We all agree that October is the best month, right? Not only should it bring some relief after this year’s frankly disgusting heat, but it’s also when the autumnal vibes fully kick in. We get Halloween, everything becomes a little cosier, and there are even more reasons to stay indoors.
Luckily, October is also bringing an absurd number of exciting indie games. To help you find the ones worth watching, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest-looking releases arriving throughout the month.
RetroSpace is an immersive “disco-punk” space horror game where you can become either a sneaky survivor or a mutant action hero. Your goal is to escape a space station swallowed by a sentient black hole, using stealth, hacking, traps, mutations, or outright violence to deal with whatever you find aboard. Immersive sims tend to make incredible sandboxes, and this one looks packed with opportunities for creative chaos. It also has some truly impressive moustaches, which can only help.
Echo Weaver is another game where time plays a major role. We’re not sure why time loops have become such a big thing in games recently, but we’re certainly not complaining. This knowledge-based Metroidvania has no conventional upgrades; progress comes instead from learning more about the world, mastering the loop, and uncovering the mystery at its heart. It’s a fantastic concept that could make for an excellent mix of exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving.
Beat, Heart, Beat has the word “emo” in its Steam description, so naturally we’re all the way in. It’s a psychedelic action-platformer built around rhythmic combat, with every attack set against a grungy Midwest emo soundtrack. Alongside its heartfelt story and beat-driven gameplay, it boasts a striking mixed-media art style combining 2D animation, 3D elements, live-action footage, and collage work.
Valor Mortis is a first-person action souls-like from One More Level, the exceptionally talented studio behind Ghostrunner. Rather than frenetic cyberpunk platforming, the developer is delivering slower, more deliberate combat with a distinctly horrifying edge. You play as a former soldier in Napoleon’s army who has returned from the dead, gained supernatural powers, and found himself facing monstrous enemies and a conspiracy threatening humanity.
over the hill is a wonderfully laid-back off-roading adventure from the creator of art of rally. Set during the golden age of off-roading, it lets you explore beautiful wilderness in iconic vehicles from the 1960s to the 1980s. You can hit the trails alone or with up to three friends, using equipment such as winches and planks to overcome rough terrain and other obstacles. Between the scenic landscapes, satisfying problem-solving, and relaxed atmosphere, this looks like an ideal way to unwind in October.
This one sits somewhere between indie and AAA. While Konami is involved, development is being handled in part by Evil Empire, the indie studio best known for its work on the Dead Cells DLC. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse takes us to Paris in 1499, where the city has been engulfed in flames and overrun by monsters. The story follows Rose Belmont, daughter of the mighty Trevor Belmont, as she becomes entangled in a dark conspiracy. Expect plenty of whip-based combat, exploration, and platforming, all wrapped in the Gothic atmosphere you’d want from Castlevania.
Emberville takes the bold step of making its protagonist an amnesiac. All right, it’s not the most original starting point, but it’s a classic for a reason. After awakening inside Vitromotus, a vast underground world built as a magical dungeon, you’ll battle dangerous creatures, grow stronger, rescue survivors, and help rebuild the ruined town of Emberville. You’ll also gradually uncover the truth behind the dungeon and your imprisonment when the game launches into Early Access this month.
ANOMALITH is a third-person survival shooter set in Japan, blending unsettling liminal spaces with a distinctive Showa-era retro aesthetic. Anomaly Zones have begun appearing across the country, throwing everyday life into chaos. When the protagonist’s friend disappears, she ventures into one of these dangerous spaces to find her. Expect exploration, supernatural threats, and plenty of tense encounters as she pushes deeper into a world warped by anomalies.
Add us to your RSS feed