#07 | Monthly Showcase

From ricochet shots in tactical battles to uncovering ancient secrets in evolving worlds—explore games where you tame creatures, battle Titans, and craft your own adventure.

The Indieformer Logo in Fulll

Issue #07

For the best experience, enjoy this newsletter on a computer with a warm cup of coffee ☕️.

I kept the lists shorter in the previous indievelopment issue, and loved the length. For now, expect 8 titles in each section for future issues.

Before you proceed, there was a great website I found this month where you can play classic DOS games like Lemmings, Duke Nukem 3D, Siv Meier’s Civilization and more, all for free. WePlayDOS

This month was tough, I had a list of 30+ games that were good. 18 of which I wanted to showcase. But we’ve got to have a boundary box, right? You could have swapped the honourable mentions with the showcase and it would have been just as good. 8 and 8, here we go!

All price references below are in USD. All images can be clicked which will lead to the developer/publisher website.

Let’s dive in.

Honourable Mentions

  • Harness empathy in this action-adventure as you tame creatures and explore diverse ecosystems to save a planet from a life-consuming infection. Creatures of Ava$24.99

  • Experience a deeply emotional slice-of-life sim where you mend relationships, unearth secrets, and guide loved ones through tragedy. Top-notch story. Closer the Distance$19.99

  • Fight through a seedy tavern in this Blackjack Roguelike Adventure—build a unique deck of cards to outplay the house and survive. Not the standard deck you’re used to. Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers$14.99

  • Merging ARPG strategy with classic arcade space combat—pilot an evolving bio-mechanical ship through legions of deadly foes in the void. Nova Drift$17.99

  • Intravenous 2 offers tactical stealth action with immersive storytelling—embrace the shadows or confront your foes in a battle for vengeance. A step above the original in every way. Intravenous II$19.99

  • Restore color to the Scottish isles as a border collie on an atmospheric journey, uncovering paths and freeing wildlife in an emotional tale of farewell. Have some tissues handy. Farewell North$22.99

  • A 2D turn-based survival roguelike where every choice can mean life or death as you navigate a zombie apocalypse to reach salvation. Terminus: Zombie Survivors$19.99

  • Play as a magic talking sword, dragging around your hero through exotic lands. Battle creatures, solve puzzles, and reunite with the Queen in this quirky adventure. Slash Quest$4.99

2nd August 2024

Step into the hilariously absurd world of Barnsworth, a Northern English town where the odd is ordinary. In this comedy ‘slapformer’, you play as a traveling salesman on a mission to mingle with the locals and tackle their increasingly bizarre tasks.

With about 3 hours of gameplay, it’s a little pricey, but you'll get more laughs than from a night at a comedy club. If you’re ready for a few hours of pure, unfiltered British humor, this one’s worth every penny.

9th August 2024

Captain Leeway and his Steambot crew face a deadly water crisis in the Great Sea. Lead your crew, master precision aiming with ricochet mechanics in turn-based combat, and navigate real-time naval battles. Customise abilities, seize loot, and explore the ocean, all while enjoying handcrafted visuals and killer soundtrack.

A bigger, more evolved version of the original—if you sunk 30 hours into the first, you'll easily sink another 30 into this.

15th August 2024

When insurance fails, it's up to you to save your daughter by cleaning crime scenes for shady clients. With nerves of steel, scrub blood, pack bodies, and erase all traces under the pressure of a ticking clock and police scrutiny. Upgrade your gear, pocket valuables, and remember—it’s all for family. You’re just a man taking fate into his own hands.

“This could have been just another cleanup game and it would be great at that. Instead, this game went to 11 in every way a video game could.”

HIDDEN GEM

16th August 2024

Dive into the nostalgic charm of this EGA text parser mystery adventure, where you step into the shoes of Nancy Maple, an amateur geologist and reluctant detective.

With stunning pixel art graphics that pack a punch, and an incredible depth beneath its retro surface, this game blends complex storytelling with the classic 80’s adventure game charm you know and love.

The thumbnail may not be as “polished” as some others here, but go check out the trailer to get a better vibe.

16th August 2024

Enter a tactical action game where your choices shape a gritty western tale. Guide four heroes through lush forests, sweeping plains, and scorching deserts on a quest for vengeance against the Red Company gang.

With its unique "simultaneous turn-based" combat, every move matters as you battle warriors, fend off colonisers, and slay monstrous creatures. Evocative pixel art and an atmospheric score make Arco a truly immersive experience.

16th August 2024

Build a perfect town for laid-back, adorable gourdlet citizens as they settle into their new island home. With no objectives or fail states, you can focus on creativity—decorate with cafes, lighthouses, and more, even arranging interiors to your liking.

Whether in full screen or idle window mode, watch your gourdlets fish, camp, and relax in a charming, capitalism-free world.

23rd August 2024

Lead a team of kevlar-jacked renegade wizards in this turn-based tactics game, unraveling a modern conspiracy and taking down enemies in style.

There’s a 14-hour story-driven campaign where you combo spells, experiment with rewindable moves, and upgrade your magical arsenal as you battle corrupt forces.

This isn’t a roguelike, XCOM, or Into the Breach—it’s a unique, story-rich experience where your choices shape character interactions, but not the plot. Great writing, great gameplay, great puzzles.

27th August 2024

Awaken as an explorer in a forgotten cavern teeming with secrets. Harvest resources, craft tools, build your base, and explore a dynamic underground world.

Level up, battle Titans, and uncover ancient lore. Play solo or in online co-op, customising your character and shaping the world around you.

It's like Minecraft and Terraria had a baby. Absolutely exploding at the moment.

Our Mates

A small section of articles from our internet neighbours (or stuff we think is cool).

Happy gaming!

The Indieformer Team

P.S. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and favourite discoveries with us via the comments, X (Twitter), Threads, or reach us at [email protected]

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