Welcome to GTOGG’s September 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.
Hollowbody
Hollowbody is a third-person survival horror game inspired by early 2000s classics such as Silent Hill 2 and 3, Kuon and Rule of Rose. Set in a dystopian near-future, the game begins with the protagonist stranded within a desolate no man’s land called the exclusion zone, and must find her way back into safety at all costs; featuring environmental puzzles, constant resource management and a narrative with multiple endings, Hollowbody is certainly shaping up to be a project worth keeping an eye on, particularly for veteran fans of the genre.
Zoochosis
What if the giraffe at your local zoo mutated into a nightmarish spider creature? I know, right? Well, I have bad news: this is exactly the kind of situation you’ll have to deal with in Zoochosis, a zookeeper sim/survival horror game with a terrifying twist. During your first night shift as a zookeeper, you’re faced with the uncomfortable truth that some of the animals you’re taking care of have been infected by a virus that’s making them feel rather... unwell. As in, “turning into creatures that look like they crawled up straight from Hell” kind of unwell. So naturally, it’s going to be your job to develop a vaccine, then locate said nightmare-things and hopefully cure them without any hiccups. Easier said than done, I know.
Frostpunk 2
As the follow-up to 2018’s Frostpunk, developer 11 bit studios’ sequel is set 30 years after an apocalyptic blizzard has plunged the world into a new ice age. The game will force players to fight for survival while managing the needs of their city, at times making brutal moral decisions as well – yet this time, the developers describe one additional threat to overcome: “human nature and its unsatiated thirst for power.” The Steward will need to ensure that citizens’ needs are met, but when said citizens begin to form opposing factions, each with a different idea about how to move forward, you’ll suddenly have more than just the deadly cold to contend with.
Iron Meat
Taking place in a world being invaded by The Meat, a hostile biomass of flesh that devours anything and everything in its path, Iron Meat is a Contra-inspired action game that that will have you take up arms and – hopefully – blast this intergalactic threat off the face of the galaxy. It’s set to offer nine levels of pure action and gore, along with numerous challenging boss fights; what’s more, the game will also feature local couch co-op for those hoping to defeat the dreaded Meat with a trusty friend at their side. Sounds good to me.
Enotria: The Last Song
Taking place in a sunlit land based on Italian culture and folklore, Enotria: The Last Song will have you fight the dreaded Authors who created the so-called Canovaccio, an eternal play that’s kept the realm in an endless state of stasis and stagnation. Everyone has a role to play except you – as the Maskless One, it will be your job to free this world and become the wind of change it so desperately needs.
Caravan SandWitch
A narrative-driven exploration/adventure game, Caravan SandWitch invites you on a relaxing road trip across the planet Cigalo – with just you and your van, you set off on a grand journey to uncover the truth behind your sister’s mysterious disappearance. Placing an emphasis on letting you discover the world and its peoples at your own pace, the game will feature no time limits, no combat and no death; you can also customize your van to your heart’s content, explore new horizons and ancient ruins, and meet the colorful inhabitants of Cigalo, from robots to humans and various aboriginal species.
Mouthwashing
Developer Wrong Organ’s first-person horror game follows the story of a seemingly doomed crew stranded on a space freighter in the distant void of space – with power and food supplies quickly running out, the survivors have no choice but to deal with starvation, isolation and... well, each other. This was a game whose demo I tried during one of Steam’s many Next Fest events, and instantly fell in love with it – its retro-style graphics, brilliantly grim premise and nightmarish atmosphere quickly made me put it on my watchlist.
