2017's looking for like a great year for games already. In January alone, we have Resident Evil 7, Yakuza 0, and Gravity Rush 2 - not to mention the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 to look out for in the later months. Still, independent developers have plenty to offer this year too, and - continuing on with a tradition that started last year - we're previewing ten of the most promising under-the-radar titles set for release on the PlayStation 4 in 2017.
Absolver
Absolver is an online martial arts game with style. Combat looks fluid and tactical, with fights ranging from mano-a-mano action to three-on-three brawls, and players can customise their own martial arts styles and choose their own weapon of choice as they progress. With both PvP and PvE modes as well as a relationship system that sees rivalries and alliances develop, six-man team Sloclap is certainly punching above its weight.
Aer
A 3D exploration game in the vein of the excellent ABZÛ, Aer sees you playing as a girl who can transform into a bird and fly around floating, cel-shaded islands on her way to challenge the Gods of her world. From the small snippets of gameplay released so far, it looks like there'll be a puzzle element as well as a focus on exploring the beautiful polygonal environment created by developers Forgotten Key, which seems both tranquil and menacing at the same time.
Deformers
Granted, Ready At Dawn is perhaps best known for the rather dull (but visually stunning) The Order: 1886, but Deformers looks like a big departure from the studio's alternate history title, considering The Order wasn't full of squishy ball-shaped animals bouncing each other off of cliffs. Up to eight of the aforementioned creatures - known as Forms in the game - can slam, shoot, and collide with each other in arena combat in a variety of modes, and while the cutesy art style may be off-putting for some, it's good to know that the developer is taking the plunge into pastures new.
Grand Values: Monaco
Although it has a bit of a clunky name, Grand Values: Monaco looks anything but. A stealth heist game about three friends who need to steal $50 million in a week, the game looks very stylised and suave - with an especially killer soundtrack. The focus on non-lethal tactics could make the gameplay more interesting than the offerings of others in the genre, while the use of quick time events when pickpocketing the rich residents of Monaco should add some tension.
Knights and Bikes
From some of the minds behind Tearaway, LittleBigPlanet, and Ratchet & Clank, Knights and Bikes perhaps looks even more Media Molecule than a Media Molecule game. A co-op action-adventure RPG inspired by SNES games like Earthbound and Secrets of Mana - as well as taking a bit of inspiration from The Goonies - Foam Sword's first outing is set on the fictional hand-drawn island of Penfurzy in the 1980s, in which two girls and their pet goose set out on an expedition (on bikes, if that wasn't obvious) to explore the medieval past of their home. It looks as charming as it does enthralling.
Old Time Hockey
Old Time Hockey looks like incredible fun simply because it focuses on the crucial elements of hockey: stick fights, bad language, broken bones, and knocked-out teeth. Focusing on the minor leagues of the sport, its local multiplayer should be a hoot with friends as each player tries to instigate as many fights as possible. That said, it also looks like a good clean retro hockey simulator, and should be just as much fun to play without resorting to violence and swearing - though you'd be missing out on the best parts, of course.
Orphan
Sure, its silhouette art style and 2D platforming will inevitably bring Limbo comparisons, but Orphan looks like so much more than that. Stealth mechanics take centre stage here, but there's also an element of combat thanks to the various weapons that you'll find lying around the in-game world. Set on the night after an alien invasion, the story follows a lone boy venturing through the Appalachian mountains, and has a real H.G Wells vibe to it thanks to the lens-flare-heavy style of the alien ships.
Pyre
Pyre is developed by Supergiant Games. That's pretty much all you need to know to gauge if it's worth buying or not, but we'll rattle through some facts about the game anyway. It's a party-based RPG set in a mystical world in which you must complete the Rites; a set of ancient challenges that allow exiles to be absolved of their crimes. There's a vast cast of characters to meet and team up with, and a big map full of other exiles that you'll go into battle with. But yeah, it's developed by Supergiant.
Snake Pass
The success of Yooka-Laylee on Kickstarter last year shows that there's a lot of love for retro 3D platformers, and Snake Pass looks to capitalise on that - but with an interesting twist. Playing as Noodle the Snake, you'll embark on a journey to the top of Haven Tor mountain along with your friend Honeydew the Hummingbird, using the game's "snake physics" to coil yourself around levers, climb trees, swing between them, and generally traverse the world in a slithery manner. It sounds simple, but sometimes the best games are.
The Long Journey Home
We understand that the words "procedurally generated galaxy" may not instil confidence in many of you these days, but The Long Journey Home seems to have a lot more to it than that. With every new run, you'll find yourself in a different galaxy (and on a different starting planet) but with the same goal of reaching home. As you explore galaxies in your ship, you'll also meet traders, aliens, and thieves, all of whom you can talk to, make deals with, or fight, and you'll visit various planets and moons, all of which you can explore. The Long Journey Home is very ambitious, but judging by gameplay so far, developer Daedelic Entertainment has the skills and resources to match its vision.
Have any of these indie games captured your interest, or will AAA games reign supreme this year? Feel free to be an indie apologist in the comments section below.
