As the lines blur ever more between what constitutes an indie game and what doesn’t. I think what we can agree on is that the reason these lines feel more blurred is that the quality continues to go up. 2024 is looking, once again, to be an amazing year for indie games and we don’t even have to wait long for some excellent titles to release.
With my wishlist currently sitting at 464 games, it’s hard to narrow it down, but I will try my best. Here are some of the most anticipated indie games of 2024.
The Night is Grey
Release Date: 5th January 2024
Platforms: Steam
The Night is Grey is a point-and-click adventure where you play as Graham, alone in a forest feeling for his life. He finds a young girl abandoned in a lodge. From here he is not only trying to save himself but the life of the girl as well. This hand-drawn thriller will have you solving puzzles, and delving into engaging storylines. It looks like it could give us an excellent start to the year!
Enshrouded
Release Date: 24th January 2024
Platforms: Steam
Enshrouded is a very promising-looking co-op survival game. Play as a Flameborn trying to survive the terror of a corrupting fog that covers the lands. Venture across a vast world to discover secrets, vanquish bosses, and collect loot. You and up to 15 others can team up to build bases and tame the lands conquering the shroud. There was a demo for Enshrouded during the last Next Fest and it was well received. I can see this one being a pretty big hit this year.
Pacific Drive
Release Date: 22nd February 2024
Platforms: Steam, PS5
Face supernatural dangers in the Olympic Exclusion Zone in Pacific Drive. Your car is your only companion and you must use it, keep it running, and upgrade it to keep progressing through the unique challenges of the Zone. Outrun the storm to unravel the mysteries of abandoned places in the Pacific Northwest. It looks like a unique take on survival and I think it’s going to be a fun one!
The Plucky Squire
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X&S, Nintendo Switch
Jump from 2D to 3D in the charming and innovative-looking action adventure, The Plucky Squire. Storybook characters discover a 3D world outside of the pages of their book and must jump between both worlds to save their friends.
The Plucky Squire looks so cute and charming. This has the potential to be such a creative and fun game I can’t wait to see how the two worlds get blended together in imaginative ways.
Closer the Distance
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam
Closer the Distance is a slice-of-life sim that aims to tell a deeply emotional story about fractured relationships and uncovering long-kept secrets in the face of tragedy. Following a fatal car accident Angela finds herself watching over her loved ones as they navigate grief. Using her ethereal ability she will ultimately determine the fate of this small town.
It’s a beautiful and stylish-looking game. That will look to tackle some tough themes.
The Axis Unseen
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam, Epic Store (and maybe Xbox One, PlayStation 4)
Described as a Heavy Metal horror game created by an ex-Skyrim developer The Axis Unseen is an action-adventure where you will hunt nightmarish creatures from ancient folklore. Track them, hunt them, and gain new powers. It’s visually striking with a vibrant, weird, and wonderful-looking world to explore.
Synergy
Release Date: Q1 2024
Platforms: Steam
Synergy is a vibrant city-builder that places humans on a hostile planet where they will face extreme weather conditions, and natural disasters, and explore harsh environments. The well-being of your citizens is paramount and you will need a deep understanding of the environment in order to thrive. Conduct analysis of plant life and other natural elements to flesh out your knowledge. Obtain new resources from your research to allow for growth and prosperity.
Nightingale
Release Date: 22nd February 2024
Platforms: Steam, Epic Store
Nightingale is an open-world survival game set in a Victorian-punk world. You can play solo or coop and will embark on a quest to become a Realmwalker where you navigate a web of transdimensional worlds. Build bases and craft weapons and equipment to help you survive, explore, and most importantly hunt down otherworldly creatures. Traverse different worlds by assembling Realm cards that allow you to access new places with specific biomes, enemies, and resources to discover.
Nightingale is looking like a promising co-op-style game similar to Valhiem and I can’t wait to see some more of it.
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REKA
Release Date: Q2 2024
Platforms: Steam
In REKA you will travel through a mysterious land in your chicken-legged cottage as an apprentice to the legendary Baba Yaga. If that’s not enough to make you interested then I don’t know what is. Develop your magical powers, craft potions, choose to help or hinder villagers, and upgrade your chicken house.
The world of REKA looks beautiful and enchanting. This could be a wonderfully fun and unique adventure to embark upon.
Manor Lords
Release Date: 26th April 2024
Platforms: Steam
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game with in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, with deep economic and social simulations. It’s already been a huge hit in previous Next Fest events and this year we will finally get to see the whole shebang. It’s probably my most anticipated game of the year. The dynamic weather systems, the organic building, and the tactical battles all look really cool. I can’t wait to play this one!
