M'S GAME RECS


I wouldn't call myself a ~gamer~ but I've recently been playing a lot of indie games! I tend to prefer shorter games (under 5 hours) with cute art and fun characters. Here's some games that I've enjoyed over the past few years! :)




STEAM GAMES





THE STANLEY PARABLE

First person. A game about choices. You are an office worker called Stanley, and everyone in your office has gone. A narrator keeps trying to tell you what to do, choose to either follow him or break away from his story.

  • This is one of my favorite games of all time!!!
  • Extremely unique. While it is a game, it's also a commentary of the relationship players have to both the games they play and to content creators.
  • A story about loops, choices, and your relationship with the narrator who is trying to control your every action.
  • The narrator is fucking iconic. You will love him. His dry humor brings a lot of comedy to the experience
  • Lots of different endings!! It’s fun trying to find them all. Each choice you make can affect the outcome.
  • If you like this one, there is a prequel/demo and a sequel as well that all hold their own weight.
  • I cannot stress enough the grip this game has on me.

    length: extremely varied. most runs are 10-30 minutes

    check it out HERE on steam





    FIREWATCH

    3D first person. A mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio.

  • This is one of the first games I fell in love with as an adult!
  • Gorgeous visuals, great colors.
  • Play as a man named Hank who is a running away from his life and spending the summer working in the woods in the middle of nowhere.
  • Your only companion is Delilah, your coworker who you can contact through a handheld radio.
  • A story about emotions & a conspiracy in the woods. Relaxing, somewhat thoughtful.

    length: 4 hours

    check it out HERE on steam





    LATER ALLIGATOR

    Fun 2D art. Pat the alligator, a (mostly) harmless and (probably) innocent reptile is at the center of a conspiracy that could bring down the biggest, scariest family in Alligator New York City: his own! Explore the city, meet the Family, and try to save Pat before the clock runs out.

  • I just downloaded this one the other day when it was on sale, extremely cute and the art style is STELLAR. Very fun 2D art & animated sequences.
  • Pat is part of Alligator New York City's crime family, and he's convinced that one of them is out to kill him.
  • Very charming. Explore the city, meet different ecclectic family members, and try to piece together what is happening before the clock runs out to save Pat.
  • A lot of mini games, so if you don’t like those then this is not for you.
  • After your first playthrough, I recommend going back and completing the stuff you missed to get a different ending!!

    length: 4-5 hours

    check it out HERE on steam





    NIGHT IN THE WOODS

    2D platformer. College dropout Mae Borowski returns home to the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs seeking to resume her aimless former life and reconnect with the friends she left behind. But things aren't the same. Home seems different now and her friends have grown and changed. Leaves are falling and the wind is growing colder. Strange things are happening as the light fades. And there's something in the woods.

  • This is a fun one. Great art, really fun interactions with characters
  • A crazy mystery is afoot!!! A little dark but not graphic just spooky
  • Gayyys
  • Somewhat a coming of age story. Reflections on who you are, what growing up in, and how you can’t go home. But in a fun and spooky way

    length: 7-9 hours

    check it out HERE on steam





    COFFEE TALK

    2D/pixely. You’re a barista in a fantasy world that owns a coffee shop that’s open all night. Easy game mechanics, you mostly make people drinks, listen in on conversations, and talk to patrons. Very chill.

  • This game is more like reading a book at times than a game, but it’s a great vibe and fun to follow along with the story
  • Gay people. Gotta love it
  • Fun worldbuilding, see what’s going on though newspaper articles and what the patrons are saying
  • You will have favorite and least favorite patrons lol

    length: 4 hours

    check it out HERE on steam





    TURNIP BOY COMMITS TAX EVASION

    Really cute & casual 2D game! Play as a tax-evading and trouble-making turnip while you run errands, solve puzzles, & uncover a vegatable government conspiracy.

  • The art style of this game is absolutely adorable
  • Very chill mechanics. Lot's of fun errands, a couple of "bosses" but combat is pretty simple
  • Quirky NPCs who make running around an absolute delight

    length: 4 hours

    check it out HERE on steam





    THE MURDER OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

    SONIC IS DEAD. Just kidding! or am I??? It's Amy's birthday, and she's hosting a murder mystery party on the Mirage Express with all her friends. When action strikes, play as train attendant Barry and help unravel and exciting mystery.

