APICO appeared out of nowhere, a bit like the only bee that has ever stung me. Developed by TNgineers, this sweet farming simulator is more about bees than potatoes and cows. On its surface, it wears its inspirations from Stardew Valley clearly on its suit, but beneath the pixelated aesthetic and soft soundtrack is an intense beekeeping simulator.
More than 40 indie games were highlighted ranging from cute and cozy to terrifying and more.
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.
There's a peaceful, melancholic beauty about Miniatures. Hand drawn and featuring unique interactive mechanics, Other Tales Interactive's collection of short narrative games asks the player to look back on difficult childhood memories, each blanketed by a layer of magical thinking.
It's hard to call a game that confronts such sensitive themes "fun," necessarily. Therapeutic, trancelike – those are more fitting descriptors. Playing through each of the four vignettes feels a lot like stepping back in time, into shoes far smaller than mine, adopting a perspective on the world that paints over all its cruelties with an unbridled imagination. Miniatures is both cozy and troubling in that regard – albeit deeply cathartic.
