Alright, team, mid-January is almost over, which means it’s time to pay tribute to the indie games that stole our hearts (and hours of our lives). From building magical islands to action-packed auto-battlers: Aloft, Magicbook AutoBattler, and The Roottrees Are Dead are hidden gems you shouldn’t miss.
Aloft is a relaxing survival game set among the clouds, where you can turn any island into a flying ship. In the game, you’ll explore the sky, discover new islands, and build your dream home, either alone or in a group of up to seven players. Additionally, you will face the spread of fungal corruption, which threatens the balance of nature. To stop it, you must defeat the fungal creatures in combat and craft antidotes to restore harmony.
Beyond fighting corruption, you can plant crops, raise animals, and automate production using windmills and cables. The game’s focus on creativity makes Aloft perfect for peaceful exploration or group adventures. You can also share your own island designs with the community of other players.
Magicbook AutoBattler is a roguelite strategy game that brings a unique twist to the auto-battler genre. You must make smart decisions, managing limited resources to assemble the strongest team possible and face increasingly difficult battles. As you progress, you will collect weapons and gear, each with specific attributes and bonuses.
The greatest challenge lies in the Tower of Endlessness, where your adventurers will face powerful bosses for epic rewards. With its compelling combination of strategy and customization, Magicbook AutoBattler is a must-play for fans of tactical games.
Set in 1998, The Roottrees Are Dead challenges you to piece together a family tree after a wealthy family perishes in a plane crash. Thanks to a peculiar will left by their great-great-grandfather, the family fortune must only be distributed to true blood relatives. It’s up to you, armed with a dial-up modem and detective skills, to uncover who is entitled to the inheritance.
Gameplay involves gathering evidence from photos, articles, and books, and then connecting the information to fill out the family tree. As you progress, the clues become increasingly vague, making each deduction even more satisfying. Originally released as a free browser game during Global Game Jam 2023, this enhanced Steam version includes hand-drawn illustrations, a 3D interface, remastered audio, and new puzzles.
