Tag: Indie
News Legend Of Zelda Fans Accuse Indie Game Of "Ripping-Off" Link's Awakening
"Nintendo is just waiting to sue"
A new indie project called Mysplaced is being called out by Legend of Zelda fans on social media for supposedly copying Grezzo's Switch release Link's Awakening. This "Metroidvania" was featured in IGN's latest episode of Rogue Jam and was created by indie developer Soheyl Ghiami. As you can see in the video above,...
News The Wholesome Direct Returns With News On Coffee Talk, PuffPals, And Moomins
Moomincredible news
What do cats, frogs, birds, witches, and snow-white Finnish teddy-bear-things all have in common? That's right! They're all wholesome, a sort-of game genre that has blossomed over the past few years. Wholesome games are all about prioritising fun, friendship, and relaxation — and they'll all be in the next Wholesome Direct...
Review The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe - A Mind-Bending Mess Of Wonderment
The end is never the end is never the end is never
This is the story of a man named Alex. Alex was employed by a company called Nintendo Life, and one of his many duties was to review video games. One day when at his desk Alex heard the news that The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe would be releasing on the Nintendo Switch, the games console which...
News Bear And Breakfast's New Video Shows Off The Game's Management And Decoration Mechanics
Bearcon and Bearggs
If you're a fan of extremely cute story-led management adventure games, you'll likely have Bear and Breakfast on your radar — you play as the titular bear, Hank, running the titular "and breakfast", which is short for "bed and breakfast", which is a type of cosy hotel that offers a bed, plus food. In this new gameplay video,...
News Check Out The New Trailer For Zelda-Meets-Animal Crossing Game, Lonesome Village
For fans of Moonlighter and Littlewood
After a strange calamity wipes out Lonesome Village, the townspeople enlist the help of Wes, the coyote, to help them rebuild. You'll have to rescue each townsperson from the perilous dungeons, escort them home, and then help them restore civilisation by fishing, gardening, decorating, and exploring — imagine...
News Save Your Family's VHS Store In Super-'90s Adventure 'The Big Con', Coming To Switch
Radical, dude
Furbies. AOL. Wearing caps backwards. VHS tapes. Cups with those teal and pink squiggles on them. These are the '90s staples upon which The Big Con is based, as a loving parody of the decade that introduced us to questionable fashion decisions and incredible music. You play as Ali, a high schooler who decides to help out her family's...
News Wylde Flowers Is A Cosy Gardening Game Where Your Grandma Wants You To Join Her Wizard Cult
Magic: The Gathering
Have you seen those whackadoo adverts for mobile games where the sedate match-3 mechanics are apparently just the coat of paint on a story about your man-murdering grandma? Well, it looks like Wylde Flowers took the idea of "cute game + grandma with dark secrets" and ran with it, as you can see from the trailer above. The first...
Round Up Best Of PAX East 2022 For The Nintendo Switch
Golf! Spiders! Eldritch nightmares!
Although Nintendo Life couldn't be at PAX East this year, we'll still be keeping an eager eye on the goings-on in Boston from today (Thursday 21st April) to Sunday, April 24th, if only to see which games we should be excited about. And now, with the help of this handy list, you can hop on board the bandwagon of...
News Hectic Survival Arcade Shooter 'Groundskeeper2' Is Out Now On Switch
And for less than a fiver!
Action-packed, roguelike-inspired shooter Groundskeeper2 has blasted its way onto Switch. And, better still, it won't even cost you a £5 note! This hectic survival game sees you get dropped into the middle of a war between robots. Each level is randomised, so every time you go back to the game, you'll experience...
News 'Blast Brigade' Brings '80s Action Flick-Inspired Metroidvania Exploration To Switch
Yippee-ki-yay!
Metroidvania's are a dime a dozen these days, with so many trying to take a stab at what Metroid Dread, Castlevania, and Hollow Knight do so well - search exploration. But with a little bit of action too. Or a lot, in the case of Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread. Developer Allods Team pokes fun at the genre in their...
