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Far from blockbusters with colossal budgets (like a certain Star Wars: Outlaws for example), these original creations invite you to escape and discover. Because yes, the video game industry is not limited to the blockbusters of major studios. Off the beaten track, athriving independent scene continues to push the boundaries of creativity.
Independent games, often developed by small, passionate teams, offer new experiences, far from established conventions. Their developers prove that budgetary and technical constraints are not real obstacles to excellence. Among the multitude of independent titles that emerge each year, five stand out in particular for their ability to make us (almost) forget about everyday life. Let's dive into these unique universes that promise hours of escape and entertainment.
Developed by Ludeon Studios and released in October 2018, RimWorld is available on PC, Mac and Linux as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This management and survival game propels you onto a hostile planet where your mission is to make a colony of survivors of a space crash prosper. So far, the picture is classic, but hold on tight, this game is one of a kind.
RimWorld stands out for its dizzying depth of gameplay and its almost infinite replayabilityEach game generates a unique world, populated by characters with random personality traits, thus creating unpredictable, often comical and sometimes dramatic situations. The game excels in its ability to weave unique stories, where every decision can have unexpected long-term consequences.
Should you amputate one of your colonists who lost a limb in an enemy raid, running the risk that the operation will fail ? Will you accept turning yourself into a slave trader to ensure the prosperity of your colony ? Will you seize this alien artifact that offers incredible bonuses, but also attracts evil creatures ? This is a millionth of the choices you will face during your games.
The freedom offered to the player is dizzying: from building the base to managing relationships between colonists (each with their own personality), through defending against enemy raids or negotiating with rival factions, every aspect of the game is an invitation to experiment. In short, RimWorld is a must-have for management fans and thousands of hours of play await you if you take the plunge. Good point: it does not require a war machine to function properly.
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Launched in September 2020 by Kinetic Games, Phasmophobia is available on PC and also in VR for the more daring. This game of ’ ;co-op horror (up to 4 players) puts you in the shoes of paranormal investigators tasked with identifying spectral entities in several different locations. Whether it's a suburban house, an abandoned high school, a prison or a summer camp, there's something for everyone.
Where Phasmophobia where it really stands out is in its innovative use of game mechanics to create an oppressive atmosphere. The game leverages voice recognition to allow players to communicate with the ghosts, adding an interactive dimension that is rarely seen in the survival horror genre. Don't be too loud, the spirit is constantly listening.
The tension builds as the investigation progresses, with each clue collected bringing players closer to the terrifying truth as the entity becomes increasingly aggressive. Regardless of their identity (Spectre, Phantom, Banshee, Goryo, etc.) each spirit presence is unique in the way they act and will have only one goal in mind: to decimate your team. For just a dozen euros, Phasmophobia is the tenor of the genre and the guarantee of a unique horror experience between friends.
Created by Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, and released in February 2016, Stardew Valleyis available on a multitude of platforms, from PC via Steam to consoles and even iOS and Android. This cute farming and life simulation game invites you to leave the city to take over your grandfather's farm in a small rural community: Pelican Town.
Don't let its childish and retro visuals fool you (which is also its charm), Stardew Valley has an unsuspected depth of gameplay. Count on several hundred hours of play to see the end. Organize your farm as you wish according to the seasons, manage your crops, your livestock, and set out to conquer the mines to acquire precious resources.
Beyond the farming aspect, the game offers a rich life experience, where relationships with villagers and participation in seasonal events are seamlessly intertwined. The attention to detail and generosity of content made Stardew Valley a true cultural phenomenon in the years. Here too, even an old laptop will allow you to run the game without any problem.
Developed by Wube Software and officially released in August 2020 after a very long period of Early Access, Factorio is available on PC, Mac and Linux. This management and automation game puts you in control of an engineer stranded on an alien planet, with the mission of building a rocket to escape and return home.
Factorio shines with its complexity and strategic depth. You will start the game modestly by manually extracting resources, pickaxe in hand. However, you will very quickly evolve into the creation of vast automated factories, complex logistics networks and elaborate defense systems against the planet's hostile fauna.
The satisfaction of seeing a perfectly oiled factory running is indescribable: admire your dozens of conveyors transporting resources on your land, the ballet of drones and automated grippers. If you're a fan of automation and you like to get carried away, Factorio is definitely for you.
Created by Mooneye Studios and released in November 2019, Lost Ember is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This narrative adventure game puts you in the shoes of a wolf capable of reincarnating into different animals to explore a lush and stunningly beautiful world.
Lost Ember stands out mainly for its stunning art direction and a great soundtrack. By successively embodying a wolf, a bird, a fish or even a small rodent, you will discover the remains of a vanished civilization and gradually reconstruct the events that led to its fall. Contemplative game par excellence, Lost Emberstill addresses with a certain subtlety some rather profound themes such as memory, heritage and our relationship with nature.
As the start of the school year approaches, the autumnal gloom returns and obligations fall back on your shoulders, these indie gems offer plenty of escapes to prolong the holiday spirit.
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