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Celebrate magical games of witchcraft and wizardry with Magic Week on RPSJoin us for a spell
Join us for a spell
14 Indie Games We Can’t Wait To Play In 2023Watch on YouTube
14 Indie Games We Can’t Wait To Play In 2023
We’ll be posting about games that are out now, games that have demos, and games that aren’t going to be out for a bit, but seem like they’re worth keeping an eye on. There are games about schools, kind of creepy games, life sims, potion brewing, and even a bit of wrestling. Over the next two weeks, keep an eye out for any posts with the little magic logo in the corner of the thumbnail image, or follow theRPS Magic Weektag to see new articles go up. We’ll also be adding everything you write to this post right here, so why not whack it in your bookmarks for later, yeah?
At RPS we’ve always been about championing great indie games and creators who put interesting, weird, or otherwise good stuff out into the world. We hope that you follow along with us and find something you really like during Magic Week, because we found a lot of thingswereally liked. There’s also an added bonus because, since many of these developers are small teams - or even one-person teams - you can then feel extra cool if one of them turns out to be your new favourite, just like when you’re the first person to like a new band and you can wear their t-shirt to other shows.
So fill up yer cauldron and scoop the eyes out of your designated newts, we’re going magicking.
Potion Tales is a creepy magical puzzle game with no wrong answers
Rearrange the shelves in your probably-illegal potion shop and give people whatever potion you think will solve their problem. Sometimes it won’t. But we persist.
Spellbook Demonslayers is a wicked, witchy take on Vampire Survivors
No, there isn’t an Old Testament that whirls around your person like a holy sawblade, but there is a revolving shield with a pistol glued onto it.
Witchy Life Story lets me live out my ideal cottagecore fantasy
A fluffy, cosy visual novel where you play as a mischievous witch living a cottagecore lifestyle? One where you tend your garden, make poitions for villagers, and potentially romance said villagers? Bliss.
Potionomics makes chucking a bunch of teeth into a cauldron feel great
Making potions meets paying attention to market trends meets haggling via card battles. Meta, because that combination is agood recipein itself.
This witch sim has the chicken-legged Baba Yaga house, so I want it
Not only doesRekahave said house, but you can customise and decorate it, and add new rooms for your witchy doings. Excellent pitch. I want mine to have a big weird tower on one side, and a library.
Potionomics makes chucking a bunch of teeth into a cauldron feel great
Making potions meets paying attention to market trends meets haggling via card battles. Meta, because that combination is agood recipein itself.
The Knight Witch shows a magical bullet-hell is a great match for a Metroidvania
You wouldn’t have thought a bullet hell goes naturally with a ‘troidvania, but The Knight Witch has good controls and cool level design that carry it off.
The Salt Order draws on old magic for a unique horror concept
A solo dev is working on a very cool horror concept where your only magical protection is drawing in salt. Fascinating, weird, good. And scary.
Obliterating slimes as a fluffy rabbit wizard in Dungeon Drafters is the best thing ever
The combination of cute and deadly is always a winner, especially if magic cards are involved. This rabbit is ever better because he has a hat with holes for his ears.
Five years on, Wizard Of Legend is still kicking ass and taking names
In the hands of a seasoned pro, this is a game that’s essentially magical kung-fu, with your titular wizard pulling off flashy spells in spectacular fashion. But cor, it does not give up its secrets lightly.
Harmony’s Odyssey’s adorable shell hides an even more adorable puzzle centre
This non-violent witchy puzzle game is cute to the core, but with a great sense of humour between the layers, and a very fun take on myths and legends at the same time.
Spirit Swap’s endless demo will eat your entire day
I’m a fan of match-3 games, so I’m thrilled that one exists that is high quality, not trying to squeeze me for money, and full of magical queer characters with horns.
The Last Spell’s magic ruined the world, and I’m so here for it
In The Last Spell, magic is the thing that destroyed the world and created an army of mutants from which you must nightly defend your settlement. So magic isn’t all good, is what we’re saying.
Image credit:Humble Games
Ikenfell is an endearing tactical RPG that gave me earworms
What’s better than a cute isometric pixel-art RPG set in a magical school? A cute isometric pixel-art RPG set in a magical schoolthat has great tunes.
I’m learning how to curse exes and talk to the dead in So May It Be
I know I wish that I’d been part of a coven when I was a teen. In So May It Be, you are, and you learn how to do witchy things at the same time as making friends with your nice bejumpered fellow witches.
Spells & Secrets uses roguelike inspirations to bring a magical school to life
Spellcaster University shows it’s harder running a magic school than going to one
Speaking of magic schools, have you any idea how tough it is to run one, keeping an eye on all the students, while a Dark Lord is slowly advancing to destroy you? Pretty tough!
Through The Nightmares spins childhood fears into a devilish platformer
If Netflix’s TV show version of Sandman had Tom Sturridge hoppin’ about doing all platforming I reckon you’d get a six series run, easy. But seriously, check out this demo.
