Summary

• Indie developers face high costs for ads at Summer Game Fest, limiting visibility for small-budget studios.
• Some indie games received free ad slots, but many still struggle with expensive marketing opportunities.
• Unique indie titles like Rune Fencer Illyia, ABYSS X ZERO, and ROVA offer novel gameplay experiences.

E3 substitute, there are plenty of games that aren’t able to be there. A one-minute ad slot at the Geoff Keighley-led event will cost a studio $250,000. The price increases incrementally: ads cost $350,000 for one and a half minutes, $450,000 for two minutes, and $550,000 for two and a half minutes.

Though these numbers aren’t necessarily uncommon in the realm of games advertising, they’re a major roadblock for indie developers with small budgets. However, not every game has to pay this steep price though; a handful of indie games pitched received free slots as “earned editorial placements.” But even with these generous free placements, there are plenty of indies that won’t see airtime at Summer Game Fest as the biggest AAA reveals, and small devs are sharing their titles using the #PitchYaGame hashtag on X.

10 Rune Fencer Illyia, An Action-Adventure Metroidvania

Developed By: Nootbox Games

Described by developer Nootbox Games on X as a "love letter" to series like Castlevania, Metroid, Zelda, and Kirby, Rune Fencer Illyia follows Runist Illyia of Moonstone as she looks for her missing sister after crash landing on a mysterious world. This pixel art action platformer features more than 150 unique enemies, a unique world with 24 different areas to explore and uncover secrets in, and plenty of ways for players to customize their individual builds.

The game's combat includes a combination of magic and close combat, using conjured blades and stolen runes to create quick encounters that require equally fast reactions from the players. There are boss battles (in addition to the plethora of enemies populating the overworld) that will require strategy and skill to conquer, balanced with cozier elements like food and potion crafting and a shrine to populate with those saved throughout the kingdom. Rune Fencer Illyia is now available to wishlist on Steam.

9 ABYSS X ZERO, A 3D Indie Metroidvania

Developed By: Studio Pixel Punk

Developed by the two-person indie team Studio Pixel Punk, ABYSS X ZERO is a 3D Metroidvania following two different characters that players can control: Codename A and Codename Z. These characters have different abilities and fighting styles, allowing the player to interact with the vibrant world in unique ways. The early trailers feature a combination of sword slashing and gun-slinging combat against formidable bosses, alongside some unique dungeon puzzles.

Studio Pixel Punk is the same developer that released UNSIGHTED in 2021, another Metroidvania title that received a 4.5/5 from Screen Rant. This title is heavily inspired by early titles on the PlayStation 1 and N64 consoles, leaning into the low-poly yet colorful graphics and visuals. Though ABYSS X ZERO doesn’t yet have a release date, it’s currently available to wishlist on Steam.

8 ROVA, A Cozy Space Exploration Game

Developed by: FreeRangeDevs

There are plenty of games centered around exploring space, but few have the same cozy feeling as ROVA does. From developer FreeRangeDevs, this space-rover photography game lets players take control of a rover drone, taking pictures of the picturesque landscape as they roam around the new world.

There are various characters with set schedules that players can encounter and interact with through the rover, helping to colonize these new worlds. The 3D line art and laid-back vibes makes this game one of the more unique space exploration simulators, and though it doesn't have a release date just yet, it is available to wishlist on Steam.

7 Lume, An Indie Exploration Title

Developed By: Stylie Novell

An adventure game with exploration being at the forefront of the experience, Lume is a title from indie developer Stylie Novell. The world is being overrun by darkness — but one guardian wielding the power of light may just be able to save them all.

Uncover secret, solve puzzles, and glide across the land in this atmospheric title about restoring life to dark places. There's no release date for Lume just yet, but it's currently available to wishlist on Steam.

6 SCHiM, A Shadow 3D Platformer

Developed By: Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman

Following a soul that's been separated from its person, players will navigate through the shadows of relaxing, beautifully-designed worlds as they try to reunite the schim with its owner before it's too late. Despite the somewhat stressful premise, SCHiM is a casual 3D platformer game from Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman, using the shadows of the various objects and people as its platforms. The result creates unique levels with even more obscure secrets to uncover as players explore.

