Indie Game of the Month Awards August 2022

Indie Valley

Written by A.J. Maciejewski for Indie GOTM Awards on September 6, 2022 🏅

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Another month has passed by and as always, it was packed with incredible indie games so here are the best in 12 distinct categories.

│ For your benefit, Video Chums doesn't indiscriminately promote press releases, Kickstarter campaigns, or industry-fed rumours. 📰

Islets Metroidvania of the Month

Islets is the equivalent of Metroidvania comfort food. Everything it does, it does incredibly well and the premise of uniting islands which actually brings multiple maps together is nothing short of brilliant. If you're a genre fan then it's a must-play. 🐭 v1d30chumz 44-212-99-248

FROGUN Platformer of the Month

As a huge fan of quirky 3D platformers, FROGUN completely blew me away with its challenging gameplay, adorable visuals, and mechanics where you use a frog-gun to latch onto objects, enemies, and your environment. Not only is it a brilliant game, there's also a lot of content packed in with oodles of stages that are brimming with secrets and mastering everything will require a great deal of skill and time. Needless to say, if you enjoy these kinds of off-the-beaten-path indies then you need to add this lovely gem to your collection. 🐸

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Co-op Game of the Month

I love Kunio-kun games and River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is a hilarious spin-off that's even more fun to play with a friend. Taking on its goofy bosses as you role-play as historical Chinese figures makes for one super-fun beat 'em up adventure. 👊

Turbo Golf Racing Multiplayer Game of the Month

Ball sports with vehicles seem to be a new thing and let me tell you; playing golf with a car is a ton of fun. I may not be very good at it but racing with a bunch of folks online as you chase to smack your ball into the hole first is a blast. ⛳

Logic Pic Puzzle Game of the Month

Sure, there are a lot of nonogram puzzle games out there but this might just be the only multiplayer one. Not only is it a hoot with a chum, there are also oodles of puzzles to solve solo as you watch cute little stories unfold. How cool is that? 🧩

Ground Divers! Casual Game of the Month

Ground Divers! is a lovely indie game where you command a robot as it tunnels underground and retrieves treasures from below. There's a lot of strategy required but it still makes for a rather chill experience with minimal controls and rewarding gameplay. 🤖

Train Valley Strategy Game of the Month

Train Valley is one of the best indie games I've played all year. Its blend of arcade-like pacing and simulation track-planning is pitch-perfect and I spent hours mastering the tricky levels in this unconventional hidden gem; I'm sure you'll love it, too. 🚂

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever RPG of the Month

You don't usually see RPGs with as much variety as Sword and Fairy: Together Forever. At times, it feels like Devil May Cry and at others, it's a stealth game. Overall, though, it's a beautiful tale that tells an epic story so you should definitely check it out. 🧚

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath Shoot 'em Up of the Month

As someone who enjoys shoot 'em ups, especially ones with an anime aesthetic, I loved every second of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath. With its intense character-swapping action and cute artwork, there's a lot to enjoy. ⭐

After Wave: Downfall Arcade-Style Game of the Month

Another genre I thoroughly enjoy are indie games that feel like they belong in an arcade and After Wave: Downfall does an excellent job of crafting a delightful shoot 'em up with just the right amount of retro 3D vibes and challenge to make for one silly adventure. 🌊

Gale of Windoria Retro-Inspired Game of the Month

Indie RPGs that emulate the golden age of the genre (late '90s / early '00s) are a great throwback and Gale of Windoria is bursting with entertaining RPG gameplay, especially with its strategic battle system and customization elements that'll have you tinkering for hours. 💎

Yars: Recharged Indie Game of the Month

Finally, the very best indie game that we reviewed in August is definitely Yars: Recharged. In fact, it's the best twin-stick shooter that I've played this year. It may be a reboot of the Atari 2600 classic Yars' Revenge but it plays so little like it that it may as well be its own game entirely and dare I say; it's even a better game than the original. With intensely frantic gameplay, a high degree of challenge, eye-popping neon visuals, satisfying audio, and an impressive layer of strategy, Yars: Recharged should be in every retro gamer's library. 👾