During our visit to this year's Gamescom video game fair, in addition to the work commitments we had, we spent some time sightseeing Indie Arena Booth. We presented some of the games that caught our eye in separate articles, and as part of this article we will present a few of the most interesting indie games that we had the opportunity to see at this year's Gamescom.
The Blind Warrior
Game The Blind Warrior, currently in development, is a solo action-adventure adventure set in mid-19th century Java during Dutch colonial rule. Players follow the character of Bardu Mandrawata, a priest and fighter for justice, who loses his sight after a tragic event, but in exchange receives mystical abilities that help him fight against tyranny.
The environment in the game is a semi-open world, inspired by the legendary Indonesian comic series Si Buta gives Gua Hant. Combat mechanics incorporate traditional silat martial arts – combos, blocks, parrying, stealth jabs and brutal finishing moves. The visual style is especially impressive after Barda loses her sight: through the "Blind Sense" mechanic, the environment is scanned, enemies are detected through a special "sensory" effect - like purple fog, which enhances the atmosphere and tension during gameplay.
Cold Abyss
Cold Abyss is an atmospheric and relaxing first-person indie adventure where you find yourself at the bottom of the ocean and have a simple but intriguing task — to fix internet cables. There are no enemies or dangers in the game, only silence and the endless sea, giving a feeling of peace and loneliness.
The Director's Cut version brings new content: expanded levels, an additional story and a completely redesigned movement system, along with improved visuals and interactions. Also added to the game is the collection of artifacts that further deepens the gameplay.
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi
Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is an upcoming fantasy adventure in which players take on the roles of Lili—a guardian who retired after the death of her mother—and Sadi, a hermit monk, who together embark on a battle against a mystical void that is corrupting their world.
Throughout the game, you explore intricate temples inspired by classics like Zelda, solve environmental puzzles, rescue spirits and face giant monsters. The demo version reveals a wonderful visual style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, with the mechanics of the two protagonists - swords and magic - being the core of the game.
Mr. Rebels
In the year 2684, when the oceans swallowed most of the land, the sky became the new battlefield. IN Mr. Rebels, players take on the role of pilots of an elite unit tasked with maintaining order among floating megacities. Inspired by classic futuristic action flight simulations, the title brings a tense combination of dogfights, tactical missions and free exploration of a huge open world.
With aircraft armed with laser cannons, rockets and jamming systems, every engagement requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The game offers dynamic weather conditions, realistic flight maneuvers and a story that reveals dark political intrigue in a world where the sky is the only hope — and the biggest threat.
Echoes of Mora
Echoes of Mora is an intriguing first-person narrative adventure, developed by Berlin studio Selkies Interactive. The game invites players to dive into an illuminated underwater world flooded with water - an abandoned village that hides many secrets - to help the young character Mori in his search for his missing brother.
The title brings the ability to play in VR and standard (non-VR) mode, with seamless switching between perspectives during gameplay. Players will explore a sunken village, discover hidden objects, solve puzzles and use "Echoes" - time portals that reveal events from the past, thus opening an emotional and multi-layered story-. Expect puzzles, exploration and a sensitive story interwoven with elements of mystery and fear, in an atmosphere that both intrigues and
Aquapark Tycoon
Aquapark Tycoon, under development by Boxelware and scheduled for release in 2025, brings a "cozy" simulation atmosphere in which you build the ultimate water park - taking care of the design of slides, pools and saunas to meet the demands of visitors.
The game combines creativity, strategy and management: design adrenaline slides, relaxing wellness pools and luxurious saunas, all with customized temperature, aromas and aesthetics. It also includes cooperative multiplayer, a Steam Workshop for sharing creations, scenarios and challenging objectives, with support for multiple languages and a pleasing, colorful visual style.
Shrine's A legcy
Shrine's A legcy is an upcoming action RPG game in a retro style, strongly inspired by SNES-classics like Secret of Man. It is set in the magical world of Ardemia, where two heroes, Rio and Reima, must restore the legendary Sword of the Shrine - the sacred find of the eight elemental gems - in order to save the world from a sinister threat.
The game brings an emotional story driven by characters, full of difficult choices and sacrifices that will shape the destinies of the hero and Ardemian. Players can explore a diverse open world, enter tense dungeons, fight monsters and rich bosses, and solve puzzles that require clever use of elemental magic.
The possibility of cooperative play is especially captivating: with one hero, there is always a companion, who can be controlled by the game's AI or replaced by a friend - compatible with local split-screen cooperation and the Remote Play Together option. The graphics in 16-bit retro style evoke nostalgia at the same time, but without the feeling that it is just imitating old games.
Ukwarko: Shrine's A legcy izgleda as obećavajući duhovni continuation nekoć populanih snesolikih RPG titles, spoj snažne priče, fluidne borbe, povwarka kooperaciis and kreativnih zagonetki – savršeno za obožavatelje žanra.
Aris Arcanum
Aris Arcanum takes us to the Victorian world through a roguelite adventure in which librarian Clyde Colegrave, ravaged by disease, wanders the haunted Halama Aris. Dependent on dangerous Ink-magic and limited by a wand, the game offers a unique spellcrafting system per round.
During your descent into the magical library, you face warped opponents and explore spooky corridors filled with rituals and the occult. Each death resets the spell, but progression is felt through constant improvements and fluid yet challenging combat gameplay enhanced by a gothic, hand-drawn aesthetic.