News New Subnautica Game Is In "Early Development"
And you could dive in and join the team
Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds has revealed that a new game in the underwater survival exploration series is in "early development". (Thanks for the tip, solarwolf!) In a job listing posted last night for the studio, it confirmed the team is looking for a Senior Narrative Designer to "help shape the next...
News New Studio Formed By Developers Of Braid, Carto, And Ethereal
Get cosy
Furniture & Mattress is a brand new remote independent game studio, announced by some of the people behind hit indie titles such as Braid, Carto, and Ethereal. Definitely one of the cosiest names we've seen in a while! David Hellman (artist on Braid), Nick Suttner (lead writer on Carto), and Nicolás Recabarren (developer, Ethereal)...
News Ghostrunner DLC 'Project_Hel' Slashes Onto Switch Today
Blade Runner 2022
Cyberpunk parkour game Ghostrunner's long-awaited DLC Project_Hel launches on Switch today! While PC and console owners have been able to dive into this new content since the beginning of March, we've had to be just a little bit more patient to see what Project_Hel has in store for us. This DLC is a prequel to the base game and...
News Lovecraft Meets Deep Dream In 'Source Of Madness', Coming To Switch Soon
Expect a lot of eyes and tentacles
Have you ever looked at one of those terrifying AI-generated images — you know, the ones that sort of look like a dog's face, and sort of look like a nightmare about spiders — and thought, "H.P. Lovecraft would have bloody loved this"? You're not alone, you weirdo! Source of Madness is exactly that: A mash-up...
News The Gorgeous Zelda: Minish Cap-Like 'Moonstone Island' Is Coming To Switch
Harvest Moonstone
As revealed in the very cool and very unmissable Nintendo Life Indie Spotlight, Moonstone Island is coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2023. With beautiful pixel-art graphics that recall Stardew Valley, Littlewood and various Zelda games, plus 120 islands to explore, and a deckbuilding monster-fighting mechanic to keep you busy,...
News Cosy Organisation Game 'A Little To The Left' Is Shuffling Onto Switch This Summer
Everything in its right place
Anyone remember the Cha Cha Slide? Of course you do. You are old, like me. There's an iconic quote from Cha Cha Slide, that goes a little something like this: "Right foot, two stomps. Left foot, two stomps. Slide to the left. Slide to the right." I like to think that this line is about overcoming obstacles and...
News Danganronpa Meets Ikaruga In New 'Yurukill: The Calumniation Games' Trailer
No calumniations from us
NIS America has released a brand new trailer for their absolutely bonkers-looking murder mystery shmup (yes, really) Yurukill: The Calumniation Games. Penned by famous manga writer Homura Kawamoto, the game sees a group of convicted detainees at the Yurukill land, a twisted amusement park headed up by the mysterious guide...
News Upcoming Game Boy Advance Game 'Goodboy Galaxy' Is Getting A Goodboy Plush
Barkward Compatibility
The Game Boy Advance is over 20 years old, but there's about to be a new game for the little blue shape-console: Goodboy Galaxy, which is also coming to Switch if you can't remember where you left your GBA. But alongside the GBA cartridge, the game will also be getting a plushie in collaboration with plushie-maker Pokopipo!...
News Channel Your Inner John Wick Against Evil Dog Thieves In 'The Last Friend'
Doggone
Who would steal a dog? A monster, that's who. Time to give those criminals what they deserve in the upcoming beat-em-up-meets-tower defense game, The Last Friend, which combines the two excellent activities of punching dognappers and petting dogs of all sizes. Also, you can talk to the dogs, and in return they will help you unlock new...
News Nintendo Life's Indie Spotlight Is Back! Join Us Tomorrow For The Presentation
Highlighting upcoming indies for lovely people!
Back in September 2020 we ran the first Nintendo Life Indie Spotlight, a showcase that highlighted dozens of indie games coming to Switch. Just over a year later, our lovely video guru Alex-from-Nintendo-Life returned for a leaner, meaner second round of spotlighting, and we're happy to announce that...
