Hooray! It’s time for my prediction post for next year’s most popular and well received indie games! Those of you who have been with us here at DIYGamer will remember my 2010 and 2011 editions where I was correct for a few of each prediction posts.
Funnily enough my 2011 prediction post probably would have been more correct had half the games that were supposed to be released in 2011 actually, you know, got a release. I’m looking at you Andy! I kid, I kid… but seriously guys you’re throwing off my game!
Anyway, the games I say I did nail for 2011 were:
- Bastion
- Slam Bolt Scrappers (although the PSN outage hurt them a bit)
- Tales from Space: About a Blob
A bit less than my previous year where I got just about half correct. Again, most of my 2011 games were either presumed or given rough 2011 release dates so… not my fault!
Here’s my predictions for 2012, listed alphabetically:
No big surprise here considering it’s last game, Machinarium, won our very own Game of the Year in 2009. Botanicula is the indie game studio’s latest point and clikc adventure this time focusing on a bunch of tree creatures who set out on a journey to save the last seed from the tree which they call home.
As expected, the game is sure to delight us in visuals that are astoundingly gorgeous.
Included in last year’s list, Fez was originally planned for a 2011 release and I think even a 2010 release. Still, it’s hard to deny that this game will be anything but a huge hit given it’s incredible amount of consumer and press awareness and its delightful art style. That is, of course, not mentioning the solid puzzle gameplay.
Should Fez release in 2012, it’s sure to be a break out hit.
Another title that has seemingly been in development for forever. Not really, but come on, we want to play it already!
In all seriousness Meigakure has that incredibly sense of wonder tied up with some great puzzle platforming mechanics. It might not be as popular as some of the others on this list, yet, but I’d be surprised if this game doesn’t make a splash when it releases (hopefully) in 2012.
Another game that was previous included in my 2011 list, but never came to be due to some delays. Monaco is still looking to be one of the best indie games of the eyar for whichever year it gets released (hopefully in 2012!).
Having played a preview version of it (over and over again) I can tell you that the combination of heist styled gameplay with four friends is nothing short of amazing and addictive. No doubt in my mind, Monaco is going to be a hit.
Just announced yesterday, Pid has already skyrocketed to the consumer’s mindscape due to it’s solid platforming action and fantastic look and feel. Scheduled to be released onto the PC, PSN and XBLA next year, this sidescrolling platformer definitely is on the right track to explode onto the indie scene.
Also being a gravity-based platformer never hurts. Those things are awesome!
Prison Architect
(Introversion)
The indie studio that brought us amazing games such as Darwinia and DEFCON are back, but this time they’re looking to do something a bit different. Pricson Architect is, as you can probably guess, a game about building and maintaining a prison. In a sense its a tycoon game.What sets it apart from other prison tycoon games is that it’s well, being developed by a good developer.
With Introversion behind it, I have little doubt that Prison Architect will not only be a fun game, but also one that’s a hit.
Retro City Rampage
(Vblank Entertainment)
Another game that was expected in 2011 and, as such, appeared on my last year’s list. It makes a reappearance this time because, well, for all the exact same reasons!
Retro City Rampage brings back that NES joy and delight and mixes it not only with an open world game like the original Grand Theft Autos but with so much satire, hidden gems and gaming cultural references that it’s difficult to imagine this game not being a hit upon release next year.
I’m not even sure if we can consider these guys indie anymore, but I’m going to anyways for this post. Bottomline, Scrolls is being developed by Mojang ergo it’s a hit. Hot off their recent release of multi-million seller Minecraft, Scrolls has a lot going for it in the press and consumer mind scape… and that little legal tussle with Bethesda certainly didn’t hurt.
Might as well slot this one in the “win” category now.
The Splatters
(Spiky Snail)
Featured at this past year’s PAX10 and recently announced for the XBLA, it’s safe to assume The Splatters is due for a Microsoft hosted event, maybe even the Sumemr of Arcade. In which case we can probably slot this one in as a hit already. Still, even if it’s not the game has a lot going for it in its delightful graphics and unique, puzzle “sling-em” gameplay. All in all, The Splatters could be one of the marquee XBLA titles of 2012.
It’s been over three years now since our last Jonathan Blow game and I can tell you we’re all each suffering because of it! Well maybe suffering is a bit too harsh, but suffice it to say we’re due for a fantastic puzzler like only Jonathan Blow can deliver. Enter: The Witness, a game that is sure to be both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly challenging (if Braid was anything to go by).
Suffice it to say, The Witness is already very popular and I would personally be surprised if Braid’s success didn’t carry over to this project.
So there’s my list! What do you think?
Keep in mind I kept off games that were already released under an Alpha or Beta tag like A Valley Without Wind which could very easily have made it here.
Sound off with comments, disagreements and other colorful stuff below. Please keep it considerate.
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