indie game Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

City Life Org – Thousands Gather at NYC Video Game Festival to Crown 2026 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs and NYC Collegiate Esports Champions

The 2nd Annual NYC Video Game Festival took place on May 9, attracting 2,000 attendees. The festival included esports competitions, indie game demonstrations, drone soccer, and arcade classics. The Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Finals honored student achievements, with team Hyper Pigmentation from PS 889 winning in the Elementary division, NEST+ from Manhattan winning in the Middle School division, and Tottenville from Staten Island winning in the High School division. The NYC Collegiate Esports Circuit Finals crowned The City College of NY as the League of Legends champion and Pace University as the Valorant champion, with a shared prize pool of ,000. The BOTB competition has engaged over 15,000 NYC Public School students since its inception, with a record 3,395 participants in 2026, including a 44% increase in high school submissions. The festival also featured a screening of a documentary about the Battle of the Boroughs.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

The best Steam Deck games: 35 essential titles for Valve’s handheld PC wonder

The Steam Deck is a handheld device that enhances PC gaming convenience, allowing players to engage with various games in different settings. Diablo IV has adapted well to the Steam Deck, offering a portable experience that aligns with its dungeon-clearing and loot-collecting gameplay. Post-launch enhancements have improved itemization and the endgame experience, while the expansion, Vessel of Hatred, adds new narrative and gameplay elements. The Steam Deck's ability to suspend and resume games instantly supports quick gaming sessions. Notable games for the Steam Deck include: 1. Animal Well - A Metroidvania-style indie game with puzzles. 2. Aperture Desk Job - A comedic adventure in the Portal universe. 3. Balatro - A roguelike poker game ideal for short sessions. 4. Batman: Arkham Asylum - A classic superhero game with engaging mechanics. 5. Blue Prince - A puzzle-roguelike set in a shifting mansion. 6. Cuphead - A run-and-gun game with hand-animated visuals. 7. Dave the Diver - Combines exploration and restaurant management. 8. Death’s Door - An action-adventure featuring atmospheric storytelling. 9. Disco Elysium - A detective RPG known for its exceptional writing. 10. Dispatch - A narrative adventure with superhero themes. The Steam Deck's game library reflects a variety of genres, appealing to gamers seeking convenience and depth.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Far Far West is my favorite indie in recent years, and Fanatical already has a discount for it

Far Far West is an indie game that combines elements of storytelling from Red Dead Redemption 2, cooperative gameplay from Deep Rock Galactic, and Easter eggs reminiscent of Call of Duty Zombies. Players take on the role of a robot cowboy bounty hunter, collecting gold and souls for upgrades while facing increasingly challenging missions. The game features engaging gunplay, magical spells, and boss encounters, with a strong emphasis on multiplayer gameplay for up to four players. Since its early access launch, it has received an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam and is available for .99 / £12.79 at Fanatical, reflecting a 20% discount from its regular price.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Indie publisher New Blood has listened to over 1,000 voicemails left on its old-school tip line, including suggestions like ‘you ever think about making a game where you fight bugs?’

On April 1, indie game studio New Blood launched a tip line for fans to share their thoughts and ideas, which remains active a month later. The studio has received over 1,000 voicemails, including suggestions and inquiries. Highlights include the latest layer of Ultrakill called "Fraud," featuring innovative 3D rendering techniques, and the announcement of Scavengers, a roguelike DLC for Blood West, set to release on June 3.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

PC gamers buy way more games that cost less than $30 at launch compared to PlayStation and Xbox players, analysts say, and it’s “reshaping the PC market”

PC gamers are increasingly favoring budget-friendly titles, with a significant portion of the market consisting of full-price games priced under a certain threshold. This trend is driven by the success of indie games, such as "Gamble With Your Friends," which sold 500,000 copies in three days. The demand for affordable gaming options is rising, reflecting a shift in consumer behavior towards valuing quality without high costs. The sub-category of games priced below a specific amount is thriving on PC, contrasting with the console gaming experience.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Steam Freebie Turns Your Backlog Into Enemies In Vampire Survivors-Like Game

Steam has introduced a free indie game called Game Quest: The Backlog Battler, which allows players to confront their unplayed games as adversaries in an arcade-style hack and slash format. The game humorously suggests that neglected titles can attack players, with the difficulty of these games increasing based on the amount spent on them. Players use their keyboards as weapons to fend off these games, while also gaining insights into their gaming habits, such as playtime and costs. The game is currently in early access, with a free demo available on the Steam store.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

Subnautica 2 is the latest behemoth to mess with other games’ launch plans at the last minute: ‘we need to dodge the Leviathan’

Subnautica 2 has a release date set for May 14 and is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Other games launching on the same day include Outbound, the 13th most wishlisted game on Steam, which has decided to avoid direct competition with Subnautica 2. Dark Light: Survivor is another contender with promising wishlist numbers. The game’s design lead, Anthony Gallegos, has discussed its exploration-first approach to survival.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Routine is an intense Alien Isolation-style experience, and it is cheaper than ever

Routine is an indie horror game that has been in development since its announcement in 2012 and is now available. It features claustrophobic hallways and a lurking predator, creating a tense atmosphere similar to Alien Isolation. The game emphasizes stealth and has a tight level design that encourages a slow, deliberate approach. Players take on the role of a basic worker in a sci-fi universe, with environmental storytelling replacing a traditional narrative. Routine includes elements inspired by SOMA, such as terminals and puzzles, and features menacing foes like Type-05 security robots. Critics have praised the game, with a review rating of 9/10, and it has been included in Game of the Year 2025 lists. Routine is currently available for .74 at Fanatical, the lowest price to date.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

‘It’s puke or be puked on’ — this crazy indie game has you taking shots to save your soul

Developer Who You and publisher Alliance Arts have announced their new game, Drunken Goddess Reflux. The game combines elements of Russian Roulette with a narrative where players must outdrink a pink-haired demon to save their soul. It is played from a first-person perspective, with players selecting shots that lead to unpredictable outcomes. The game has received over 50,000 wishlists on Steam and is scheduled for release later this year. Updates can be found by following Alliance Arts on social media.

BetaBeacon

April 27, 2026

Developers of “Overwhelmingly Positive” android-repair cyberpunk Steam game D1AL-ogue urgently looking for crowdfunding platform due to lack of funds for upcoming sequel

Cherry Picker is crowdfunding for the development of their cyberpunk puzzle game sequel, D1AL-ogue+, to address soundtrack and localization issues from the original game.