Whether you’re an avid gamer or a casual, you likely have played the most popular titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty, or Mobile Legends. And if you are raring to play more, then it’s time to look back at home. Here are some of the best Pinoy indie games that you would want to try out during your game sessions.
Pinoy indie game no. 1: Bayani
Remember the time when Pinoys went crazy after popular console fighting game Tekken 7 introduced a Filipino-inspired character in its roster? While Josie Rizal was well-received by gamers, there was a bit of controversy with her name. However, the gaming community eventually prevailed and Josie remained in Tekken 7’s roster.
Now, imagine a whole fighting game dedicated to Pinoy culture and Pinoy personalities? That is what Ranida Games’ Bayani: Kanino Ka Kakampi? promises to offer. Here, you get a unique experience playing characters that you get to see only in textbooks.
Why the game is worth it
In Bayani, you get to choose between eight different characters, each representing a particular Philippine historical figure. There is Joe Rizal, who uses a rapier to fight but can also summon fireballs from his book. These represent Rizal’s real-life prowess as a fencer and his achievements as a novelist and writer. There is also Dre, who represents Andres Bonifacio and dual-wields bolos.
The game takes inspiration from popular 2D and 3D fighting games like Street Fighter and the aforementioned Tekken. Each character has a unique set of moves that you can then string together to create more powerful combos. There is also a special bar at the bottom of the screen. Once that gauge fills up, you can use a special attack that the opponent would not be able to block.
Bayani currently has three modes available: Arcade, Versus, and Training. Ranida Games plans on adding a full-fledged story mode and online play later on. There are also plans for more characters in the future, including a ninth character to be released as a DLC. With all of that, there is definitely a lot to look forward to when you download the game from Steam.
Pinoy indie game no. 2: Garrison: Archangel
Like any other geek, Pinoys loves their giant robots. Whether it is the old classics like Voltes V or Gundam, or the newer ones like Pacific Rim, there is always something fascinating about them that would trigger your inner kid. And Indigo Entertainment’s Garrison: Archangel aims to capture that kiddie fascination.
In the game, you play as a mercenary mecha pilot that gets involved in the Baja Secunda conflict. While completing missions, you will encounter the various factions that are fighting for control over the various territories. You also earn prestige and money that lets you upgrade your giant robot.
Why the game is worth it
The main draw of this Pinoy indie game is its level of mech customizations. You can choose from a large selection of option parts. These include both melee and ranged weapons, armor, and even head parts. You can then mix and match these to create a unit that fits your preferred playstyle.
To progress in the game and earn points to purchase parts, you need to accomplish various missions. What makes Garrison: Archangel stand out is that each mission is procedurally-generated. What this means that each mission is created through an algorithm instead of having a fixed design. As such, no two mission runs are alike, giving you more challenges. The missions you choose to complete also affects the storyline, as factions will try to sabotage your efforts or persuade you to join them.
Garrison: Archangel’s gameplay is fast-paced, as you need to move continuously to dodge enemy attacks and destroy targets. However, the controls are surprisingly easy to master. There are also several modes of play aside from Missions, namely Arcade, Survival, and Multiplayer. If you prefer co-op plays, the Team mode can support up to four players.
Pinoy indie game no. 3: Mighty Alpha Droid
If you are looking for a more casual game that you can pick up and play on your phone, then Popsicle Games’ Mighty Alpha Droid will be to your liking. This Pinoy indie game combines word puzzles and classic side-scrolling platformers. This creates a fun gaming experience that will get you playing continuously.
In the game, you help the Mighty Alpha Droid blast his way through the various enemies by forming words from the letters provided to you. The more complex the words that you form, the stronger your attacks become. You get to play through hundreds of different levels.
Why the game is worth it
While it might seem like your usual word puzzle game with fancy graphics, Mighty Alpha Droid actually involves a good amount of strategy. To increase your attacks, you need to come up with valid words from the letters that you have. Defending from enemy attacks also goes the same way. If you are out of luck and can’t think of any word or misspell, then the enemy attack hits you.
The bosses are also another challenging part of the game. These require you to come up with longer words to defeat them and each boss has a unique condition that you need to accomplish. You can also take advantage of the different power-ups available to increase your word creation abilities.
Feel Pinoy pride with these fun indie games
The Pinoy indie games scene is still in its early stages. But as these titles have shown, it has a lot of promise. While they might not match the sheer scope of major games yet, these games pack in a lot of fun for players. Check them out and look forward to what local game developers have in store for future titles.