7 Must play indies this summer –

Summer is a wonderful time of year, but it is also a much more stable period, especially for fans of video games. Especially in July, there’s usually a lower cadence of big games worth checking out, but at the same time, that’s a good thing because it provides the opportunity to spend some time and attention on the smaller and lesser-known games out there. So with that being the case, we as editors have come together to pick out a handful of indie games you should check out this summer.

Mycopunk

Helldivers on the Savage Planet with a Hinterberg flair. That’s one way to describe Pigeons at Play ‘s Mycopunk, an action-packed cooperative shooter where the goal is to team up with a group of friends and rid a distant planet of a growing fungal threat. Yes, the idea of this colorful and chaotic game is to join the New Atlas Hazard Crew, a bunch of unusual robots who are given one last life by being tasked with eradicating a fungus that is spreading through the galaxy, all by using an array of powerful weapons and tools and then blowing the infectious life form to smithereens.

Islanders: New shores

A very different style of game, The Station ‘s Islanders: New Shores is a quiet and relaxing informal city-builder where the goal is to create diverse and intricate metropolises on distant and isolated islanders in the middle of a wide ocean. Faced with the challenges of effectively growing these cities while maintaining limited space and resources, this project is ideal for those who want to sit back and puzzle their way to paradise while basking in a loving and striking minimalist presentation.

Deeper and deeper northern lights

Who needs Donkey Kong Bananza when Nautilus Games is here with a perfectly reasonable platform alternative. Everdeep Aurora is a 2D adventure that follows a young kitten who must find his missing mother, all by exploring an underground metropolis populated by all sorts of different beasts. With a nice retro 16-bit look, this game is designed to mirror the classics of the era, proving that 2D can be just as fun as 3D when used in the right way.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders

Since it’s the heart of summer, you may be looking for a break from the heat and sun. If so, why not head to the snowy Alps to shred some powder in Megagon Industries’ Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, a ski version of the popular downhill cycling title. Like that beloved game, the goal here is to descend a mountain as quickly and creatively as possible, beating a time limit or your friends. With simplistic and straightforward mechanics, this is an easy and entertaining option.

Top

Peak gaming at its best. Peak is a cooperative game made by indie darling studios Landfall and Aggro Crab, who together form LandCrab. You play as a scout stranded on a desert island who must climb his way to the top to call a ride home. You and up to three friends will climb, scavenge and battle the elements while supporting each other in this huge surprise hit. You’ve seen the highlights by now, and playing the game with friends is just as much fun as the clips would have you believe.

R.E.P.O.

Another game made famous by online clips, R.E.P.O. is a tiny bit more expensive than Peak, and is a bit of a creepier experience, but the game still manages to be an absolute blast with friends. Play as expressive little robots trying to capture artifacts and take them home. Gruesome creatures and physics-based shenanigans stand in your way, and are sure to provide plenty of laughs and scares with friends while avoiding being eaten by bugs on these summer nights.

DOG WALK

It’s short, it’s casual, it’s fun and – best of all – it’s free. Blender Studio’s beautiful adventure costs nothing, and for winter lovers out there, it can give you a reminder of colder, snowy days. Play as a dog dragging its little owner along in this open-ended mini-world, bringing handmade models into a wholesome gaming experience. You may only get part of an evening out of this compared to other items on this list, but it can act as a nice little detox after a long day.