2024-02-05 14:54:04
Today, the tools used in game development have continued to evolve, and the barriers to entry into development have been relatively eased. As gamers, we have many more opportunities to experience indie games with a variety of ideas.
However, the problem is that there are too many of them. Even on the PC platform’s representative ‘Steam’, dozens of games are released every day, but only a few can be included in the list where you can see new games at a glance. There are quite a few games that disappear before they even catch the attention of gamers.
The question of ‘how to choose a good game from the flood of games released every day’ seems to apply not only to gamers but also to publishers. Everyone’s definition of a ‘good’ game may be different, but in the end, the most important thing in order to get gamers, consumers, to purchase the product is that the game has something that shines.
Is that why? Recently, some publishers who claim to be ‘indie labels’ have increasingly focused on the concept or genre of the titles they serve in order to highlight their unique characteristics as strengths. When you can’t find a good game no matter how many times you search stores, finding a publisher may be surprisingly helpful. If you’re lucky, you might find a place that suits your tastes.
11Bit Studio
Focus on strong narratives and ‘impactful’ elements!
11Bit Studio, a game developer and publisher based in Warsaw, Poland, is an indie game company founded by former members of CD Project around 2010. It is also famous for impressing gamers with highly impactful works such as ‘This War of Mine’ and ‘Frost Punk’.
The indie games they publish are also similar to their own development style. They prefer narratives and want to publish games that leave a strong impression on users. ‘Moonlighter’, ‘Children of Mota’, and ‘Invincible’ can be said to be representative publishing works. If you’re a gamer looking for something meaningful to experience through indie games, you might want to check out this publisher’s work.
Currently, 11Bit Studio has over 422,000 followers on Steam. The main tags are ‘simulation’ and ‘strategy’.
Annapurna Interactive
Recommended if you like artistic and narrative games
Annapurna Interactive is a subsidiary of Annapurna Pictures (now Annapurna International), an American independent film distribution company. Similar to how the parent company supports independent film production with auteuristic tendencies, it mainly focuses on developing and publishing games with outstanding artistic sensibility and quality.
Since its establishment in 2016, Annapurna Interactive has consistently distributed works that are highly regarded by gamers. The game list also had a variety of genres and colors regardless of platform, such as ‘The Legacy of Edith Finch’, ‘Florence’, and ‘Sayonara Wild Hearts’. Relatively recent games such as ‘Neon White’ and ‘Stray’ have achieved critical success, securing high Metacritic scores.
Although the release date has not been set, they plan to introduce new IP games such as ‘Silent Hill’ and ‘Blade Runner’ in the future, so this is a publisher worth keeping an eye on this year. Major tags based on Steam include ‘Action’, ‘Adventure’, and ‘Casual’.
HYPETRAIN DIGITAL
Indie publisher focused on repeatable play experiences
HYPETRAIN DIGITAL has relatively lower awareness than the two publishers introduced earlier. However, it is also a publisher that is growing its presence in the indie game market by publishing games that many have heard of before.
The type of work that Hypetrain prefers to publish is work with excellent ‘repeat play value’. For example, roguelikes or metroidvanias are works that can be played for a long time. However, this does not mean that we focus too much on a specific form. Because we are publishing top-down RPGs and FPSs.
If you are looking for games that are somewhat original yet provide a repetitive play experience like ‘Stoneshard’, ‘Void Train’, and ‘Breath Edge’, why not pay attention to the works that Hypetrain Digital will publish in the future?
toge production
Full of potential, a window for Southeast Asian indie games
‘Toge Production’, an Indonesian game developer that attracted public attention with the Coffee Talk series, is growing its size day by day and is also playing the role of a publisher that helps Indonesian indie games expand around the world. In particular, Mojiken Studio’s new work, ‘Space for the Unbound’, which was acquired at the end of last year, received high praise, showing that Indonesian sensibilities are valid in the world.
Toge Productions also runs a fund initiative to support indie developers with unique ideas. It is a system that provides development cost support of up to $10,000 for developers in Southeast Asia. In addition to development costs, it also provides all-round help such as mentoring, project support, testing, and feedback.
Although it was a box office success due to its unique concept and healing pixel art design, it is too early to say that a certain concept has been achieved as various attempts are currently being made, such as mechanical strategy and survival horror. Still, as it is developing and publishing one of the few games that incorporate Southeast Asian culture, it can be said to be a publisher worth paying attention to if you want to experience a different culture.
critical reflex
A new label focusing on a lineup of unique, ‘cool’ games and horror.
Established relatively recently three years ago, Critical Reflex is a new publisher that entered the market with the motto of publishing only ‘out-of-the-box’ indie games. With the headquarters located in Cyprus as the main center, managers in each region around the world are focused on discovering games full of ideas hidden in each region.
As it is a new publisher, it is difficult to list representative works at this point, but the ambition to provide ‘cool’ titles is at least noteworthy. The works that focus primarily on the ‘hybrid’ genre, which combines the characteristics of each genre in terms of graphics or game play mechanics, are dominant.
Additionally, one of the characteristics of Critical Reflex is that it seeks to build a lineup of ‘horror games’ that take advantage of its unique originality and atmosphere. If you search for ‘Teleforum’ or ‘Drowned Lake’, you will be able to find a horror game with a unique feel. We look forward to continuing to demonstrate our potential as a publisher that distributes games with unique enjoyment.
focus entertainment
Triple I, if you are interested in large indie games…
Among indie game publishing labels, ‘Should this be considered indie?’ There are also some places you might want to visit. In some cases, large game companies enter the indie market, or, as in the case of ‘Private Division’, they establish an affiliated indie publishing label. Among them, Focus Entertainment can be said to be a publisher that focuses on high-quality indie games, so-called Triple I (III).
The titles they develop or publish are generally characterized by high quality and budgets comparable to AAA games. However, it still has a unique indie sensibility in that it shows a certain degree of originality. If you look at the Plague Tale series, you might wonder if they are an indie publisher, but if you look at works like ‘Dordogne’ that depict the French region in watercolor, you might wonder, ‘Is indie an indie?’ This is a publisher with a unique charm.
The price range is a little higher compared to other indie games, but the significance of the existence of an indie label from a large company can be found in that it guarantees a certain level of visuals and gameplay. At least you won’t feel completely fooled.
devolver digital
Guaranteed box office success that needs no explanation, and news of new releases!
In fact, it’s a publisher that doesn’t even need to be introduced here. The final protagonist is ‘Devolver Digital’, a publisher that even gamers who are not into indie games have probably heard of at least once. This publishing label, which pursues extreme originality and fun, is also famous for incorporating its own taste into the videos of new releases every year. Also, since most games prove to be fun and even succeed in becoming a hit, there is a widespread perception that any indie game that Devolver decides to publish has a very small chance of failing.
In fact, if you’re looking for a good indie game you haven’t played yet, checking Devolver Digital’s publisher page may be the safest and fastest route. ‘Hotline Miami’, ‘Inscription’, ‘Enter the Gungeon’, ‘Cult of the Lamb’, etc… We have a lineup to suit a variety of tastes.
You’ve already done it all? Why not check out the new puzzle sniper game ‘Children of the Sun’ that was released today (the 2nd)? There is no set release date, but you can download the demo through the Steam store.
1707155656
#era #flood #indie #games #find #taste #publisher
