Let the ID@Xbox crew set the tone this February. Indie game developers are vying for your affections this Valentine’s Day month, but do not worry—our team of wingmen and wingwomen has carefully chosen six Indie Selects that may fulfill anyone’s deepest fantasies.
February Selects had you at hello if you are searching for some delicious nourishment for the soul, soul-satisfying beats that pop, heart-pounding, risky adventures, and incredible deliveries that soar. This month, we have the following for you (in no certain order):
Cuisineer
The issue, “What if you had to earn your supper by confronting it in a fight to the death?” is addressed in this game. I am completely enamored with Cuisineer, the first food-themed action roguelite I have ever played. Back in my character’s hometown, I embarrassed myself by spending a lot of time destroying adorable but dangerous creatures in its dungeons in order to replenish my refrigerator. The cycle of “spend a day cooking for fussy customers, then retreat to a dungeon, then come back and upgrade your tools, etc.” never stops, and there is a perpetual need for more wood, different kinds of stone, and different grades of meat. To be honest, I am addicted to this hustle, and Cuisineer presents this cycle in a way that is both comfortable and demanding.
Although there are ways to leave early, you will have to fight your way through several floors and enemies to reach the finish of each gauntlet because the monsters in the various dungeons are not playing around. In order to keep expanding and moving further in the game, you will also be spending hard-earned gold (from your restaurant’s till) to enhance your rucksack and eatery capacity. Cuisineer does a fantastic (and adorable) job with this calming, dopamine-boosting cocktail, but it is not without its challenges and learning curve. Consider it like putting on adorable cat ears as you get ready for a long workout. You will soon be harvesting fuzzy tiny fluffballs for “fatty meat” if you give yourself some time to get onboard.
Turbo Overkill
Turbo Overkill is a first-person shooter that evokes the vibes of classic shooters like Quake & Doom and cyberpunk literature from the 1980s. A game that either IS a retro first-person shooter or is a more recent creation that aims to evoke a similar experience may be classified as a “boomer shooter” by contemporary standards. We can agree that it is appropriate, but this is a real thing, and we did not make it up! I am a major fan of the classics as much as I enjoy modern first-person shooters, and Turbo Overkill does this subgenre credit in as many ways as possible.
Players take control of Johnny Turbo, a cybernetic bounty hunter in the futuristic, cyberpunk metropolis of Paradise. With his extensive weaponry and reliable chainsaw leg, Turbo is poised to defeat Syn, rogue AI, and their augmented followers. Fighting different bosses and monsters, exploring, solving puzzles, upgrading Johnny and his weapons, and platforming are the main gameplay elements. Its combat flow and tempo, however, are what I adore most. By crouch sliding, which is a common technique in most contemporary first-person shooter games, players can use Johnny’s chainsaw leg to maneuver and eliminate the majority of foes in a single blow. In addition to its nostalgic heritage, this movement, when combined with jumps, air dashes, and cycling through the different iconic weapons, gives the game the impression of a classic arena shooter.
Turbo Overkill pays respect to the classics by offering a single-player game with a variety of difficulty options, hidden levels to discover, and entertaining unlockables. For further replayability, there are two more modes: Endless Mode and Arcade Mode. Both of these have a medal and scoring system. You should play this game if you enjoy first-person shooters, whether they are classic or contemporary.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter
A gritty and difficult 2D action-RPG, Tails of Iron 2 combines Metroidvania themes with Souls-like gameplay. Since the first entry, I have been interested in this series, but I have never taken it up because I have an endless backlog! However, after playing this one, I feel compelled to give it a try! You do not have to play the original to catch up because the sequel has a new protagonist, Arlo, even if the two stories take place in the same environment. In his quest to restore his nation, Arlo, the heir to the Warden of the Wastes, must exact revenge for the death of his father by facing off against monsters like the vicious Dark Wing Bats. Arlo is a rat, too.
I will not go into too much detail about the gore, but I will state that this game’s themes are bleak, despite its storybook-like design. In all the greatest ways, the hand-drawn graphics remind me of a secret treasure that may be discovered when exploring the Xbox Live Arcade collection. It feels familiar because of its nostalgic charm, yet it is also new and different. What about the world? Fantastic. Though Viking rats are not new, Viking motifs are. In addition to being cute, they are really metal.
I suggest giving this a try if you enjoy Soulslikes, Metroidvanias, or just the concept of rats wearing Viking armor. To make it even more appealing, Doug Cockle, who plays Geralt in the Witcher video game series, narrates the story.
Robobeat
Rhythm games have returned! Robobeat is a roguelite rhythm boomer shooter that is inventive, fast-paced, and futuristic. To say that this game is exceptional would be an understatement. Few games, and I would add even fewer that do it successfully, blend music-focused gameplay with sleek combat mechanisms in procedurally generated locations. You take on the role of Ace, a well-known bounty hunter who is after Frazzer, a quirky cyborg. You must navigate his distorted techno playground, which consists of five randomly generated “pathways,” where you must shoot, wall-run, slide, and bunny-hop in time with the soundtrack if you want to stop Frazzer in his tracks.
The option to switch tracks while playing is perhaps Robobeat’s most distinctive feature and my personal favorite. You can control the tempo of your run by alternating between frantic EDM, jazz-like grooves, and energetic metal. Sometimes, you need to go more slowly to understand the next step. The farther you go, the more difficult the adversaries are and the more fierce the hordes get. During your runs, you will gather blueprints that may be unlocked with money, but you will have to get them again if you die before using them. A weapon or ability can be used in any subsequent run after it has been unlocked.
Robobeat stands out from its contemporaries in a number of genres because to its fantastic songs, insanely violent gunplay, and roguelite features. This was a risky wager that was successful.
Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber
The narrative adventure game Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber is based on real-life events. You will take on the role of Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist in Mexico City following the revolution. Because historians and cultural organizations were involved in the game’s development, gamers are not only entertained but also educated. Because of this partnership, the game becomes an interactive repository for Mexican history. As the game took me to a turbulent time in Mexican history and revealed the truth of President Álvaro Obregón’s killing, I was utterly enthralled.
You will travel throughout Mexico City while speaking with and taking pictures of people, which, in my opinion, makes the plot and historical events seem very real. Only the photography mechanic, which necessitates mastering early 20th-century photographic processes, can add this element of authenticity. I found the game’s connection to the historical events and cultural facets of post-revolutionary Mexico to be quite captivating. It is a conventional point-and-click adventure game in which you investigate objects, gather clues, and converse with various characters. is an emotionally captivating game.
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain
A delightful adventure game with an E rating is Mika and the Witch’s Mountain. To pay for the repairs of her broom, Mika, a young witch who aspires to attend witch school, must take a job delivering parcels. You must use a broomstick to fly from point to point in the game’s little open world, the Island of Winds. As you get more broom traversal skills, you can explore more of the area.
The attractiveness of this island locale and its numerous residents is contagious, and the artwork is influenced by Studio Ghibli. As you make your way up the mountain to Witch School, you get to know and assist dozens of locals. There are more races, riddles, and secrets to prolong your stay on the island, but the primary plot does not drag. This is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels due to its straightforward control system and adorable appearance. An almost entirely fetch-quest-based game is transformed into a charming, soothing, and unforgettable journey by the art style, characters, and soundtrack.
