What a jam-packed lineup we have on the indie front this week!
A grand total of 15 titles will be available this week and this is without the inclusion of Crossfire X launching onto Xbox Game Pass and the surprise launch of Oddworld: Strangers Wrath HD remaster.
With Dying Light 2 taking the headlines presently, will you find room for any of this variety of independent games?
OlliOlli World
Release Date 8th February 2022
OlliOlli World is a bold new skateboarding action-platformer that’s bursting with personality. Flip and flow through the vivid and vibrant world of Radlandia, meeting colourful characters as you grind, trick, and air your way to discover the mystical skate gods on your quest for Gnarvana.
Traverse a delightful and weird world as you take on missions, challenges, and make new friends along the way. Customize your character’s looks, tricks, and style while you experience explorable levels with multiple paths that provide an array of opportunities for player expression. Challenge the world in Leagues or dare a friend to beat your best tricks on one of the millions of sharable levels. Experience the accessibility, depth, and player freedom as you dive into the signature flow state gameplay of OlliOlli World.
OlliOlli World marks the third entry in the critically-acclaimed OlliOlli series from Roll7, the BAFTA and multi-award-winning independent studio.
El Gancho
Release Date 9th February 2022
The Pogovon Empire has invaded Cocodu planet and captured the cocos! In their search for an unlimited source of power amongst species from across the galaxy, the Pogovons learned about the unlimited happiness of the cocos. Now they’ve devised evil plans to extract that happiness to power their deadly weapons.
El Gancho is set in the same universe as Task Force Kampas, but this time there’s no help around. Play as coco that finds an experimental laser hook and swing your way through cosmic platforming stages in retro pixel art style! Search for your friends and destroy those imperial super weapons! The faster you move, the longer your trail becomes, and your trail can be used to wipe out enemies! Every run is randomly generated and unique, giving you a world of reasons to keep coming back and pushing your skills further.
Besiege Console (Game Preview)
Release Date 10th February 2022
Available On Day One With Xbox Game Pass
Besiege is a physics-based building game in which you construct medieval siege engines and lay waste to immense fortresses and peaceful hamlets. Build a machine that can crush windmills, wipe out battalions of brave soldiers and transport valuable resources, defending your creation against cannons, archers and whatever else the desperate enemies have at their disposal. Create a trundling behemoth, or take clumsily to the skies, and cause carnage in fully destructible environments. Ultimately, you must conquer every Kingdom by crippling their castles and annihilating their men and livestock, in as creative or clinical a manner as possible.
KungFu Kickball
Release Date 10th February 2022
Compete against your friends in a fantasy sport that mixes soccer with kung fu action movies. Fly through the air and unleash a flurry of punches, kicks, and mystical arts to overpower the other team and smash the ball into their bell. Every bell ring counts as a point and the team with the most points when time runs out is crowned the winner.
Hone your skills in the single-player championship modes against increasingly difficult AI, then duke it out with friends in either local multiplayer or online multiplayer in versus or quick match modes.
Breakout: Recharged
Release Date 10th February 2022
The grandfather of brick-breaking games is back with some of the toughest challenges yet! Breakout: Recharged steps up the excitement with a fresh coat of paint, exciting power-ups, and another original soundtrack from award-winning video game composer Megan McDuffee.
Breakout: Recharged will forever change what you expect from a brick-breaking title. The endless arcade mode and 50 challenge levels will push you to the limit of your skills. Don’t fret, however, as this wouldn’t be a Recharged title without game-changing powerups. Expect the aid of rail guns, homing missiles, and explosives to join the traditional multi-ball. You’ll need every tool in the arsenal and razor-sharp reflexes to climb the global leaderboards.