News 'Spells & Secrets' Is A Wizarding School Game Coming To Switch In 2023
Avada Kadifferent
If you love stories about wizarding schools, but find yourself looking for a new one recently for whatever reason, then perhaps divert your attention over to Spells & Secrets, an upcoming 3D action-adventure game set in a magical school for gifted teen witches and wizards. Spells & Secrets takes place in the castle of...
News Lila's Sky Ark Is A Psychedelic Adventure Coming To Switch Very Soon
Lila in the sky with pixels
Lila's world is in danger in Lila's Sky Ark, and you are Lila. This dreamlike, puzzley world looks like Hyper Light Drifter meets Alice in Wonderland, and explores themes like grief, loss, loneliness and depression through its gorgeous pixel-art levels. Lila's Sky Ark is a prequel to German developer Monolith of Minds'...
News Smash-Style Brawler Rivals Of Aether Is Getting A Sequel With 3D Graphics, Targeting 2024
Dungeons of Aether also announced
If you were a fan of Dan Fornace's Smash-like 2D fighter Rivals of Aether, you might want to keep an eye out for Aether Studios' next project Rivals 2. It's a 3D-style sequel to the original game and is currently targeting a 2024 release. At the moment, no systems have been confirmed, but the aim is to release it on...
News Trippy Cat-Themed Alice In Wonderland In 'Catie In MeowmeowLand' Delayed On Switch
We're all mad here
[Update: Thu 31st Mar, 2022 22:30 BST] Catie in MeowmeowLand comes out today, on all platforms except the Nintendo Switch, where it's been delayed indefinitely. Stay tuned for an update! [Original: Wed 9th Mar, 2022 20:30 GMT] Meow meow, mew mew mew. Mew, meow. Meow! [Translation below] Does anyone remember Samorost? It was...
News Eastward Is Getting A Physical Release, Pre-Orders Open Now
Eastward, Ho!
The gorgeous, retro-inspired RPG Eastward will finally be making its way to where it belongs: A physical version, to sit on our nerd-shelves just like its inspirations Earthbound and The Legend of Zelda. Publisher Chucklefish, developer Pixpil, and physical publishers Skybound Games and iam8bit have all teamed up together to create a...
News Nintendo's Indie Gems Switch eShop Sale Ends Soon, Up To 70% Off (Europe)
Sale finishes on Sunday
Update [Sat 26th Mar, 2022 11:00 GMT]: Just a reminder that Nintendo's Indie Gems Sale ends on Sunday 27th March, so if you haven't snapped up the games below that you want, grab 'em while you can! There'll still be there on Monday, of course. They'll just cost more. Check out the full list of available games on Nintendo's...
News Perspective-Switching Puzzle-Platformer Toodee And Topdee Is Coming To Switch
2D scrumptious
Another excellent puzzle-platformer is making its way to the Switch: Toodee and Topdee, a game that plays with dimensional perspective to create a ton of brain-tingly levels to solve! Toodee and Topdee is all about the two titular characters, who can each see from a different perspective. Toodee sees everything as a 2D platformer,...
News Co-Op Puzzle-Platformer Robotry Looks Great For Fans Of Chaotic Physics-Grabber 'Heave Ho'
Physics party puzzle platforming! Pterrific
There are games you play with friends that cause chaos, like Mario Party or Puyo Puyo Tetris, and then there are games you play with your friends that are chaos. Robotry!, which was announced last night, is one of the latter, keeping company with Heave Ho, Phogs, and that one really excellently weird...
News Chill, Cosy Horticulture Game 'The Garden Path' Gets New Gameplay Trailer
Make friends with an onion!
If you love relaxing music, painterly aesthetics, and gardening, then you'll likely enjoy upcoming Switch game The Garden Path, and also, retirement. Developed, illustrated, and composed by British jack-of-all-trades Louis Durrant, AKA carrotcake, The Garden Path was successfully funded on Kickstarter last year and...
News Majora's Mask Meets Sunless Sea In Haunting Narrative Game 'A Place For The Unwilling'
Coming to Switch very soon
You have 21 days until the city dies. Every decision you make up until that final day will have far-reaching consequences — so what will you do? Try to save the world, or live a life of hedonism in the face of futility? That is the question that A Place For The Unwilling poses in its hyper-branching narrative adventure,...
