During SXSW Sydney, there were many Indie games showcased in the Great Hall at UTS! The Games showcase was on from Thursday to Sunday, one day less from the rest of the Games festival. During the showcase, over 120 Indie games were shown! Each half-day the great hall would change rotation to display different categories and give each game the chance to be in the spotlight. The categories included Delicious Gaming (food-based games), a Student Showcase, APAC highlights, Spooky gaming, Cozy gaming, Tabletop and more!
Quite a few of them caught my eye and this article will be a little reflection or more so, a summary of the many games I saw and the upcoming releases that I am looking forward to over the next couple of years.
Disclaimer: I apologize if your game wasn’t featured in this article. I had a limited amount of time to try out demos and speak with developers, and I could only experience a select number of games. Additionally, due to the multiple rotations during the showcase, some games were swapped out, and I didn't get the chance to play or see many of them.
1000xRESIST - Sunset Visitor
1000xRESIST is a sci-fi adventure set 1,000 years in the future, where humanity has nearly been wiped out by a disease released by an alien race called the Occupants. The story centers on Iris, a teenage girl who survived the apocalypse and became immortal. She has created a society of clones known as the Sisters, who live underground in constant fear of the Occupants. These Sisters, who revere Iris as their ALLMOTHER, dream of joining her to fight back against the alien invaders, while their existence is dominated by the need to wear masks to survive in the poisoned air.
The player takes on the role of The Watcher, a unique entity who relives and interprets Iris's memories through a process known as Communion, guided by a floating AI companion named Secretary. As the game unfolds, players explore key moments from Iris’s past, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets hidden in an underground haven called the Orchard. The gameplay combines different genres and perspectives, offering twists that challenge players to rethink the world and their mission to reclaim the legacy of humanity. Developed by Sunset Visitor, an independent studio in Vancouver, 1000xRESIST reflects the diverse experiences of Asian-Canadian creators through a blend of speculative fiction and experimental media.
1000xRESIST won the Best International Game at SXSW Sydney 2024, and if you would like to check it out, the steam link for the full game is below! Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1675830/1000xRESIST/
Dungeon Breakers - DropTable Game
I got the chance to chat with the devs of Dungeon Breakers and when asked to describe their game in their own words, Bryn, the team lead, said “Dungeon Breakers is a tactical RPG that's about being too strong for your own weapons. In the game, the world is cracked like an egg, all of society is falling into the lower reaches of the world itself and the sky falls quite constantly - In the start, Tumbletown has been set on fire as our young hero has to go save it - like a classic action adventure!”
When asked about the character, Bryn stated “Our hero here is young Bull, so named because his people don’t get a name until they commit a heroic act - he’s on his adventure to save things but things go slightly south as he finds the way into town.”
Dungeon Breaker was super intriguing to me as the 3D landscape and 2D characters were super unique and the art style was very cute. The team uses a tool called Spine 2D, and rigs the characters “giving them bones” which allows them to create a 2D/3D artstyle. It also has some exciting features such as a photo mode and grid combat system!
While the team doesn’t have a publisher yet, they did mention that they are looking for one (so if any publishers are interested ;)) The team doesn't have a demo available yet but aims to release one in November. They’re also hoping to launch a full game on the Switch 2 in early 2026. In the meantime, you can find their Discord and website in the link below!
Website: https://www.droptable.games/
Dungeons and Dining Tables - Catalyst Game
Dungeons and Dining Tables is a cozy adventure RPG where you dive into dungeons full of quirky, kleptomaniac creatures and massive furniture mountains. As you battle through these randomly generated levels, you collect rare furniture to bring back to your home. The more you decorate, the cozier your space gets, and the stronger your stats become. Play as an axolotl and explore the world, defeating grumpy creatures and building your perfect home—because the best loot is the stuff that makes your house awesome!
I also had the chance to sit down with Bec from Catalyst games and when asked about the team and the game development timeline, she said “We have about 10 people in the team, we’re based in Adelaide! We have a really heavy amazing art team, which is why the game is so pretty! We’ve been working on it for about 18 months now and probably still have another year ‘til completion, but we’re hoping to get a demo out in the next 3-4 months!”
When asked about the main axolotl character and how they came up with the idea, Bec stated “We started with a fox and then every game seemed to have foxes, so we said ‘Let’s get more unique’ then we had a rabbit for a while and then ended up with the axolotl! We really love the flouncy ears, we thought it looked really cute and that's where we ended up!”
If you also think this game is super cute, Dungeons and Dining Tables is not yet available as Bec said, but you can wishlist it on its steam page below!
Farewell North - Kyle Banks / Mooneye Studios
In Farewell North, you play as a border collie tasked with bringing color and joy back to your human's life, in a world that feels gray. Set in beautifully crafted islands inspired by the Scottish Highlands, the game focuses on themes of companionship, trust, and loss. You’ll engage in various activities, from herding animals and playing fetch to helping local farmers and reuniting wildlife, all while discovering ways to spark joy for your human.
As you explore the open world, you’ll solve perspective-based puzzles to uncover hidden objects and paths. Journey through lush fields, steep cliffs, and coastal waters reminiscent of the St. Kilda and Orkney archipelagos, while unraveling a touching story about memories and farewells. Delve into the past to uncover the events that drained color from the characters' lives, revealing the emotional depth of their journey together.
Farewell North is one of the games that I will definitely end up playing! The story is melancholy but heartwarming and feels very unique and special. The game is currently out on steam and you can find it using the link below!