Every level is different from the last, offering a monochrome landscape filled with dark areas players are tethered to, forcing them to jump and sneak around as they try to find their way out. The abstract world lends itself to a relaxing platform experience. Though there's no release date for this game just yet, there is a demo now available on Steam.

5 Co OPERATION: MultiTurn, A Cooperative Game Of Medical Mayhem

Developed By: Mind Feast Games

Play as a volunteer in a hectic hospital in this turn-based title. Developed by Mind Feast Games, Co OPERATION: MultiTurn can be played with friends or alone, depending on the situation for different play experiences. Alone, players will control two different hospital volunteers, working them in tandem to treat patients and keep everyone alive. Multiplayer rounds will have players tackling a single character while working with their teammates to keep Lonchester Hospital running.

Described as "a turn-based version of Overcooked but more chilled and thinky," this in-development title already has a demo available on Steam. Though there's no release date available at this time, the early reviews are promising and allude to hours of wacky medical mishaps.

4 Grimoire Groves, A Cute & Cozy Roguelite

Developed By: Stardust

Grimoire Groves from indie developer Stardust combines a cute and cozy aesthetic with the action of a rougelite. As a witch making a home in the forest of Grimoire Groves, the well-discussed land was known to be home to a whole host of forest spirits and plant creatures. Thanks to the knowledge and wit of the witches moving in, the source of their disappearance was uncovered — putting it in the player's hands to bring the woodlands back to its magical notoriety.

Players have to grow and master their witch's magic, learning new spells and growing plants to befriend the forest spirits and return Grimoire Groves to its former glory. Through a combination of crafting, enchanting, farming, and exploration, the forest may yet live up to the reputation it holds. Grimoire Groves does not yet have a release date, but a demo is now available on Steam.

3 Farewell North, A Doggy Exploration Game

Developed By: Kyle Banks

Why look for a game where you can pet the dog when you can be the dog? In Farewell North, players take control of a border collie going on an adventure with their human. As players explore the archipelago inspired by the Scottish Highlands, they'll uncover memories that restore color to the world around them. Hidden objects, puzzles, and other secrets are hiding throughout the grayscale landscape that'll aid in the casual adventure game's message of moving on and letting go.

Amongst the puzzles are various monsters who would do harm to the animals and creatures that call the area home, requiring some combat and cunning moves to keep the natural world safe. From indie developer Kyle Banks, this story-focused adventure game already has a demo available on Steam, with a planned release date of August 15.

2 Sorry We're Closed, A Single-Player Survival Horror Game

Developed By: À La Mode Games

From indie developer à la mode games, Sorry We're Closed is a single-player survival horror game steeped in nostalgia. With a vibrant color palette and fixed camera angles, players take control of Michelle in her final days as she's given a chance to free herself of the curse placed on her by a demon. Every decision made throughout the play experience will influence what ending players receive, though they'll have to shoot and defeat the demonic enemies in her way with a variety of demonic weapons.

Players have the option to either help Michelle or make her experience much harder as they progress through the story. Opening her third eye will unveil the unseen influences between the worlds and further alter her final outcome. Though there is not an exact release date unveiled just yet, Sorry We're Closed is expected to be released sometime in 2024, though there is a demo currently available on Steam.

1 Teatopia, A Farming Sim About Tea

Developed By: Yixin Games

A farming RPG centering on Chinese culture, Teatopia has players growing and cultivating crops, raising livestock, and crafting tea in this cozy indie title. Players can befriend a variety of cats and dogs as animal companions to the livestock they'll tend to while they build their farm, as well as become close with the various townspeople. But these locals aren't just fun to converse with — some of them have mysterious pasts to unravel as players get to know them better through their contributions to the community.

In addition to the regular farming sim format, there are a variety of secrets and paranormal findings embedded into the game. Players can access the underworld to visit a market full of fairies and other enchanted beings in the Ghost Market, adding even deeper layers to the tales of Teatopia. Though indie developer Yixin Games was not featured in Summer Game Fest and has yet to announce a release date, the game is available to wishlist on Steam.

Sources: Nootbox Games/X, Steam (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)