Upcoming Indie Games To Look Out For

Games from independent development studios are still hip and cool, we promise, and so here's a little look at some of the indie treats coming to a PC or console near you... preferably in your own home.

The triple-A franchises may have mighty budgets but indie games can offer a lot more creatively, especially as they can operate in those dangerous outside-the-box waters of design. Not everything strikes a chord but there's always something that'll kidnap your precious game time. Below are a few hopefuls that plan on doing just that.

"Iconoclasts is an action-platformer with a heavy emphasis on puzzling level design. Not only do you beat up enemies, you beat your head against the puzzles, too. You solve your problems by screwing them up with your giant wrench, or simply blowing your way through with your modified stun-gun."

Creator Joakim Sandberg (aka Konjak) says they're "aiming for very soon" as a release date with game content "not too far from done!" Iconoclasts has been Greenlit on Steam so PC gamers can feel the action-platform puzzle love too, eventually.

"Plot your course through a living, breathing universe on an unprecedented scale and discover new worlds from a possible 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 unique planets. Uncover new species, gather precious resources and forever mark your celestial realms on the galactic map for other cosmonauts to visit."

Already this game has achieved the cult status of 'is it done yet?' and we've been left waiting a long time for an answer, but finally we have this galactic creation nailed down to June this year. Hello Games gives us an actual galaxy to play in and explore, which statistically means it'll never be fully mapped - ever. Don't let Sony fool you either as it's coming to PC too.

"Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D Action RPG in the vein of the best 8-bit and 16-bit classics, with modernized mechanics and designs on a much grander scale."

A 2D game with a quite interesting and alluring art style despite its 8 and 16-bit defiance of today's modern polygon counts. Stand proud! It doesn't pull any punches either and expects players to master its use of firearms, katana and teleport dashes. Have you been practicing your dashes? Hyper Light Drifter began as a Kickstarter project asking for $27k; they got over $645k instead.

"Cosmic Star Heroine is a turn-based sci-fi Japanese-style RPG...

Alyssa L’Salle is one of the galactic government’s top agents and always manages to save the day! But when she accidentally uncovers a dark conspiracy, her own government outs her as a legendary spy and the people’s champion! Sure, now she has hordes of adoring fans but every villainous organization she’s ever crossed in her career knows who she is and is out for her blood! Can she save the day once more while she faces her greatest challenge… Everyone!?"

A turn-based RPG with a serious homage to JRPG influences with a tasty dose of science fiction for good measure. This is another project born of Kickstarter success and likely won over the masses with its promise of "cutscenes reminiscent of the Sega CD & Turbo Duo era!" Maybe it was getting to build our own spy agency? In any case a PC beta will be starting up soon.

"The White March – Part 2 not only adds new content to the Pillars of Eternity universe, but also allows players to experience the conclusion of the stories told in The White March – Part 1, bringing the first epic chapter of Pillars of Eternity to a close. Players will find a variety of new challenges waiting for them in the snowy borderlands of the Eastern Reach, along with new quests, new abilities and a raised level cap, and a new companion: Meneha, the Barbarian."

The second helping of Obsidian's expansion to the classic RPG Pillars of Eternity, which given the genre is almost a new game in itself. This second part of The White March delivers a number of new features to the wider game including a 'Story Mode' for easier and faster adventuring for those that can't help but feast on the dramatic story. It was delayed until next week.

"Merging the award-winning, smash-hit, indie game The Escapists with the worldwide phenomenon that is The Walking Dead, comes The Escapists: The Walking Dead. In this unique game, recreated entirely in the charming 8-bit pixel art style of The Escapists, you play as Rick Grimes as he takes on hordes of walkers let loose upon the world."

Alright, alright - technically this isn't upcoming as it's out already for PC but fans of both The Escapists and The Walking Dead will get to undertake the challenging life of Rick Grimes now on PlayStation 4. If the comics or TV show thought they had the best angle on the tale of Rick then just wait until things get all 2D and pixelated.

"This Is the Police is a strategy/adventure game set in a city spiraling the drain. You'll come face to face with the ugly underbelly of Freeburg, taking the role of gritty Police Chief Jack Boyd (portrayed by Jon St. John, the voice of Duke Nukem)."

A city mired in corruption and sleaze? That's Freeburg and we're the Police Chief who's sick of being the only one not on the take and getting rich, so when the Mayor finally decides to force our retirement it's time to work on that pension fund. Another project on the lamb from Kickstarter, the appeal of wielding the power of an entire police department with Duke Nukem calling the shots was just too good!

"Live the life of a pirate captain! Recruit a crew of salty buccaneers, outfit and customize your ship, and then set sail on the open seas in search of treasure and infamy. Using a combination of aggression, diversion, and trade, will you become the next Legendary Pirate King and the most feared pirate crew in all of Piracia?"

From the creators of Terraria we now go on the high seas with their brand of 2D side-scrolling adventuring, which includes an awful lot of dubious pirating. It's an 'open world' pirate simulator says I, I mean them: the developers. It's finally dropping anchor on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Don't just manage your scurvy crew but build a ship and plunder booty for more looty.

• Iconoclasts (Game)
• No Man's Sky (Game)
• Hyper Light Drifter (Game)
• Cosmic Star Heroine (Game)
• Pillars of Eternity: The White March Part Two (Game)
• The Escapists: The Walking Dead (Game)
• This Is the Police (Game)
• Pixel Piracy (Game)