Originally published at: https://xboxera.com/2022/01/31/indie-spotlight-january-31st-4th-february-2022/
As we finish off the first month of 2022 and dive straight into February, we have a plethora of what seems to be largely retro based smaller titles on offer in the Xbox indie scene this week. With a big release such as Dying Light 2 being the most notable game of the week along with Life Is Strange Remastered Collection. But, there may be something that will potentially tickle your fancy from this array of smaller casual titles. This is our indie spotlight for this week.
Dyna Bomb
Release Date 1st February 2022
Dyna Bomb is the latest, greatest platform game from 7 Raven Studios. With 64 explosive levels – and 8 gloriously animated worlds. This arcade smash is a real feast for the senses, with superb artwork and thunderous explosions – oh so many explosions!
Experience the manic arcade action as you dodge enemies, fling bombs and grab the treasure – before making a mad dash for the exit. Do you have the skills to find the secret levels? Can you master all the different power ups and dominate the worlds?
If it moves, detonate it. Dyna Bomb has intuitive arcade action game play, with a blast of humour . Enjoy features like, the wheel of fortune to discover hidden extras, player powerups, different characters designs and much, much more!
Webbed
Release Date 2nd February 2022
Webbed is about the story of a happy little spider on an adventure to save her boyfriend from a big mean bowerbird. Explore the dangerous wilderness with nothing but your webs and your wits. Practise the art of web swinging to speed your way through the world. Leave your own unique mark by spinning webs through the interconnected world. Stick webs to almost anything and use them to create your own paths. Make friends with bugs, and dance with them. Some bugs could use a little help from a friend and might even join your rescue effort in return!
The Dead Tree of Rachiuna
Release Date 2nd February 2022
A man graduates from university and comes back to the village where he grew up. As he notices there’s no one around, he witnesses visions of an incident that happened there some time ago while he was away, including another’s return to the village unaware of what lay before them. These visions are of various times and places, leaving the player to uncover clue as unravel the mystery.
The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna makes us question how unfair society can be both in a direct and realistic manner and with the power of fantasy elements. Some of the acts in the game can just be taken as symbolic story-telling.
The Sealed Ampoule – Release Date 2nd February 2022
The Sealed Ampoule is a “dungeon agriculturalization Rogue-like game” combining elements of dungeon exploration and clicker-style gameplay. From the creators Forget Me Not: My Organic Garden and The Midnight Sanctuary.
The player takes on the role of protagonist and novice alchemist Irene Morgan as explores her newly-acquired second-hand dungeon.
While fixing up and maintaining her dungeon, she encounters the strangest murder case ever, which she ends up investigating.
Ambition Record
Release Date 3rd February 2022
The count who rules the northern part of the kingdom has used forbidden, secret arts, and raised the flag of rebellion against his king.
Rafael takes up his sword on the orders of the king, to suppress the revolt. But then, the chancellor, who should be at the core of the king’s court, starts to act in an incomprehensible way. Beliefs and ambition clash fiercely in the unexpected twists and turns of battle!
Fortify characters with the power of the dragons to fight turn-based battles! Create your own party by exploiting the job change system and customizing weapons and armour as you like!
Dreamscaper
Release Date 3rd February 2022
Dreamscaper is an endlessly replayable action roguelike with a waking/dreaming gameplay cycle. By night, delve deep into your subconscious, facing nightmares in an ever-changing world filled with unique items, abilities, and challenges. By day, explore the city of Redhaven, build relationships and unlock permanent upgrades in order to take on the next dream stronger than ever.
QUByte Classics – The Humans By Piko
Release Date 3rd February 2022
Just what the heck are HUMANS?… and what are they doing in a video game anyhow?” We know… we’ve heard it before, they’re strange… they’re ugly… they’re stupid. But there’s more to these HUMANS than meets the eye, for inside each and every one of them is a small but usable brain. Working as a team and discovering new tools is the key to survival in this cruel world of chaos and carnivores. It’s an action-filled race against time, where you score points by finishing levels with as many of your tribesmen intact as HUMAN-ly possible (which isn’t that easy when it comes down to survival of the fittest). With Gametek’s Sega Genesis version of HUMANS, the only missing link is you!
Croc’s World Construction Kit 2
Release Date 4th February 2022
Play and create custom levels of Croc’s World! You can publish them on the internet and other players can play them as well! Featuring 48 items to choose from and 6 end bosses, this is a simplistic yet fun title that echoes games like Super Mario Maker for young audiences.
Demon Hunter 5: Ascendence
Release Date 4th February 2022
You are Hector Cole, member of a long-forgotten order and a freelance Demon Hunter. As a specialist in paranormal investigations, your skills are highly sought-after by those with problems of an otherworldly nature. One such a person is Edmund Strange, the owner and curator of The Museum of Mysticism and Monstrosity.
Not long ago, a visitor to the museum vanished under mysterious circumstances. Now that all rational methods of finding him have been exhausted, you are the curator’s last hope before word of this disaster reaches the media. It falls upon you to solve this mystery and banish any horrors, ghosts or monsters that plague that place. You have bested evil before, yet as you arrive at the scene you feel a tingling sensation of being watched by someone… or something.
Drone Gladiator
Release Date 4th February 2022
Drone Gladiator is an arena shooter, where you upgrade your drone, fight giant bosses and participate in random events. You will be send to the abandoned planet as one of the participants of the show. Your goal is to survive as long as possible, fighting hordes of robots and their generals. Upgrade your drone with different modules: distance weapons, melee weapons, shields, ability and tech modules. Choose what fits your playstyle. Take the challenge and come out victorious from a machine-oil bath with deadly robots! Become a champion of the show, full of robo-brutality.
The Song Out Of Space
Release Date 4th February 2022
In 1962, during the height of the Cold War, twelve astronomers at a deep-space observatory were found dead. Because of the proximity of an important military base, two federal agents were sent to investigate any Russian involvement…
And what they found was from beyond this world.
Find out what really happened that night by exploring a town full of suspects with something to hide, and stop it from ever happening again.
Choose to play as federal agent Catherine Armstrong, a young recruit with excellent scientific skills, or as Stuart Ross, a street-smart veteran. Their unique skills and personality will change how the story unfolds.
And whatever you do, try to keep your sanity!
The Final Analysis
A quiet week for indie games on Xbox Game Pass with nothing new on that front. We have been rather spoilt during January with some decent titles coming to the subscription service. All this week’s collection appear to be ported games from PC with low price points. If nothing sticks out for you here this time round, there is always next week! See you then for more indie goodness.