Favorite Indie/Shareware game?

[DangerCode]

I thought it would be fine to discuss our favorite indie games. What's your favorite indie/shareware game to play?

My current favorite is Rocknor's Donut Factory.

[Ryan Clark]

The only one I'm playing right now is Puppytron. For the price, it's a great deal :)

Previously, it was Zen Puzzle Garden. I like puzzles.

[whisperstorm]

I'm currently obsessed with Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) - I would nominate this as indie game of the year...

http://agtp.romhack.net/doukutsu.html

[DangerCode]

I'm currently obsessed with Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) - I would nominate this as indie game of the year...

http://agtp.romhack.net/doukutsu.html

I've never heard of it, but ummm ... if this really plays like Wonderboy in Monsterland like claimed then I need to play it now.

Any advice on getting the English version installed? The Japanese links were confusing.

[Ricardo C]

My top 5:

1) Zen Puzzle Garden (digital crack)
2) Beesley's Buzzwords (best soundtrack I've heard in ANY game, in a long time)
3) Puppytron 2084 (digital heroin)
4) Big Kahuna Reef (digital... ok I'm running out of drugs)
5) Bejeweled 2 (I shall beat Action Mode someday)

[Hamumu]

I have only 3 games on my must-buy-someday list (but don't hold your breath, note how old one of them is, and it's still unbought!):

Jets n' Guns
Mutant Storm
Warblade

I'd also put Breakquest on there if I hadn't gotten it free. Interestingly, all space shooters (not BQ, obviously). Not because that's my genre, but I think it's because it's one where an indie can do really well - I really prefer console-style games, and for the most part, shooters are the only console-style games indies do (with the exception of yours truly!). I'd love a new game like Diablo, but they're too big for indies to do a really great job at generally. Too much content. Only a shooter can really hold my interest for a super long time, thus being worth my money, without having a super lot of content. Well, fighting games too, but nobody but the original OMF has ever done a good job on the PC. I'll replay shooters a million times. I should probably add the Demon Stars to my list. In fact, I think I will.

[svero]

Hmm.. tough question... There are really so many indie games I've liked so it would be too much to list them all, but some of my favs are...

1) Space Tripper (Fantastic shooter with so so demo. The Dreadnaught levels (section 2) is where the game really picks up)

2) Zuma (Best casual style puzzle/action game ever made - even if it is a clone of puzz loop it goes well well beyond pl in terms of gameplay and quality. It's a textbook example of how to build any kind of game properly. The attention to detail is humbling.)

3) Dr. Lunatic (Must of spent years playing this if you add up all the hours. Just wacky, full of humour, great gameplay, lots of variety, huge amounts of content.)

4) Alien Flux (Tough to get into but worth the effort once you master the basic controls etc...)

5) Hamsterball (this is one I didnt buy for reasons not directly related to the quality of the gameplay itself. It's a really fanstastic presentation though and I'm a huge fan of marble madness. In case you're wondering I'd say it was the fact that I got through all the content very quickly was the deciding factor in not purchasing. A beautiful game to look at and experience but not challenging for me. I just finished it too quickly. Early demos let you play right to the end too!)

6) Cletus Clay.. most haven't played this, but from early betas, I have to say Cletus is a special game. I can't wait for that do nothing no good layabout to get off his butt and finish it.

7) Crimsonland - nice simple game with great gameplay and excellent presentation

8) Mahjong Quest - Really great coupling of a traditional game with more modern style arcade ideas like a progression map and story. It's the mahjong game I wish I'd made when I built Variations. I like to think that my mahjong's inspired some of the ideas in this game as I notice several things that are common only to both.

[ManuelFLara]

My current favorite is BreakQuest. It just proved me that one can do a very fun and quality game no matter its genre (breakout style). Previously it was Space Tripper, the first shareware game I bought, the one that got me into this ;)

[edifreak]

1) Elastomania
My god, this game can take you 3h+ at once (each & every time you start playing it)
2) Crimsonland
wohoo, great action!
3) My own Gink in Trouble
no really! I like playing it.. similar to Icy Tower
4) ...