Powerslave Exhumed
Release Date 10th February 2022
PowerSlave: Exhumed is a KEX Engine port of the classic console game perfectly blending both the PlayStation & Saturn versions. The ancient Egyptian city of Karnak. Alien forces possessing horrifying powers have sealed off the once-thriving community from all outside contact. As a covert operations specialist, you have been trained for all forms of contingencies. Nothing can prepare you, however, for the nightmare you are about to enter…
Edge Of Eternity
Release Date 10th February 2022
Available On Day One With Xbox Game Pass
Edge of Eternity is an RPG that pays tribute to classic JRPGs of old and features an Active Time Battle system and branching story paths. The action takes place in a world whose design combines futuristic influences, Japanese game design influences, and Medieval age influences. Through mysteries and softness, these characters evolve for you to join in a very exciting adventure of action, explorations, revelations and unexpected situations. The end of peace for the world of Heryon has come to the edge. An alien civilization has invaded the world to conquer everything, and enslave anyone that would step into their ways, spreading chaos and death through a virus that turns people and animals into metal monsters. Daryon, the hero, is forced to leave after being haunted by his kind now turned into monsters. Left to the unknown, he decides to throw himself into a crusade of freedom and bravery, to save his world and discover his real origins. His devotion to the world of Heryon will lead him on an adventure he never expected.
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
Release Date 10th February 2022
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a narrative-driven RPG that comes to life on the pages of the protagonist’s journal. Set in a ruthless world where any form of dissent is mercilessly crushed, the story follows a man who has dared to challenge the existing order. Set out on a lifelong journey and become an individual able to carve out their own destiny… But remember that freedom never comes cheap.
Nape Retroverse Collection
Release Date 10th February 2022
Relive an experience from the past with 4 retro games from the 8-bit era! From Platformer, Adventure and Exploration Shoot’em Ups games! Respecting the limitations of the 8-bit era, but with special additions like optional retro visualizations and filters to transport us back to the nostalgic era of the 80s or 90s.
Rise of the Third Power
Release Date 10th February 2022
Rise of the Third Power is a retro-themed, console-style roleplaying game, loosely based on the political climate of Europe in the late 1930s. The story takes place in the land of Rin during the height of the Age of Sail, following the events that would lead to the greatest war in human history.
Ammo Pigs: Cocked and Loaded
Release Date 11th February 2022
Ammo Pigs: Cocked and Loaded is an action-packed run-n-gun game with a heavy emphasis on jumping and shooting elements. It brings the feeling of 80’s and 90’s 2D action games with a lot of fun, explosions and bacon — in case you’re not good enough to save those poor chickens from deadly chicken-hating machines.
Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity
Release Date 11th February 2022
A survival-horror game inspired by Resident Evil 1, Dark Souls, and Eternal Darkness. Set in the alternative historical setting of the 1897 Angelic Empire of Britannia, your contract will order you to eliminate the source of the unnatural fog enveloping the Berelai Manor.
Discover the secrets of the estate, as you look for answers among the violent inhabitants.
A strange and repelling madness took hold of the servants roaming the halls, and they will attack on sight, for their madness is one rooted in a deeper understanding of cosmic insignificance. To repel the maddening horrors, your Iaito cane, and Waltham A9 hand cannon will aid you. To mend your injuries your Vitae concoctions will offer healing. Beware, whatever unearthly events have transpired, your sanity will be tested as the truth unfolds in this hungry all-consuming Fog.
Spirit Roots
Release Date 11th February 2022
Spirit Roots is a fun, old-school 2D platformer with a touching story and a happy ending. Your journey will take you through five atmospheric worlds, each with its own unique gameplay mechanics, enemies, and level design. Defeat the enemies to return to your family!
Unbound: Worlds Apart
Release Date 11th February 2022
Unbound: Worlds Apart is a challenging, atmospheric and hand-drawn puzzle-platformer set in a universe where all worlds are connected by portals. You control Soli, a gifted young mage who has the power to open portals and control the unique properties of each world – such as inverse gravity, time manipulation, super strength and more.
Using these newfound skills, Soli must journey across dangerous and mysterious worlds, each brimming with secrets and challenges. You must use every skill Soli has to defeat a ruthless evil that is tearing reality apart while learning the shocking truth behind your world’s collapse.
Ziggurat 2
Release Date 11th February 2022
Ziggurat is back, and now it’s even better! You can use powerful weapons and spells to break through hordes of enemies and explore labyrinthine dungeons in this hectic rogue-lite FPS, while you improve your skills and discover new equipment.
The Final Analysis
Plenty on offer this week for fans of platformers and with plenty being added to Xbox Game Pass there is something for everyone. With not much in the way of triple-A releases, this is the perfect opportunity to indulge in some alternative experiences. See you next week for a run-through of what is to come as we approach the middle of February!
