The Top Indie Game Developers You Should Know About
Many of you might not know that the best-selling video games have arguably been indie games. Even in an era where AAA-studio dominance is at its high, a genuinely inspired independent game has the ability to surface out, thrive, and reign over the gaming scenario.
Now that we are stepping into the new year 2020 soon, it's time that we do a roundup of all the best indie game developers. Here goes the list:
1. Eric Barone
Located in Seattle, Eric Barone’s traditions have been just as compelling as the game. Also known as ConcernedApe, Barone’s most beloved creation is Stardew Valley, which is a role-playing, farming simulation game. The developer struggled for nearly five years to come up with this game, which is a perfect culmination of animation, music, and programming. The result of Barone’s labor is this part farming and part dating sim game, inspired by the long-running Harvest Moon series and driven by a sentimental vibe.
Video Source: Youtube
2. Askiisoft
Image Credit: http://askiisoft.com/
Hailing from North America, this indie game developer came up with its first megahit title, named Katana Zero. This creation has some familiar aspects, such as the fetishism of the 80s, stylized violence, and a borderline obsessive work ethic. Founder Justin Stander put immense efforts into developing this game—something that combined to pay him off in the right way. The studio also published the much-acclaimed flash game called Tower of Heaven in 2009. This makes Askiisoft a part of the indie game vanguard.
Video Source: Youtube
3. Cardboard Computer
Located in Chicago and Los Angeles, Cardboard Computer was initially a three-person project that came up with a series called Kentucky Route Zero. This indie game is an epic point-and-click adventure series that's set in a Southern Gothic environment and has an uncanny, out-of-the-world aura. The developers began this series as School of the Art Institute of Chicago students and were influenced by David Lynch and Flannery O’Connor. The team is now prepping up for a final console version, which would exemplify the developers’ future approach, which is expected to be human-oriented, non-violent, and experimental.
Video Source: Youtube
4. Blendo Games
Image Credit: http://blendogames.com/
Located in Culver City, Calif, Blendo Games is a famous indie game developer. It was launched by developer Brendon Chung in 2009, just after his erstwhile employer called Pandemic Studios joined Electronic Arts. Ever since Chung started Blendo Games, the indie games fraternity has seen some really interesting titles. A few of them include Atom Zombie Smasher, Flotilla, and Quadrilateral Cowboy. Interestingly, the third title is an analog-style hacker sim game with a highlighted meta streak that bagged the 2017 Independent Games Festival prize.
5. Gabe Cuzillo
Image Credit: https://twitter.com/gabecuzzillo
Located in New York City, the breakout creation of Gabe Cuzillo is Ape Out—something that gives a sense of familiarity with Hotline Miami. Ape Out is an action game that’s gained prominence for its sanguinary style. The game is known for its action sequences that are blended with free-jazz rhythms. Not to forget, it has made a name for itself with its bold and high-contrast color design, as well as a smart approach to procedural creation.
Video Source: Youtube
6. Drool
Image Credit: https://thumpergame.com/about
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Drool is an indie game developer worth knowing about. Started by two veteran developers from Harmonix (who developed Rock Band and Guitar Hero), this indie game developer breathed new life into the rhythm-action framework of artifacts with their widely acclaimed debut title called Thumper. The idea of Thumper seems pretty straightforward — dodge obstacles as you go down a track. However, the effect can be overwhelming but delightful. Not to forget, about half of Drool is Brian Gibson, who is the bassist for noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtPGX8i1Eaw
7. Heart Machine
Based in Los Angeles, Heart Machine launched one of the most significant indie stories, hyper Light Drifter. This game is a role-playing game inspired by a Zelda quest and resonated well with gamers owing to its minimal-synthesized soundtrack (by Disasterpiece), 2D/8-bit throwback aesthetic, and tragic metaphorical depth. The developers of the game were partly inspired by the chronic health issues of Alex Preston. Their sophomore initiative, called the Solar Ash Kingdom, will be hitting the market after a notable indie-centric publisher called Annapurna Interactive releases it.
8. Megacrit
Last but not least, you have Megacrit, which is located in Seattle. The developer marked the intersection between digital collectible card games, like the video game version of Magic: The Gathering-style physical card games, and indie genre. Its creation Heartstone was primarily kicked off by Blizzard Entertainment, which is a subsidiary. The genre, however, got its finest iteration with Slay the Spire, which is the developer’s most notable upstart in 2017.
