Hollow Knight Silksong, Hades 2, even the Alabaster Dawn Demo from the CrossCode devs all released this month. The year isn't even over but this has been one of the best years for indies of all time, and choosing the single best one feels basically impossible... I've opened YouTube Memberships! Join by pressing the join button and get early access to videos! I'm on bsky now! https://bsky.app/profile/swoocer.bsky.social #mhswoocer
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Silksong is Indie game of the year
We all know best indie game that released this year is the demo for Alabaster Dawn
Here’s what I’ll say, If Silksong or Exp 33 doesn’t win GOTY, the polls are rigged and we really need a new way to judge these things
I 100%ed Ender Magnolia and really enjoyed my time with it. That said, it is nowhere near Silksong's level. The highs are way higher and there's way more of them. Not to mention I'm 50+ hours deep and haven't even discovered every boss or enemy. But yeah this year has been bonkers. Haven't even played everything you listed (really want to), and there's also Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Rematch, Doom, Lies of P DLC, Donkey Kong, and Split Fiction, just to name a few.
It's Silksong, hands down. Still a crazy year
Dawg, Silksong came out, we know who it is lol
Expedition 33 isn't an indie game, it very visibly and obviously has a publisher. That's the only prerequisite, not having a publisher, and E33 has one so it's not indie.
There is 2 GOTY candidate for me. I loved Claire 33 but its end game was a bit underwhelming compared to rest of game thanks to 9999 dmg cap. While even though Silksong has that one muddy area and double floor dmg, I never felt underwhelmed in 30 hours I beat the game. Silksong GOTY for me.
Ender Magnolia is hella underrated, Absolutely loved it & Definitely feel like more people need to experience it, But NGL you are wild for even comparing it to Silksong let alone claiming it might be the better of the two. OG HK is arguably the best 2D Metroidvania of all time (One of my favorite games ever, Period.) But setting my nostalgia aside, I think Silksong is undeniably a step up from it in ALMOST every way. Better world exploration, Better combat, Better bosses, And just an overall better story. Only thing I still prefer from the OG tho is it's tranquil atmosphere, The game just has a certain feel to it that I don't think can be replicated.
I think for me, it's still Expidition 33 taking the crown, and it's for more reasons than it being a fantastic game. It proved two key factors in my mind that edged it out because hopefully that means a swing in the gaming landscape overall, the first being, there is still a drive for classic Jrpg style turned based combat even with a hyper realistic artstyle, something pinnacle franchises like final fantasy didnt believe to be possible. But the second more broad idea is that you can make something that is equivalent to a AAA title in production values on a fraction of the budget and an infinitesimal size of team as long as there is a clear direction and proper planning. Its staggering how good that world is from its art, to its characters, to its voice performance to its music it not only raises the bar for AAA studios, it shows Indies as well that if they want to make something that looks and plays like a cutting edge next gen experience that thats achievable too
I gotta hand it to silksong, it feels more like an indie game, has tons of charm, and I honestly prefer games where your always playing them. I’ve heard the cutscenes aren’t too bad in e33 but SILKSONG is 24/7 action even when your grinding for upgrades your doing something.
I've been really enjoying Silksong, but as I'm not the greatest player, the struggle has been real (now at the Last Judge boss battle). Maybe I should give Ender Magnolia a shot
Your so real every time man ..
You forgot about Mina the Hollower.
ENDER MAGNOLIA MENTIONED! Seriously though I wouldn’t put Ender Mag on Silksong’s level but it’s super underrated and unknown despite imo it and it’s original game Ender Lillies being the best Metroidvanias since Hollow Knight. They do a lot of what Hollow Knight does right but in their own unique way that feels reminiscent without feeling like a copy. Please, if you’ve beat Silksong and are looking for something to scratch the itch again down the line please try it.
This year has peak indie games but, out of all of them I'm Really excited for hades 2.
Nobody's gonna say anything about that he called Deltarune an Undertale sequel?
SKONG GANG 🗣️
Pipistrello is sooo good, and I haven’t seen anyone talking about it!
Haste mentioned 👀