Having gone through a successful Kickstarter campaign for CasinoRPG in early 2013, we know how hard it is to get noticed and scrap all the way to your goal, especially if your name isn't Tim Schafer. So, we've decided to help spread the word about our fellow indie game developers and post a weekly roundup of our favorite games we've stumbled across lately.
Cradle
Cradle is an open-world adventure in a unique fantasy setting full of action and exploration featuring a skillful combat system.
I know what you are thinking, not another fantasy RPG...right? Go watch their video and then you'll see why this game stands out in a big way. While you don't see a whole lot, what you do see is quite stunning and begins with some gorgeous concept art. New movement and combat systems are featured, but what most excites me is the potential for raw exploration in the lush world. You've got a little over three weeks to help Cradle meet its goal.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Realistic single-player RPG set in the medieval Europe. Open-world sandbox with period accurate melee combat. Dungeons & no Dragons.
Okay, maybe this isn't quite as "indie" as some of the others, but it is just too good to leave off the list. This is another CryENGINE game (two launched in the same week!?), and like Cradle, it looks absolutely stunning. There's so much fantastic content rolled into the Middle Ages that you generally can't go wrong, and Kingdom Come looks to take that sentiment to another level. Did I mention there are castle sieges and large scale battles in first person? Indeed, go back it within the next 3 weeks or so.
Dungeonforge
Swords-flying, action RPG where you drive and shape the gameworld and everyone has a chance to tell their own unique story.
I've always found the idea of allowing players to shape the game world around them to be intriguing, but Dungeonforge takes this idea to the next level. They've essentially built a wonderful looking RPG builder that is aimed at players rather than game makers. What I really love about this concept is that instead of just sharing creations in a marketplace, they become part of the larger online world. If this is managed correctly, it could produce some really unique and compelling gameplay that I look forward to trying myself. You've got nearly a month left to back it!
ReVeN
Explore the beautiful and atmospheric planet: XR-Keres. Adapt to combat situations and uncover the mysteries of the great sacrifice.
On the surface this may just look like another side scroller, but it is clearly much more than that. In addition to the beautiful landscapes and finer details, there is compelling gameplay that you don't often see in this genre. The game is as much about the story and act of discovery as it is about pure platforming action. With nearly a month to go, ReVeN is nearly halfway to its goal already.
Troubadour
Interactive graphic novel infused with experimental music about the anxieties of growing up in the digital age. Coming to PC and Mac.
The first thing that stood out to me about this game was the unusual art style. It is refreshing to see a game that doesn't try to follow the look and feel of past successes in the genre. I'm also all about mixing mediums, and shaping a game around the idea of a graphic novel is something that I find quite compelling. If you do as well, get on over to Kickstarter and back Troubadour before the campaign ends in 25 days!