obviously quality can have a subjective slant, and genres each have their favorites, but if a neophyte was asking: what are some of the best indie "try-before-you-buy" software game titles out there, which ones would be in the top percentile? The more objective the list, the better, top seller + critical acclaim + polish. If there is a website with these sorts of lists that would be cool too.
Does popcap count as indie? Assuming not, some of my favorites are: -Breakquest -Hamsterball -Starscape -Star Chamber -Outpost Kaloki The last 3 are strategy games, geeky to varying degrees. But that's my bag, baby. Add in Popcap, and you also get: -Insanaquarium (I <3 Insanaquarium) -Zuma -Dynomite -Rocket Mania -Hiro_Antagonist
I have not done extensive research on all the demo-downloads available (far too busy developing stuff to play anything at this time) but over the laste year or so, titles I remember as standing out from their Demos include: Outpost Kaloki Hamsterball Zuma Deluxe Wobbles On The Oche (darts) Breakquest Gish Kickshot Pool Of course there are many more quality titles out there, but I don't get that much time to try them all - so the above is really just a quick opinion on what I consider good production values, fun, and "polishâ„¢" In fact, some of them are that good that a. I may buy them soon and b. I almost feel like advertising them on my site for free (when it was more established and had a decent amount of visitors to have an impact). I can see passion in these products that shines through compared to the "run of the mill" stuff that just does the bare minimum needed to call itself a game. Well done to these guys!
My current faves, as "Best" can be very very subjective: 1 Cosmo Bots/Cosmic Bugs (Retro64) 2 Wik and the Fable of Souls (Reflexive) 3 Beesley's Buzzwords (Flashbang) 4 Zen Puzzle Garden (Lexaloffle) 5 Big Kahuna Reef (Reflexive) 6 Snood. Yes, Snood. Leave me alone! (Did Dave Dobson ever name his company?) 7 Trials of Werlin (Bantam City) 8 Puppytron (Puppy Games) 9 Rainy Colors (Trifaces) 10 Zuma. Yes, Zuma. Leave me alone! (Popcap)
I have to second Cosmo Bots. At first I didn't think anything of it but then I got hooked trying to get as far as I could before the demo ran out. Definitely buying it next royalty check. I also like Laser Squad: Nemesis. It's lost the charm that the original Laser Squad had but still really good for a strategy fix.
In no particular order: - Snowy: the Bear's Adventures and Snowy: Space Trip: It's nice to see clones of some of the more obscure - yet very deserving - classics, and the Snowy games are very polished. - Big Kahuna Reef: The only swap-tiles-and-match game that's ever managed to hold my intrest. - Cactus Bruce and the Corporate Monkeys: Great game, love the humor - Hamsterball: Marble Madness, baby! With cute rodents! (Best Marble Madness clone I've seen) - Jets'n'Guns: Incredible action. - Platypus: Very fun, and love the original art style. - BreakQuest: Of course - Pop-Pop: Excellent breakout-inspired game. Innovative and well-polished. - Super DX-Ball: Another excellent breakout game. - Hyperballoid: Also a good breakout - Paradoxion: Most addictive puzzle game I've played in years, and great polish (And a level editor is coming!) - Zzed: I love what it's done for Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble style games. - Alien Shooter: Very fun - Orbz: Original, fun, love the multiplayer. - Gish: Of course - Alien Hominid: Not sure if it qualifies as indie... - Torus Trooper: Very fun, Great visual style, Great example of the D language, and it's free
What, no Unreal Tournament? If you want to play the id card, you have to include every self funded developer.
BoXiKoN is a very addictive puzzler game, and have spent many hours at the keyboard just clicking away. Its available at www.shoecakegames.com It definately ranks in my top 10.
For me, it's pretty much anything by Retro64, especially Cosmo-bots. Jeff Minters GridRunner++, loved hamsterball although, i still haven't bought it and anything by pom pom too. Also, star monkey by small rockets is a good shoot-em-up.