2015 is already shaping up to be a great year with all the AAA releases scheduled to launch within the next 12 months, however a lot of titles holding our attention are mostly small, digitally-distributed games that are being made by small development studios. Known as indies, these titles are starting to get a significant amount of attraction and interest from the gaming community, over the last couple of years, as they bring in new, interesting ideas to video games, or build on old/forgotten mechanics in a clever way. 2015 is filled with these types of games, so here’s a list of some of the independent titles we are looking forward to playing in this new year.
[Note: As much as we look forward to replaying these indie titles, this list excludes all ports or remakes of previous games. This means that the PlayStation releases of Shovel Knight, Super Time Force Ultra, Bastion, and the remakes of Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle are not included in this list. Additionally, this is NOT a Top list, and the following titles are not listed in order of preference.]
[promo title=”Axiom Verge”][/promo]
Developer: Tom Happ – (Team of 1 Person)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Planned Release Date: Spring 2015
Created by a single person, Tom Happ’s Axiom Verge goes back to the classic Metroidvania roots by combining non-linear exploration of areas that are all interconnected, scavenging for new abilities and weapons in order to proceed, and combat that involves some unique enemies and tough bosses. Heck, it even looks like a Metroid game. However, it also features a cool mechanic that allows you to glitch through otherwise unattainable areas and break the normal boundaries of gameplay, while also having a dedicated Speedrun Mode giving additional abilities to suit this play style.
[promo title=”Below“][/promo]
Developer: Capybara Games – (Team of 26 People)
Platform: Xbox One (First to Console)
Planned Release Date: TBA 2015
Being fresh off its previous indie hits with Superbrothers: Swords & Sorcery EP and Super Time Force, Canadian developer Capybara is heading into a different direction with its upcoming Rogue-Like Adventure title Below. Through a top-down perspective, you play as tiny warrior exploring the mysteries of a remote island where exploration, discovery and survival are your main concerns. It mixes in procedural generation with tough combat that can lead to permanent death, while sharing inspirations from franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls. Below looks like the kind of game that will mesmerize you every step of the way with its satisfying discovery factor, amazing tone and thrilling soundtrack.
[promo title=”Broken Age – Act 2″][/promo]
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 & PlayStation Vita (The Complete Adventure)
Planned Release Date: Early 2015
It has been a year since Double Fine released the first act for its Kickstarter-funded Broken Age Adventure game, but we are finally getting a conclusion to Shay and Vella’s stories in 2015. Although little is currently known about the finale to Tim Schafer’s newest Point-and-Click adventure, we do know that it will last about 8-12 hours, which is more than enough to bring a satisfying ending to the experience. Additionally, PlayStation users will be in luck because Broken Age: The Complete Adventure, which includes both acts of the game, will release at the same time as Act 2. For those who wondered what Double Fine was doing with the $3 Million they raised on Kickstarter, there’s your answer.
[promo title=”Cuphead”][/promo]
Developer: Studio MDHR – (Team of 3 People)
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Planned Release Date: TBA 2015
I don’t know why, but even without knowing anything significant about Cuphead, it is still one our most anticipated titles of 2015. Although we have only seen small glimpse and pieces of the 1930’s inspired Action-Platformer, its visual style and aesthetics make it stand out immediately. It has the same look and feel as Disney’s old black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons, except Cuphead nails that aesthetic with a vibrant and colorful world.
[promo title=”Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number“][/promo]
Developer: Dennaton Games – (Team of 2 People)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PC
Planned Release Date: Q1 2015
Anyone who has experienced Dennaton’s cryptic, yet highly addicting top-down Shooter, Hotline Miami, is extremely hyped up for the upcoming release of its sequel Wrong Number. Although it is sad to see that it will be the conclusion to the franchise, it hopes to go out with a bang, featuring multiple characters with different abilities, a brand new story arc that ties in directly with the events of the first game, a level editor, and a whole lot more of nonsensical, outrageous violence. The only question now is: How long do we have to wait until we finally get it in our hands?
[promo title=”Inside”][/promo]
Developer: Playdead – (Team of more than 25 People)
Platform: Xbox One (First to Console)
Planned Release Date: Q1-Q2 2015
We don’t know much about Playdead’s follow-up to Limbo, other than the fact that it is very similar to it in style. However, one thing’s for sure, with the legacy it established with its atmospheric Puzzle-Platformer, Inside will be a title to look out for if it follows the same path of creativity.
[promo title=”Mighty No. 9″][/promo]
Developer: Comcept with help from Inti Creates
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PC
Planned Release Date: April 2015
After leaving Capcom where he had been working for 23 years, the creator of Mega Man, Keiji Inafune, formed his own indie studio to work on the follow-up to its legendary platforming foundation with Mighty No. 9. After one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of all-time raising $4 Million, Mighty No. 9 hopes to evolve the 2D side-scrolling platforming genre by introducing a brand new protagonist and being more than what Mega Man has accomplished. The best part of its crown-funding success is that it will release on every single system that is currently being supported. The game’s nearly complete, so there isn’t that much to wait now.
[promo title=”No Man’s Sky”][/promo]
Developer: Hello Games – (Team of 12 People)
Platform: PlayStation 4
Planned Release Date: TBA 2015
If you’ve been following the indie game scene in any capacity, chances are you have probably heard of Hello Games’ procedurally generated space Exploration title. No Man’s Sky is a highly different creative outlet from the UK-based team that has brought us the Joe Danger games, but it promises a truly engaging one of a kind experience set in an open universe filled with millions of planets and solar systems to explore. The only concern about No Man’s Sky is that, as ambitious and interesting as the idea sounds, the gameplay will not go beyond simply exploring each of the planet’s mysteries and secrets. That being said, we still don’t know that much about the title, so hopefully it has a few surprising tricks up its sleeve.