Gaming News: Upcoming Indie Games to Get Excited About in 2019

 
 

I was going to do an upcoming game releases post every two months this year, but, as it turns out, it’s hard to find upcoming indie games. It’s even harder to find release dates that aren’t super vague. So I’ve decided to just make a post for the entire year! Later in the year I’ll probably do another post with games I didn’t discover in time for this one. And of course, since this blog focuses on sci-fi/fantasy, these all have some sort of SFF element to them.

Most of these are available on Steam, which is where I’ll link to because that’s where I get most of my games, but they may be available from other places as well.

Anyway, here are the games I’m excited about and that I think you all should be excited about too!

(Descriptions below are taken from the official descriptions.)


Arcade Spirits by Fiction Factory Games

Arcade Spirits

Description:

Arcade Spirits, a romantic visual novel, follows an alternate timeline set in the year 20XX where the 1983 video game crash never occurred. After a turbulent work history, you are granted employment at the Funplex, a popular arcade, home to a host of unique personalities and customers. Where will this new-found employment take you? Who will you meet along the way? Will you find the romance you’re seeking?

My Thoughts:

This one sounds like it has a kind of 80s cyberpunk feel, and I’m into it. The art looks bright and colorful. And who doesn’t love arcades?

More Info

 

Necrobarista by Route 59

Necrobarista

Description:

Necrobarista is a cinematic visual novel set in a magical Melbourne cafe where the dead are granted one last night to mingle with the living.

My Thoughts:

I’m not really sure what to make of this game, it looks quite different from the usual visual novel, but I’m intrigued by the premise of a place where the dead get one last night with the living!

More Info

 

Spellcaster University by Sneaky Yak Studio

Spellcaster University

Description:

In Spellcaster University, you take on the role of the director of a magic university in a heroic fantasy world. Build your school, manage your budget, recruit teachers. Will you make it a high place of black magic, with the best teachers of necromancy and demonology? Or a school in harmony with nature to train druids and shamans? Or why not train adventurous mages, offering them options to learn how to fight and be discreet? But this will require surviving the ruthless attacks of the orc tribes and the controls of the education authorities.

My Thoughts:

We can’t go to a school for wizards, so the next best thing is running one, right? Management games are a lot of fun, and I think the premise of this one will make it even more so!

More Info

 

Seventh Circle by Rock Candy Games

Seventh Circle

Description:

Seventh Circle is an urban fantasy visual novel.

Congratulations: you’re a mage.

Fresh out of college with a degree in the arcane, you’ve made your childhood dream come true by gaining admittance to the Trillian, a renowned league of arena battle mages, where the brightest young magical talents duke it out every week for money, fame, and bragging rights.

As you tangle with the Trillian’s big personalities–an uptight genius, a hot-headed would-be rival, a handsome haloed jock, and more–you’ll uncover a mystery stretching back decades, and you might just find love while you’re at it.

My Thoughts:

Urban fantasy is quite possibly my favorite story genre, and getting to be a magic user in a dating sim/visual novel sounds great! Plus the art for this game looks pretty!

More Info

 

Red Embrace: Hollywood by Argent Games

Red Embrace: Hollywood

Description:

Los Angeles, California, 1996. A young newcomer is turned into a vampire and thrust into the dark underbelly of society, forced to sink or swim. You are that newcomer.

Red Embrace: Hollywood is a unique vampire visual novel that puts you, the player, at the heart of the story.

Choose your appearance, pick your vampire House, and make hundreds of choices that determine not only your future–but the future of Los Angeles.

In the world of RE:H, you can be anything…because you’re already dead.

My Thoughts:

In case anyone here is new or just dropping in, I’ll let you in on a little not-secret: I LOVE vampires. So I cannot wait for this game! I get to be a vampire! And interact with other vampires! And date vampires! And it seems like the game has a whole interesting vampire society.

More Info

 

As We Know It by Jaime Scribbles Games

As We Know It

Description:

When the world gets too hot humanity finds sanctuary underground. After a long waiting list you finally score a spot in the local underground city of Camden, run by Mayor Rick Davidson. You and your mother move in and begin to acclimate to this wonderful new life. As time passes, however, things start to go wrong. Unravel what’s going on, and face some hard choices that will impact your relationships and fate.

Get a job, find romance, and meet the other residents of Camden- your new home.

My Thoughts:

I love reading about dystopias and post-apocalyptic worlds, so I’m excited for the chance to play one! And I love that you don’t just choose a love interest, you also get to have friends and a career, something you don’t always find in dating sims.

More Info

 

Minotaur by U7 Committee

Minotaur

Description:

An adventure game with visual novel-style narrative, Minotaur tells a dark mystery story set in a newly created science fantasy world.

Minotaur tells a story about a group of nine characters (five of which are playable) who find themselves unable to leave their own home. Tensions rise as things start to take turn for the worse and it becomes clear that their unfortunate situation is not an accident, but a trap of elaborate design. Revealing the identity of its creator and understanding their motives is now the matter of life and death.

The story unfolds from perspective of five different characters, and although you can only unlock routes in succession, your actions and choices in each of them have universal effect and lead to one of four different endings.

