Same tbh. Touhou and fan translations of a number of other doujin games are what kicked it all off for me.
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It's 2021 - are indie games a major part of your gaming sessions now or are you still ignorant of most of the indie library?
- Thread starter hwarang
- Start date
I do try and play a few a year as they're generally some of the most fun I have, but admittedly I struggle to actually get to them.
Major is probably a strong word for it as my tastes still skew more to AAA stuff as I love great graphics, cinematic action games etc. with top production values.
I have been playing more indies though, mostly via Gamepass, PS+, Epic freebies etc. That's a great way for me to add variety to my gaming without spending money directly on (typcially from what I play) shorter games that I'm going to beat and never touch again. Also lets me try a lot more and not feel any negativity about dropping it quickly if it's not for me since there's not money wasted, just more time wasted continuing to try and like something.
I have been playing more indies though, mostly via Gamepass, PS+, Epic freebies etc. That's a great way for me to add variety to my gaming without spending money directly on (typcially from what I play) shorter games that I'm going to beat and never touch again. Also lets me try a lot more and not feel any negativity about dropping it quickly if it's not for me since there's not money wasted, just more time wasted continuing to try and like something.
i've been playing more indies than regular games for years now!
Still play both but man indies have so much to offer
Still play both but man indies have so much to offer
Most indie games aren't in genres that appeal to me. Whenever I see an indie game that looks neat or gets a lot of hype it tends to be some flavor of rogue-lite or twin stick shooter.
Eh? There are a whole heap of narrative driven indie games...
i love indie games but come on there. How many hours a weeks do you play games to have droughts with AAA games? I know we are pretty hardcore on resetera but a majority of gamers don't play a billion different games
Really can't say indies are a major part of my gaming time at all. I mostly play games in the space between indie -> AAA, and also replaying games I've owned for the past 25 years. Not ignorant on 'em though. I know that they do indeed exist (predominatly in digital-only form >_>).
I meant more along the lines of traditional storytelling techniques. Many aren't voiced, and even less have cutscenes or similar.
It's not a ding against them, it's mostly down to budget. And that's more my personal tastes.
I like cinema, 3D, and production values so not at all. Honestly I don't play enough in a year to get through all the AAA games, let alone other stuff.
I would play one if they ever looked interesting to me. I don't hold being indie against them exactly, though any time I see a game advertise "retro" graphics my eyes roll straight to the back of my head.
The last one that really captivated me was Rain World, and I was about ready to try it, then all the reviews said it was ridiculously difficult so nevermind.
edit: Among Us is boss though
I would play one if they ever looked interesting to me. I don't hold being indie against them exactly, though any time I see a game advertise "retro" graphics my eyes roll straight to the back of my head.
The last one that really captivated me was Rain World, and I was about ready to try it, then all the reviews said it was ridiculously difficult so nevermind.
edit: Among Us is boss though
Completely understand the preference for higher production values and more approachable storytelling, just found it odd to say that narrative games were rare in the indie space
Not only is it a major part, but it's majority of the games I play.
Hollow Knight, A Short Hike, Monster Boy, Dead Souls, Gardens Between, Steamworld franchise, Hades, Yokus Island Express and the list goes on.
Some fantastic indies over the last few years, they fill my Nintendo needs when Nintendo themselves dont do it anymore.
With that said, I also enjoy a AAA game from time to time =)
Hollow Knight, A Short Hike, Monster Boy, Dead Souls, Gardens Between, Steamworld franchise, Hades, Yokus Island Express and the list goes on.
Some fantastic indies over the last few years, they fill my Nintendo needs when Nintendo themselves dont do it anymore.
With that said, I also enjoy a AAA game from time to time =)
It all depends. I like platformers and RPGs. If a good indie one comes out and catches my interest, I'll jump in. Otherwise, I'll stick to AA or AAA games. Last year I remember getting really into Slay the Spire (for the 5th or so time..), Hades, and Dead Cells. This year its looking like I'll be playing AAA stuff with Hat in time + Impossible Lair mixed in depending on when there are gaps in what I wanna play from Sony / Nintendo / Square/ Whoever.
retro-style indies are probably the genre i play most nowadays. narrative driven stuff really doesn't do it for me usually.
