This year has been a fantastic year for gaming. Both indie and AAA developers have pushed out some amazing games and, if conferences like E3 are anything to go by, 2019 is going to be another amazing year for gaming.
There are a bunch of indie games newly coming to the Switch, including the Microsoft-published Ori and the Blind Forest, which will be coming to the platform on September 27, Nintendo announced in. Sep 27, 2019 Indie Games Plus - Creative, Personal, Passionate Digital Experiences. Indie Games Plus - Creative, Personal, Passionate Digital Experiences. Casting a fireball won’t even so much as singe the grass in most games, but in Noita, your sorcerous abilities can have handy consequences. Discover New Things. Thwart Poker.
Most of you will already know which AAA games you are most excited for in the coming year, but there are also some great indie games coming up, too!
Join us as we take a look at 10 of the most anticipated games heading our way in 2019.
Indie Game 2019
Sea of Solitude
Developer:Jo-Mei Games
Release Date: Early 2019
Sea of Solitude was announced last year as one of EA Originals' next indie titles, but it was at E3 this year that we got to see more of this stunning indie game.
The game follows a young woman called Kay as she battles loneliness while trying to survive in an abandoned, submerged city. Her feelings and fears have turned her into her own personal enemy and the only hope she has of getting back to normal is to get help from the monsters lurking around the city.
Sea of Solitude will be available on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One.
Sunless Skies
Developer: Failbetter Games
Release date:January 31, 2019
Even though Sunless Skies has been in Early Access on Steam for quite some time, it is finally getting a full release at the beginning of next year. Since hitting Steam back in 2017, it has been getting positive reviews all the way through its development, so this is looking like it is going to be a great addition to your indie collection.
In the second of their Sunless games, Failbetter Games wants you to take command of a flying locomotive and explore the reaches of space in this Victorian Gothic adventure RPG set among the stars.
Sunless Skies is being developed for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Creaks
Developer: Amanita Design
Release date: TBA 2019
You might think that this is an obscure choice, but the folks at Amanita Design have a pretty good cult following thanks to their smash hit point-and-click Machinarium. The artwork of their games is unmistakable!
There isn't a whole lot known about this game. In fact, on the game's Steam store page, all it says is 'meet your new neighbors'.
In the teaser trailer for Creaks, you get the impression that this is going to be another point-and-click adventure which is heavy on puzzles and problem-solving. The setting looks dark and eerie with great attention to the smallest details.
Once we know any more details about Creaks, we will let you know.
PHOGS!
Developer: Bit Loom Games
Release date: TBA 2019
If you love bright colors, puzzles, and physics-based games, then, my friend, PHOGS! is going to be the game for you. Developed by Bit Loom Games and published by Coatsink, both in the UK, the game has been doing the round on the expo circuit this year and has been a roaring success.
In PHOGS!, you play as a creature which resembles two dogs who are connected to each other via the mid-section. The aim is to travel through the 'Phoggyverse' completing puzzles and overcoming various obstacles. Sounds pretty straightforward but with two characters for the price of one to control, things could get interesting!
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It is going to be released across multiple platforms but, as of yet, we don't know which ones that will be.
Session
Developer: crea-ture Studios
Release date:Q2 2019
Fans of the skateboard subgenre have been hoping for a follow up on the vastly successful Skate 3 but, as it has already been confirmed by EA that there isn't going to be a Skate 4, there was a big hole in the market which needed to be filled.
Enter crea-ture Studios and their game Session. Back in 2017, the studio launched a Kickstarter campaign to try and raise some money to make and release their own skateboard game. They were initially looking to raise CA$80,000 but managed to get a massive CA$163,700 in funding.
Session promises to reignite your passion for skateboarding and wants you to explore what it means to be a street skater. The only limit to the tricks you can do is your creativity and your dedication. Some of the game's features include a video editor which will allow you to film, edit and create your own montage to then show to the game's community.
Sable
Developer: Shedworks
Release date: TBA 2019
Undoubtedly, the first thing that grabs you about Sable, by UK-based developer Shedworks, is its unique comic book art style. It went down a storm at E3 2018 and gained a lot of interest from fans and press alike.
The story starts when the titular character sets out into the desert for her tribes 'right of passage'. To become an adult, Sable must explore her surroundings, unlocking ancient histories and learning about the world around her. This is very much an exploration game with some platforming and puzzle elements thrown in for good measure. There is absolutely no combat in the game at all. Everything is focussed on exploration.
There is no definite date for Sable's release but, until we know, here is the E3 announcement trailer for you to watch.
In the Valley of the Gods
Developer: Campo Santo
Release date: TBA 2019
The last time developers Campo Santo were on the scene was back in 2016 with their sensational mystery game Firewatch. Their latest game, In the Valley of the Gods, aims to take you on a journey through 1920s Egypt while out to discover new archaeological discoveries.
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You play as an explorer named Rashida who has one more shot to make it to the big time as a filmmaker. She has been sent out to Egypt to try and uncover new ancient relics and to document the whole thing. Unfortunately for you, the only other person on this adventure is your former partner who you have absolutely no desire to work with again.
In the Valley of the Gods does not have an exact release date just yet, but we do know that when it becomes available it will be on PC, Linux and Mac.
Phoenix Point
Developer: Snapshot Games
Release date: June 2019
It is always exciting when a founding father of a genre returns to their roots. That is what Phoenix Pointis.
It is being made by the creator of the original X-COM series, Julian Gollop. It is a squad-based game using turn-based tactics and strategy and is said to be the true spiritual successor of the original series. It has already got a massive fanbase, which is evident from its hugely successful Fig campaign, launched in 2017, where it raised $765,948.
In the future, Earth is decimated by a deadly outbreak called the Pandoravirus. It has the ability to mutate a being almost instantly by combining human, animals and alien DNA. This gives the game an ever-evolving menace to deal with. The aliens themselves are procedurally generated so players will constantly be having to evolve their own tactics in order to defeat them.
Upon release, Phoenix Point will be available on PC, Mac and Xbox One.
Spelunky 2
Developer: Mossmouth
Release date: TBA 2019
There is currently a frenzy of excited Spelunkyfans eager to find out when the next installment is coming to our screens. Those who went to PAX West this year have already had a look at it and, judging by the chatter, it is looking like a worthy successor!
In Spelunky 2, you play as the daughter of the spelunker from the first game, who is trying to make her own way in the underground world. She has taken to the skies and is now exploring the tunnels on the moon. There are plenty of new dynamics, critters, and mobs to fight against.
Trine 4
Developer: Frozenbyte
Release date: TBA 2019
Not much is known about what Frozenbyte will be bringing us with Trine 4; there isn't even an official trailer for it, but given that Trine 3 gained quite a lot of negativity, fans are hoping that they have learned what wasn't done well last time and have built on that.
This time around they have partnered with Modus Games and Trine 4 will eventually be available on PS4, XBox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.
As the news of a new Trine game was announced by accident by someone that wasn't the developer, we still don't know all that much about it. But we'll be sure to let you know when we do.
So then, there you have it! Ten great indie games which are going to be heading our way in 2019. Of course, we've only scratched the surface as there are so many amazing indie games in development at the moment and many we will see in the coming year.
Are you looking forward to any of these ones? Maybe you are excited about something else?
Let us know which games you are most looking forward to seeing and we will try to keep you informed about them as well as many other titles arriving next year and beyond!
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