And just like that, another month has come to an end. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to look forward to. Aside from Halloween creeping up on us this week, there are also loads of cool new games coming out – and you’ll be surprised to learn that not all of them are horror either.
We’ve picked three of the most intriguing indie titles to check out, including a cyberpunk adventure and a management game centred around a dwarven mining colony. Plus, for those interested in Chinese history and mythology, we’ve got one for you too. Now, shall we get into all of it?
Ghostrunner
Cyberpunk games are making a comeback. . But with so many to choose from, we’ve done the job for you: Ghostrunner here offers something completely different than the others.
Set in a dystopian future where everything is constantly terrible, Ghostrunner lets you take control of a cybernetic ninja who can wall run, slow down time and do mid-air dodges. You’ll have to use every single ability in your arsenal if you want to climb up Dharma Tower, the final bastion of humanity after a world-ending cataclysm.
Your mission is to take down a tyrannical ruler who’s taken control of the tower, and you’ll need to fight your way past hordes of enemies and make your way through impossible geometry and even venture into cyberspace to succeed. If you’re expecting a bit of a challenge, then you’ll have a great time with Ghostrunner.
Ghostrunner is out now for PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Hammerting
Hammerting is a mining management sim where you take control of an underground dwarven colony in the vast mountains of Mara. Starting off with a small handful of miners, you’ll need to slowly expand your colony while keeping your dwarves working the caves in order to support a war that’s being waged on the surface.
There are lots of other mining management sims out there, but what makes Hammerting stand out is the fact that you get to build mechanical devices as you go, to support how you make your way in and out of the mines. You’re not just putting up wooden platforms, you get to build elevators to help support you into danger and back to safety.
You’ll have to dig deep to meet all the requests being made of you too. If you can’t keep up with the demands of those fighting the good fight, then they’ll probably discard you and your ilk. That means you have to learn how to be efficient while charting new territory and hopefully not being cooked alive by magma.
Hammerting is out now in Early Access for PC.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII
Adventure games can be a big hit or a hard miss, but usually the good ones often stick with you for the rest of your life. Xuan-Yuan Sword VII is an action RPG that puts you in the shoes of Taishi Zhao, a swordsman who’s been through a series of unfortunate events. You’ll need to fight your way through monsters – both human and others – to try and right the wrongs that were done to you.
The thing that really stands out is just how good the game looks. Indie games often look a certain way because of pixel art or a stylised art design, but Xuan-Yuan Sword VII is just straight-up pretty. It also features a fascinating mix of Chinese mythology with technology that makes for a truly engrossing world.
It features everything you’d expect from an ARPG, meaning you’ll have to dodge, parry, and hack and slash your way through everything that stands in your way. There are also some really unique gameplay ideas here too, but we don’t want to spoil anything for you.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII arrives October 29 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.