edit: sorry for the wall of text. Responses were a bit longer than expected
I've been trying to figure out what it is about Indie games that really appeals to me. It's as if the simplicity of some of the games just really is enjoyable and fresh. It's weird to say but some of the big flashy AAA titles just don't do it for me anymore.
Some of the games like Risk of Rain and Rogue Legacy are so generic in graphics but just so damn fun. Graphics will never be the main draw again for me to games and I hate that it HAS been in the past.
I still play the big console titles occasionally. Well mainly The Last of Us and GTA V. But indies appeal to me because of their overall innovation and originality and diversity. While AAA games can sometimes seen stale, indies never cease to impress me as developers continue to bring their unique and experimental concepts to life. From the gameplay depth behind Catacomb Kids' simple veneer to the engaging meta-narrative of The Stanley Parable to the immersive artistry of Mirrormon EP and sense of exploration and discovery in Outer Wilds, indie gaming has provided experiences that remain unmatched by their big AAA brethren.
The other reason I like indie gaming so much is this sense of community that is fostered between the player and the developer. Compared to the distance between fans and big companies like EA and Rockstar, indie development feels more like a conversation between the creator and player. More often than not, I've discussed with developers directly on forums, seen player suggestions implemented, helped games become reality through crowdfunding, followed progress on Twitter, TIGFoums, and blogs. Indie development just has this engaging communal vibe that can't be found on the AAA side of gaming and in many ways, this closeness and transparency between developers and players only helps to increase my anticipation and excitement for games
First time looking in one of these threads, but Risk of Rain should have won last month!
Geez it's kind of overwhelming how many games there are listed to come out this month. And a whole bunch look good.
Maybe I've avoided this thread in the past for a reason. XD
Hey, welcome. Always nice to see our little commuity grow. Definitely every month just seems to bring bigger and more interesting titles and I totally understand what you mean by "overwhelming"
Best way is to just try the free games first, that's the easiest way to start chipping away at the ever-growing list. And the best part is that so many free games are just as impressive as the paid games, it's not like there's some huge quality difference
In that regard, I'd definitely recommend Westerado, Gods Will Be Watching, SuperHOT, Outer Wilds. And then if you haven't, older must-plays like Nitronic Rush, Facade, Perspective
Regarding RoR, it's a great game. Every game on that list is a great game. But both Westerado and Fjords have something more, certain elements and mechanics, atmosphere and tone, that all coalscese in such a fashion that elevates them above the others