Out of Action
Release Date: Q4 2024
Platforms: Steam
Out of Action blew up in popularity last year after the developer held some test sessions and invited some content creators to share the gameplay. This FPS looks slick, brutal, and fluid, this looks fantastic in action. Featuring deep weapon and loadout customisation, bullet time mechanics, gore, and multiple game modes for both solo and teams. Out of Action has the potential to be a huge hit this year.
Beautiful Light
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam
Another game that has gained a large swelling of support from content creators in the last few months is Beautiful Light. A stunning, atmospheric PVPVE tactical extraction shooter. Enter raids and immerse yourself in a world of SCP-style horror as you hunt down loot, distorted horrors, and other teams. The gameplay looks intense and already looks extremely well-polished. No release date has been mentioned, but I feel like it’s only going to be a few months before we either get a release or some more open betas start up.
Anvil Empires
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam
Foxhole always fascinated me. The huge month-long war campaigns and emergent gameplay always look interesting. However, I found I couldn’t quite get into it when I played it. Perhaps because it was already well established and I was a total noob. Anvil Empires, from the same developers, is essentially a medieval version. Thousands of players all working together to build empires and wage war with others. I’ve been following this one fairly closely and it looks brilliant.
Europa
Release Date: 16th April 2024
Platforms: Steam
I played Europa during the last Next Fest and at first, I was a little unsure about it. However, the more I soared through the game the more I started to enjoy it. This casual platformer has you exploring a lush paradise version of the moon Europa. You will glide across stunning landscapes solving puzzles and trying to unravel mysteries. It’s a lovely chilled experience that finds joy in simply traversing the world.
Light Odyssey
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam
Something a little darker but in its own way equally as cool in the form of Light Odyssey. A ‘boss rush’ action roguelike where you explore the ruins of an ancient civilization and fight The Colossus. I just think it looks cool and has an amazing visual sense of scale and style.
The Precinct
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X&S
It’s 1983 in Averno City, gangs rule the streets and it’s your job to clean them up in The Precinct. Embark on thrilling chases, and action-packed shootouts, in the neon-noir action sandbox. This is a love letter to all those classic cop movies and it looks fantastic fun. Respond to procedural crimes, call in backup or go it alone, investigate the gangs, and more. The Precinct looks like a blast!
Menace
Release Date: TBC 2024
Platforms: Steam
From the developers of Battle Brothers comes another excellent-looking strategy game, Menace. This time we’re way in the future leading a strike force against an alien threat. Answer distress calls across different worlds. Train your troops and equip them for all situations, call in tanks and mechs to turn the tides of battle. Judging by how much I see Battle Brothers get recommended, I feel like Menace is in good hands for a tactical turn-based game.
Bellwright
Release Date: Q1 2024
Platforms: Steam
In Bellwright you’re framed for the murder of a prince and have been living in the shadows ever since to avoid punishment. Now it is time to establish your own settlement and lead a rebellion against the oppressive Sovereign to uncover the truth. With online co-op, you don’t have to go it alone either. From what we’ve seen – which admittedly isn’t much, Bellwright looks stunning and like it has a lot of mechanics like hunting, managing your settlement, troops etc… So pulling it all off might be tricky, but it could be excellent.
Selaco
Release Date: 31st May 2024
Platforms: Steam
If you want fast gameplay, lots of explosions, and over-the-top action set pieces with a retro feel then Selaco is probably the one for you. Another game that’s been a huge hit during Steams Next Fest events, this FPS is super fun. The story takes place during the invasion of the underground facility called Selaco – home to refugees following the fall of Earth. If you’re a fan of retro shooters then I’m sure you’ve already got this on your wishlist, but if not, then go check it out. There’s even a demo you can try. Its great!
Den of Wolves
Release Date: 2024 (Fingers Crossed)
Platforms: Steam
I’ll be honest, I’m fairly certain this won’t make 2024 release. However, by including it, I’m hoping to manifest its release. From the developers of GTFO and ex-Payday devs. Den of Wolves is a techno-thriller heist game that looks slick as hell. With nothing but a super stylish announcement trailer shown so far we don’t know a lot about it. However, I have a feeling it will be good. The art style alone is enough to get me extremely interested in it. Embark on co-op heists as criminals for hire. Plan and execute through espionage, sabotage, theft, and assassination. With dynamic missions and unpredictability, you can go from stealth to all guns blazing in a matter of seconds. Knowing how GTFO went from tense sneaking to, intense action I have a feeling that Den of Wolves will give a similar vibe.
So many Indie Games!
To be honest, I could keep going. There are so many indie games coming this year that we are going to be well and truly inundated with quality gaming experiences. If you have any ‘must check out’ indie games then let us know!
-Will
Oh wow, I didn’t realise The Night is Grey was finally getting a release. I really enjoyed the demo when I played it ages ago so I’ll definitely be picking that one up.