5 Gamescom Indie Games We’re Most Excited About
Gamescom 2021 is finally over and boy is there a lot to talk about. From big announcements like Halo Infinite’s release date, Forbidden West’s unfortunate delay and more gameplay reveals for highly-anticipated upcoming titles, it’s easy to say that this year’s Gamescom lineup was positively packed.
While it’s hard to not let the hype of these reveals overshadow the rest of the event, Gamescom also featured plenty of indie titles that are coming out in the near future and plenty of them are worth keeping an eye out for. We don’t have enough time to play through all of them as they come out though, so here are five upcoming indie games shown off at Gamescom 2021 that we’re most excited about.
Lemnis Gate
Lemnis Gate is a time-warping, turn-based arena shooter that takes place in a 25 second time loop. Each player will take their turn over the course of 5 rounds, using a cast of characters to gain objectives and defeat opponents. Each turn, everything each player has done on a previous turn happens simultaneously, meaning you’ll have to be wary of the past, present and future as you attempt to secure your victory. Were you blown to bits by an enemy grenade? Save yourself with an ally shield on the next turn. An enemy get the drop on you? Find their position and take them out in the future so that your past self lives. Lemnis Gate really takes the saying, “if you want something done, do it yourself” literally.
Lemnis Gate sounds like an incredibly fun twist on the arena shooter genre. Every round is a chance to fix your mistakes and secure your victory in later rounds. With 1vs1 and 2vs2 game modes, Lemnis Gate has the chance to become a crazy popular game, so long as its nicheness doesn’t alienate its potential player base. Lemnis Gate launches on September 28.
tERRORbane
At first glance, tERRORbane looks to be yet another traditional JRPG-inspired video game with 1bit era retro visuals, yet that couldn’t be farther from the truth. tERRORbane is a “tongue-in-cheek” meta adventure disguised as a classic JRPG in which the hero attempts to reach the game’s end credits, all while the Developer tries to iron out bugs and implement features. From what we can see in the trailer, it’s a chaotic mess of incredibly interesting gameplay. Manipulating bugs for your advantage, diving into the code itself, and attempting to outwit the Developer make tERRORbane look like a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated market.
I’m personally a fan of meta-humor and games that break the fourth wall, and tERRORbane looks like it does equal parts of both. So long as the references and humor know not to overstay their welcome, tERRORbane might become another indie gem. tERRORbane is currently planned to release sometime in 2022.
Jupiter Moons: Mecha
What do you get when you cross roguelike deckbuilding with sci-fi robots in a lawless future? Jupiter Moons: Mecha takes place on, well, the moon’s of Jupiter long after megacorporations had attempted to colonize them. You play the role of a pilot riding a bounty hunting mech as you attempt to drive back a mysterious force capable of corrupting machines. Take on progressively dangerous missions, customize your mech, and build the perfect deck for you to fight back against the mecha menace.
I’ve sunken countless hours into deckbuilders like Slay the Spire and One Step from Eden, experimenting with all the different ways I could break each game with certain combinations. With over 200 cards and dozens of customization options, it’s safe to say that I’m looking forward to jumping in the pilot’s seat. Jupiter Moons: Mecha is currently planned to release sometime before the end of 2021, but a demo is currently available to play.
There Is No Light
There Is No Light is a top-down Souls-like with beautiful pixel graphics and a chilling atmosphere. In the remains of a world devastated by a global catastrophe, a religious society has rebuilt itself in the dark undergrounds of the world. You play as the Hero, a man who has rejected the new religion and its god as they fight to save their child. The combat looks extremely tight and fluid, with plenty of enemy variety and plenty of ways to deal with them. Traverse through the ruins of a desolated world in a non-linear story where your choices shape the world around you.
I know the term Souls-like is a bit of a buzzword, especially given how saturated the market is with games that try to replicate the difficulty and charm of From Software’s games, but I firmly believe this is one to keep an eye on. Some wonderful Souls-like entries have come out in recent years, namely Salt & Sanctuary and 2019’s Blasphemous, and There Is No Light looks like it will continue that trend. There Is No Light is currently planned for a 2021 release and a demo is currently available.
CONSCRIPT
If there is an indie game that should be a must-play from this year’s Gamescom, it’s for sure this one. CONSCRIPT is a top-down survival horror game set in World War 1’s Battle of Verdun. You play as a French soldier who is searching for his missing brother, all while trying to survive the horrors of the war, both real and psychological. The game boasts a unique pixel art style that blends together with an oppressive sound design to create a richly dark atmosphere. The game also offers plenty of re-playability, including multiple difficulty settings, unlockable weapons, and alternate scenarios.
First things first, the CONSCRIPT is a pleasure to look at. The detailed pixel art style, combined with smooth animations and lighting, makes for one of the most unique aesthetics featured at this year’s Gamescom. Some elements of the gameplay, like the inventory management and safe house, are reminiscent of classic Resident Evil which is perfect for a game like this. CONSCRIPT has checked all the boxes I look for in a survival horror game and I’m very eager to get my hands on it when it releases. CONSCRIPT is currently planned for a 2022 release. A demo is also available.
