The Best Indie Games of February 2017

Night in the Woods

The Best Indie Games of February 2017

February may have given us some excellent AAA titles to enjoy, but when it comes to indie games, it was a little bit quieter. While there aren’t quite as many indie games for us to recommend as usual, that doesn’t mean there are none to look back on. Check out our picks for the best indie games to release in February 2017.

Night in the Woods puts you in control of college dropout cat, Mae Borowski, as she returns to the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. Though determined to reconnect with her friends and resume her quiet existence in her hometown, Mae ends up finding that a lot of things have changed since she was last in Possum Springs, and it’s down to you to explore the world, interact with other colorful, adorable characters, and just experience its story.

Night in the Woods tackles some hard-hitting and sensitive subjects like mental health, responsibility, and relationships, yet still manages to inject a good dose of humor into proceedings. The beauty of Night in the Woods is the freedom you’re given to explore and do as you wish whenever you like. After all, Mae is a dropout and has no other plans for her life, so you can smash stuff up, get drunk, and play bass to your heart’s content.

While the game suffers from some lengthy load times and a bit of a lackluster ending, these slight hitches aren’t enough to stop it from being a game you have to experience. It may be telling the story of Mae Borowski and Possum Springs, but you’ll likely come away having learned a little about yourself by the end, and that’s most definitely a sign of stellar storytelling.

Torment: Tides of Numenera

The Best Indie Games of February 2017

Torment: Tides of Numenera is set within the world of pen-and-paper RPG Numenera and is the thematic successor to the largely popular Planescape: Torment. In this isometric, narrative-driven RPG, players will journey across the Ninth World, where their choices and actions act as your primary weapons.

Tides of Numenera stands out thanks to its intuitive means of the player interacting and moving through the world. Rather than just throwing you straight into a lengthy fight, most scenarios give you the opportunity to completely avoid combat, and as such, skills like Persuasion and Intimidation are crucial if you want to succeed on your adventure.

Torment: Tides of Numenera may have taken its time to release, but its one of the best indie games you can get your hands on in February 2017, and one worth the time of any western RPG fan. If you’re looking for a lengthy title to whittle away your free time, then this is definitely an indie worth your time.