The recent Humble Games Showcase provided an exciting look at an array of upcoming indie games, from sequels to well-loved titles such as Wizard of Legend 2, to new artistic ventures like #Blud.
One of the biggest reveals from Humble Games Showcase was Wizard of Legend 2, the much-awaited sequel to the hit title released by Humble Games. However, the development for the sequel has shifted to a different studio, Dead Mage, known for its successful indie game Children of Morta. The sequel seems to deviate from the original game’s classic art style, opting instead for a modern 3D look. While this may disappoint some fans of the retro-style visuals of the original Wizard of Legends, the sequel’s gameplay appears to offer a refreshing and fun experience, and the introduction of cooperative multiplayer should provide greater replay value. While the release date and platform for Wizard of Legend 2 are yet to be announced, the original developers, Contingent 99, will provide support.
Among the lineup of indie games, #Blud particularly stood out. Developed by Exit 73, known for many Nickelodeon Animated Shorts, #Blud captivates with its art style, reminiscent of an animated Nickelodeon cartoon. The game appears to be a Dungeon Crawler, giving off vibes similar to The Binding of Isaac. Although no playable demo is currently available, the full game is set to launch in 2024 for PC.
Breeze in the Clouds, a side-scrolling brawler developed through Humble’s Black Game Developer Fund, sees players controlling a Corgi navigating the weather world of Tropolis. This game presents interesting enemies and a variety of powers to use. No release window has been announced yet.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is another interesting title. This 2.5D action platformer, inspired by Japanese folklore, features a celestial blossom named Bō in a mysterious, haunted world. The game is slated for a 2024 release on PC.
Stray Gods, a unique fusion of musical and narrative adventure, was also presented. The game, written by former lead Bioware writer David Gaider, features choices that significantly impact the story. It boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Laura Bailey and Ashley Johnson, and music by Austin Wintory. Stray Gods is scheduled for release on PC on August 3, 2023.
Cataclismo is a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game set in a dark fantasy realm. Unfortunately, no gameplay has been shown for it yet, but it does look promising. The game is being developed by the creators of ‘Moonlighter’ and ‘The Mageseeker.’ Based on its description, it appears that it will not only involve managing RTS elements but also feature base building and customization
While most of the games announced are for PC, console players can look forward to Supraland: Six Inches Under, which is launching on Xbox and PlayStation consoles immediately and is also available on Xbox Game Pass. Many of the announced games are likely to see console releases in the future, just like Supraland was confirmed to launch on Nintendo Switch in Summer.
The Humble Games Showcase concluded with the announcement of Lost Skies, a new cooperative survival adventure supporting 1-6 players. Set among floating islands in the sky, the game promises an interesting premise with its grappling hook system, though without any gameplay shown, it’s hard to envision how the concept will come to life.
