With Spring on the horizon, prime time for indies is underway. All the big studios have had their holiday season releases and those that fell behind the time put out what they could in the months after. Here on until the summer game drought is all for the indie developers. With that said, let’s get into this months release list!
Humanica, March 3rd
Anyone who has been reading my blog posts knows I love a good 4X strategy game. Titles like ‘Civilization’ and ‘Masters’s of Orion’ will always be comfort games for me. There is just something so satisfying about figuring out how to make the most efficient time loop and then putting into action. ‘Humanica’ is closer to the city sim genre then I typically stray, but it looks like it has all the same parts. Starting in 10,000 BC, players will start to develop humanity from the beginning. Technologically as well as socially evolving. Managing needs and wants of people can have a similar ‘one-more-turn’ effect so I look forward to checking this one out. My only hold up is that according to the description development ends in the iron age. I know that if I get into this game I will want to go much further. Maybe they are hoping to expand or explore further technologies in later entries. Certainly worth a look when it leaves early access on March 3rd.
Timberborn, March 5th
March is setting itself up to be a good year for fans of city building games! My next recommendation, ‘Timberborn’, puts players in control of a beaver colony after the fall of mankind. With the land ravaged, these beavers are banding together to try and heal the land. On the ‘Timberborn’ Steam page there is a lot of praise for the water physics in this game and how it plays into an interesting game mechanic. Along with vertical architecture, which is something I feel like I have not seen in a lot of city builders. Crazy to think that I do not see this more in games since this concept makes a lot of sense. Terraforming and open concept with some cutesy creatures and crazy technology makes me think this will be a fun game that still scratches that same creative itch. Check it out when it comes out of early access on March 5th.
Age of Barbarians Chronicles, March 5th
Does anyone else remember ‘Golden Axe’? For those that do, that was my first thought when I saw the screenshots of ‘Age of Barbarians Chronicles’. I did not realize I even missed this style of game until I was watching the trailer and thinking about how fun it looked. Classic side scrolling beat-em-up game play mixed with what looks to me like some crazy 3D rotoscoping is an awesome vibe. This janky looking game sends me right back to playing old arcade cabinets with my dad, pushing quarter after quarter in so that we could keep going and see what crazy thing the game had next. ‘Age of Barbarians Chronicles’ does not look like it will disappoint there either. Boasting an in-depth combat system with fatalities makes me think this is going to be a more involved then the joystick and two buttons I remember from childhood. Watch me riding dinosaurs and peeling faces when this game comes out on March 5th.
Corner Store: Nightshift, March 12th
Over the last year I have seen so many games that were all something to the effect of such-and-such store simulator. Those are all well and good, but I often find those games not having any staying power. Nothing memorable to them, just a quick romp in shop keeping. ‘Corner Store: Nightshift’ adds a story that I think will make that formula stick better. Players take on the role of protagonist Adam as he tries to return to normal life. What happened to him before is kept vague, but as part of his return to normalcy he gets a job working at a convenience store during the nightshift. Before too long he starts seeing things in the shadows of the shop. As he starts to question his sanity, the horror elements pick up into what I think will be an amazing experience. Multiple endings and twitch integration mean this game also has a fair amount of replayability for those that want to flesh out every angle of the mystery. Starting helping Adam put his life together when this game drops on March 12th.
Crimson Desert, March 19th
DRAGONS! He is riding a dragon!! Yes it is that easy to get my attention on your game. From the trailers and descriptions ‘Crimson Desert’ looks almost like a fantasy mod for ‘Kingdom Come Deliverance’. This game looks absolutely stunning visually and boasts a lot of incredible looking gameplay. Mixed weapons and magic alongside crazy stunts promises an action packed experience. There is also the seeds of a fascinating story here. Multiple factions, untamed open world, and a focus on single player means this game was practically hand crafted for me. I will absolutely be looking forward to this one when it comes out on March 19th.
Nova Roma, March 26th
Going back to city builders again for a hot moment, my next entry is ‘Nova Roma’. Starting to feel pretty unc here, the number of times I have said remember such and such game. But the amount of time I spent in the ‘Caesar’ franchise of games is ludicrous. Here I find another Roman themed city builder, say less. ‘Nova Roma’ looks like it takes a lot of inspiration from previous games in this genre. Maintaining a city’s infrastructure is always a challenge. Balancing the needs of the government, its’ people, and the gods adds one layer after another. It is exciting to see if a new game can take up where older games left off. While the art style of ‘Nova Roma’ looks a little more friendly and cartoony than ‘Caesar’ did, I am still looking forward to it. Check this game out when it drops on March 26th.
Hozy, March 30th
Every month when I make these lists I try to include one cozy game. I know my tastes can be a little intense both on the action and complexity sides. So adding a calmer game to level out with is essential. This month I put forth ‘Hozy’. A peaceful game about fixing up a small town one room at a time. It combines all the zen nature of cleaning, fixing, unpacking, and arranging into one package! A variety of needs and all the detailed design one could hope for will keep players engaged just enough to alleviate boredom without being taxing on the mind. That is why games like this are important. Just a good guaranteed chance to relax after what might be a hectic day. Look for this little bit of homely comfort when it comes out on March 30th.
AEther & Iron, March 31st
Every now and then a game comes along and reminds me how creative this medium can be. While there is a lot to love with ‘AEther & Iron’, what first caught my eye was the combat. Turn-based combat is nothing new. But, turn-based combat in cars? Sure, maybe. In hover cars? Alright that is cool. ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ could never. But ‘AEther & Iron’ also has an art-deco aesthetic and a dark noir mystery plot that has me locked in. This style, which the game’s Steam page dubs Decopunk, immediately caught my eye and drew me in. Promising interesting gameplay, a dark mystery, and beautiful art is more than enough to lock me in. My only problem is I have to wait till the end of the month to play it. Is there anyway this game could be released before March 31st? I would be playing it if there was.
Kitty Haven
Alright I lied, I have another cozy and cute game to add to the list this month. ‘Kitty Haven’ does seem less peaceful than ‘Hozy’ did however. Listing itself as a puzzle game, ‘Kitty Haven’ is centered around finding peace between cats. Going from cat shelters and cat cafes to individual homes, the player will be tasked to figure out the needs of each cat and how best to satisfy them. As the game goes on the complexity of these puzzles will grow creating a fun challenge for players with adorable visuals. Look for this game when it drops some time in March.
Which of these games are you most excited for? Are there any games you’re looking for I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