  • A point & click visual novel with a few mini games
  • Honestly delightful art & characterization. I had a breif grasp on everyone's personalities before, but they were all so distinct and well-written!
  • Fun & heartfelt. Engaging & overall just a blast

    length: 3ish hours

    check it out HERE on steam




    SNUFKIN: Melody of Moominvalley

    A story-rich musical adventure game about Snufkin restoring the valley and helping the quirky and memorable characters and critters who call it home. A series of hideous parks have cropped up in Moominvalley, disrupting the landscape and its harmonious nature. As Snufkin you will distract police officers, pull out signs, and knock over misplaced statues as you vigorously try to restore nature and the inhabitants’ home while putting an end to the industrious Park Keeper’s plans…

  • GAH. I LOVE THIS GAME.
  • If you're a fan of the moomins, this game hits the vibe JUST RIGHT. Beuatiful artwork & soundtrack. A great little story & you meet all your favorite characters.
  • Literally it felt like being in moominvalley. Obsessed.

    length: 4-5 hours

    check it out HERE on switch




    ITCH.IO GAMES





    FRANKEN

    2D pixel RPG. Play as a hero fighting monsters to save the world.

  • Surprisingly innovative and subversive. I played this one off of a recommendation and it was boatloads of fun
  • Really fun characters and storyline
  • Battles are easy af it’s more about the story
  • Very wholesome. I literally think I was emotional by the end

    length: 1 hour

    check it out HERE on itch.io





    DEVIL EXPRESS

    2D Pixels. A mysterious new delivery app, Devil Express, has sent Worf to an apartment block that should not exist. With a can-do mindset it’s up to Worf to uncover the secrets of this cursed building and maybe make a few friends along the way.

  • AHHHH I really love this one
  • Worf is my boy. My baby. My son.
  • Play as a delivery man (WORF!!) dropping off packages in a weird af apartment building with weird people
  • Very cute and wholesome. I love the cast and the vibes so much
  • Funny af, short and sweet with fun characters
  • There’s a cute holiday special as well!

    length: 1 hour

    check it out HERE on itch.io





    SWITCH GAMES





    TANGLE TOWER

    Freya Fellow has been murdered. The biggest problem? The lead suspect... is a painting. Investigate the torubled families of Tangle Tower and uncover a mystery lurking beneath the surface.

  • A point & click adventure game. The main mechanics include talking to suspects, uncovering clues, and completing puzzles
  • This was an unexpected delight! I bought it on impulse after I saw a post about it and I'm so glad I did
  • Very dynamic characters- they stole the show for me. I was dying to understand the relationships between everyone and I loved the personalities of the lead detectives

    length: 5-6 hours

    check it out HERE on switch





    STARDEW VALLEY

    You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won't be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town's most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!

  • You've probably heard of this one a hundred times, but I've finally gotten onto the Stardew train so I'm gonna talk about it again!! The cozy indie darling that remains a wonderful game years after it's release.
  • A farming simulator game that is actually enjoyable! Lots of storyline to unlock with the town & the villagers in it. I did not expect it to have such an anti-capitalist plotline, but I loved it!! Tons of fun mini games & places to explore.
  • A lot of farming simulators are, in my iopinion, pretty boring, but this one is just darling & cozy and fun!!!

    length: INFINITE. I am not usually one to put a lot of hours into a game, but i'm at 100+ for this one. It's very fun

    check it out HERE on switch





    FIREBIRD

    Firebird is a narrative road trip inspired by Slavic folklore. Aboard your truck, travel to the far north, meet colorful characters, and face the creatures inhabiting these sacred lands.

  • I love folklore & I loved the art style, so this game was a no brainer once I discovered it!
  • This game is a charming little visual novel. You play as a truck driver Mariska, who is just trying to pay off her debts and survive from one meal to the next. Soon you meet the young girl Vassilissa, who begs you to help save her village in the north. Thus begins and fun & spooky road trip!
  • Choice oriented, so there are multiple routes you can take to reach the end. Lovely art style & fun characters. I've only done one run so far, so I'd like to do another to meet some more old gods!

    length: 2ish hours

    check it out HERE on switch


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