7 Indie Games to Keep an Eye on in 2023
(Image credit: Ewoud van der Werf)
Get ready for an exciting year in indie gaming when a diverse range of titles hits the market. From heartwarming narratives to adrenaline-pumping action, gamers will find something to suit their tastes. This article delves into ten of our most highly anticipated indie games for 2023, each with its unique take on gameplay, story, and art style. Whether a player is a long-time fan of the indie gaming scene or just a newcomer looking to try something new, these games are worth checking out.
SCHiM
Developers: Ewoud van der Werf
Get ready to dive into an enchanting world of shadows with SCHiM. In this third-person adventure, the player guides their schim, the soul and spirit of an object or living being, as they jump from shadow to shadow across a beautiful abstract world. But it is not just the stunning visuals that set this game apart - the animated shadow platforms and environments will have gamers hooked in no time. Each level comes with unique scenery and small stories that add to the game’s charm. And with its family-friendly gameplay, the developer of SCHiM promises the perfect game for kids and adults. SCHiM comes out sometime in 2023. They plan to release it on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and Linux.
Lies of P
Developers: Neowiz Games, Round 8 Studio
Lies of P is a highly anticipated indie game that promises to plunge players into a twisted and dark world. The immersive game world is set in the vast city of Krat, inspired by the elegant and historic Belle Époque era. However, it is not a beautiful and elegant city in history books. Instead, the developers have turned it into an eerie and unsettling place filled with horrors. The game’s protagonist, Pinocchio, is a puppet who longs to become human, but he is a mechanoid that requires a different approach to achieve his goal. The developers point out that to succeed in this dark and twisted world, he must use his unique ability to switch out his body parts, acquiring new skills and advantages to help him navigate his journey. With a deep combat system, interconnected procedural quests, and a unique weapon-making system, Lies of P offers a gaming experience that promises to be thrilling and challenging. Lies of P is scheduled to come out sometime this August for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developers: Team Cherry
As the fierce female protagonist Hornet, players will journey through a brand-new kingdom in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Captured and brought to this unfamiliar world, Hornet must fight against a host of foes and unravel the land’s secrets as she embarks on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak. In this sequel to the award-winning action-adventure game Hollow Knight, players will discover all-new lands, face over 150 new enemies, and uncover ancient mysteries tied to Hornet’s nature and past. With its stunning orchestral score and addictive Metroidvania-style gameplay, Hollow Knight: Silksong is an indie game adventure that Team Cherry says it is not to be missed. And, with its availability on Xbox Game Pass, players can easily dive into the world of Hollow Knight and experience the platformer for themselves. There is no word on when Hollow Knight: Silsong releases in 2023, but when it does it will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PC, MacOS, Linux.
(Image credit: Wishfully)
Planet of Lana
Developers: Wishfully
Players will lose themselves in Planet of Lana’s beautiful landscapes and conquer unique puzzles in this 2D side-scrolling adventure. Gamers play as a young girl as she navigates the colorful terrain while avoiding an AI robot army with her loyal friend. Solve unique puzzles in this futuristic and stylized indie from Wishfully. The anime-inspired art style matches the sci-fi off-world odyssey in that players explore the dystopian landscapes and encounter mutated creatures. Not everything is a fight, and the girl and her monkey-rabbit-lemur-cat friend will need each other to solve the puzzles of Planet of Lana. Look for this indie in 2023 on Xbox One, Series X/S, and PC, but those looking to enjoy Planet of Lana can pick up the demo on Steam.
Goodbye Volcano High
Developers: KO_OP
In the upcoming game Goodbye Volcano High, players take on the role of Fang, a young dinosaur navigating the end of the world and their final year of high school. As Fang, players will make choices that shape their character’s growth and impact their relationships with others. The game’s narrative is driven by personal gain, acceptance, and the power of community, allowing for the exploration of difficult choices with far-reaching consequences. Goodbye Volcano High combines cinematic narrative and visual novel elements to create a stunning, immersive gameplay experience. Additionally, the game features a fully voice-acted cast, intuitive interactions, and a unique haptic technology storytelling experience with the DUALSENSE Wireless Controller. With an original soundtrack composed by Dabu and featuring Brigitte Naggar of Common Holly on vocals, Goodbye Volcano High looks to be memorable and emotionally impactful. Goodbye Volcano High is scheduled for release on June 15 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and macOS.
(Image credit: Sad Cat Studios)
Replaced
Developers: Sad Cat Studios
Get ready for transportation to a retro-futuristic, dystopian world in REPLACED, a 2.5D sci-fi action platformer featuring REACH, an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will. The game, set in an alternative 1980s America, combines pixel art, cinematic platforming, and free-flow action combat to offer a deep and engaging story. In this gritty, cyberpunk-inspired world, outlaws run rampant, and the ones in power see humans and their organs as nothing more than currency. But as REACH, players will uncover the mysteries of this world, one pixelated frame at a time. And, to sweeten the deal, REPLACED will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass. According to the official Replaced Twitter account, the game should come out sometime in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Nine Sols
Developers: RedCandleGames
Get ready for an adventure unlike any other with Nine Sols, a hand-drawn 2D action-platformer set in a unique “Taopunk” universe blending cyberpunk with far eastern mythology. Follow Yi, a long-forgotten hero awakened by a human child, on his vengeful quest against the formidable rulers of a forsaken realm, the 9 Sols. With Sekiro-inspired deflection-focused combat, players can explore a world once home to an ancient alien race and unravel the mysteries of mankind’s fate. This souls-like Metroidvania-style game offers a sci-fi twist and the developers at RedCandleGames promise plenty of cat-tastic fun, all in a single-player experience that will leave players craving more. Look out for this action-platformer to come out sometime this year for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Or check out the demo available on Steam right now!
