10 Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

Outer Wilds

Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

Outer Wilds was my personal Game of the Year last year (and it was robbed I tells ye!) so no one among the editorial staff is surprised that this is the first pick on my list.

Outer Wilds is a charming space-adventure game. There’s no traditional combat so to speak, you’re just going about a small solar system, exploring the secrets and unraveling more of the plot as you go.

In a nutshell, you’re trying to learn more about the Nomai race, but each of the planets has its own unique mechanic or puzzle element that you need to solve to unearth its secrets and continue on your adventure.

Honestly, I don’t want to say a whole lot more, as a lot of the enjoyment comes from the sense of discovery you feel from figuring things out and watching your ‘clues’ board fill up.

It’s sheer genius, with a belting soundtrack and a healthy dose of charm to bring its solar system to life.

Stardew Valley

Remember when Harvest Moon was the farming sim that you’d recommend a newcomer to the genre? Well, that went flying out the window when it diversified into obscurity and a stellar indie by the name of Stardew Valley arrived in 2016.

Stardew Valley is more than just a farming game. It’s a village teeming with things for you to do, all wrapped up in an old-school art-style that never ceases to look stunning. With countless updates since its release, some would argue that the game doesn’t need a sequel.

While we certainly agree with that, we’d love to see developer ConcernedApe work on an even bigger and bolder farming sim. The ultimate farming/ life sim, if you would.

Would it take a ton of time? Most likely, yes. Would we mind waiting? Absolutely not. ConcernedApe has already confirmed he’s working on a new title set in the same world as Stardew Valley, but it’s not the same kind of gameplay. There’s another he’s working on not set in the same world, but that will tie into Stardew Valley in some way.

Here’s hoping the wait’s shorter than expected.

Cuphead

Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

It’s hard to believe that Cuphead didn’t come from a massive AAA studio. The production level, brutally challenging but compelling gameplay, and incredible soundtrack all feel far more polished than a small indie studio could ever hope of achieving. Even better, it’s got a co-op mode. It’s a gift from the gods.

Yet, Cuphead came from indie studio StudioMDHR. Inspired by 1930s cartoons from the likes of Walt Disney and Fleischer Studios, the game’s look is deceptive of its gameplay… that I’m sure is responsible for more than its fair share of broken controllers.

While the game is due to receive more content in the form of The Delicious Last Course, which will bring new weapons, charms, new bosses, and a new playable character Ms. Chalice, we just can’t get enough of our crockery-headed pals.

It doesn’t even have to do the same thing all over again. How about a journey through the ages of cartoons, with players taking on bosses from a variety of different time periods, from Steamboat Willy right through to Endless Space.

Toss in weapons, soundtracks and charms unique to each time zone and you’ve got another reason to break five controllers. Maybe more if it’s really hard.

Oh, and you’re welcome StudioMDHR, we’ll be expecting our cheque in the mail!

Firewatch

Imagine your typical walking simulator, blend it with the lonely Wyoming wilderness, and add a sprinkle of romance and you’ve got Firewatch.

The game follows the story of Henry, a man with a messy life who’s taken on a summer job as a firewatch. Over the days, he uncovers a dark secret, gets close with a fellow colleague, and takes in everything that nature has to offer.

By the time the whole thing’s ended, you’ll be clamoring for more. Its through the little conversations Henry has while doing menial tasks around the forest, or stumbling on uncharted territory, that the game will sink its claws into you.

You’ll want to know the next chapter of Henry’s story. To assume the role of a new firewatch temp and do it all over again. But that’s it, it just leaves you.

While developer Campo Santo is currently split across a number of Valve projects, we know that it was working on a first-person adventure game, In the Valley of Gods, that has been indefinitely delayed for the meantime.

In the Valley of Gods certainly looks like more of what we got in Firewatch, just in a different setting. Here’s hoping that work resumes on the game soon and we’re not looking at a Half-Life 3/ Portal 3/ Left 4 Dead 3/ Team Fortress 3 situation now the developer’s working with Valve.

Night in the Woods

Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

Night in the Woods is one of those games that ‘speaks to you’ to sound all cliche and corny. It carries a message, not about growing up, but about what it’s like to be an adult in more than just legally being that age. It’s about taking on responsibilities, growing as a person, and leaving some of those crazy things you did when you were younger safely in the past.