[Wayward]

My list of favorite indie games (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showpost.php?p=14484&postcount=5) hasn't changed since the Indie games that kick a@@ thread, but here it is again:
Bejeweled 2 (http://www.popcap.com/launchpage.php?theGame=bejeweled2&src=big8) - PopCap Games
Reiner Knizia's Samurai (http://www.klear.com/samurai/index.php) - Klear Games
Elastomania (http://www.elastomania.com/)
Icy Tower (http://www.freelunchdesign.com/games.shtml) - Free Lunch Design
Mutant Storm (http://www.pompomgames.com/mutantstorm.htm) - PomPom Games
Every Extend #2 (http://nagoya.cool.ne.jp/o_mega/product/e2.html)
Pretty Good Solitaire (http://www.goodsol.com/)

[Diodor Bitan]

1) VGA Planets (multiplayer 4x space game)
2) Netrek (multiplayer online team action-strategy game - similar to a sports game)
3) ADOM (rogue-like RPG)
4) Soldat
5) Slay (simple yet deep turn based strategy game)
6) Laser Squad Nemesis

[BantamCityGames]

My all time favorites are Zuma and Snood, but I also really like the Ricochet series.

[Fantus]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Gish yet.

My personal favorites are BreakQuest, Pax Galaxia and Pontifex.

[Ricardo C]

You didn't mention it, either ;)

[oNyx]

I'm currently obsessed with Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari) - I would nominate this as indie game of the year...

http://agtp.romhack.net/doukutsu.html

Ye, another vote for Doukutsu :)

I beat it 3 days ago and I'll play it again some day for the perfect ending (there are afaik 3 different endings). I had soooo much fun with it. The level design is extremely well done (on par with nintendo imo) and the music is great, too.

[ggambett]

My must-buy-sometime list (I guess I'm a Hamumu when it comes to this!) :

1) Crimsonland
2) Outpost Kaloki

Other games I wouldn't buy (not my genre) but I think are brilliantly done are Zuma and Pizza Frenzy.

[Coyote]

1. Outpost Kaloki
2. Orbz
3. Ricochet Lost Worlds
4. Slay

I've also purchased Pretty Good Solitaire and Bejeweled for my wife.

There are a lot of little games I've found interesting lately - like pretty much all of Mike Boeh's games, but I'm into retrogaming. And Best Friends was fun, too. I keep trying to get into a couple of Spiderweb's RPGs, but I've been short on the time to put into them to get into them.

[Andy]

Nice to know that developers here don't like the games they develop. :)

Well. There is my list guys - learn the lesson.

WildSnake Arcade: INVASION WAVES (http://www.wildsnake.com/demo/iw)

WildSnake Pinball: INVASION (http://www.wildsnake.com/demo/in)

WildSnake Puzzle: Bill's Fields of Wonders (http://www.wildsnake.com/demo/ah)

:p

[ggambett]

Nice to know that developers here don't like the games they develop. :)
Hey, I do like my games. But I'd be delusional if I said Betty's Beer Bar is better than Outpost Kaloki. One thing is liking what you do, and another one is lying to yourself. Besides, as a gamer I'm kinda hardcore (FPSs and such), so I prefer to play Crimsonland than Betty.

Our new game soon to be in beta, however, is an entirely different story. I know I'm biased, but I think it's looking insanely beautiful :)

[Andy]

so I prefer to play Crimsonland than Betty.

Yeah, really? But that's exactly the problem Gabriel :)
I do like to play our games :p

REM: And I'm pretty sure we do the best staff in the nische - just to give a little bit more breath to discussion. Otherwise you will will get stuck with that "black and black" everybody screams but nobody likes and that so laudly pronounced physics exercise in the ball movement :D

[ggambett]

Yeah, really? But that's exactly the problem Gabriel :)
I do like to play our games :p
I'm happy for you, but I don't see why you see my case as a problem. I absolutely love the games I make, but not in the same way I loved No One Lives Forever, for example.

[Dan MacDonald]

There are so many brilliant games out there, Hanford's Doughnut Factory is a masterpiece I think, but it's not my style of game. Outpost K. is another....

