xbox consoles. The game is an open world action adventure game designed for DC fans of all ages. The game will even feature 2-player couch co-op making it a great game to play with your favorite player 2.
PQube announced that Statera Studio’s retro-inspired fighting game Pocket Bravery will be releasing in 2023. The game is inspired by classic 90s games like Street Fighter and Fatal Fury with retro aesthetics, but more modern gameplay. It will be avialbale on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4/5, and Xbox consoles. You can wishlist it now on Steam.
In the world of 'Pocket Bravery', there are a few who are able to throw energy through their hands, others reinforce their muscles, and certain specialists transfer their essence to objects and weapons.
Following our protagonist Nuno and several other characters investigating the criminal organisation Matilha, 'Pocket Bravery' explores a story of revenge through the eyes of multiple characters, with alternative paths available to the player.
Meanwhile, Planet Zoo from Frontier Developments has launched its Grasslands Animal Pack. This brings 8 new animals for you to put on display as well as a new Butterfly Exhibit and campaign scenario.
Natsume Inc. announced that Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos will be lauinching Summer 2023. This will be the 25th anniversary of the Harvest Moon franchise and The Winds of Anthos will feature the core gameplay fans love with some newer functions.
The land players will explore is known as Anthos, and is home to the Harvest Sprites, spirits that protect people and nature, as well as the goddess of nature known as the Harvest Goddess. However, about 20 years ago, an unprecedented eruption in Anthos's volcanic region forced the Harvest Goddess and her Harvest Sprites to use all of their powers to protect the people. The people were saved, but the eruption left the villages cut off from each other...
This next one is just crazy. XSEED Games dropped a trailer for AKIBA’S TRIP: Undead and Undressed Director’s Cut which takes the original game that was released in 2014 for North America and expands on it. This Director’s Cut version is planned to release on the Nintendo Switch in 2023 and will include a new story route about a “lovable Finnish exchange student, otaku, and part-time maid Kati Räikkönen, considered the “true ending” for the game” as well as all the DLC for the original. PS4 and PC gamers will be able to purchase Kati’s Route separately as DLC so they’re not missing out on that. I had never heard of this game and then I watched the trailer and it’s bonkers!
Akiba’s Trip: Undead and Undressed tells the story of one such unfortunate soul: a young man named Nanashi who was lured into a trap and transformed into one of the walking undead. However, he was spared the worst of his fate by the bloody kiss of a mysterious Synthister hunter named Shizuku. Together with the rest of his companions in an organization unofficially dubbed the “Akiba Freedom Fighters,” Nanashi and Shizuku must uncover the truth behind the Synthister plague and save Akiba from being overrun by violent, antisocial energy vampires.
And of course, the best way to fight vampires is to strip them down to their skivvies so they melt in the noonday sun...
Ziggurat Interactive has announced that Mara Junot (God of War: Ragnarök) will be voicing Enyo in the upcoming hack-n-slash game Slave Zero X.
One of the Five Calamities Shou will face in his journey, Enyo is an obsessive gun collector and killer for hire with fearsome accuracy — nicknamed “Beloved by the Bullet”. A firearm expert born out of a lifetime of mercenary work and a deep understanding of the mechanism and maintenance of her weaponry, her Exo-Suit and training also give her unparalleled mobility to get to any vantage point.
Enyo is the second member of the Five Calamities, the innermost circle of generals who answer only to the Sovereign Khan (SovKhan). She is cunning, sadistic, and takes pride in collecting Old World firearms and ammunition. Her loyalty to the SovKhan is temporary, as the only person she trusts is herself.
Enyo resents the biotechnology favored by the SovKhan, and sorely mistrusts his engineers. Her equipment is solely hers and purely mechanical, a rarity in the Megacity. Modern personal armor is designed to repel blows from a blade, not a bullet's increasingly rare penetrating sting. She takes full advantage of this while counting every shot taken, tallying her treasure and spending only when necessary.
Bread & Fred is one of the most adorable looking games I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a co-op platformer developed by Sand Castles Studio and published by Apogee Entertainment that sees you play as adorable penguins trying to climb up a mountain. I love it! There’s even a demo you can download now on Steam!
Developer IceSitruuna released Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune on Steam Early Access. This is a Metroidvania that is a sequel to Tower Hunter: Ezra’s Trial. Even though the game is in Early Access, it already touts 9 unique bosses, 60+ monsters, 10+ hours of content in the main story, 15-20 hours worth of achievements, 9 weapon categories, 10+ weapon skills, and 20+ auxiliary weapons. This all translates to a ton of content to enjoy.
Two years ago, Erza obtained the legendary hunter license and became a rising star in the imperial force. Under the rule of the wise and able emperor, the empire grows steadily. As one of the core forces in the expansion, Erza has won many military exploits. In this fantasy world of swords and magic, Erza will lead an exploration team and start an epic adventure. She will fight unknown monsters and solve mysteries of the world. Why would the fiend become a hair clip? You’ll find the answer in the game.
The first part of the Frontier Hunter is focused on the adventure trip of two girls with fun scenes and storytelling. Shizuka Ito will voice Erza and the other voice-overs will be done by voice actors from renowned voice actor agencies like Ken Production Company. The sound director for the game’s sound effects has handled the audio recording of multiple games for Capcom. As the player progresses through the game, they can discover hidden secrets and lore that unveil a more serious tone to the plot.
Stardock and Ironclad Games launched a new update for Sins of a Solar Empire II which adds the TEC Rebel faction, new and updated game systems like the culture system, a random map, more units, and more.
Players have previously been able to play as the TEC Loyalist faction, but now they can also access the TEC Rebel faction with an expanded roster to bring into battle for both sides. There are new capital ships, including the Marza Dreadnought, Dunov Battlecruiser, and the Sova Carrier, as well as a new frigate: the Neruda Envoy.
In addition to the new faction and units, this update introduces a new culture system. This mechanic allows the TEC to spread their influence via Broadcast Centers, Envoys, and Trade Networks. These structures help accelerate commercial growth, improve neutral party relations, sabotage enemy forces, and more. If the enemy occupies opposing space, the structures there can even inspire the people to revolt, causing a rebellion that will threaten their hold. This is a glimpse at how Sins of a Solar Empire II evolves asymmetrical gameplay and more will be shown as other factions and systems are added.
Based on player feedback, the research system has been updated so it's easier to see the full research tree. Technologies are now split into Military and Civilian tiers, which require a certain number of research labs to unlock. Once a tier is unlocked, players can research all the subjects under that tier. The research screen UI has also been updated to make the various subjects easier to view.
Finally, WayForward has launched River City Girls 2! This is a game I’ve been hyped for and having played a little bit of it already, it’s definitely worth grabbing. A full review is on its way from our team, but I’ll say now that it’s one of our favorite games of the year. You can play now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4/5, and Xbox (affiliate link) consoles.