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New Indie Games coming out in 2024

There are so many new Indie games coming out in 2024 that it can be overwhelming to keep track of them all. It promises to be another stellar year for indie games. 

In the following article, we have collected an eclectic list of new indie games from across genres that are likely to be released in 2024. These are the games that we believe deserve your attention, and a place on your wishlist. 

NINE SOLS

A Stylish “TaoPunk” Soulslike Action Adventure

Developer: RedCandleGames
Release Date: Q1 2024
Platforms: All Platforms

Nine Sols is a new indie game from Taipei, Taiwan and it is described as a “lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection-focused combat.” Developed by the talented Red Candle Games, it has been in beta for a while now, and after playing the demo, I have to agree with Red Candle’s description of the game. 

Heavily inspired by Sekiro, the primary gameplay revolves around deflecting attacks and following up with charged attacks. The protagonist Yi uses a myriad of slash attacks, dashes and double jumps. The art design is striking with an immersive hand-drawn world featuring a fresh Asian fantasy setting, vivid characters, and what promises to be a solid storyline.

The gameplay is fast, fluid and at times, pretty tough. I had a hard time with the bonus boss in the demo but that felt like a skill issue more than a design issue to me. Nine Sols is built in the mold of Hollow Knight and Dead Cells. Additionally, it features meticulous hand-crafted, anime-style landscapes and sprite-based animations, and blends these with manga-inspired cutscenes. Look out for this one sometime early next year. 

 

Pacific Drive 

A “ROAD-LITE” FIRST-PERSON DRIVING SURVIVAL GAME

Developer: Ironwood Studios 
Release Date: Q1 2024
Platforms: Playstation 5, PC 

Pacific Drive was the most intriguing new indie game announced – at least for me – at the 2022 Playstation State of Play. I was instantly drawn to the simplistic but gorgeous and moody art style. The trailer begins with volumetric fog settling over creepy landscapes and a menacing voice-over announcing that we are in the heart of the Olympic Exclusion Zone. This was followed by an escalation into a frantic drive through monster-infested zones with weather beating down all around you. Indeed, it all looks suitably exciting.

Game director Alex Dracott describes the game as a “run-based driving survival game” played in first-person. You have to navigate your way through a restricted area solely relying on your intelligence and your rundown station wagon. There are mysteries to unravel, unusual weather events to steer clear of, essential resources to collect, and necessary fixes to perform – all while ensuring you safely return to your garage after each adrenaline-pumping adventure.

HADES 2 

ENDLESSLY REPLAYABLE “GOD-LIKE” ACTION GAME

Developer: Supergiant Games
Release Date: Q4 2024
Platforms: TBA

Of all the new indie games coming in 2024, if there’s one game that feels like a surefire hit, it’s Hades II. Hades II is the sequel to one of the most beloved games in recent times – Supergiant Games’ Hades.

Hades 2 looks to build upon the impressive foundations of its predecessor’s hack-and-slash combat, spectacular world-building and interesting characters. The original Hades was a feat in scripted game design and focused on Prince Zagreus’ attempts to escape hell and his father Hades.

Hades 2 focuses on Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, an immortal witch and sorceress with powerful magical abilities as she takes on the forces of the Titan of Time, Chronos.

It is a direct sequel, set within the Greek mythological Underworld. Following the events of the first game – Chronos, the Titan of Time has broken free from his confinement in the depths of the Underworld to launch an assault on Olympus. The game focuses on witchcraft and thus Hecate, the secretive goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads is a featured character. Supergiant has not had a miss yet and they are unlikely to start here. 

Supergiant will launch Hades II in Early Access in Q2 2024 on Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you played the original Hades, you cannot afford to miss this one. 

You can find our extensive coverage on Hades 2 here.

NEVA

AN “EMOTIONALLY CHARGED” ACTION ADVENTURE GAME

Developer: Nomada Studio
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: All Platforms

Gris was one of the most visually arresting games in recent years. It was a moving and emotional tale of a girl filled with optimism, whose world is deeply scarred by a significant personal loss. Nomada Studio’s first game was not just an introspective and personal exploration; it was a sorrowful and evocative journey that captured the influence of emotions.

Nomada is set to break our hearts all over again with an exciting new journey, Neva, a powerful action adventure recently revealed and slated for a 2024 release. From what we know so far, the game follows the story of Alba, a young woman with a curious wolf pup, set after a dark encounter with malevolent forces. United, woman and wolf embark on a personal and reflective journey through a once-enchanting world that is now crumbling and fading.

With time, they will become closer and learn to help each other in more dangerous situations. The wolf will grow up from a playful cub to a strong adult wanting to be independent, testing Alba’s love and their promise to stick together.