News Freedom Planet 2 Is Now Releasing On 13th September 2022
Sequel targeting "multiple platforms" at launch
We've got a slight update on Freedom Planet 2! According to developer GalaxyTrail, the game finally has a release date. The PC (Steam) version has been
News Indie Dev Cancels Roguelike Horror Game For 3DS In Response To Nintendo's eShop Closure
"this decision was made on our behalf by Nintendo"
An aspiring indie game developer says it's been left with no option but to abandon its plans for a 'New 3DS' game port after Nintendo announced last month it would be closing the system's eShop. Otyugra Games is currently working on a roguelike horror title called Dream-Prison Wanderer, which it had...
News Dungeon Color Is A Rainbow-Filled Puzzle Game About Setting Your Head On Fire
Oops, upside your head (is some fire)
In Dungeon Color, you are a tiny, happy golem stuck in a dungeon with colour-coded doors and colour-coded fire everywhere. Use the fire to light your own head on fire, and use your head-flame to open the corresponding doors to complete each level! (Do not try this at home.) Dungeon Color will come to the...
News Naughty Metroidvania 'Wife Quest' Launches On Switch In March
In the firelight, Fernando
As part of Eastasiasoft's 'Spring Showcase' for 2022, retro action platformer Wife Quest has been announced for the Switch. You also won't have to wait long to play it; the game will be launching on March 16th. Described as "humorous and often naughty", Wife Quest will see you take on the role of Mia, a former warrior on...
News Retro Pixel Art Shmup 'Z-Warp' Hyperdrives Onto Switch This April
A real space invader
Yesterday, we reported on Eastasiasoft's 2022 "Spring Showcase", and we now have some extra details on one of the games that caught our eye. Z-Warp, co-developed with Panda Indie Studio, is a vertical shoot 'em up in the same vein as classics such as Ikaruga and Mushihimesama, and it looks like the most gorgeous GBA game with...
News Co-Op Beat-'Em-Up 'Young Souls' Punches In A March Release Date On Switch
It's not a FromSoft game. They're busy
March is a massive month for games, and it just keeps getting bigger. When we're not eating cars in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, making decisions about shapes in Triangle Strategy, and wooing the locals with homegrown turnips in Rune Factory 5, perhaps we can also beat up monsters with friends in Young Souls,...
News A Musical Story Boogies On Down To Switch Town In March
Play that funky music, Joy-Con
Grab your bell bottoms and your disco dancin' shoes, because A Musical Story is bringing the '70s to the 2020s next month. The stylish rhythm game, clad in the smoky browns and oranges of the era, has finally got a release date: March 3rd, 2022. A Musical Story is a groovy tale about a young man exploring his memories...
News POST VOID Is Super Rare Originals' Next Game, Coming To Switch This Spring
Post Void Pat, Post Void Pat
Fast-paced gory gunmanship is the name of the game in POST VOID, an upcoming all-caps FPS published by new label Super Rare Originals. Imagine DOOM combined with deep-fried psychedelic visuals in every colour you can imagine (and some you can't conceive), and you've come close to what POST VOID looks like. It's chaos,...
News Time Loader Brings The '90s To The '20s This March
One to watch
Time Loader is a platformer set in 1995, a time of large trousers, floppy haircuts, and adverts that REALLY LIKED TO YELL AT YOU!!!! Don't you want to revisit that glorious heyday? Of course you do. And you can, as soon as next month, when Time Loader brings its award-winning time-rewinding physics platforming to the Nintendo Switch!...
News 'Your Computer Might Be At Risk' Is A Video Game And Not A Horrible Virus
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!!!
We had a moment of panic this morning when a press release email came in, with the subject line — all in caps — YOUR COMPUTER MIGHT BE AT RISK. Our computer is always at risk! We download weird things all the time, and can't resist clicking on those big red CLICK HERE buttons that pop up before us! But it turns out that...
