Indie Obscure indies that deserve more attention - Updated Jan. 2020

[almondblight]

So, considering some games in the thread are "no more than 7/10" or have other flaws, but still deserve more recognition than they get, should I split the list into "Undiscovered treasures" and "Good for what they are" sections?

That'd probably be a good idea. If we could work on getting some mini-reviews up, it might be good too.

Another category for noteworthy ones that no one has played might be useful too (for instance, something like Odyssey, which apparently inspired some elements of Geneforge). Then they could be moved to one of the other categories whenever a member gets around to checking them out and writing something up.

 

[V_K]

So, I added tags to the games already on the list. I welcome additions and corrections, especially on the games I haven't played personally (marked with [???] tag), but let's keep the tag count per game at 5-6 tops.

 

[V_K]

Latest additions: Last Dream, FreedroidRPG, both Age of Fear games, both Excelsior games, LISA (hope that last one doesn't cause a shitstorm). As always, corrections for descriptions and tags are very appreciated.

 

[Jack Dandy]

There's Heroes of Steel, from the Templar Battleforce guys. (Bros?)

I just started playing it seems pretty cool.
It used to be a pretty bare-bones mobile port, but the devs added a fair amount of polish since release.
Cons: It has some slight input delay issues, but you can get over 'em by using Cheatengine's speedhack. (Glad Underrail made me discover it )

Spoiler

Also, the tile graphics are regurgitated ass. Still better than Avernum tho

 

[Crooked Bee]

Labyrinth of Touhou 1 & 2. Some of the best RPG combat, encounter & party building design ever, blobber or not.

Not that obscure anymore though, since I and some other people have been plugging it all over the place during the past couple of years.

 

[V_K]

Labyrinth of Touhou 1 & 2. Some of the best RPG combat, encounter & party building design ever, blobber or not.

Not that obscure anymore though, since I and some other people have been plugging it all over the place during the past couple of years.

Yeah, I don't think there's a single codexer left who hasn't heard of them. :D

 

[DwarvenFood]

Added Mr. Robot and Datajack to the OP, will wait for a couple more opinions on Lisa - there doesn't seem to be a consensus on that one.

Don't know about obscurity but the NPC's are straight taken from the 'Dex it seems. It is a kind of western jrpg when it comes to combat, but writing is just depressingly morbid, the whole world feels like a pit of despair.

EDIT: Ah it's already included. Nevermind.

 

[octavius]

Don't know if these are obscure enough, but they are the best indies I've played yet:

Nahlakh (1994).
Combatwise one of the very best CRPGs I've played. Also good items and character systems. Rather lacking in other regards, though.

The Aethra Chronicles: Volume One - Celystra's Bane (1994).
Excellent game using Rolemaster system. Good combat, items and character system.

 

[V_K]

Yeah, those are on the to-add list. Would probably just have one entry for all Proudfoot's games.

 

[Scroo]

Gates of Skeldal (1998) [free]
[Dungeon Crawl] [Puzzle Heavy] [Premade Party] [TB]
Stylish turn-based blobber set in a large world with many unique locations to explore. Originally availible only in Czech, a fan English translation exists now.
.

woaah, this looks amazing! But is the fan translation a real translation? Because the site there says...

"The first version has been translated using Google Translator. I know, that result of machine translation can be horible. Text resources are included into package, so if you want, you can correct it. Don't forget to send corrected files to me: ondra-novak@email.cz"

I want to play this so badly but google translator?!

 

[V_K]

"The first version has been translated using Google Translator. I know, that result of machine translation can be horible. Text resources are included into package, so if you want, you can correct it. Don't forget to send corrected files to me: ondra-novak@email.cz"

IIRC the current version is not the first and was edited into something more or less serviceable. At least I don't remember any problems with understanding the in-game text.

 

[CryptRat]

There's Heroes of Steel, from the Templar Battleforce guys. (Bros?)

I just started playing it seems pretty cool.
It used to be a pretty bare-bones mobile port, but the devs added a fair amount of polish since release.
Cons: It has some slight input delay issues, but you can get over 'em by using Cheatengine's speedhack. (Glad Underrail made me discover it )

Spoiler

Also, the tile graphics are regurgitated ass. Still better than Avernum tho

They really should consider selling their games directly on their site or on GoG or even on itchi.io.

Some games from the list can be purchased directly on the developer's site :
Voidspire Tactics
Mr. Robot (a demo version is available)
Heroes of a Broken Land (a demo version is available)
Last Dream (a demo version is available)
Age Of Fear & Age Of Fear 2 (a demo version of the second episode is available)

Dex is available without DRM on the Humble store : Dex
The Dwarf Run is available without DRM on indieGameStand : The Dwarf Run

 

[V_K]

Last Dream (a demo version is available)

I'm not sure how up-to-date the non-Steam version is for this one - I downloaded a demo and run into a bug that the Steam changelog claims is fixed.

 

[V_K]

Added Dustbowl - a recent update introduced a light character and leveling system, so now it's a full-blown RPG/Adventure hybrid that certainly deserves much better sales. Really worth supporting, especially given that the guys behind it are now working on a similarly structured game set in the times of Black Death and with a much more robust RPG system to boot.

 

[V_K]

Added Tom Proudfoot's games, Aethra Chronicles, Walls of Bratock, Flame Storm, Heroes of Stell and The Legacy. And also non-Steam links from CryptRat's post.

 

[Zandig Slaytanic]

DESPERABIS

the 2000 German RPG/Action Adventure by Florian Born

http://www.goodolddays.net/screens/id,210/

 

[V_K]

the 2000 German RPG/Action Adventure by Florian Born

Is there an English translation anywhere?

 

[Zandig Slaytanic]

Is there an English translation anywhere?

No - I don't believe so.
Fairly easy to follow however.

 

[quasimodo]

So, I added tags to the games already on the list. I welcome additions and corrections, especially on the games I haven't played personally (marked with [???] tag), but let's keep the tag count per game at 5-6 tops.

Thanks for the tags. This makes it much easier to see which of these games is worth looking into.

 

[octavius]

Aethra Chronicles (1994) [free]
[TB] [Full Party Creation]

Actually it's a mix of created characters and hirelings.

 

[V_K]

Aethra Chronicles (1994) [free]
[TB] [Full Party Creation]

Actually it's a mix of created characters and hirelings.

Yeah, I have struggled with how to put it better while keeping it concise (i.e. no more than 3 words). In the end, I decided that the important information here is that 1) the game is party based and 2) you create several characters, and ran with the standard full party tag. If you have better ideas, I'm all ears.

 

[octavius]

Maybe "Create + hire characters"?

 

[V_K]

Can be read as single character + hirelings imo. I changed the tag to "Party Creation + Hirelings", untill something better comes along.

 

[Jack Of Owls]

I've been playing Heroes of Steel recently and can recommend it based on the first act. Amazing that this is basically a two-man team and an andoid/tablet game to boot. I'm playing it on PC with the excellent AMIDUOS android emulator. However, it contains what basically amounts to the single longest go-kill-rats-in-the-cellar-low-level-scum! sequence that has ever been done in an RPG - or will be done. The entire first act, in fact (about 6-8 hours). But don't let this deter you. Seems like a good game. Will continue my play-through today

 

[V_K]

However, it contains what basically amounts to the single longest go-kill-rats-in-the-cellar-low-level-scum! sequence that has ever been done in an RPG - or will be done.

Longer than that 4-level dungeon in Drakensang?