10 Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Replaced

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Replaced was easily one of the best-looking indie games on display at E3 2021. It came out of nowhere and had our eyes glued to the screen during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Its 2.5D pixel-art style provided some of the best visuals of any game shown on that stream. Replaced is a sci-fi action platformer that has players in the role of an AI named R.E.A.C.H. trapped inside a human body.

We got to see a bit of its combat, platforming, and retro-futuristic 1980s world in a short trailer. This seems like one that you should keep an eye on if you’re at all interested in the genre. It’s being developed by Sad Cat Studios and published by Coatsink, and it’ll be coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Akatori

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Akatori is another indie game with pixel-art visuals, but it differs from Replaced in a few ways. Akatori is a Metroidvania action-platformer that’s coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. There’s no release date just yet, but it’s being developed by TeamNora Games and published by HypeTrain Digital.

The trailer from the Guerrilla Collective stream focuses on the protagonist, Mako, as she jumps, dashes, slashes, and travels between two parallel dimensions to save the magical world that she lives in. There are a few friends and allies to meet along the way, as you learn the dangers of dealing with ancient gods.

Somerville

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Somerville is a brand-new sci-fi adventure game that’s being made by a developer called Jumpship, and if it gives you faint INSIDE vibes, that may be because ex-CEO and co-founder of Playdead, Dino Patti, is working on it as part of the team.

Very little has been shown of the game outside of its three teaser trailers. The one shown off during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase gave us a look at a man and his family trying to survive in a small rural town as some kind of futuristic alien threat invades and attacks on all sides. If this little bit of info has you at all excited for Somerville, you should know that it’s coming to Xbox platforms and Xbox Game Pass in 2022.

Serial Cleaners

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Serial Cleaners was initially announced during last year’s Future Games Show with a short trailer that didn’t really give us a good look at the gameplay. Fortunately, E3 2021 brought us a gameplay trailer for this stealth indie game. We get to see characters comically using vacuums to get rid of blood on the snow-covered ground, and running around with bodies thrown over their shoulders.

Serial Cleaners has players hiding from the police as they sneak around crime scenes trying to clear out evidence and get rid of dead bodies before the cops can clue in on what’s going on. The game is being developed and published by Draw Distance, and it’ll be coming to consoles and PC in 2021.

Hunt the Night

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Hunt the Night is another retro-style indie game that left a lasting impression during E3 2021. We got to see plenty of monsters, magic, and even a giant snake boss. Hunt the Night is an action-adventure game that has fast-paced gameplay mixed with a fantasy setting full of dark lore. It’ll have you playing as Vesper, a member of a group called The Stalkers, as you journey throughout the world of Medhram.

In this eerie world, humans rule the day while horrors rule the Night. The Stalkers use dark powers to fight back the Night and keep humans from going extinct. Hunt the Night is being developed by Moonlight Games and published by DANGEN Entertainment, and it’ll be coming to consoles and PC.

Loot River

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Loot River’s art direction is eye-catching — just like every other game on this list — but its gameplay is what’s truly unique here. Players need to fight their way through procedurally generated labyrinths while controlling both their character as well as the platforms they’re standing on. Using this mechanic, enemies can be kited, fooled, and disposed of in creative ways.

It functions almost like a game of Tetris with some combat mixed in. On controllers, the left stick moves your character and the right stick moves the block-like platforms. It’s creative, to say the least. Loot River is being developed by straka.studio and published by SUPERHOT PRESENTS, and it’s coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Dreamscaper

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Dreamscaper is a roguelite indie game from Afterburner Studios that was revealed back in 2019, and we got to see more of it at E3 2021 in a new trailer. The game combines elements from dungeon crawlers, brawlers, and even top-down shooters as you assume the role of Cassidy in a magical world. You’ll live out her regular life in the city of Red Haven by day and fight nightmarish enemies by night inside of her subconscious.

The new trailer finally gave us a release date alongside more gameplay footage that showcased combat, puzzle-solving, and more. It’ll be launching on Aug. 12 for PC and Nintendo Switch.

Trek to Yomi

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Trek to Yomi was shown off very briefly during Devolver Digital’s expectedly chaotic E3 stream, and it still managed to stand out amongst everything else that was going on during the presentation. The black-and-white art and Japanese setting are very reminiscent of Ghost of Tsushima, but this game seems to have all of its action take place from a 2D side view, even though the backgrounds are extremely detailed.

Trek to Yomi focuses on a young swordsman named Hiroki who has sworn to protect his town as a vow to his dying master. He’ll face off against other swordsmen as well as mythical beings in order to keep his promise. The game is being developed by Leonard Menchiari and Flying Wild Hog, and it’s coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2022.

Wizard With a Gun

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Wizard With a Gun is a multiplayer survival game with a pretty self-explanatory title. It also had a memorable showing during Devolver Digital’s stream. The trailer provided a bunch of gameplay footage in the colorful and dangerous world. Players will need to craft, collect items, and customize their wizards as they journey through randomly generated biomes either alone, or in online co-op.

The game encourages experimentation to find new spells and items that’ll help you out on your adventure. Mix and match spells and gun customizations to find the best setup for you. Wizard With a Gun is being made by Galvanic Games, and it’s coming to Nintendo Switch and PC in 2022.

Death Trash

Indie Games That Stole the Show During E3 2021

Death Trash stood out next to the other indies on this list thanks to a new trailer that showcased its deep-looking gameplay and dank-looking setting. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world full of horrors looking to take you down at every turn. Luckily you have both melee and ranged weapons at your disposal that’ll keep you safe.

The game also features a character creator, dialogue options, stealth, crafting systems, and skills that diversify the gameplay. It even has a local co-op option for those who want to venture out with a friend. Death Trash is being developed and published by Crafting Legends, and it’ll be coming to Steam Early Access on Aug. 5.