Video Games in 2022 have been good, especially on the indie side of the industry, but the year has lacked the amount of AAA releases we have become accustomed to in years past. We still have titles such as God of War: Ragnarok and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II coming this Fall, and we of course had Elden Ring in the first half of the year launch to massive success. However, we are still seeing the disruption of the industry due to the pandemic with several high profile titles being delayed out of 2022, most notably Starfield and Redfall.
Luckily, the year has been abundant with good to great indie titles! In the first half we got Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Sifu, Tunic, and Trek to Yomi, three of which launched directly into Xbox Game Pass. As we approach the second half of the year, I would like to point out a variety of indie titles that shouldn’t be allowed to go under your radar. So without further ado, here are 10 indie titles to pay attention to in the second half of 2022.
As Dusk Falls
As Dusk Falls is a choose your own adventure that follows the lives of two families across thirty years. Set in small town Arizona, the choices you make have far reaching consequences that have a heavy impact on the characters’ lives. Some heavy themes are explored, such as murder, suicide, and betrayal.
The game uses a controversial art style, going for a comic book-esque feel that doesn’t sit quite right. However, As Dusk Falls has one of the best narratives of 2022. You can experience it solo or with up to eight players co-op locally, or online. No matter how you choose to enjoy the game, the narrative is sure to hook anyone looking for a deeper story.
As Dusk Falls is currently available on Xbox and PC, with availability on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
Escape Academy
Escape Academy is a narrative puzzle adventure game where you are chosen to attend a secret society of escape room artists. Your goal is to become the ultimate Escape Room Master, tackling over a dozen escape rooms, each with unique puzzles that allow them stand out on their own. You can experience the entirety of the game in single player or invite a friend for two player co-operative play locally or through online matchmaking.
As you explore the campus of Escape Academy, you’ll meet a colorful cast of characters and start to unravel a pretty generic story as you progress. The real place the game shines is in its actual escape rooms. The puzzles were never too easy, but also never impossible. If you end up using the “help” feature, you will end up kicking yourself when you realize the answer was right in front you of you the whole time. I highly recommend this game for anyone that has even a passing interest in puzzles.
Escape Academy is currently available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC. It is also available on Xbox Game Pass.
Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb puts the player in the shoes (or hooves) of a lamb who was saved from death by a mysterious stranger. The stranger only asks for one thing in return, a loyal following built from the ground up by you in his name. You will have to start your own cult and gather hordes of followers as you play through this rogue-lite meets cult management sim.
The core mechanics of the game see the player venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions in search of potential cultists, as well as different necessities to keep your cult happy and running smoothly. This can be finding food sources to keep your followers fed, to hacking down trees and mining rocks to build new facilities. The management side of the game seemed to go quite in-depth.
Cult of the Lamb will be available on August 11th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Potion Permit
Potion Permit throws you head first into the role of a small-town chemist tasked with keeping townsfolk of Moonbury healthy and able to perform their duties every day. When the mayor’s daughter falls mysteriously ill, they send you, their most accomplished chemist, to find a cure and convince the residents of the wonders of modern alchemy.
As the town chemist, you will have to diagnose and treat the 30-ish residents of Moonbury. Once you determine the cure, you will have to venture out into the world and find the right ingredients to make it. As you brew remedies and build relationships within the town, you’ll be able to watch Moonbury grow and develop into something more.
Potion Permit will launch on September 22nd on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Somerville
Somerville was announced so long ago that it feels like a dream at this point, making it’s first trailer debut all the way back in 2017. Instantly giving off vibes of critically acclaimed games such as Inside, Sommerville has seen high anticipation from high profile outlets and personalities alike.
While the trailers give a general feel of the game, not much is known about the story. In a description from JUMPSHIP, the game takes place in the wake of a catastrophe in which you must find the means to make your family whole again. Somerville is a Sci-Fi adventure that means to explore the intimate repercussion of large scale conflict, in what seems to be some sort of invasion by an extraterrestrial force.
Somerville is yet to receive an official release date, but has been slated for 2022. It is set to release on PC and Xbox platforms, including day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a rhythm games from Half Asleep that blends dreams and reality. It uses visual and audio cues to keep the player on beat without any distracting overlays, allowing for more screen space to be used for the game’s gorgeous art style. The pastel colors and mesmerizing music are true to the name, luring the player into an almost dream-like, hypnotic state while playing.
A demo is currently available on Steam for anyone wanting to check out the game. There are a number of available levels with varying settings. One level has the player eating food to a beat, while another sees you jumping from phone to phone in a social media-esque dream.
Melatonin releases on September 16th, 2022 for PC with a Nintendo Switch release to be announced.
OXENFREE II: Lost Signals
OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is the sequel to coming-of-age tale, Oxenfree, released back in January of 2016. The game found success in its eerie and unsettling narrative, and Oxenfree II looks set to deliver a similar experience.
Set five years after the events of the first game, Riley returns to her hometown of Camena to investigate mysterious radio signals that are being broadcast by an unknown source. Thanks to a brief demo available during the Tribeca Games Festival, we know that there are some time-travel elements to the game that will allow players to explore the past in an attempt to decipher what is happening in the present.
As a huge fan of OXENFREE, I am eagerly anticipating the release of this long awaited sequel from Nigh School Studio. OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is set to launch later in 2022 on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation consoles.
The Wandering Village
The Wandering Village is a city building game with a unique twist: your settlement is on the back of a gigantic creature. As mysterious plants spread across the Earth, they emit toxic spores, which has driven you from your village and to the back of this walking behemoth. You must build a symbiotic relationship with your host to ensure the survival of your settlers, hoping it can reach somewhere safe from the toxic apocalyptic event.
You are tasked with building and maintaining a village. This will include planting and harvesting crops, sending out foraging missions for more supplies, and surviving in a variety of biomes. The blend of 3D and hand-drawn environments are very pleasing as your settlers go about their daily tasks.
The Wandering Village is currently listed as Summer/Fall for its release, but has yet to announce a concrete date. When it does launch, it is confirmed for launch on Xbox and PC.
Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana first captivated audiences last year with its beautifully hand-painted art style. Players will take control of a young girl and her loyal friend to embark on a rescue mission through a colorful world filled with cold machines and mysterious creatures. The developers describe it as a cinematic puzzle adventure that spans across centuries and galaxies.
Some key features of the game include companion-based gameplay, diverse puzzles, challenging actions sequences, and even situations that will require stealth and wit. Planet of Lana looks absolutely gorgeous and its mechanics sounds intriguing enough to keep this game on your radar as we approach the end of 2022.
A release date has yet to be given for Planet of Lana, although it is listed as releasing on PC and Xbox in 2022.
The Garden Path
The Garden Path is a slice-of-life sim that focuses on gardening and the more quiet moments of life. Grow your garden to reflect your own desires while interacting with the charming inhabitants who have their own stories to tell. You may find they even plant their own roots alongside your own. The game also boasts a stunning, hand-drawn aesthetic that feels welcoming from the start.
Akin to similar games, such as Animal Crossing, the player’s garden will grow in concert with the real world. So even when you’re logged off, your space inside of The Garden Path will continue to grow and evolve.
The Garden Path is listed to release in 2022 on Nintendo Switch and PC.
Are there any other games you think deserve to be checked out by others? What are they?
Pixels and Pings 