Five Great Indie RPGs You Probably Haven’t Played
Turn-based for life.
The RPG is a genre that refuses to die, no matter how often industry insiders try to write its obituary. Some two decades after the rise of the “everything is an RPG now” mindset, indie developers are proving that there’s still tons of interest in these games.
Below are five indie RPGs that haven’t received the appreciation that they rightfully deserve. They range from old-school JRPGs to more experimental fare, but all of them are standouts in one way or another.
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands
Combining a colorful setting with unique-yet-familiar mechanics, Deathbulge is a solid choice for the RPG fan in search of something fresh. The story, which follows a band cursed to both receive and inflict harm through sound, is decidedly lighter and sillier than the overly dramatic plots that characterize some similar games. However, it’s the dynamic, real-time combat system and highly customizable characters that make it a real joy to play.
8-bit Adventures 2
There are a lot of throwback RPGs these days, but very few with the scope and attention to detail found in 8-bit Adventures 2. It features a large map, extensive storyline and wide array of sidequests that give it a length comparable to most 90s JRPGs. However, it also brings a more tactical combat style that mixes up typical turn-based fights with a diverse selection of abilities, elevating strategy over grinding.
Nitro Kid
Nitro Kid combines elements of deckbuilders and TRPGs to create something that has the strengths of both and none of their weaknesses. The three playable characters have very different play styles, but they’re all intuitive and an experienced player won’t take too long to start developing a build. And with an environment-focused combat design that emphasizes moment-to-moment tactics, the player is less likely to suffer from bad luck than in a pure deckbuilder.
Crawl Tactics
For TRPG enthusiasts, Crawl Tactics offers gameplay that’s dense yet approachable with a focus on building large combos. Every action affects the battlefield — activating traps, igniting or freezing tiles, triggering explosions, all of which can chain into each other to devastate vast areas. Add in the game’s roguelike elements, and you have something that is a distinctive and challenging variation on familiar TRPG gameplay.
Crush the Industry
While the game development-skewering humor is the initial draw, Crush the Industry also brings some bold design ideas that elevate it above your typical deckbuilding RPG. The combat system is both fast and tactical, with mechanics to reduce the risk and impact of bad luck. However, it is still the comedy that really makes this one stand out, with jabs at corporate and video game culture that are bound to be familiar to a lot of people.