My Thoughts:

This looks to be a combo point-and-click puzzle game and visual novel, and that sounds fun! Plus it’s got a cyberpunk feel, the art looks nice, and it’s got full voice acting.

More Info

 

Yaga by Breadcrumbs Interactive

Yaga

Description:

Play as Ivan, a one-handed blacksmith cursed with incredible bad luck.

Ivan is caught between a Tzar giving him impossible tasks, a mysterious witch who wants to manipulate him, and his grandma who wants him to find a wife.

Start your journey in an action RPG where the story and characters react to the way you roleplay your character.

My Thoughts:

This one looks cute! It’s got Slavic folklore, a pleasing art style, and even disability rep since the character is missing a hand. Sounds like a great combo!

More Info

 

Boyfriend Dungeon by Kitfox Games

Boyfriend Dungeon

Description:

For your summer job, you’re tasked with clearing the creatures in “the dunj”. Soon you discover weapons you find transform into cuties… and they’re SINGLE! (What a craaazy coincidence because you also happen to be up for grabs yourself.)

Spend the cash you earn on romantic outings to forge precious moments with your lovers and work together to clear the rampant monster infestations, because after all, a couple that slays together, stays together.

My Thoughts:

I don’t know if I’ll be playing this one myself as I’m not good with combat, but getting to romance your weapons sounds like so much fun!

More Info

 

Afterparty by Night School Studio

Afterparty

Description:

In Afterparty, you play Milo and Lola, recently deceased best buds who suddenly find themselves staring down an eternity in Hell. But there’s a loophole: outdrink Satan and he’ll grant you re-entry to Earth.

Milo and Lola are now dead, thirsty, and roaming the streets of Nowhere, the outermost island of Hell.

What adventures will you stumble through in the underworld? Every step is up to you. Time to go on the best bender ever, uncover the mystery of why you’ve been damned, and drink the big guy under the table.

My Thoughts:

This game looks like a visual delight and sounds like it’s gonna be a blast! The idea of two best friends having to out-drink Satan at a bunch of bars in Hell is just too amusing to pass up.

More Info

 
 
 
 
 

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Are there any upcoming 2019 games you're excited about?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

22 thoughts on “Gaming News: Upcoming Indie Games to Get Excited About in 2019

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  1. Greg

    I love arcades (where’d they all go??) so arcade Spirits sounds fabulous to me! I wanna work at the Funplex!

    Ooh Red Emberace sounds like your kind of game! Vampire societies *nods enthusiastically* As We Know It sounds kinda cool, I like the idea of an underground sanctuary.

    Yaga could be awesome- love that promo art. Botfriend Dungeon I think I read about a while back, the idea of dating weapons seems way familiar. Musta been a Kickstarter maybe or something…

    1. Kristen Burns

      People just play games on their phones and computer and consoles and don’t need arcades, I guess. Arcades are fun though!

      Right? It’s SO my kinda game!

      The art in Yaga looks great, and it just looks really fun. Yeah, there was a Kickstarter for Boyfriend Dungeon. I think a lot of people are excited for that one!

  2. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    Afterparty and Spellcaster University both look really good. I’ll have to look out for both. Unfortunately, the problem with most games is that they have vague release dates right until they actually come out. It’s frustrating as hell for everyone involved. It just means you check up sporadically on those games you’re excited about and are pleasantly surprised sometimes when you find it’s out already.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Afterparty is one of the ones on this list I’m most excited for! And Spellcaster University looks like a lot of fun. Yeah, that’s what I’m realizing about the dates. I just put them on my Steam wishlist if they’re available there so it’s easy to check.

  3. Daniela Ark

    I love how some SFF games stories look better than books and movies! I miss my gamer days so much! Getting lost in a game is as good as getting lost in a book! 🙂 These all sound SO GOOD! Minotaur sounds AWESOME and I’m weirdly curious about Necrobarista LOL

    1. Kristen Burns

      A good story is a good story, whether it’s a book or game or movie! So I agree, getting lost in a good game *is* just as good as getting lost in a good book 🙂

  4. Lola

    Most of these sound very interesting! And all of them are games I hand’t heard of before.

    Two games I am excited about are Wargroove and the next game by Abbey Games (can’t remember the game title, it’s a godhood game type). I am sure I have a few more on my wishlist, but those are the ones that come to mind now.

    The arcade look of Arcade Games looks fun. That dragon in the Spellcaster University graphic looks so cute! Seventh Circle sounds interesting too! And I like the sound of Yaga too. Will have to check some of these out and watch the trailers.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I just looked up the games you mentioned, and that Godhood one sounds pretty unique!

      Maybe you’ll find some new games to try 🙂 The dragon is really cute! Lol

  5. Olivia Roach

    It’s so cool that you took the time to research and compile all of these into a post! It especially can’t have been easy if they are so hard to find as well. I am loving the looks of the colour schemes and artwork for Seventh Circle, Arcade Spirits and also the Hollywood one too. They all look like the kind of game play ones I would enjoy. I’m actually going to wait for reviews of those and I might actually pick them up. The premises have me intrigued and I would be willing to try something new…

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah it’s not easy finding games lol. But I like having things to look forward to! I’m prob going to wait for reviews for some of these myself, although I’m definitely buying the vampire one no matter what! I hope you like them if you do decide to give any of these a try.