Let's talk indie games!

Hello indie game fans!
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Wow! 2023 was a landmark year for indie games, bursting with extraordinary game releases almost daily!

That's why I'm going to discuss my top 3 games of 2023 instead of the January new releases. There aren't many coming up anyway, so that makes it an easy choice. I am looking forward to Turnip Boy Robs a Bank on the 18th, though.

When deciding my top 3 I had to go back and work out what games were released in 2023, because I was struggling to remember aaalll the way back to January. Tinykin? Nope. Terra Nil? Yes!

I've started updating my website whenever I finish a game, so I can actually remember them in the future! Check it out if you want to see all the games I've been playing, not just the featured one for the newsletter.

Speaking of which...

Recently I've been playing... Thirsty Suitors!

Have you ever wanted cooking, skateboarding and turn-based combat all in one story-rich game? Me neither, but I knew I had to play Thirsty Suitors to see how they did all of this in one game! Could it be cohesive? Yes! It can.

Jala has come home for the first time after leaving three years ago without telling anyone. She left many broken hearts in her wake and is back to make amends, or she just had nowhere else to go.

Now she'll need to work things out with her exes in epic turn-based battles, taunting them with moves like impress, shock and rage to amp up the emotions while also bonding with her parents over Indian and Sri Lankan cooking. If that wasn't enough, she also needs to help save the local skate haven from a creepy cult leader(who wears a bear suit) and development into a mall. Now you see how all these genres start to weave together.

I enjoyed playing Thirsty Suitors, but sometimes it is difficult to want to fight for Jala when you find out how she ended up with this pile of exes. I really wanted to lose some of them! Now, I'm wondering whether that is an option.

The game does an excellent job of making the misfits of the world feel seen, as well as dealing with generational and cultural trauma in a way I haven't seen in a game before. Definitely a game worth trying if you want something a little different.

I played Thirsty Suitors on PC Game Pass, but it's also available on Steam, PlayStation and Switch.

Strawberry's Top 3 of 2023

​Terra Nil​ PC, Switch & Mobile (via Netflix) A builder sim that focuses on restoring nature rather than destroying it. Build up a new environment filled with thriving animals and clean water, then leave without a trace. I found it incredibly impactful when it started to rain!

​American Arcadia​ PC, Xbox & PlayStation ​ American Arcadia is an excellent genre mash-up of side scroller and first-person perspective. Help Trevor get out of American Arcadia, a dodgy reality show, before it's too late! I wrote about this last issue, check it out here

​Dredge​ PC, Switch, Xbox & PlayStation Dredge has been deemed the cozy horror game of 2023! Part psychological horror, part fishing sim and a whole lot of mystery. Someone wants you to dig up the past, but can you trust them and will it ever be enough?

Less than 10 - Blouncy

Blouncy is a simple-looking sidescrolling game. Using just the right arrow key jump from square to square without dying. The reality is that it's quite difficult!

You will face obstacles in the shape of stars (which is quite misleading, usually we see stars as good things), and obviously, you can fall and die. You will have 5 lives though, and can bounce until you run out.

My high score currently is 51. Let me know what you get!

This is the first game from Orangecore, so I'm sure they'd love some reviews and feedback!

I played it on Steam, but it's also available on mobile: iOS | Android​

Do you know a game with less than 10 reviews? Reply and tell me about it!

You've made it to the end of the newsletter! I hope you found some new games to wishlist and play. Be sure to reply and let me know what you're playing!

Until next time,

Sarah

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113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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