Platformers are having a magnificent year in 2017. So far, we have seen games inspired by beloved Nintendo 64 platformer Banjo-Kazooie, like Snake Pass and Yooka-Laylee, as well as re-releases of older platformers such as The Disney Afternoon Collection and Voodoo Vince Remastered, with plenty more new platformers and remasters coming soon.
We have also seen indie platformers having a great year as well, but they don't always get the attention they deserve, or the attention they get seems to fade away a bit faster than usual. These smaller games are also often overshadowed by bigger games in other genres as well as their more popular counterparts which all release around the same time.
Here are 5 indie platformers released recently you may not have known about that deserve more attention.
Play Flinthook If You Enjoy Roguelikes and Space Pirates
This charming indie roguelike platformer released rather recently, although it was overshadowed by games like The Disney Afternoon Collection, Full Throttle Remastered, and Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy Episode 1, all releasing on the same day, Flinthook stands out. In Flinthook, you play as the titular space pirate with a grappling hook, exploring the Mermaidon galaxy to hunt treasure, fight bad guys, and collect bounties for wanted criminals.
Whereas fellow roguelike The Binding of Isaac, is dark, disturbing, and inspired by the top down view of the Legend of Zelda games, Flinthook is more similar to a Metroidvania style game, while being much more humorous and lighthearted.
With its science fiction and classic pirate crossover aesthetic, Flinthook is a great game for any fan of indie platformers, roguelikes, and space pirating.
Buy it on on Steam, or PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
If You're A Big Fan of Inside, Play Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a game being released by Bandai Namco, developed by Tarsier Games, and has some striking similarities to 2016's indie smash hit, Inside.
In Little Nightmares, you play as a girl named Six, as she tries to escape out of a strange underwater resort known as "The Maw."
This is likely to be be the first of many in the "creepy indie platformer" sub genre seemingly created by Limbo, and Inside. Little Nightmares is arguably creepier and more disturbing than the game which inspired it, due to its more detailed graphical style, grotesque looking enemies, and its theme of "childhood fears."
As a new entry in the indie horror platformer genre, Little Nightmares is a game fans of Inside should definitely lookout for.
Buy it on Steam or PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Play Hacky Zack If You Need A Game To Play in Short Sessions
Hacky Zack is a game developed by Spaceboy, and first started out on Steam Greenlight.
In Hacky Zack, you play as a character named Zack and juggle different balls to help get through the different obstacles of each level.
Hacky Zack also features plenty of stickers to collect, 8 different characters to play as, and a timed challenge mode.
With a stellar soundtrack, Hacky Zack provides a small but great game to be played in short bursts for any PC gamer's collection.
Buy it on Steam.
Struggle for Survival in Rain World
In this survival platformer released by Adult Swim Games and developed by Videocult, you play as a Slugcat who gets separated from its family. To progress through the game you have to eat as well as avoid different creatures in the world's ecosystem, all while avoiding deadly rain. You can use debris as weapons to defend against randomly generated enemies, search for food, and reach hibernation rooms which are used as save points.
The story of Rain World is communicated through details in the environment and the game does not help the player too much, instead only giving the smallest of hints as they progress through the world.
Although it has received mixed reviews due to its tough gameplay, Rain World is a unique indie platformer which provides a new experience for any gamer who enjoys games about survival.
Buy it on Steam, or PlayStation 4.
Play Hollow Knight If You Enjoy Games Like Salt & Sanctuary
Hollow Knight is a 2D metroidvania style action adventure game developed by Team Cherry, released on PC this past February.
In Hollow Knight, you play as the titular character exploring a world populated by all different kinds of bugs battle hordes of strange enemies, and piece the story together -- as you might in any Dark Souls game.
Even though it may not be the easiest or most well known game, Hollow Knight is a great choice for any fan of games like Dark Souls and Salt & Sanctuary, hand drawn artwork, or pleasant sounding soundtracks
Buy it on Steam. Hollow Knight will also be available on Nintendo Switch some time in the near future.
Brand New Hidden Gems
So there you have it, 5 recent and decent platformers available for the PC. With how different each of these games are -- despite being part of the same genre -- when it comes to recent platformers, there seems to be something special for gamers of all types. Whether you're hunting for treasure in Flinthook, exploring the world of Hollow Knight, or getting creeped out by Little Nightmares, these 5 games provide something different for everyone.
Are there other titles in the genre we missed that you think should be on this list as well? Let us know in the comments!
Published: Apr 27, 2017 12:10 am