It looks breathtaking, as did Gris. With a watercolor palette and a dreamlike aesthetic featuring exquisite art direction and character design, Neva looks to draw you in with its gorgeous art and haunting music. Look for it sometime in 2024.

LAIKA: AGED THROUGH BLOOD

A POST APOCALYPTIC “MOTORVANIA”  ACTION ADVENTURE GAME

Developer: Brainwash Gang
Release Date: 2023
Platforms: All Platforms

Full disclosure, I suck at the Trials games; and despite that, even I was interested in seeing more from this new indie game from Brainwash Gang of Friends vs Friends fame. Laika: Aged Through Blood is a metroidvania married to the Trials formula with a healthy dosage of shooting.

Additionally, the game is eye candy with a bold color palette with explosions of blood and guts. It is an extremely clever idea to combine motorbike stunts and gunplay in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

The Mad Max vibes are immaculate here, as a mother coyote warrior (Laika) sets out on a path of vengeance and ‘take back what her people lost’. Forced to navigate a war-torn apocalyptic wasteland Laika has to rely on her trusty motorbike to navigate the perilous challenges, environment, and enemies that are placed before her.

Laika looks to revamp the Trials genre as Brainwash Gang has transformed the genre into a shooter with unique mechanics, encouraging tricks and challenging difficulty.

The demo is available on Steam. After playing through it I can attest it has an interesting story and a hand-drawn aesthetic that can shock you with its violence at times. The other aspect I loved was the music. It is emotional and evocative and I feel it will be an aspect that everyone loves when the game comes out in late 2023/early 2024.

RADIO THE UNIVERSE 

AN ACTION ADVENTURE “MINIMALIST SOJOURN”

 

Developer: SIXESIXESIXE
Release Date: 2023
Platforms: PC

Radio the Universe, originally Kickstarted in 2012, is indicative of the toll development time can take on new indie games. Most people had probably forgotten about this visually interesting indie from studio SIXESIXESIXE, until they dropped a playable demo this February. It presents an isometric adventure blending action, platforming, and puzzle-solving within a cryptic and mysterious world.

The gameplay in Radio the Universe may not seem too groundbreaking, but its real strength lies in its presentation. The combination of art, sound design, music, and UI creates a dark, captivating world that piques the player’s curiosity. The art and effects keep a hint of familiarity but leave a mystery about the world. 

Additionally, Radio the Universe‘s sprite animations are lively and smooth, enhancing the visual and gameplay experience. Despite the abundance of art, animations, and sound, nothing feels overwhelming or repetitive. The correlation between sounds and actions is clear, making it easy to understand. Each design element in the demo appears carefully crafted for optimal execution.

With the recent release of the demo (the first time the game was playable), we are very hopeful the long journey this game has seen since 2012 will come to an end in 2024. 

Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus

AN ACTION ADVENTURE “EAST ASIAN FEVER DREAM”

Developer: Squid Shock Studios
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC and Nintendo Switch

The first thing I noticed about the new indie game Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus’ impressive trailer was the music. A thumping Japanese instrumentation with riffs of modern orchestral music played over vibrant images of haunted bathhouses to a thriving Japanese-inspired metropolis.

The game will be published by Humble Games and is being developed by Squid Shock Studios, comprising of members from the team that made AM2R – an unofficial fan remake of Metroid 2.

Bo is a hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania based in a colorful world of Japanese folklore. You play as a tiny Celestial Blossom (tentaihana) and the game looks like a mix of Hollow Knight and Okami. Players use a versatile staff for combat and movement. They can also harness the abilities of Daruma dolls and Omamori amulets. The dolls function like elemental summons, while the amulets, inspired by traditional good luck gifts, enhance the character’s abilities, like the badges in Hollow Knight.

The developers have promised a full release on all major platforms but so far confirmation of only the PC and Switch versions have come down the pipeline. 

SAVIOR

A “90s PIXEL ART” OPEN WORLD 2D ACTION ADVENTURE GAME

Developer: Starsoft
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC and Consoles (TBD)

In the new indie game from Starsoft studios – Savior, you play as Sam, a nimble young woman with no memory. As she seeks her past and role, Sam becomes a pivotal figure in a planet-wide conflict in Arcadia. Balancing between two old groups – The Chosen and The Fallen, she gains skills, and allies, and aids Arcadia’s people through combat, parkour, and diplomacy. The game covers action-adventure staples, including quests, collectibles, skill-based challenges, and a story-driven experience. 

The team making the game has experienced industry professionals from Sierra, LucasArts, and Microsoft. Starsoft is fortunate to have Dan Adelman, who led Nintendo of America’s indie program for almost a decade, managing their business development — a significant advantage for a studio making its first game.

According to the press kit, Savior delves beyond combat and movement—it explores themes like the drawbacks of organized religion, the strength of empathy and unity, and the challenging yet essential journey of healing past scars. 

Expect this one late in 2024!