Small Teams, Big Potential

The definition of the word “indie” is fluid and difficult to pin down in the world of video games. It can mean self-published; sometimes just having a pixelated art style will earn that definition; it can mean unique, and not like anything you played before; and it can also be a stand-in for the word small, which is what we had in mind as we were putting this feature together. Not all of these games are necessarily small in size, but they are made by small teams. That doesn’t affect our level of excitement, though. Across the following pages, you will find a list of upcoming games being built by small teams, but we think have the potential to be great.

The Florist

Don’t smell the roses

Though I love where survival-horror is today, there’s a part of me that misses the fixed camera days of old. Fortunately, where triple-A titans like Capcom have moved on, indie developers like New Zealand-based Unclear Games are there to explore the genre’s earlier days. The Florist is heavily inspired by Resident Evil, with fixed cameras, floral overgrowth, and horrifying enemies to boot. When Jessica Park arrives at the lakeside town of Joycliffe to make a last-minute delivery, everything goes wrong: horror, puzzles, deadly flowers, and more ensue. – Wesley LeBlanc