Indie Games Roundup: New Releases & Upcoming Titles – March 2024

The indie game scene is buzzing with new releases and upcoming titles, offering a diverse range of experiences for players. This week saw the surprise arrival of several games, including Blue Prince, Minishoot’ Adventures and Öoo, on Nintendo Switch and the newly released Switch 2. Beyond these immediate additions, a robust schedule of releases is unfolding, with titles like Slay the Spire 2 and Scott Pilgrim EX capturing significant attention.

A Deckbuilding Sequel and a Beat ‘Em Up Revival

Slay the Spire, a roguelite deckbuilder that gained immense popularity since its early access debut in 2017, is back with a sequel, Slay the Spire 2, now available in early access on Steam for $25. Mega Crit, the developer, anticipates the game will remain in early access for one to two years, focusing on experimental features and player feedback to refine the experience. A key addition in the sequel is a co-op mode supporting up to four players, alongside new cards, characters, and enemies.

For fans of side-scrolling fighters, Scott Pilgrim EX is now available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 for $29. Developed by Tribute Games in collaboration with Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, this title builds upon the foundation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, offering a new storyline and gameplay experience. Tribute Games has a strong track record in the co-op beat-’em-up genre, having previously developed Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

Upcoming Releases to Watch

Several other titles have confirmed release dates or windows. InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories is slated for April 30, followed by Mixtape on May 7, Denshattack! on June 17, and Ratatan on July 16. Toem 2 and Grave Seasons are both expected to launch this summer.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf, a narrative-driven adventure platformer from Wishfully and Thunderful Publishing, is now available on Steam, Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 for $20. The game builds upon the success of the original Planet of Lana, featuring a more agile protagonist and puzzle-solving elements.

The Legend of Khiimori, an open-world adventure game inspired by 13th-century Mongolia, entered early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store for $30. Players take on the role of a courier rider, breeding and training horses to navigate the landscape and deliver goods. The developers plan to add features like racing, falconry, and character customization during the early access period.

Charming and Unsettling Experiences

Lost and Found Co., a hidden object game from Bit Egg and Gamirror Games, is available on Steam for PC and Mac for $18 (with a 10% launch discount until March 19). The game features a charming art style and a heartwarming story about a duck who transforms into a human intern tasked with reuniting people with their lost items.

On a different note, Birds Watching, a psychological horror walking simulator from Studio Ortica, is now available on Steam for $5 (with a 10% launch discount until March 13). The game presents a disturbing and unsettling atmosphere, inviting players to explore a mysterious world filled with unsettling imagery.

Events and Sales

The Playdate catalog is currently hosting a third-anniversary sale, offering discounts on a variety of games. The Frost Fatales event, a charity speedrunning marathon benefiting the National Women’s Law Center, is taking place from March 8-14, featuring speedruns of games like Undertale, Strange Antiquities, and Hollow Knight. A Women’s Day sale on Steam, running until March 15, offers discounts on games from women and gender-marginalized-led teams.

Looking Ahead: New Horizons in Indie Gaming

Several promising titles are on the horizon. My Little Puppy, which premiered during the Nintendo Indie World showcase, is set to release on Switch on May 29 and is already available on Steam for $25. The House of Hikmah, a story-driven adventure game inspired by the Islamic Golden Age, is scheduled to launch on Steam on April 8. Finally, Ballgame, a physics-based platformer from Human Computer, is expected to arrive on Steam later this year, offering a chaotic and engaging gameplay experience. Echobreaker, a precision platformer with an isometric perspective from Upstream Arcade and Weekend Games, is also slated for a Steam release later in 2026.

The indie game landscape continues to evolve, offering a wealth of creative and innovative experiences for players. With a steady stream of new releases and upcoming titles, the future looks bright for independent game development.