Wishlist Wednesday Returns, Covering 01/15/2023-01/28/2023
Welcome back to Wishlist Wednesday! Now on Wednesdays! This is a feature where I showcase Indies released over a two-week period that you might have missed to add to wishlists on Steam. This is actually is my first showcase of the year. I had so much happen in my personal life–I got a concussion, family got sick, car broke down in a different city and so much more, that writing just wasn’t possible. But I’m finally back and better than ever!
So without further to do! Eight games from January 15th to January 28th.
Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree
From developer Wildboy Studios, and publisher Untold Tales, Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree is a game that I hope is not overlooked. I hadn’t heard about it until looking at upcoming releases, but dang, does it deserve all the attention! It’s a dark Norse-mythology-inspired story following Estra on her journey. She’s a warrior trying to save her village, and alongside that discovers the truth behind her father’s death. This is a part adventure game, part rhythm-based combat. Yet it’s also a beautiful tale with hand-drawn art and breathtaking music (soundtrack when?) and all the feels. Also, one very cute frog spirit.
If you’re like me and suck at rhythm-based combat, don’t let that deter you from the top-tier story! Atone features a mode that makes it impossible to die in combat. That said, I recommend if playing with combat turned on–it’s metal as heck.
Power Chord
Power Chord is a really neat package from Big Blue Bubble. It’s a deck-building roguelike–now before you groan inwardly and say not another, hear me out. I feel this one is unique. Take the party management combat of Darkest Dungeon, mix in deck building, and throw on a punk rock coat, and you have this game. The story serves as a vehicle for the gameplay, but it’s still a fun tale about a punk rock band battling the demons of hell. What really completes the package is the solid character design for the characters. I feel like I’m looking at Warhammer minis, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Follow Big Blue Bubble on Twitter
Garden In!
Let me transition to something more low-key. Developer Dramatic Iceberg and Publisher Bonus Stage Publishing bring us a chill game about growing your own garden. Plants grow in real-time in this game, but the game features a limited ability to fast forward. The graphics are simple, yet gorgeous and effective. The music is soothing. It reminds me a lot of a Mii 3DS game called Flower Town which was totally my jam (did I just date myself???). But you know, better. If you’re like me and not good at either not killing plants or checking on games daily, don’t worry–your plants will never die no matter how much you neglect them.
Pizza Tower
The next entry is Wario Land inspired (sure we say inspired, but it’s basically Wariow Land but better) Pizza Tower from Tour De Pizza. Play a cowardly break-dancing chef to scale the evil Pizza Tower. The art style looks a little rough, but it’s very expressive, fluid, and effective. Pizza Tower is so infectiously fun and I get Adult Swim vibes from this. I also I feel like this game has a lot of speedrunning potential, so if you’re a speed runner, this may be the game for you.
Mahokenshi
It’s a good week for deck-builders as we’re featuring a second one. This one features a beautiful mythical feudal Japan-based setting. The main character travels from tile to tile and interacts with various places and objects. Lots of board game vibes here.
But definitely don’t let the pretty wrapping fool you. This is quite a brutal game. Building an effective deck that does damage quickly is paramount, as each map features a punishing turn limit. So if you like some challenge in your deck-builders, this may be the one for you.
Human or Not
Here’s a quirky piece of indie goodness. Human or Not is sci-fi Papers Please with some neat additions. Play as Noah, a human trying to get to another planet to live with his sister–no matter what it takes. This leads him to become an immigration officer, screening visitors to see if they are illegally entering aliens or just typical humans. While the Paper Please gameplay is here, there it has a bigger scope with an over-world to interact with. The game is a little heavy-handed in its message, but it’s a good message, so I can’t be too bothered.
Pet ALL the cats
A Space for the Unbound
This game is lovely and already sitting at Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam. You don’t need to take my word for it though, because we have a review right here!
Farlanders
What would a zen Outpost-inspired game where everyone doesn’t automatically drop dead look like? Andriy Bychkovskyi answers this question with Farlanders, a turn-based city builder. The game doesn’t have the in-depth mechanics of many of its city-building brethren. Instead, it mixes in puzzle game elements., resulting in a relaxing time that with still jog the brain cells. It’s also got this super charming pixel art style that I really dig.
That’s a wrap! Personally, I cannot get Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree off my mind, so that’s the stand-out game for me. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments or in The Geekly Grind Discord! Otherwise, see you in two weeks. This is Possum, signing off.