Once Upon A Kingdom
Once Upon A Kingdom is an upcoming card game with elements of city-building and light tower-defense strategy, in which the player leads civilizations through fairy-tale, mythical worlds. Each move is made from the deck - you pay with a card, build, combine structures and open defense zones while facing threats. Different campaigns explore mythical themes such as the buildings of the pharaohs, the great flood or lunar settlements.
Deer & Boy
Deer & Boy is an upcoming poetic film platformer in which a boy's escape after a tragic event leads to an unexpected friendship with a baby deer. Together they solve puzzles, avoid enemies and build a strong bond as the deer gradually develops into a protector, helping the boy to heal and grow up.
EverSiege: Untold Ages
EverSiege: Untold Ages is an upcoming action-strategy roguelite game with a bird's eye view, set in a fantastic post-apocalyptic world. The player takes on the role of demigod warriors — Scyrons — who defend humanity's last stronghold, the Bastion, while hating the opposing hordes and evil forces that surround it. Each attempt brings difficult decisions: build defenses, rebuild ruined structures, or seek powers through Shamanic magic and Essence. Participating in Co-op mode allows up to three players to shape the destiny of Bastion together. The game will soon start in the Early Access version, and during the first 12 months additional expansion of content such as new Wargear, Essences and enemies is planned.
Restaurants
Restaurants is an original simulation roguelite game set in a medieval world where you run a restaurant - but not just any restaurant, but a restaurant run by an entire crew of clever rats. You are the leader of that gnawing team, you cook meals, throw food at guests, wipe potions under skeletons and prove to orcs and vampires that your "bloody meat" is the tastiest.
This humorous mix of cooking, resource management and satirical humor brings a unique experience in the form of "roguelike cooking" - each attempt is a chaotic adventure filled with unpredictable obstacles and seasoned with boss battles, all in a genre that combines simulation and action. The game supports single-player and online co-op experiences, with features like Steam Achievements and Cloud Position Recording.
It's a quirky, fun and downright quirky cookbook that mixes chaos, humor and strategy, and promises to keep you coming back for more. . . or at least to try one more time, just when you think you have mastered the famous "rat-chef" duty.
Curse of Pirates
Curse of Pirates is an upcoming action roguelike game inspired by Vampire Survivors and Hades. Players become the captain inside a pixelated, roguelike galleon, battling supernatural enemies, crews and sea gods, and customizing their ship and skills for each new attempt.
Pathologic 3
Pathologic 3 delivers a dark adventure of survival and psychological horror, set in a terrifying world ravaged by an elusive plague. In the role of Doctor Danilo Dankovski ("The Bachelor"), players have only 12 days to save the city, but with a unique twist — they will be able to go back in time and change key events with the help of a rare resource called Amalgam.
Through the visual "Mind Map" interface, players can track the cause-and-effect relationships of their decisions, targeting specific events that they want to change. This "time travel" is the core mechanic of Pathologic3 — it allows experimentation without fear of irreversible mistakes, but also opens up access to hidden stories and endings.
Gameplay includes diagnosing patients, using advanced medical tools like microscopes, imposing quarantines, and managing resources to stop the plague. The narrative is layered and atmospheric, with deep moral dilemmas and psychological tensions that define the series.
Pathologic3 is the continuation of the cult franchise that promises an intense, emotional experience with a new, innovative approach — ideal for fans of the series, as well as new players eager for a challenge. The game is planned for release in 2025 for Windows, PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Cult of Blood
Cult of Blood is an upcoming survival horror adventure in development, published by Dusty Box. The game is set in an isolated village deep within a bleak forest landscape, and is inspired by a true sinister story that promises players a dark and tense atmosphere.
Players take on the role of a police officer who, while performing a routine task, becomes drawn into the events of mysterious disappearances—and finds himself face-to-face with a cult that performs bloody rituals. What begins as a dull duty soon turns into a desperate life-and-death struggle to uncover the terrifying truth.
Gameplay relies on classic elements of survival horror—management of limited resources such as ammunition and medicine, dramatic confrontations with human and supernatural enemies, and demanding boss fights with unique attack patterns. The gameplay system uses fixed cameras and "tank" control, giving a visually tense and stylish retro experience.
For those eager for a classic and atmospheric horror adventure—Cult of Blood promises a dark, stylized and suspenseful journey through the secrets and fever of a forest village.
Theropods
Theropods is a charming point-and-click adventure inspired by the golden age of pixel art games, where you explore a world full of dinosaurs. The game combines puzzles with a cinematic story and colorful characters, all accompanied by a retro aesthetic. The main character is a young huntress whose village was attacked by an evil gang of barbarians - her goal is to free the captured people.
At the same time, it introduces a lost astronaut to futuristic equipment, so it seems that tearjerkers are breaking the boundaries of genres: sci-fi elements and prehistoric challenges are combined. The game does not contain dialogues - the story is conveyed by animations and sounds, without words. The release is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025
The Necromancer's Tale
The Necromancer's Tale (Psychic Software, released July 17, 2025) is a narrative-driven top-down RPG adventure set in the alternate year 1733, in a kingdom along the Adriatic. You take on the role of a small noble figure who investigates the dark necromantic rituals of a mysterious book, and the goal is to gain power and revenge without losing your mind - or without hanging in front of the chattering people of the village.
The game unfolds a rich story of over 400,000 words, includes more than 180 characters with hand-drawn portraits, and tactics and dialogue where trust plays a key role (you will lose it — and the judgment — if you abuse it unnecessarily) Mixed in are strategic turn-based combat with swords and magic, manipulation, deception and political intrigue - all in an atmosphere of gothic and madness.
