The indie gaming scene is brimming with creativity, innovation, and passion projects that deserve more attention. This Sunday, I’m embarking on an Indie Game Gauntlet to showcase some fascinating titles that might have flown under your radar. From magical food trucks to rhythm-based adventures, this collection represents the diverse and experimental spirit that makes indie gaming so special.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their game to the gauntlet! Unfortunately, we had too many submissions to be able to play them all. I had to sift through and pick the top 10 (aka randomly chosen) to showcase within the 5-hour gauntlet window.
PLEASE keep in mind that most of these are demos of the games and don’t represent the final product. This is the whole point of the gauntlet; I hope my feedback can help make a positive impact and allow the developers to gain insight into how players might interact with their game.
The Lineup
Mage Food Truck
Genre: Strategy
Use your growing card collection to brave a hangry realm, crafting exotic meals in the face of fantastical beasts and curses from dissatisfied customers.
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
VoltRhythm
Genre: Rhythm
VoltRhythm is a retro-futuristic four-key rhythm game about gathering charge through rhythm energy emitted by your rhythm play. There are future plans in place for incorporating narrative elements, progression systems, and more.
Starground
Genre: Automation, Roguelite
Starground is a mashup of the automation and dungeon crawler genres, wrapped up into one multiplayer package. Build a formidable factory, go dungeoning, or become rich. There’s no right or wrong way to progress, and each avenue of gameplay can be enjoyed separately from each other.
Escape the MonStalkers!
Genre: Isometric, Exploration, Horror
Roam around dark corridors to find hidden items while avoiding monsters and traps, in a cute and colorful isometric style game!
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
CleanTwin
Genre: Cleaning
CleanTwin is a casual first-person cleaning game where you fire a BubbleGun to pop grime and blast away trash. Inspired by Diogenes Syndrome, the game challenges you to transform dirty, cluttered environments into sparkling clean and orderly spaces — one bubble at a time. Gameplay-wise, CleanTwin blends the satisfying progression of traditional cleaning simulators (like PowerWash Simulator) with a playful, paint-powered parkour system inspired by the colored gels from Portal 2.
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
Pity This Busy Monster
Genre: Physics, Puzzle
Pity This Busy Monster is a physics-based narrative game where you experience employment at the least efficient donut factory in the world. Fulfill orders by throwing the correct donuts into boxes, keep your work area clean, and unwind after work.
Whispering Memories
Genre: Visual Novel
A supernatural mystery story where you return to your childhood town but soon start to see strange phenomena around you, can you unravel it’s secrets before it consumers you? Demo available made by a passionate team of 4 people from around the world with original soundtrack, story and art.
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
Recesses
Genre: Card Game Adventure
Recesses is a card game, visual novel roguelite where every day’s outdoor break from elementary school is a new battle. Your best friend went missing, and now it’s up to you to defeat all the weirdo kids she played Battaliens with at recess to find out what happened to her.
Replicat
Genre: Roguelike Memory Deckbuilder
A cozy roguelike memory deckbuilder where you bend the rules of memory matching to reach sky-high scores.
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
SurfsUp
Genre: Racing
SurfsUp is a free-to-play, high-speed multiplayer platformer where precision movement and air-surfing are the keys to setting your personal best time or even breaking a world record!
View on Steam | Watch Showcase
Stream Details
When: Sunday, June 15th at 8:00 AM EST
Where: https://www.twitch.tv/theaveragegoob
Format: 30 minutes per game
Focus: Fair and thorough coverage of each title
Each game will get its full 30-minute spotlight, allowing enough time to understand the core mechanics, appreciate the art direction, and experience what makes each title special. I’m not here to rush through and judge the games. As a game developer, I’m looking to explore each game with genuine curiosity.
Whether you’re an indie game enthusiast looking for your next favorite title or just curious about the creative boundaries being pushed in gaming, this gauntlet promises to showcase the incredible diversity and innovation happening in the indie scene.
See you bright and early Sunday morning for what’s sure to be an adventure through some truly unique gaming experiences!
Stream VOD from the Indie Gauntlet
The timestamps are in the video description on YouTube.