"In 2009, Dean Dodrill won Microsoft’s Dream.Build.Play Challenge, and his little indie game about a warrior named Dust, received a contract from Microsoft for Xbox Live Arcade distribution, as well as a $40,000 check. Four years after winning the award, and a little less than a year after releasing on Xbox Live, Dust: An Elysian Tail is coming to the PC." - Tom Christiansen
These aren’t nostalgia grabs or gimmick-laden throwbacks. They each bring something genuinely fresh to the table, mechanics that feel baked into the exploration and combat, not just tacked on.
Play as Dik, a nimble acrobat exploring the depths of Hell to rescue his brother from the Devil’s hands. With no weapons to rely on, success hinges on mastery of physics-driven movement, and quick adaptation to deadly obstacles.
GDC 2025 has revealed the finalists for the 27th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF).
