Located in the heart of London’s historic Brick Lane, The Truman Brewery is hosting a showcase of some of the best upcoming indie games this weekend. Running from Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, April 28, WASD has a huge variety of games to play from some of the most creative studios from around the globe.
I got the chance to swing by and go hands-on with some exciting new releases. On day one, the show was already abuzz with gamers flocking to the venue in their droves to check out the next big thing in indie gaming. I didn’t have time to check out all of the multitudes of games available, but I did get to enjoy a select few demos on the show floor. Read on for our impressions, plus an expert rundown of the best games to play.
The latest project from Perfectly Paranormal and Yogscast Games is a heavenly time-traveling adventure game with a charming 2D animated art style reminiscent of cartoons like Steven Universe and Adventure Time. The story-based adventure has engaging, witty writing and I suspect some poignant emotional moments as the story progresses.
For gamers seeking a challenge, I recommend checking out pixel-art boss rush hack-and-slasher NanoApostle. The game thrusts you into a dark sci-fi world where you play as Anita, a child augmented with lethal nanomachines that allow her to dash around battle arenas, tearing apart a variety of fearsome bosses that look ripped straight from Ghost in the Shell.
Devolver Digital has a suite of games to sample at the show including the hilarious Cricket Through the Ages and spooky, tactical third-person puzzle-shooter Children of the Sun. Our favorite of the Devolver offerings had to be Anger Foot, a wild first-person shooter from Free Lives, the creators of Bro Force.
If you’re after something a bit more thoughtful, Corponation from Playtonic will tickle your frontal lobe with its trippy aesthetic and razor-sharp social commentary. You play as a corporate worker locked into a dull-as-dishwater sorting role in a dystopian future realized with gorgeous old-school graphics.
Adventure fans are eating good at WASD this year. The Mermaid Mask is the sequel to Tangle Tower, an extremely charming fantasy/crime adventure that launched in 2019. Series creator Adam Vian was on-hand to talk us through the demo, as I explored the wreckage of a sunken vessel and the scene of a mysterious murder. You can investigate beautiful pre-rendered environments, solve puzzles, and enjoy fabulous voice acting and animation in this twisted detective game.
With just a handful of hours to take in the show, there were plenty of brilliant-looking games that I didn’t get the chance to get my hands on. If you’re attending for the day or more, here are a few more brilliant titles you should check out.
If you’re after a wholesome and cozy game to snuggle up with, Pine Hearts from Hyper Luminal Games is for you. Traverse an adorable isometric open world that combines the structure of games like The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls but with a focus on brain-teasing puzzles instead of combat.
Luna Abyss is a truly stunning sci-fi first-person shooter from Bonsai Collective. The game transports players to a hellish otherworld that combines visual elements of Destiny, Doom, and Neon Genesis Evangelion in a potent cocktail of dread. You’ll need to have your wits about you if you want to survive this bullet hell action game.
This 1v1 melee fighter places players in a ‘samuraipunk’ world where they can fight for supremacy in tactical sword battles. The game is built around one-hit kills, so you’ll need some serious skill to come out on top.
Looking for a break from all the intense action? Try this chilled-out city-builder which seems perfectly made for the Steam Deck. Help a tribe of cute plant people reclaim their planet from defective robots as you build, decorate, and expand your settlement.
I’ve barely scratched the surface of what WASD has to offer here. Head over to the official site to check out the full list of games on display, and grab your tickets to attend.
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