I sure got a colourful mix for you, which shows the beauty of indies: A detective game, a climbing game and a cute little mini-game. I also started the playful adventure of Berry Burry Berry, but since I didn’t play enough of it yet, you’ll get to see it next week-
Cairn || 29/01/26
One of the most anticipated indies this year, and it delivers! You play as a professional climber on her way to reach the top of Kami, a highly challenging mountain path, nobody conquered yet. No rain, hunger or dangerous wild life can stop her. You have to manage her stamina, nutrition and most importantly, safety. You decide the path, the movement of each limb and when to take breaks. Pure freedom and anxiety in one package; it is scary when you’ve used up most of your gear and have a bit off the cliff left, but the moment you reach it and look down where you’ve come from, is magical. The atmosphere and vibes here are just as significant as the challenge. Not every one of us can climb a mountain, but we might as well try it in Cairn.
Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved || 26/11/25
I love a good mystery game with an intriguing story. In Detective Instinct we follow two students on their educational trip. It was supposed to be a learning experience, and it was, even if it took a different turn than expected. First a man gets murdered, and then a woman disappears and nobody has even seen her? Did we actually see the woman? How is she related to anything happening here and how many people are involved? It opens up a catching case, which I didn’t want to stop before I get the answer. It’s displayed in a fairly classic visual novel interface that looks like a DS Game. It’s a rather simple story and sometimes that’s exactly what I am craving. Don’t expect to talk with parrots or orcas here (Ace Attorney fans will understand the reference). Throughout the short experience, I got quite attached to the two main characters, and I’d love to see more of their adventures.
Catsnap || 30/12/25
The name pretty much describes the game. You got a cute cat and like every cat owner, you just can’t get enough of it. So you decide to take pictures and share it with the world. Therefore, you try to bring the cat into funny or cute situations. It uses simple mechanics by clicking or dragging objects; and ultimately taking the shot.
It’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s the perfect activity if you got only 30 minutes to spare while looking for a heart-warming adventure.
Quick Shoutout (not played yet)
Don’t stop, Girlypop || 29/01/26
That’s what a game looks like when millennials develop something and dunk it in Y2K aesthetics. No, not just dunk, but drown it. You need one look to catch the vibes. I grew up with the rise of the internet around the 2000s and miss the vibe a lot. The flip phone alone brings me back.
At the same time though, it’s a superfast paced First-Person-Shooter, that doesn’t care about readability. Be aware of your own sensibilities before you play it. I started the demo and got sensory overload as well as light eye strain. If you vibe with Ultrakill or Mullet Madjack, you will vibe with this game.
RaceWorms || 27/01/26
What if Worms was a racing game with multiplayer? You are a cool worm with the ability to use items to either boost yourself or hinder your opponents. The maps look super fun; and it can be played in split screen as well as online multiplayer (even both at the same time!). Does anyone still remember Teeworlds? I think my younger self would have played a lot of RaceWorms.
Thief’s Roulette || 24/01/26
I was immediately reminded of 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward, when I saw the trailer and pictures. It’s a puzzle heavy visual novel hybrid, that was mainly funded through Kickstarter. 15 Characters are trapped in a mysterious facility, and now they have to complete multiple challenges, to unveil the truth of it all. According to reviews, the puzzles are fun, but the story feels a bit disconnected. As long as you don’t expect perfection, you should have a good time with this.
