Needs More Love

This year’s list of indie games and interactive fiction is a little different from previous “What You May Have Missed” entries I have written. For one thing, I have included fan games on the list, as I felt they were excellent, both as video games and as demonstrations of the power of transformative media. The other, more important thing, is that I have made an intentional push to include games that either were, or are likely to be, impacted by the efforts of conservative lobbyists pushing their queerphobic, anti-porn beliefs onto payment processors, making it even more difficult for indie game developers. 

I believe adult video games, and games that touch upon sensitive and discomforting subject matter, should exist, and that people should be able to make and play those games. I love that video games have been able to give people the tools to talk about their experiences, whether they are positive or negative. Silencing those voices in the name of “comfort” and “decency” is abhorrent. So, with that in mind, I have made my list. I hope you find at least one new game on here that interests you.

All Ages

A promotional image for the video game “My Friends the Monster Trainers” by Celia & jamwitch. It features a red tablet-like device in the foreground, with the image of an indigo, cat-like creature called “Sinestella” with purple energy converging around its tail on the display. In the background is text from a letter. The game’s title is written on a blue banner on the bottom of the image.

My Friends the Monster Trainers

Developers & Publishers: Celia & jamwitch 

While Avery can’t go on a journey to become a monster trainer, they can still learn about pet monsters, and complete their Monster Tracker, with the help of their friends. Using word-based puzzles akin to Return of the Obra Dinn and the Duck Detective series, My Friends the Monster Trainers offers a unique twist on both the investigation and creature collector genres to create a fun and charming game. Available to play on a web browser (such as Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.) through itch.io.

Content warnings: Mild instances of children in peril, monster battles typical of the creature collector genre

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I wanted to start this opening paragraph on a positive note, but I’m going to be honest: 2023 was an extremely awful year for video game developers.  For all of the wonderful and innovative games that were released last year, there always seemed to be news of the people making those games facing extreme hardship.  Between mass layoffs and the encroaching presence of generative AI set to displace human skills, it has been very disheartening to see so many talented and passionate people being tossed aside so executives and shareholders can hold onto the imaginary belief of infinite growth.  To praise the video games I loved, without acknowledging the ongoing hardships the people who actually make games are currently facing, would not sit right with me.  I implore those who are just as passionate about this art form as I am to stay informed and to always try to remember and respect those who made your favourite video games a reality.

With this in mind, I have focused my 2023 “What You May Have Missed” list on a myriad of indie video games whose development teams typically range from the single to the single digits.  Each game here is clearly a creation made from a place of love and passion for the medium, inviting players to take a step into the vibrant worlds they have created and shared.  As with last year’s gaming list, I have decided to organize the game based on age ratings, with games intended for all ages, and containing next to no triggering content on the top.  Meanwhile, games that are only intended for mature and adult audiences, with trigger warnings being an essential thing to read when available, are at the very bottom of the list.  I sincerely hope this list can help you find at least one new video game that intrigues and delights you.

All-Ages (Little to no triggering content, appropriate for any age)

A screenshot from the video game “Feed All Monsters” by DU&I. The screenshot is on Level 121 of the game, as indicated by the centred text on the top of the screenshot. The player has placed the three food delivery worker characters on the three stone starting pads, planned a route for one character, and is still planning the movements of the other two characters, to ensure the five monsters in the level are fed. The game has a cute, cartoon-y art style, which resembles modern animation programs for children. The level is set in a tropical jungle, with a 7 x 7 grid that the player interacts with using the characters. The grid is filled with various terrain types (grass, water, plants, and boulders) that help or hinder character movement to reach the five monsters. The unique stats of each character are on the left side of the screen, while the amount of food needed to feed each monster is represented by a number above the creature.

Feed All Monsters 

Developer & Publisher: DU&I

Feel All Monsters is a cute, cozy puzzle game where you have to determine the most effective routes to deliver food to all the monsters on a level.  With charming visuals and soothing music, Feed All Monsters was one of the most relaxing games I played this year.  That being said, the puzzles in the game are no slouch and make you consider your character placements, environmental hazards, and power-ups, as the puzzles gradually increase in difficulty.  Recommended for those looking for a creative, low-stress puzzle game.  Available on Steam for Windows.

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To say that the 2020s have been an extremely exhausting decade thus far would be a huge understatement.  For people working in various creative fields, this exhaustion has come with many additional hurdles as traditional, in-person, means of advertising their art were not available, particularly during the early years of the pandemic.  Thankfully, various different forms of community awareness have made it possible for various video games and comics to reach a wider audience, be it through “Nintendo Direct” inspired showcases for indie games, digital comic festivals, or positive word of mouth on social media.  That being said, it is difficult for every single title released to get the spotlight, as so many wonderful video games and comics have been released this decade, both independent and mainstream, and many more are planned for release in the near future.  That is why I have decided to do my part in signal-boosting a variety of titles that I personally loved and enjoyed these past few years so that more people are able to discover and enjoy them for themselves.  

This post will focus on fourteen independent video games that were released during the three-year time period of 2020 to 2022.  The titles all vary in terms of art style and gameplay, but many common themes within them are queer positivity, creative game design, and a strong narrative focus.  I have also chosen to list these titles in terms of both age appropriateness and inclusion of potentially triggering content.  This means that titles that can be enjoyed at any age and have next to no triggering content are at the top of the list, while games that are only intended for adults and have severely triggering content are at the very bottom of this list.  This is based partially on my subjective experience of playing said games, the developers’ own descriptions and discussions of the games in their own words, and any age ratings available in digital stores.

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