After covering the highlights of PGDX 2025, I wanted to shine the spotlight on something closer to my heart—indie games. I only had one day (July 26) to explore the show floor, and with over 120 titles featured, I focused on the ones that really caught my eye.
I didn’t get to try them all, but here are the five indie games I played that stood out the most—plus a couple of honorable mentions I didn’t get to dive deep into, but still left a strong impression.
1. Barista Boy by Mario B. & Alex V.
Impressions:
If you know me, you know I love a good cozy game—and this one was no exception. There’s never too much cafe inspired games for me. I was drawn to the art style and gameplay. What truly stood out was how closely the recipes mimic real-life ones, complete with precise measurements. I also appreciated the storytelling woven into the demo, especially the option to choose my responses. When I asked the developer about a release date, he explained that since he’s working on multiple projects, nothing has been officially scheduled yet. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for this one!
2. Thorn for the Villain: Reincarnated as an Extra in an Otome Game by Anta
Impressions:
I never expected to find a Filipino-made otome game at PGDX. In Thorn for the Villain, you’re an office lady reincarnated as Teresa von Ambrose—an extra in the game Eternal Blessings of the Stars, where tragic endings loom over the Asmodia Kingdom. The art instantly reminded me of the shoujo anime I watched growing up. While the premise isn’t groundbreaking for an otome, I loved how the main character draws the attention of an underground villain rather than the protagonist. The intro demo hooked me instantly—and the fact that it’s available on itch.io means you can try it yourself. Development began in 2023 and hopefully the game can be released by this year!
3. Iskrambol Days by kendikorp
Impressions:
As a Filipino gamer, few titles reflect our culture as authentically—and Iskrambol Days nails it. This cozy pixel cart sim lets you serve iced scramble just like I used to enjoy after school. The demo felt like folding nostalgia into gameplay: mixing sprinkles, chocolate syrup, stick‑O toppings and more. You can even play mini games while waiting for customers and collect more coins. It’s a mobile demo now, and I immediately searched for it in the Google Store after playing. It’s familiar fun with a uniquely Filipino twist.
4. Of The Lilies by Startris Studio
Impressions:
I’ve played my fair share of visual novels, but Of The Lilies felt refreshingly different. Set in a fantasy colonial world, the game offers five romance routes and fifteen endings, with mini-games like potion-making and battle training layered into the narrative. The Southeast Asian-inspired art style stood out—it didn’t feel like generic anime art—and the demo felt more interactive and immersive than most VNs. During the demo, I collected crops, trained in combat, and felt the cozy Stardew‑Valley energy—but mixed with narrative stakes. I asked the developers about route choices, and they shared that characters follow classic VN tropes (childhood friend, bad boy, smart one). I definitely felt how one of them was inspired by Sasuke, I mean who doesn’t love hot guys? I can’t wait to try all the routes. No official release date yet—Steam watchlist recommended!
5. Langit Lupa: Office Series by NinetySix Studios
Impressions:
There’s nothing more iconic than the Filipino tag game Langit Lupa, and I was pleasantly surprised to play a PC game inspired by it. This fast-paced multiplayer tag set in an office lets you vault over desks and grab random items to toss at each other. All in the name of not getting tagged IT. The mechanics reminded me of Going Under with its environmental humor. I had a blast demoing it, and the developers shared their long-term vision: turn this into an esports title. With more maps and polish, this one could boast serious replay value.
🌟 Honorable Mentions
- Autosolve by Nico, Je‑Ri‑Cho, Shir0take & eldritchvalentine
Autosolve pitched me as a puzzle escape-room demo: your job is to solve every puzzle as a company test subject and escape a strange room. Short rounds, sharp art, tight voice acting, emotive characters—I even walked away with some stickers. I’m planning to dive into the full build soon to see if I can clear the levels. The passion behind this demo is evident in every detail. Can you believe students developed this game?
- Until Then by Polychroma Games
As a Filipino gamer, nothing resonated more than this local visual-novel deep-dive into Metro Manila-inspired storytelling. Talking to their art director, I learned they intentionally included grit—like subway grime and cracked sidewalks—to capture the city’s lived texture. This is a narrative experience that may make you tear up, and I wouldn’t fault you for that. The art director’s advice for aspiring Filipino game developers is just to pitch your ideas to game companies, and you might just find success just like they did. It’s currently available on Switch, Steam and PS5.
PGDX reminded me that Filipino indie developers aren’t just outsourcing—they’re building heartfelt, local stories with global appeal. These demos are proof. It makes me very proud as a Filipino gamer. Looking forward to watching these titles evolve—and I hope you get to try (or wishlist) them yourself. Thanks for tuning in with me!
Matcha-fueled shoujo heroine who loves gaming.