Comments 34
Nice list, Sam. I backed Knights and Bikes on Kickstarter, so I'll be playing that for sure.
I played Snake Pass at EGX, and it's actually pretty cool! The unique controls give the game a very distinct feel. Slithering over, under and through obstacles takes some getting used to but it works surprisingly well, and should make for a fun, simple platformer.
For me Torment: Tides of Numenera.
Orphan looks right up my street style wise. Knights and Bikes looks pretty cool too.
Cool list. The Long Journey Home in particular sounds like an interesting one.
Snake Pass is looking like a must have to me, sort of reminds me of the stuff I used to play on the PS1 when I was a kid.
So, this is the preliminary list for PS+ games for 2018?
In trut, none of these are likely to be added to my collection - I doubt any would be added if they were offered free with PS+ IGC.
Reading through, I can't see anything that stands out as a game I would prefer to play - especially as Horizon and ME:A will no doubt occupy a LOT of my gaming time...
@Quintumply Out of all these Snake Pass is the only one I have seen a video for and really liked the look of it but did wonder how good the controls would be.Nice to know they aren't too awkward.
If Knights and Bikes is anything like Costume Quest I am so there
@Wazeddie22 From what I remember, your basic movement is on the left stick, as you'd expect, but to move faster along the ground, you need to zig-zag left and right, like a real snake. I think you use circle to lift your head, which you need to do in order to start climbing up things. Moving vertically is the tricky part, as you have to coil around obstacles to maintain a grasp on them. You can also tighten your grip, and your little hummingbird companion can pick up your tail if you need a bit of a lift.
Like I said, it took a few minutes to get used to, but it seems to be a decent little platformer with interesting ideas
It's some food for thought for sure. I'll be seeing how these end up.
Not on the list but I'm looking forward to Eitr, Deaths Gambit and Torment: Tides of Nomenura. They all look great
I haven't heard of half of these, so successful list Sam. Snake Pass is pretty cool, I played that at EGX. I don't like the artstyle, but Grand Values: Monaco could be good.
Nice to see a lot of love for Snake Pass in the comments, I hadn't heard of it before writing this but I'm really interested in it now.
Also, a quick side note: 6 of the games from last year's list have been pushed into 2017 - What Remains of Edith Finch, Distance, Wattam, Night In The Woods, Manifold Garden, and RIME. Last year's list might be worth a look if you're interested in any of those games
@Anchorsam_9 Let's link it up. You can find it here:
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/01/feature_10_under_the_radar_ps4_games_to_look_out_for_in_2016
Did Distance ever come out?
@get2sammyb Distance is still in Early Access on PC, but the game is still regularly updated on Steam and its website. Hopefully it comes out on PS4 this year
I'll definitely get Knights and Bikes. Snake Pass looks interesting too. It's very reminiscent of the old N64/PS1 games, but with an interesting twist.
@get2sammyb Looking back at the 2016 list; Manifold Garden, Night in the Woods, Wattam, RIME and What Remains of Edith Finch still haven't been released! Looks like delays isn't exclusive to the big AAA games, but regardless, I'll be looking forward to those five too. Just a weird if you think that all five indie games from last year had been delayed.. So I guess there's a delay for Knights and Bikes and Snake Pass incoming as well?
Knights and bikes look interesting, I really like supergiant games transistor but pyre look like a sport game, I hope they make full action/rpg game like transistor for their next game.
What a great list! Thanks for this!
I'm guessing a lot of these will show up in the IGC sooner than later. Although I'll keep my eye on Pyre.
Not heard about any of these, hockey looks good fun. I'm waiting for the unannounced Destiny 2 and a new dance emote. Sad.
inspired by Secret of Mana and Earthbound...sounds like a great idea! Why can't they make a GOOD sequel to Secret of Mana? I know there's the JAP only sequel, but I'm talking in the West.
... I liked The Order very much.
Most of those sound pretty cool. Eyes on.
Can't wait for pyre. Transistor was stunning and if the same guys are doing the music and narration I'd buy it just for that. Probably should play bastion too.
One game that might come out this year that's been forgotten about that I can't wait to play is Fear Effect: Sedna the fact we're getting another one after all this time blows my mind.
Really looking forward to Orphan, a game thats right up my street stylistically and genre wise
Nice list. There are a bunch of others too, such as Death's Gambit and Redout.
Not sure if they count but Vane, Agony, Little Nightmares and Death's Gambit deserve a mention.
Any chance Sony steps in as the production company for Scalebound?
@lacerz No, Microsoft owns the IP.
Night In The Woods needs more love. It's coming out in February too!
@ThroughTheIris56 Thanks for reminding me about Little Nightmares, almost forgot about that one! And yeah, Vane looks pretty neat too. Add those to my list and I have at least 10 indie games to look forward to this year.
great list, haven't seen a single of these before thank you!
@tabris95 Night In The Woods was in last year's list so I decided not to put it in again when I heard of the delay. Can't wait though!
@ThroughTheIris56 I very, very nearly included Vane in this list, but it just missed out
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