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Ashton Lovell
Jun 67 min read

10 Standout Games from the Best Indie Games Showcase 2024


The indie games space is an already bloated, highly competitive market making it difficult for new games to stand out from the crowded field. This is made even more evident in showcases such as the Best Indie Games Showcase which highlighted over 160 indie titles of varying styles and genres. Applause must be given to the creator of the showcase and to the hard-working developers who made an appearance. Any chance to show off your game to a potential audience must be taken and clearly the call was met. However, inevitably some games will stick out more than the rest. The following is a list of 10 games that stood out from the crowd, caught my attention, and made their way onto my illustrious Steam wish list.


10. #BLUD

Many games that go for this cartoon style often go for an era that I don’t have much attachment to. However, #BLUD from Exit 73 Studios, seasoned animators on various projects from General Mills cereal commercials to Nickelodeon projects, seems to be evoking the exact era I most remember. The art style has a mix of round and sharp edges, blocky shapes, more triangular edges. It reminds me of beloved childhood shows like Dexter’s Laboratory or The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. That alone caught my eye. Add onto it other wacky visuals and music, vibrant and expressive combat animations, and a story that seems to mix together something you would see on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and you might just have a recipe for an absolute hit.


#Blud is slated to release June 18, 2024.


9. Deathbound

This is my one obligatory souls-like game on this list. I originally saw this game via a video showcasing it from The Iron Pineapple on YouTube. To be completely honest I had kind of forgotten about it since then. But, seeing it here helped to remind me of what differentiates Deathbound from its competitors. Deathbound, by developer Trialforge Studio, sees you take the role of multiple classes of characters at once that you can freely swap between mid-combat. One second you could be fighting as a mage, hitting enemies with long-range magic, and then the next you could swap over to the big warrior or the light-footed rogue to get in some close-quarters combat. This system is very unique and could give Deathbound something really special. I hope you are able to get really creative with this system by chaining together attacks from different classes to create insane combos. Outside of that, if they can nail the level design or boss fights, this could be a souls-like to keep an eye on.


Deathbound is slated to release sometime in 2024.


8. Windswept

It doesn’t happen often, but on occasion my cuteness meter reads off the charts on a specific game and I can’t help but give it a try. Windswept is one of these games. I mean come on, what more could you ask for? It’s a cute little duck platforming with his partner turtle in a vibrant and wondrous world of fellow cute animals. Developer WeatherFell also decided to vary up some of the gameplay with what looks like a room of arcade cabinets in which you can take control and play as many other cute animals like a derpy looking but adorable little frog buddy. If this game is the right length and has the right vibe throughout, this could be a fantastic and memorable platforming experience.


Windswept is slated to release sometime in 2025.


7. The Edge of Allegoria

One of my earliest gaming memories is playing the classic Pokemon Red version in all its digital green and white glory. That original set of Pokemon games has such a distinctive style to it largely due to limitations in hardware. The way the Pokemon look, how the overworld is styled, the animations of the battle moves, all combine to create such a nostalgic and classic feeling that is unmatched. The Edge of Allegoria from developer Button Factory Games clearly is taking massive inspiration from those specific games. Every single screenshot from this game looks ripped straight out of an alternate universe where instead of a game where you collect and trade fantastical creatures, you yourself punch the ever loving daylights out of the creatures personally. It seems the game also has a level of self awareness and humor that could strike a perfect balance between nostalgia and humility if written well. If interested, there is a demo available out now to try yourself!


The Edge of Allegoria is slated to release in Q4 2024.


6. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus

Metroidvanias are a dime a dozen at this point. It can feel like every time you turn around there is another metroidvania coming out. This means when one does stand out, it is a huge accomplishment in-and-of-itself. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus from developer Squid Shock Studios looks to be one of those games. The art style is the first thing that sticks out. The game is gorgeous as it evokes asian styles and themes. It is hard to judge gameplay of a metroidvania without actually having your hands on the controller, but from everything that is being said about this game following the demo it seems like it might be the real deal. A unique art style, great atmosphere, and potentially tight and varied gameplay gives Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus a good chance of being a true gem in the metroidvania space.


Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is slated to release July 17, 2024.


5. SoulQuest

I’m a sucker for great action gameplay and a combo system that rewards you for good performance. SoulQuest by developer SoulBlade Studio stood out for this very reason. As soon as I saw the trailer I noticed how fast and combo-focused the combat appeared to be. I’ve since downloaded and played the demo and can confirm that the combat has a ton of potential. In the three-ish levels available I was able to unlock multiple extra moves, combos, and movement upgrades that added depth and fluidity to movement and combat. I hope that these initial upgrades are available just as fast in the full release as it really allowed the game to immediately begin leaning into its strongest aspect. However, it does need some work in other areas. The voice acting and writing can be inconsistent and varies in quality. The platforming is fine but the wall-jump could use some work. There is also an edge-grab mechanic that never quite felt as snappy and conclusive as I wanted it to be. With that being said, this game will live or die by its combat and my initial first impression is very hopeful.


SoulQuest is slated to release sometime in the future.


4. Escape from Ever After

Escape from Ever After by developer Sleepy Castle Studio has a clear inspiration in the Paper Mario franchise. Everything in this game screams Paper Mario from the character designs to the paper-esque world to even the text boxes. It can be a bit dangerous to fly that close to an already highly beloved series as you automatically invite direct comparison, especially when that primary series is already highly regarded by fans and critics alike. I’m choosing to make the bet that this game will differentiate itself enough from Paper Mario that it stands on its own and can be held up in high regard as just a fantastic RPG.


Escape from Ever After is slated to release sometime in the future.


3. Ruffy and the Riverside

From developer Zockrated Laboratories, Ruffy and the Riverside never shies away from its inspirations. It is clearly evoking the vibe and style of classic Nintendo 64 games from 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie to RPGs like Paper Mario. In-fact, this game looks exactly like what would happen if you combined those two games into one. Despite having that paper cut-out style from Paper Mario, Ruff looks very unique and distinctive. It also looks to have some fun and unique mechanical ideas aside from just platforming. Ruffy and the Riverside looks like it could be an incredible 3D platformer with fun diversions and a fantastic vibe.


Ruffy and the Riverside is slated to release sometime in the future.


2. Pipsqueak

Out of all the metroidvania indie titles from this massive showcase, Pipsqueak was granted the honor of being the “one more thing” game. After watching the trailer it’s fairly evident why. Pipsqueak from developer Pond Games looks like it could be the tightest and most skill-intensive metroidvania since Hollow Knight. As a massive fan of Hollow Knight I don’t make that comparison lightly. More needs to be see from this just announced game, but what short snippets we got, Pipsqueak looks like it has a specific style of platforming and combat that relies on quick thinking, reaction, and skill that Hollow Knight is so famous for. It helps that the art style is distinctive and charming, adding a distinctive style to everything you do.


Pipsqueak is slated to release sometime in the future.


1. Cairn: Mathair’s Curse

Nintendo’s Mother franchise is one of my favorite game series of all time. While Mother fans still beg Nintendo for an official release of Mother 3 (damn you Reggie!), other developers such as Ross McRitchie, have decided to try and fill the gaps. Cairn: Mathair’s Curse takes clear inspiration from the Mother franchise and Mother 3 specifically. Everything from the sprites to the funky 80s style wacky backgrounds during battle look ripped straight from the Mother series. Cairn appears to also be telling a gripping and emotional story on top of the wacky, unique, and absurd world around you. If Cairn can evoke similar feelings, vibes, style, and gameplay as the Mother franchise, then it has a higher chance of becoming an all-time favorite of mine than any other game on this list.


Cairn: Mathair’s Curse is slated to release sometime in the future.


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