While the ‘game’ never really gets going, instead offering up small and simple tasks that all connect together into the overarching narrative, Night in the Woods is simply charming and touching in its narrative and the conversations its well-realized anthropomorphic characters have with one another.

Sadly, whether or not Night in the Woods will ever get a sequel remains to be seen. Following the passing of co-creator Alex Holowka last year, no comment has been made regarding the future of Mae and the rest of the Possum Springs population.

Hyper Light Drifter

I remember feeling completely and utterly at a loss when I first started playing Hyper Light Drifter for review. I was walking around aimlessly, not being told where I was going. There’s no text, no guidance, no NPC telling you where to go. You have to figure that out for yourself.

What lies in wait is a gauntlet of punishing enemies and even tougher boss battles that’ll force you into perfectly executing every attack, dancing and dodging between enemies as you go.

With all of this action-RPG delightfulness packed into such a mysterious world, there’s plenty of room on that canvas for yet another adventure for players to embark on. Give us more boss battles, more upgrades, and more stunning artwork and worlds to explore and we’ll be throwing money at our computer screens in anticipation.

The Witness

Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

If you’re looking for indie games that’ll actually make you feel like your brain’s about to melt into a weird pink slush in front of you, then look no further than The Witness. Jonathan Blow’s masterpiece is a true test of your logic and problem-solving skills.

Players are thrown onto an island, with a few introductory puzzles to help you learn the basics of every other puzzle. The thing is, with each puzzle you solve on the island, you’ll learn the method or part of the answer to another.

With each puzzle you solve, you add a bit of knowledge to your arsenal and continue to pull on the thread that’ll eventually unravel the island’s secrets.

These really aren’t for the faint-hearted though. The Witness saw many, many people in the industry reaching for notepads, scrawling symbols and calculations on pages like mad scientists. The grind is real, but the reward is so worth it.

There’s no doubt that a sequel to The Witness would take a ridiculous amount of time to develop and release, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want it.

C’mon Jonathan, time to dust off that genius brain of yours, paint us another island teeming with vibrant flora and fauna, and leave us perplexed all over again.

The Binding of Isaac

The Binding of Isaac was one of the biggest and best roguelite indie games back when it first released, and while it still holds a special place in many fans’ hearts, especially thanks to its countless updates, it’s starting to feel a little outdated.

But that doesn’t mean beloved Isaac and his incredibly creepy adventure have to be relegated to the past. In fact, quite the contrary if you ask us. It’s time for Binding of Isaac to get the sequel it’s long-deserved.

With some updated visuals, a whole bunch of new levels, iconic returning enemies mixed in with newcomers, and an array of easter eggs, secrets and multiple ending, fans would be sure to flock back to this iconic indie series once again.

Celeste

Indie Games That Need Sequels ASAP

Celeste is a beautiful game. It’s a charming platformer that sees a young girl scaling her way up a mountain and overcoming some of her own personal trials and tribulations along the way.

With over 100 levels of increasing difficulty — and these really do get tough — and a beautiful art style, it’s difficult not to be cheering Madeline on and get far too immersed in the platforming action.

As one of 2018’s best games, it’s no surprise fans are clamoring for more of the grueling mountain-scaling goodness. Imagine taking on the same mountain all over again, but from a different character’s perspective, complete with new story turns, personal motivations, and of course, new levels to test your platforming skills.

Moss

There hasn’t been a whole lot of VR games I’ve been itching for more of once I’ve come to the end of their inevitably-short duration. Many have offered cool premises, but they often didn’t have enough substance to keep things fresh for longer than a few hours. Moss was different.

Releasing back in 2018 for PSVR, Moss follows the story of a titular mouse called Quill who accidentally awakens an ancient magic. Her Uncle in danger, she embarks on a quest to save the world from the darkest villain in this fantasy world.

The thing is, Quill is entirely dependent on your interactions with the world to succeed. You’ll simultaneously solve environmental puzzles and guide Quill through the world, defeating enemies and uncovering treasures.

The team at Polyarc did a remarkable job at ensuring the puzzles on offer never got stale. The combat was a little basic, but it gets the job done in this whimsical fantasy tale.

Alas, the whole thing was over all too quickly, and even though Polyarc dropped the Twilight Garden update in June last year, we’re still clamoring for more. Here’s hoping another adventure for the adorable Quill is on the slates for the near future.

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