Update: Our ever-expanding GDC 2015 indie coverage continues with Extreme Exorcism and The Behemoth's Game 4.
The Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is a mecca for intelligent talk about triple-A game design, but it also hosts a huge assortment of indie games. We've got boots on the ground at GDC 2015 and controllers in our hands, playing and vetting through dozens of upcoming indie games to let you know what's worth getting excited for. Check out our evolving, expanding list of the best indie gems from GDC 2015.
This story includes contributions from the GDC 2015 crew, including Jeff Cork, Kim Wallace, Matt Bertz, and me (Tim Turi)
The Behemoth's Game 4 (Working Title)
Developer: The
Behemoth
Platform: Xbox One, PC
Release: TBA
The Behemoth is going back to the type of goofy lighthearted fantasy setting that it nailed starting with the XBLA hit Castle Crashers. This time around the action is all about streamlined yet satisfying strategic hex-grid combat. It's up to players to position their troops on the map, then hit the confirm button to make them all attack the opposition all at once. What you equip your units with affects their effectiveness. For example, a big mallet is strong against helmeted foes, and a big shield helps deflect a percentage of ranged attacks. Speaking of ranged attacks, did I mention an uzi-wielding enemy jumps in out of nowhere during one battle? This shouldn't be too surprising, though, considering the plot revolves around a gigantic, Galactus-sized bear that is playing puppet master with the planet and bleeding acidic green blood all over it. - Tim Turi
Extreme Exorcism
Developer: Golden Ruby Games
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Summer
It's great to see the local competitive game scene is still alive and well with quirky titles like Extreme Exorcism. Similar to titles like Towerfall and Samurai Gunn, up to four players can compete in this pixelated, 2D arena game, trying to kill one another and their ghosts. Yes, when you die in deathmatch your ghost comes back and can hurt anyone who gets in the way. Thankfully these spectral fiends are week to cool weapons like assault rifles, minds, shurikens, and grenades. Players can also vacuum up and permanently eradicate ghosts by vacuuming them up with a powerful, area-of-effect exorcism power-up. In addition to a competitive mode, players can also get couch co-op going and work through the haunted mansion together, clearing out the ghost infestation while avoiding their own phantoms. Every time you die, a ghost continues to reenact your previous actions at your peril. If you moved and attacked erratically in a past life, good luck.
Runbow
Developer: 13AM Games
Platform: Wii U
Release:
2015
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U gave up to eight players a reason to huddle around the TV. Runbow takes the multiplayer ball and runs with it, bumping it up to nine. The goal of the main game is simple: move your character from the starting line to the trophy cup before your opponents get there. Of course, it's never that simple. The game features platforms of various colors, which disappear if the background color changes to the corresponding hue. You get fair warning as the next color pulses into view from the edge of the screen before taking complete control. If you're on a red bridge and the background shifts from orange to red, unless you can leap to safety, you're out of luck. Get to the cup first, and victory is yours. Stumble along the way, and you're out for the match. You can make it harder on your fellow runners by punching them or using powerups that provide a variety of sneaky equalizers. My favorite is one that swaps your position with another players. That is, it was my favorite unless I was in the lead. Another mode, ColourMaster, allows one player to use the GamePad's screen to drop obstacles and manipulate the world while the rest try to make it through the gauntlet. Attacks are on a cooldown, so you can't just spam them. It was a lot of fun, even though I wanted to push the ColourMaster into the ocean by the time it was over. – Jeff Cork
Affordable Space Adventures
Developer: KnapNok Games
Platform: Wii U
Release:
April 9
One of the hooks with Affordable Space Adventures is that it requires players to juggle multiple systems on tiny spaceship using the Wii U's GamePad. It's chaotic, overwhelming fun, as you try to figure out when you need to adjust your ship's density so it dives underwater, when to max out your thrusters, and more. Something fairly big has been added to the game since last year: multiplayer. Now, up to three players can team up and work to pilot the ship through a hazardous planet in search of rescue. The pilot uses a Wii U Pro Controller to fly the ship on its most basic level. Engineers take control of the GamePad, and are responsible for many of the systems previously described. The science officer uses a Wii Remote, and they can fire flares (useful for hitting switches), and controlling the spotlight that illuminates the way for the pilot. Players can drop in and out at any time, and it's the same story experience whether you go solo or bring friends along for the ride. I had a great time piloting other players through the tunnels, and it was a different experience than my solo attempt. I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the visuals more, since I had a few teammates picking up my slack. If you're playing alone, it's still the same "Hang on tight!" gameplay that made it such a standout to me last year. – Jeff Cork
Box Boy
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Platform: 3DS
Release:
Spring
Box Boy looks like one of the most boring games imaginable. The main character is a tiny box, with a pair of short, spindly legs below him. Qbby, the character, has to work his way to a door while avoiding obstacles. If I haven't lost you yet, good. The character has a neat little trick at his disposal: He can summon boxes. It's better than it sounds, honestly. After entering his little "spawn box" mode, players make the boxes form around him. You can tap right several times, and you end up with a horizontal bridge. Tapping up twice and then left forms a little L. Once they're formed, Qbby detaches from them and can toss them around in levels to allow him to reach high ledges, press buttons, and more. Creating more blocks destroys the first ones, which keeps puzzles manageable. It's a simple concept, but later levels get quite tricky. HAL made audiences fall in love with a little pink circle. Who knows? Perhaps this white square could be their next Kirby. – Jeff Cork