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.
Planets³
Planets³ is a 3D open-world voxel-based RPG (first person view).
This game had me at the logo, which I must admit is one of the best game logos I've seen in quite a while. Then, it had me again at the concept art. And finally, it had me at the gameplay. Vast creativity merged with an art style I can't seem to get enough of is an absolute winner in my book. This one is well on its way, but needs you help over the next 3+ weeks.
Proven Lands
Explore a unique, vast and beautiful science-fiction sandbox roguelike, procedurally generated and studded with an AI storyteller.
Procedural generation in games is something that has always fascinated me. It is something that will never be perfected, but can always get better. The way this approaches procedural generation is quite unique on both the visual and story telling fronts. In total, it looks like a fantastic adventure that I can't wait to try out myself. Still a month left in this campaign.
Altergaze
Turn your iPhone or Samsung into a virtual reality interface.
Okay, so this isn't actually a game, but it is a genius little device that lets you play your mobile games in a more immersive manner. Everyone knows about the Oculus Rift, but you've actually already got a capable device in your pocket. The Altergaze provides a cheap VR alternative by turning your iPhone or Samsung into the ultimate mobile gaming device. Nearly two months left in the campaign.
The Orion Project
Do you like Dinosaurs? Robots? Spaceships? Then this Open World, Interactive Sci-Fi gaming experience is for YOU!
This is one of those games that seems so vast and incredible that it simply must be impossible. This could very well be the case, but the idea that this could become a reality is too tempting to pass up. It is made even more impressive by the impressive graphics, which are backed up by the previous campaign from a few years ago. They still need quite a bit of help, so get in on this one within the next 49 days!
Earthlock: Festival of Magic
An original turn-based role-playing game set in a world of machines and magic, a world that stopped spinning thousands of years ago.
Earthlock gives me all sorts of nostalgia for the days when I actually had time to play games like Zelda, with epic journeys and fantastic characters to follow along with their story. This game gives that same great feeling, and I look forward to seeing how the story, world and art evolve throughout development. There's a month left in this campaign.
Ashen Rift
A new take on classic shooters: Ashen Rift pits you and your pitbull Bounder against the crumbling world and howling beasts within.
I'm generally not a big fan of first person shooters, partly because I'm pretty terrible at twitch-gaming, but also because I find them to be mostly generic. However, Ashen Rift is anything but generic. It has this old west feel about it, but in a world where Earth has been taken over by creatures seemingly from another dimension. Oh, and did I mention you're partner in crime is a dog? You've got around 27 days to get on board with man's best friend.
The UnEarth Initiative
Help outcasts colonize an alien planet in this comic sci-fi sim game by veteran developers.
This game has a little bit of everything: building, battling, crafting, harvesting, strategizing, adventuring, story telling and general creativ...ing. It looks like a lot of light-hearted fun with a lot of unique possibilities. You can even reprogram your robot buddies (if you're into that kind of thing)! There's a little over 3 weeks to get in on this campaign.