15 Upcoming Indie RPGs To Keep An Eye On

I’ve always complained about the lack of RPGs not set in a fantasy world or in modern Japan. Americana Dawn, inspired by Suikoden and other classics, covers more than two centuries of early American history. The game also sports a fresh-looking ATB battle system and beautiful character artworks. It’s a shame the Kickstarter campaign was unsuccessful, but the developers promised not to give up!

This recently revealed game displays enchanting isometric high-quality graphics that are reminiscent of Final Fantasy Tactics and Ogre Tactics – unsurprisingly, those are mentioned as inspirations. The developer Twin Otter Studios promises a story-driven game. The main theme: love – but incorporated in an unusual way, apparently. Unfortunately we still need to exercise patience – the developers estimate the game will be released at the end of 2017.

Boot Hill Heroes is like a mixture of Mother/Earthbound and Wild Arms. It carries the charm of a spaghetti western and offers witty dialogues and an unusual battle system. The first episode (of three) received much praise on Steam, and it seems we don’t have to wait long for part 2 anymore.

Zeboyd Games has already made four small humorous RPGs with sophisticated gameplay mechanics in the past. Cosmic Star Heroine is the first „big“ project of the developer duo. The SciFi/Spy RPG, as the two call it, is inspired by games like Phantasy Star and Lunar. With its impressive 16-bit graphics, fresh ideas and finely-tuned turn-based battles, Cosmic Star Heroine has the potential to become one of the finest indie games of the year!

We’ve seen quite a few 16-bit RPGs in the past years, but on a technical level the action RPG CrossCode, developed by the German team Radical Fish Games, beats them all. Fast-paced battles, sophisticated puzzles, beautiful graphics and an engrossing story – CrossCode has it all. The story takes place on a different planet within an MMORPG. The protagonist, Lea, is not mute, but she can communicate with only one word: „Hi.“ If all goes well, this game, inspired by 16-bit classics like Secret of Mana, will be released this year. If you don’t know what to expect, make sure to check out one of the demos.

Can you overstep the boundaries of good taste? If so, DeathTrash definitely does it, and more. Sex, alcohol, violence, gore and corruption – all of those things are normal in the world of DeathTrash. Probably enough to scare away most players, but those who enjoy a bawdy game or two might find a true gem here.

Edge of Eternity is a 3D RPG with a semi-realistic artstyle, comparable to Final Fantasy XIII. The open, freely explorable world is a blend of fantasy and sci-fi. The game has an ATB battle system and a branching story that goes into differen directions based on the player’s decisions.

Hyper Light Drifter conquered Kickstarter in a storm, an it’s easy to see why. The trailer shows a hauntingly beautiful game. The unique color palette and its elaborate pixel graphics are not the game’s only selling points, though: The fast-paced action battle system as well as the mysterious atmosphere and story are more than enough to make it stand out from the crowd. Maybe we don’t even have to wait much longer: Hyper Light Drifter’s might be out this year!

Melancholy Republic is a 32-bit-styled game with mini-games instead of battles The story of the game revolves around the politician Claire C. Lockridge who attempts to stop corruption in her country – a decision that changes her life forever. The developers promise a story-oriented game and plan to release Melancholy Republic this year.

The playful artstyle of the beautiful Secrets of Grindea looks like a mixture of the best from Zelda and Seiken Densetsu / Mana. You can play this action RPG alone, or you can play it with friends. The fast-paced, fluid battles and the skill system promise to be fun, but the game is also supposed to have an engaging story. That’s still not enough for you? Then try to test your skills in the roguelike mode.

The French team at Enigami proves that even a small group of people can make 3D games that look fantastic. The story of Shiness, set in a magical world, is full of moral conflicts and clashing ideals – in the end, everyone just wants to do the right thing. Gameplay-wise, the game offers action battles with strong Beat ’em Up influences, and lots of puzzles. The best part: We will be able to enjoy Shiness this year. Backers already have access to several demos.

Soul Saga Episode 1 is another colorful 3D RPG in its late development stages, featuring a classic turn-based battle system. The hard-working developer Disastercake regularly communicates with players in order to deliver the best game possible. Many videos already show how the game will play. Next to Shiness, Soul Saga is definitely one of the most promising 3D indie RPGs!

Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreaker’s Daughter, a turn-based RPG, has an unusual setting: ship breakyards. The protagonist, a young girl, is looking for her parents in this desolate place. The game, however, does not only take place in the real world, but also in her dream world. Unraveled looks magical, charming and touching at the same time, and is set to release in the first quarter of 2016.

Unterwegs in Düsterburg is the name of a German RPG Maker game that has become a cult classic even outside its community. The developer, Grandy, has been working on a remake for some time. The 16-bit graphics of the original will be replaced with a more modern 32-bit style, and there will also be an English version this time! There isn’t a release date yet, but on Facebook we can follow Grandy’s process on the game.

Zirkonia is a 3D strategy RPG developed by Chris „csg“ Scheidig, a German developer who does everything – except for the music – all by himself. The game places great importance on challenging tactical battles – that’s why the battle system offers much more diversity than your average SRPG. The story also makes a good impression. Zirkona has still a long way to go until it’s finished, but you should definitely remember its title. And who knows, maybe there will be a big annoucement or two this year.