For me though, in terms of games I played the most of

1. ThinkTanks - BraveTree
2. Raptor: Call of the Shadows - Mountain King
3. Alien Shooter - Sigmateam
4. Platypus (The Infamous Mr. Flack)
5. Enfo's Team Survival mod for Warcraft3 (sort of indie..)
6. Abuse - crack dot com (now defunct)

[gmcbay]

[Admin edit] We don't need these kinds of troll posts.

[Andy]

I don't see why you see my case as a problem.

Really? Oh. This is very simple really. If you don't like the games you develop how could you manager to develop them well? ;)

[Savant]

Andy

Why does a developer have to be in love with the games he makes? That's illogical. You may love them while developing them but most people are sick of the game by the time its finally finished and out the door.

The fact that you still love yours is great, but don't expect that to be the normal behavior for other developers.

[Coyote]

I am afraid I may be derailing this topic even more, but I was looking at this as an opportunity to support and praise our peers, rather than just tooting our own horn.

Maybe that's while I'll never be a brilliant marketer.

Of course I'm still quite pleased with Void War, and I still find myself playing it "just for fun." (Which makes it very slow to work on sometimes... I get caught up playing when I'm supposed to be checking on a bug-fix).

But I am really impressed with the quality of work coming from the indie community. We might not have the most cutting-edge technology in the industry, but that doesn't stop them from putting out quality, polished, highly-playable games.

[Linusson]

Since I found this (http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/) I've played a lot of Commander Keen 4. It might be ugly compared to newer games, but it's really really fun. :)

[Andy]

Andy
The fact that you still love yours is great, but don't expect that to be the normal behavior for other developers.

Err... OK. Because I develop the game in last 20 years I know what I'm talking about. I love and I'm in honour with all the games we made so far. If you feel another about your games Savant - drop them far away ad start over again from the scratch. Am I sound too harsh Dan? - I don't think so. ;)

[Savant]

Andy

I think maybe there's a language break down here. Can you explain your position again? I'm not sure what it is you're arguing for anymore.

[Pkeod]

I've never heard of it, but ummm ... if this really plays like Wonderboy in Monsterland like claimed then I need to play it now.

Any advice on getting the English version installed? The Japanese links were confusing.

http://www.subsoap.com/temp/dou_1005.zip
here is a translated mirror for you, and in zip format :)

The graphics are not too great but I had a lot with this game
http://www.subsoap.com/gamedownloads/ninja.zip
( I did not make this game )

[Ricardo C]

Andy thinks we don't love our games if we don't consider them our favorite games, which in his eyes means we cannot possibly develop good games since our heart is not into it.

And while I agree that a developer should like what he's working on, or else his lack of passion will show, I don't think that not listing my game as one of my favorites means I don't like it. It just means I'm too close to the project and playing it is not the same as playing something I had no hand in. Imagine George Lucas watching Star Wars. He knows all that went on behind the scenes, he knows the visual fx tricks, it's a different experience for him. Same for a game developer.

[princec]

Don't worry Andy! My games rock far more than everyone else's.

Cas :)

[Rebrehc's Industries]

My favorites are Dr. Lunatic, Zuma, and Crystal Path, in that order, but the only one I actually own is Dr. Lunatic; the other 2 are on my buy someday list.

[svero]

Why list your own games? I thought it went without saying that you like your own games and the question was really an implied "what games by other people are your favorites" -- That being said I don't play my own games. Not because I don't like them, just because by the time I've released them I've been playing them solidly for 4-6 months every day, so I do grow bored of them. I will crack out Space Taxi or one of the others ocassionally though.

[DangerCode]

http://www.subsoap.com/temp/dou_1005.zip
here is a translated mirror for you, and in zip format :)

The graphics are not too great but I had a lot with this game
http://www.subsoap.com/gamedownloads/ninja.zip
( I did not make this game )

Thanks. Those are some awesome games, despite the dated graphics. It's a pity they're freeware though, both games have good market value IMHO.

[Andy]

Don't worry Andy! My games rock far more than everyone else's.

Cas :)

Love you Cas! Correct buddy! That's how the things should go! :)

Just a little throlling guys! Don't get me too serious in this thread. I've just mentioned that almost nobody doens't call their own games.

And... No Steve. You can check the starting question: What's your favorite indie/shareware game to play? - That's why I was so wondered. ;)