Games worth discovering

I have come across some lesser-known short indie games recently, and I really loved playing them.

690 View2024-05-07

The Legend of Tianding: This is a 2D side-scroller beat 'em up game with some RPG elements where you play as the historical figure Liao Tianding. This game unexpectedly turned out to be an indie masterpiece for me. With its engaging storytelling, charming protagonist, excellent portrayal of 1900's Taiwan, beautiful art style, unique and satisfying gameplay mechanics, interesting boss fights, great soundtracks, and multiple endings, the game excelled in many aspects. However, it had some unfair platforming sections and repetitive combat towards the end. Overall, the game's strengths outweighed its weaknesses, making it a remarkable experience that left me craving for more historically-inspired games of similar caliber.

Dex: It is a side-scrolling cyberpunk RPG set in the near future and the world is a dystopia ruled by ruthless mega-corporations. You start as an average woman who, for mysterious reasons, starts being hunted by a security corporation. Along the way, you progressively discover the truth. The game had a really fantastic story, with interesting side-quests, character customization with cyber augmentation, simple combat controls, an aesthetic environment, and tough choices that have consequences at the end. The only negative side I found was the hacking minigame, which was fun at first but becomes a chore at the end. Overall, it's an immersive and well-crafted cyberpunk RPG that delivers an engaging narrative experience with satisfying gameplay.

Mr. Shifty: It's a superhero top-down game where you fight an evil corporation. Even though most people will label this game as basically Hotline Miami with melee combat and a teleportation ability, I find the combat in this game extremely satisfying with environment interactions where you can teleport behind an enemy to punch them out of a window, shattering the glass, or throw spears through a few enemies through a door. Each level is unique. Even though the game is only 2-3 hours long, I think it's good for it because there is no repetition at all.