News Islanders Developer Releases His Next Game, A "Rage Platformer" Called 'Will You Snail'
Video Gamestropod
Jonas Tyroller is a YouTuber and a game developer, whose last video game was a chill city-builder called Islanders — a process that he detailed in devlogs on his YouTube channel. Now, Tyroller has just announced the upcoming release of his next game, Will You Snail, a precision-platformer that's been designed to be very, very...
Video Check Out This 10-Minute Gameplay Trailer For 'What Lies In The Multiverse'
Coming this March
In anticipation of What Lies in the Multiverse's upcoming March release, Untold Tales have released a ten-minute gameplay trailer with commentary from the community developer, Sadie, which you can watch above. What Lies in the Multiverse is all about making your way through various platforming levels with the ability to jump into...
News Publisher Chibig Announces Four New Switch Games, Plus Big News For Summer In Mara
Chibig news
The latest indie publisher to hop on the Nintendo Direct-like showcase bandwagon (which, for the record, we're big fans of) is Chibig, the studio behind Summer in Mara and Deiland: Pocket Planet. Their showcase, which is called "Chibig Presents", will be livestreamed on their Twitch channel at 4pm GMT, on Wednesday, February 2nd. The...
News Shovel Knight Dev's New Game 'Mina The Hollower' Smashes Kickstarter Goal
Tiny but powerful
It's hardly shocking news, but it turns out that everyone and their nan is excited about Shovel Knight studio Yacht Club Games' new offering, Mina the Hollower. Especially because it looks like a brand-new Link's Awakening, or a Zelda: Oracle game that people will actually play (sorry, Oracle. You're underrated). And it's about a...
News Cult-Classic Point-And-Click Primordia Is Coming To Switch
With the voice of Hades
"Life has ceased. Man is but a myth. And now, even the machines have begun to fail." No, that's not a Yelp review of a petrol station, it's the description for Primordia, a classic-style point-and-click adventure that came out on PC back in 2012, with the voice of Logan Cunningham (Hades in Hades, The Transistor in...
News Super Rare's First Published Game, Grapple Dog, Comes Out Soon
He's a good boy
In January 2022, the physical game publisher Super Rare Games announced that they would be spinning up their own digital publisher, "Super Rare Originals", with five upcoming games to announce. In February 2022, their first game, Grapple Dog, will release on the Nintendo Switch eShop and Steam. Grapple Dog is an appealingly...
News About An Elf Brings Punching Clowns, Talking Cats, And Marble Collections To Switch Soon
Surreal Switch surprise
Were you feeling a little woeful about the somewhat-sparse February 2022 game lineup? Then wrap your face around this: About An Elf is a surreal, "point-and-click-ish, rpg-ish, visual-novel-ish game" that's due out in February, and it's... well, it's a lot of things. We're not sure what any of them are, of course. It's like...
News Little Orpheus Is A Side-Scrolling Adventure Inspired By Flash Gordon, Coming Soon
He'll save every one of us!
Originally released in 2020 as an Apple Arcade exclusive, Little Orpheus is the latest game from award-winning developers The Chinese Room — whose name you might recognise from their previous releases, Dear Esther and Everybody's Gone To The Rapture. Now, it's coming to PC and consoles on March 1st, 2022. Little...
News Ad-Riddled 'Unpacking' Clone Doing Big Business On Mobile Devices
Pack it in
Update: Unpacking Master has also now been removed from the Google Play store, meaning it's no longer available there or on iOS, great news for Witch Beam and good work everyone who got in there and lodged a complaint! Indie developer Witch Beam's Unpacking was one of the surprise gaming hits of 2021, at once a relaxing zen-like...
News "Indie Masterpiece" Platformer 'Horace' Gets Physical Release
Does it come with a real Horace? No. That's not a thing.
You know Horace, right? The platformer with the honour of being one of the very few non-Mario/Zelda games we've ever given a 10/10 to? Well, you should. It's very good. It's about to get even better for collectors, as Super Rare Games have just announced that they'll be publishing the...
