Every day there is a lot of talk about the new AAA, the big titles with million dollar budgets. And it is that many times it is believed that these are the games that define the generation, they certainly have a great advertising weight, but when it comes to fresh and fun proposals we always depend on the indies. That is why today we will talk about the 7 indie games that we will have to keep an eye on in 2021.
It must be clarified that there are many known indies because they come from studies that have already launched an independent title and have gained recognition. The following titles are still indies but we understand that the pressure is different, so those known as Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Disco Elysium 2 or Silksong are not part of the list.
The list has no particular order from “best to worst” or anything like that, so they are all interesting in measure. Let us begin:
Weird West
Wolfeye Studios was founded by Raphael Colatonio and Julien Roby, the former being the founder of Arkane Studios and both were key to the success of Dishonored, Prey and Arx Fatalis. Now they are freelancers in this isometric RPG and cowboy simulator that promises to cheer up fans of classic RPGs.
Shooting will be the main mechanic, but there will also be stealth, exploration, decision dialogues, and an Old West world to explore. It does not have a release date but it is very likely that it will be launched in 2021 since the study says they will launch it “very soon.” For now, you only have one profile on Steam
Minute of Islands
This title from Studio Fizbin is a storytelling adventure with an important focus on the storytelling capacity of a world that speaks for itself. The title has no dialogue so linear exploration will be key in everything. We control a girl with a strange boat that lets her move between islands with beings of all kinds.
The trailers reveal traces of magic, science fiction and an ancient civilization, or maybe not. The truth is that the mysteries of these islands must be discovered by the players. The title received a special mention for Excellence in Art Design at the Independent Game Festival and was also selected as one of the best indies at Gamescom and the Indie Megabooth.
It is guided by consoles, PC and Mac in 2021Check out the trailer to get an idea of the world to explore.
Endling
Herobeat Studios makes its industry debut with Endling, a visual adventure puzzle game where you control a fox who must take care of her puppies. They are the last animals of their species in a post-apocalyptic world, hence the name of the game, a term coined by the journal Nature to refer to the last animal of a species.
Endling is played in the style of Limbo or Inside, the development is linear and with puzzles, but as the story progresses new elements are added to the adventure. The main mission is to take your puppies to the last place where they can be safe and from here we already smell a sad end. The title is in development right now and according to the study from Barcelona, Europe, coming to PC in 2021.
Twelve Minutes
The following is one of the most striking as it was shown in one of Microsoft’s many Xbox Showcase. In addition, the project involves nothing more and nothing less than James McAvoy (X-Men), Daisey Ridley (Star Wars) and Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Spider-Man). The game is about a man caught in a 12 minute loop in which his life is turned upside down.
During this period, what was a normal dinner with his wife turns into a nightmare when a murderer enters the house and kills his wife. The episode is always repeated and the idea is that we discover the flaws within the loop to prevent it from happening. The title held by a developer called Luis Antonio and the post goes to charge of Annapurna Interactive.
Dordogne
Another visual adventure that hooks you as soon as you see an image, is in charge of the newcomer French student UN JE NE SAIS QUOI in collaboration with UMANIMATION that does the art work in watercolor. Everything we will see on screen was handcrafted and then digitized, so art fans can be satisfied just by watching the game in motion.
Now, the interactive part is similar to What Remains of Edith Finch. You control Mimi, a 33-year-old woman who visits her late grandmother’s house and as she explores the house she discovers secrets of her ancestors. The title is played in the present, but there are also time travels and a story that you will want to discover. Is scheduled for 2021
Death Trash
This Crafting Legends title is perhaps the largest on the list, we are facing a fusion of the myths of Cthulu and Fallout. We will create and control our character in this post-apocalyptic role-playing game in which we will find all kinds of creatures in a wasteland that has almost no human lives.
The impressions that it has left in the media is that of a title with many images that can be repulsive with every intention of being so. The map and the scenarios are huge and it is more noticeable with the isometric camera implemented by Stephan Hövelbrinks, the only developer who has the title. its Early Access It is scheduled for 2021 on PC, and will then be released on consoles.
TUNIC
With this last recommendation we will have to start by saying that the game is also in development by a single person: Andrew Shouldice. However, he has been working on it since 2014 and has no release date yet. Many have been waiting for it for years, but we believe that 2021 will be the chosen year for us to control the adorable fox.
The game is simple in proposal, adventure with isometric camera in which you control a fox with a sword, shield and a green suit. Of course, it reminds of Zelda, and its settings as well and its visual design has enchanted many to the point that the title has become one of the most anticipated indies. its ficha is on Steam and is planned to be released on PC.
This is our list but there are many more that we will mention because they are also interesting: The Last Night, Dead Static Drive, Airhead, Circuit Superstars, TOEM, El Hijo – A Wild West Tale and Unto the End. We also remind you that in 2021 Kena will also arrive: Bridge of Spirits, Hollow Knight: Silkson, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, the sequel to Disco Elysium. So the coming year will also be a good one for fans of indie installments.
