Above is a picture of Spiritfarer; the inspiration behind this article. SpiritIndie games represent the backbone of the gaming industry. They bring forth freedom of speech and design. They bring joy. They bring hope.
My first PAX experience seems like a lifetime ago. I had been told to visit the tinyBuild section and try out some of the games there. I figured, “Hey, when in Rome…right?” I never would have thought that I would be playing some of my future favorite games. None of them were big enough to be on the big screens. None of them were going to be crowned game of the year, so why should I even bother? I was wrong that day and let me tell you, I’m so glad I was.
I was never the guy to browse the indie shops on the Xbox Live arcade. I never would have thought that anything worth playing could exist for under the normal market price of $50+. I figured if it couldn’t be good enough to put on a disc, it was not going to be worth my time or my money. As I would learn years later, indie is not a synonym for bad. I mean, it’s not a synonym for anything in the gaming industry. No, an indie game is an expression of freedom. It’s a different perspective. It’s a different feel entirely than a major release. It’s something special.
Indie games will always have an important role in the gaming industry. The concepts presented in indie games can be experimental and entertain themes that simply cannot be explored in a triple-A title. Whether it’s a journey of self-discovery or a farming/dating simulator, independent games have a charming way to address all kinds of topics and situations. They are not restricted or envisioned to be cash cows that can be used to make tons of money. They are not held back by the constraints of using conventional controls or gameplay or perspective. Sometimes an indie game is nothing more than a glorified walking simulator, where the point is to see the world through somebody else’s eyes. Sometimes the most beautiful demonstrations of indie games have hardly any actual “gameplay.” Regardless, indie games are much more about the journey and less about the destination.
In 2012, there was a Kickstarter for a documentary called “Indie Game: The Movie,” which would bring several independent developers and their journeys to audiences for the first time. The movie mainly covered the development cycle and eventual release of titles such as Braid, Super Meat Boy, and Fez. Each developer’s highlighted scenes showed the struggles, successes, and eventual release of these titles. It would be the first time that I (and many others) would learn the life cycle of an indie game. It was incredible to see through the eyes of a developer. There is so much stacked against you when you try to develop a game with a small team. Phil Fish, for example, would go on to receive much backlash on missed targets during the development of his game, Fez, that he would eventually disappear entirely from the game industry. However, his impact on the indie game scene would help shape expectations for the indie market forever.
So we ask, “what is considered an indie game?” An indie game is defined as a game created by a small group of people without the financial support of a larger game publisher. This means that indie developers have more direct control of their games because there is little to no pressure from anybody else who would otherwise be financially backing the game’s production. While this independent option has been available to developers for years, the accessibility of tools combined with financial obstacles has limited many people from entering the industry. The incredible ease of use with the development tools in the modern computer age has allowed many more people to try to bring their vision directly to customers. It helps that the big three (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) have given much more support and encouragement to the indie market over the last couple of years. Nintendo now hosts indie developer mini-directs (a pre-staged mini-web-show) to promote developer’s games on Switch.
Indie games keep perspective fresh for the player. You may not play as the hero. You may not be the strongest or the last of your kind. You may not even be the hero of the adventure! You may just be a lowly blacksmith who makes sub-par weapons until you hit it big with somebody, using your sword, makes a discovery so big that it puts you on the map for future travelers! There is no limit to the creativity in these games. You could play a game entirely driven by music. Most recently, I played games in the Xbox Summerfest and played as an eclair dodging forks and knives. I can personally guarantee you’ve never played a triple-A release with a bunch of pastries punching one another and using with lollipops as weapons. By the way, check out Cake Bash whenever it launches! It was tons of fun.
Devolver Digital Inc has been a driving force for independent development, serving as a small-time publisher who takes on indie teams to help them bring their creations to life. Devolver has helped publish many games, including Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon, The Messenger, and many more. Their latest published game, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, was developed by a team of only 20 people over at MediaTonic. The game would amass 2 million downloads within its first 2 weeks and is still gaining new players every day. Devolver continues to support Fall Guys as well as other projects through social media and Steam.
Indie games are beautiful for 2 main reasons. First, without the need for acceptance and approval from a financial backer, they can tell the story they want to tell. This means they can tell their story from any perspective and talk about topics that would be taboo in a major release. They can stray from the traditional storytelling instead of specific gameplay styles or constraints. Second, they can choose art styles and gameplay that suits their story best, without having to look or play a certain way. A great example of both of these is the Limbo/Inside games by Playdead. Without being held back by traditional gameplay, Limbo can tell a unique story that is still talked about and discussed 10 years later. Limbo was released at the perfect time, in between a gaming world that was dominated by high-resolution graphics and online-multiplayer. It was so unique and different that gamers of its time will remember the impact it had on the indie game market.
Indies are made with all types of gamers in mind. You don’t have to be a hardcore gamer. Indies aren’t made with time limits. They don’t force you to sit through HD cutscenes for 20 hours. They don’t require the mastery of the controller. Casual gamers may find they love independent titles because of how easy they are to pick up and play. Untitled Goose Game literally has a dedicated HONK button, which by the way, is amazing. My wife, the non-gamer, will pick up any indie game I give her over any major title. Indies are just special in that way. They are enticing. They aren’t made with the intent to be “the next big thing.” Just like art, the game could be a masterpiece to one person or far too abstract for another. But the goal isn’t to be liked; it’s to deliver a message. By creating games this way, you don’t have to be a gamer at all. You could just be a person that loves a fun experience.
With a world filled with triple-A titles, indie games will forever be a staple in the industry. They may not sell millions, but that is not their goal. Their goal is to make you, the player experience something you haven’t before. If you like PGA Tour games, try Golf Story. After you finish playing Portal, try The Talos Principle. Indie games are the lifeblood of a thriving gaming industry, my friends. They are here to stay and you should not limit yourself by avoiding buying them just because they are a $20 game instead of a $60. The same love, sometimes if not more, goes into indie development. Without indies, the world is just an 8 pack of Crayola crayons. With indies, you have 40 different kinds of red alone (including the best red, which is Fire Truck Red). Play on!
