indie game recommendations!

i feel so disenchanted with a lot of major studio video games coming out nowadays, and have felt this for a while... 

i think i've seen an uprise in this sentiment after the delayed release of tears of the kingdom, because the crazy awesome polished level it's at is in such contrast to other games (AAAs that are unplayable on day one) so it seems a lot of other consumers have started to raise their standards.

however, i still have my own gripes with nintendo, especially after their 11.17 update that dropped just a few days ago for the 3ds (which effectively patches all software methods of modding your device, modders being a HUGE demographic of people still passionate about 3ds) and for DMCAing random fan creations, shutting down fan events, etc. but i digress.

aside from older games, i routinely enjoy indie games in general a whole lot more! to me, they often seem to receive more love and care from their creator(s), especially in the case of passion projects. how do you feel about this? and do you have any indie games or studios to recommend?

here's some of mine! i'll also mark down the prices and platforms as accurately as i can. i am in the US so these prices are in USD and some games may not be available where you live.

shadows of doubt ($19.99 / windows) - a game set in a gritty sci-fi noir environment where you play as a private investigator trying to collect clues and solve murders on your own. most play will be in its sandbox mode, where cities and cases are randomly generated. it's still in early access as of around a month ago and does have some bugs but the developer is very active. keep in mind the system requirements are not potato pc friendly.

terraria (<$10 / multiplatform) - of course, a classic released on many platforms, offers many hours of gameplay exploring, farming, building, gathering resources, and defeating bosses. another update is expected sometime this year and the studio displays remarkable attention to user feedback. very moddable and multiplayer can be very fun.

maggie's apartment ($9.99 / windows) - a fantastic point-and-click game with an entirely hand drawn art style and captivating world and story. around 2 hours depending on your puzzling skills. this game has stuck with me for years, i will recommend it to anyone.

the coin game ($13.99 / windows) - basically an arcade simulator with some ominous post-apocalyptic vibes. last time i played it was just the chuck e cheese-esque location complete with its own animatronic show and ticket prizes. it looks like it's been regularly updated since then by it's one developer to include many more locations, games and other features.

papa's freezeria deluxe ($5.99 / windows) - whether you've played papa's games as a kid or not i highly recommend this newly released deluxe version on steam. the original freezeria game is one of the most popular papa's games, and it has now been revamped and expanded to include loved features like holidays and character & shop customization. you run a slush? milkshake? smoothie? shop and multitask to keep customers happy. 

honorable mentions:

sunshine shuffle ($9.99 / windows + pending switch release) - mostly an honorable mention as i haven't played it yet. inspired by telltale: poker night at the inventory and animal crossing, you play texas hold 'em with a bunch of cute creatures and learn their story as they chat. released only a few days ago, there's a couple of complaints in the reviews but it looks like the developer is very receptive to this feedback and i'm sure the bugs and flow of gameplay will get ironed out very soon.

staxel ($19.99 [$24.99 on switch] / windows + mac + linux + switch) - a farming and building based game with a charming voxel art style and many cute character designs. you can build your farm as you'd like, craft furniture, and cook, all while participating in community events and expanding the town by scratch. it also has support for multiplayer. unfortunately, development on the game has ceased, so there won't be any further updates which really is a shame as the game does feel unfinished. i still feel like it's one of my favorite games and mods improve the experience but it could have been so much more.

starbound ($14.99 / windows + mac + linux + xbox) - an open world game that has you jumping from planet to planet to gather resources, meet inhabitants, and build and upgrade your ship. it is often compared to terraria and features a unique charm that can keep you hooked for hours. it is made by the same studio as stardew valley's previous publisher, chucklefish, which had been outed a few years ago for taking advantage of workers through unpaid voluntary work, some of these workers being teens. this and the unfinished feel of the game certainly sullied my admiration, but there is many passionate modders that make it worth the time playing. if you want to check it out i would highly recommend that you "find someone" to "borrow" this game from.

if you're tired of games in general:

EYESTRAIN/FLASH WARNING everything is going to be ok (name your own price / windows + mac) - this one is more accurately labelled a personal interactive zine rather than a game, according to the artist's wishes. contains heavy subject matter presented through dark comedy at first but the goal of the piece will become clear as you click around to discover all that it has to offer. absolutely worth the experience if you have the time.