Indie Game of the Month Awards December 2021

Song of The Indies

Written by A.J. Maciejewski for Indie GOTM Awards on January 4, 2022 🏅

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Another month (and year) just passed us by and quite a few notable indie games released in December so here are the very best.

Solar Ash Action Game of the Month

If the concept of skating through large and intricate environments at high speeds while slaying all sorts of nightmarish foes is appealing to you then you have to play Solar Ash. From taking down its giant bosses to discovering fun secrets, it's one rewarding action-packed indie. v1d30chumz 35-170-82-159

Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- Metroidvania of the Month

Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth- certainly isn't the longest Metroidvania ever made but its campaign is so densely designed with puzzles and challenging situations that I absolutely loved every minute I spent within its labyrinthine world. Its visuals are highly reminiscent of Symphony of the Night yet its gameplay is wholly unique with some truly innovative mechanics that make slaying enemies an involving and exciting endeavour. I hope a sequel comes out at some point as this is one excellent Metroidvania experience!

Timelie Puzzle Game of the Month

Timelie is an intriguing blend of stealth situations and real-time puzzles where you manipulate time while planning how to reach the exit without getting caught in each of its cleverly designed stages. I haven't played anything quite like it and encourage you to give it a go.

Grow: Song of The Evertree Casual Game of the Month

Grow: Song of The Evertree has you explore magical environments as you collect a huge assortment of materials in order to generate more colourful worlds. It's a phenomenal game to wind down with after a long day and the adorable graphics will make you smile.

Rubber Bandits Party Game of the Month

You don't see many indies where the goal is to commit criminal activities yet Rubber Bandits provides a ton of fun as you steal from a large variety of locales while trying to deal with your friends who are trying to do the same. It's silly frantic fun at its very best!

Asteroids: Recharged Co-op Game of the Month

I'm very happy that a few more Atari remakes released at the end of 2021 and Asteroids: Recharged is one of the best. Thankfully, it features co-op gameplay that makes climbing the leaderboards and completing challenges with a pal highly entertaining.

Arcade Archives: ORIUS Shoot 'em Up of the Month

Speaking of retro games, Arcade Archives: ORIUS (AKA Xexex) released last month and it's quite an oddity of a classic shmup. Who knew that a Konami-developed R-Type-inspired shoot 'em up could be so over-the-top and enjoyable? Well, it definitely is.

Horatio Goes Snowboarding Arcade-Style Game of the Month

Horatio Goes Snowboarding is the sort of indie game that you could easily imagine being in an arcade with its simple yet addictive gameplay where you cross streets as if you're Frogger then snowboard while carefully weaving through obstacles. Great job, devs!

Justice Chronicles Retro-Inspired Game of the Month

Justice Chronicles is yet another old-school RPG that really scratched my itch for genre classics. Simply progressing through its unique campaign is rewarding enough but throw in satisfying requests and a nifty crafting system and you're left with one superb adventure.

Windlands 2 VR Game of the Month

Although I didn't play the first game, Windlands 2 really impressed me with its fast-paced grappling hook action where you swing through enormous environments and destroy robotic foes with a bow and arrow. It's intuitive and exciting stuff and a perfect fit for VR.

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Indie Game of the Month

Finally, the very best indie game of December 2021 is Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon. I had a ton of fun playing its roguelike campaign over and over again while changing my character in order to slay all sorts of monsters and acquire a whole treasure trove of enhancements and unlockables. Plus, the gameplay is so customizable that you can easily adapt it to suit your preferences. Congrats!