Welcome to GTOGG’s October 2024 edition of Promising Indie Game Releases, where we highlight indie and non-mainstream titles that we believe deserve your attention – in other words, “look at all this potentially cool stuff you might’ve missed otherwise”. That would’ve been too long for a title, though.
In any case, let’s get right down to it.
Anima Flux
Taking place on a massive space ark, Anima Flux begins as a mutant invasion closes in on the last remaining human city. Not all hope is lost, however: players will take control of two genetically enhanced super soldiers in the service of a theocratical dictatorship as they attempt to fight back and save what’s left of humanity. The co-op angle is one of Anima Flux’s major selling points: both characters develop in different ways, and even if your co-op buddy isn’t around, you can simply play solo and let the AI take over for your partner.

Blasphemous 2: Mea Culpa
Not only is Blasphemous 2 receiving a free update called True Torment, featuring a variety of updates and extras, but it’s also getting a paid DLC expansion titled Mea Culpa that further expands on the game with additional content. Mea Culpa in particular will be a story centered around the sword wielded by The Penitent One in the original, and will be adding two new zones to the game, as well as new bosses, quests, NPCs and items, plus an alternate ending to discover.

Neva
Created by the team behind GRIS, Neva will focus on the unique adventures of a young woman called Alba, and the wolf who accompanies her. Described as an “emotionally-charged action adventure”, the game will have players journeying across a rapidly deteriorating world as they witness the gradually evolving bond of its two protagonists.

Fear the Spotlight
Inspired by classic 90s teen horror, Fear the Spotlight begins as Vivian and the rebellious Amy sneak into a school and attempt a séance – however, the ritual fails and turns the school of Sunnyside High into a nightmarish hellscape, Amy goes missing, and Vivian is now forced to explore her new surroundings while being hunted by a mysterious monster roaming the hallways. During their adventures, players will have to find Amy and avoid the gaze of the monster as they uncover the dark past of the school, solve a variety of puzzles and – you guessed it – stay out of the titular spotlight.

Kill Knight
Starring a betrayed knight who’s been cast into the abyss and reanimated as a corpse trapped inside a set of demonic armor, developer PlaySide’s twin stick shooter will have players blasting their way through a total of five eldritch arenas inspired by retro 90s arcade games. Combat in the game is expected to be relentless, with gameplay specifically rewarding precise yet aggressive play styles – but hey, with a title like “Kill Knight” (which I love, by the way), that’s exactly what I was hoping for.

Cabernet
Taking place in a world inspired by 19th century Eastern Europe, Cabernet will follow the life – or rather, un-life – of a young vampire by the name of Liza, who must navigate between the societies of mortals and immortals while struggling with her own inner demons. The choice, of course, is yours to either indulge in your newfound powers, or to try and retain your humanity as much as possible; while it’s very much possible to help those around you, Liza must also come to terms with the harsh reality that she has to feed in order to survive.

Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut
The Pristine Cut edition of Slay the Princess comes as a free update to all owners of the 2023 narrative title – it expands the game by roughly 35%, adds three new princesses, a completely new ending, countless additional voice lines and illustrations, new music, and much more. Oh, and it also brings the game to consoles, so if you’ve been meaning to try it on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox or Switch, here’s your chance. For a full list of what’s new in The Pristine Cut, see the team’s recent announcement here.

Worshippers of Cthulhu
Lovecraftian games often cast you in the role of an investigator trying to thwart the machinations of ancient, eldritch horrors, but what if that formula was flipped on its head? City-builder Worshippers of Cthulhu will let you take command of Cthulhu’s devoted cult – you’ll get to manage the day-to-day affairs of your followers, perform dark rituals, and work towards your ultimate goal: the awakening of your god Cthulhu in order to reshape the very foundations of the cosmos.

The Heirloom
The Heirloom is a mystery thriller inspired by Scottish folklore – starting off with an unfortunate a tragedy, the story follows two orphaned kids, Marla and Jack, as they relocate to an island to live with their one remaining relative: their grumpy grandfather. Things, however, take a sinister turn when strange and frightening things begin to happen at the pair’s new home, things that are growing increasingly harder to ignore...

Drova – Forsaken Kin
Developer Just2D’s project works with an interesting concept: it’s an open world RPG that combines the fundamentals of the roleplaying genre with pixel art visuals and elements of Celtic mythology. Players will be thrust into a world of spirits, mysteries and dangers, and their choices (including a decision regarding which of the two major factions to join) will influence how the rest of the storyline will unfold.