A lot of AAA stuff either doesn't cater to my interests or doesn't come out often, and is usually expensive to boot. Meanwhile indies are usually cheaper even when not on sale and give me a lot of stuff I just can't find elsewhere. There's lots of more well known indies like Undertale, Celeste, Hades and Omori and how they can stand toe to toe with any AAA experience regarding both quality and fun, but there's so many more that fly under a lot of radars that keep me very happy even during AAA droughts. Dunno how anyone can just buy AAA and be happy, but you do you.
Grew up on the 8-bit aesthetic and don't miss it, especially the awful midi music.
also find that a lot of indie game fans are dripping with hyperbole. But I guess that's to be expected on a gaming enthusiast forum
The good indie games are just as good as the AAA stuff though.
also find that a lot of indie game fans are dripping with hyperbole. But I guess that's to be expected on a gaming enthusiast forum
The good indie games are just as good as the AAA stuff though.
I thought that would make it obvious that I'm joking but apparently I needed to go even dumber.
Guess so, especially since someone two posts later said the same thing which makes it seem less like a joke.
I spend more time on indie games than AAA releases easily. Cyberpunk 2077 was the last AAA game I bought and I havn't even finished it and regret buying it somewhat.
The major issue I have with AAA is they lack creativity in gameplay. All the budget goes into VA/models/story which is not my thing at all when gaming.
The major issue I have with AAA is they lack creativity in gameplay. All the budget goes into VA/models/story which is not my thing at all when gaming.
I mostly budget for AAA/Publisher-backed games with limited time and money.
But if I ever do find myself with excess funds (birthday/Christmas) I'll definitely take a look at what's on sale via digital distributors.
Just picked up Limbo, Inside, SteamWorld Dig 2, and Abzu.
But if I ever do find myself with excess funds (birthday/Christmas) I'll definitely take a look at what's on sale via digital distributors.
Just picked up Limbo, Inside, SteamWorld Dig 2, and Abzu.
Nah, I find indie games too déclassé for my refined tastes.
/s (I swear if I need this here I'm going to cry)
/s (I swear if I need this here I'm going to cry)
I can't blame people taking you seriously though with some of the responses in this thread so far.
This. There are a lot of games people would call indie that are pretty big in size and scope.
Also even if the distinction was as clear as it was when Super Meat Boy and Braid were coming out, I couldn't imagine relegating myself to either only indie games or AAA games. I wouldn't refuse to see a movie just because it was a Marvel movie, and I wouldn't refuse to listen to a musical act because they aren't on the Hot 100. Why do the same with games?
I'd say the percentage of games I play that would count as indie has been pretty high for the past decade and it's only been going up in that time too. It's a major reason changes in generations have stopped mattering to me as most of what I'm playing doesn't need the extra power.
Despite all this I still feel fairly ignorant of the indie landscape in general as I'm sure there is just so much more potentially fun stuff out there that I have not seen.
Despite all this I still feel fairly ignorant of the indie landscape in general as I'm sure there is just so much more potentially fun stuff out there that I have not seen.
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I basically use the Game of the Year awards season to catch up on the handful of indie games that really interested me for the year and focus on other stuff for most of the year.
I like indie games, but I'm a big physical collector so it's hard to motivate myself to invest time into a lot of them without a physical disc or cartridge. Additionally most of the ones I care about aren't big time sinks. Not a roguelike/roguelite dude so I'm not gonna be investing hundreds of hours into Hades and Binding of Isaac or whatever.
Don't really play a lot of AAA either. Most of my time goes to Nintendo, mid-tiers, and older games.
I like indie games, but I'm a big physical collector so it's hard to motivate myself to invest time into a lot of them without a physical disc or cartridge. Additionally most of the ones I care about aren't big time sinks. Not a roguelike/roguelite dude so I'm not gonna be investing hundreds of hours into Hades and Binding of Isaac or whatever.
Don't really play a lot of AAA either. Most of my time goes to Nintendo, mid-tiers, and older games.