Fight with Spirit - Sports Drama RPG - Story Brewers Role Playing
Fight with Spirit is not just a Tabletop game, it is a whole High School Sports Journey experience! It's a sports drama RPG that follows a team as they grow up and pursue their passion for sports. Players in the game will sharpen their skills, confront rivals, and aim for the national championships while navigating the complexities of friendships and the fleeting moments of youth. Inspired by anime like Free and Chihayafuru, as well as films like Bring It On and Remember the Titans, the game allows you to manage a high school or college sports team through a major tournament.
As you progress, your relationships and motivations will evolve, impacting your journey both on and off the court. Engage in high-stakes matches that emphasize drama, where you can choose specific scenarios to heighten the intensity - whether it’s competing against a rival or dealing with personal feelings. Ultimately, the stakes revolve around love, hope, and passion, making each victory or defeat meaningful as you experience the transformative moments of growing up together.
Fight with Spirit won Best Tabletop Game at SXSW Sydney 2024, and rightfully so! A game with this much experience, thought and writing put into it, deserves an award! If you’re interested, you can find both the Physical and Digital copies of the game available on the Storybrewers Roleplaying website below!
Storybrewers Link: https://storybrewersroleplaying.com/fight-with-spirit-sports-drama-rpg/?v=8bcc25c96aa5
Fishbowl - imissmyfriends.studio
I was super excited to be able to talk with the two Devs of Fishbowl, Rhea and Prateek, during the Games Showcase at SXSW Sydney. When asked about the event they said “(SXSW) is very different from PAX, it’s been so industry focused and we’ve been able to talk to so many devs, so many friends from the industry that we’ve made now and it feels really good! - The reception to Fishbowl has been really kind and lovely as well, so we’re very grateful for that”.
A bit about the game itself - Fishbowl is a cozy, coming-of-age, slice-of-life story that follows 21-year-old Alo as she navigates life in a new city, dealing with her first job, living alone, and grieving her grandmother’s death. Over the course of a month, you’ll help Alo reconnect with loved ones through video calls, solve puzzles to rediscover childhood memories, and balance work, home life, and self-care. The game has no right answers - just lots of heartfelt choices that lead to a personal journey of self-discovery. With its beautiful hand-drawn pixel art, relaxing lo-fi soundtrack, and branching conversations, Fishbowl is all about figuring out life, nurturing friendships, and learning to cope with grief, one day at a time.
Fishbowl also won the WINGS Award at SXSW Sydney Games Festival 2024, Rhea said “We were very shocked and didn’t expect it at all! We were just sort of staring at each other for a few seconds before realizing we had to go, move it along on stage!” Prateek also stated “There were such awesome nominees - and it was just super amazing to be nominated with all of them, so we couldn’t have asked for anything more!”
If you would like the chance to play this truly inspiring game, you can add it to your wishlist or find the Free Demo using the Steam link below! The demo is now also available on PS5!
Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1638070/Fishbowl/ Imissmyfriends.studio Socials: https://imissmyfriends.studio/links.html
Gurei - Lobo Sagaz Studio
Gurei is a game about fighting strong enemies! It's a gray-scale game about Rei, the main character, a human spirit bound with the destiny of defeating mystical entities named the Kami. Battles against the Kami can be played in any order, as the game won’t hold the player’s hand. Alongside the usual attacks and dodges, Rei will learn a completely new skill against each Kami, also obtaining both their power and personality. After each victory Rei gets closer in their journey to the Realm of Spirits and closer to encountering strange characters from Japanese Mythology.
This game has won numerous awards from The Latin American Games Showcase to the Stun Game Festival, and it looks insanely cool! If you would like to check it out sometime in the future, you can wishlist it using the steam link below!
Katana Rama - Ghost Machine Game
Katana Rama is a fast-paced action game where you play as a hacker program breaking through a digital security system to retrieve a stolen program and escape. Set in a procedurally generated dungeon, the game challenges you to stay mobile as enemies launch relentless attacks. Your weapon can defeat most foes with one strike, converting their data into energy that powers your abilities.
With a low-poly art style and randomized dungeon layouts, Katana Rama keeps gameplay fresh and exciting. Use the energy you collect to bypass obstacles, stun tougher enemies, and prepare for challenging boss fights at the end of each dungeon.
Katana Rama is now available for purchase using the Steam link below or you can try out the Free Demo, which is available on their page as well!
The Many Pieces of Mr Coo - Meridiem Games / Astrolabe Game
The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a surreal point-and-click adventure where you help Mr. Coo, a quirky character trapped in a strange world, gather his missing pieces and escape. The game features absurd humor, whimsical characters, and bizarre scenarios, including giant chickens, robots, and one-eyed women. Its playful, surreal story may have deeper meanings hidden beneath the chaos.
Created by acclaimed artist Nacho Rodríguez, the game showcases vibrant hand-drawn 2D visuals and offers a fresh take on the graphic adventure genre. With its mix of absurdity, innovative puzzles, and heartwarming silliness, The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a delightful experience for both veterans and newcomers alike.
The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo won the Best Game Award at SXSW Sydney 2024 and is available for purchase on steam! You can also trial the free demo too, if you just want to give it a little try.
MISC: A Tiny Tale - Tinyware Games
If you’re a fan of Wall-E or saving the world, then this robot game is definitely for you! Buddy and Bag Boy are two tiny robots made from assorted parts, who embark on an epic adventure! In the game you can collect trash, coins, lost treasures and more miscellaneous items to help the friends you make along your journey.
There are multiple puzzles to solve, outfits to dress up in and quests to venture on, all while you clean up your world, one tiny piece at a time. If you would like to check out this adorable game, you can wishlist it using the steam link below!
MMMMMM: Multi-Merge Mix & Match Minigame Mayhem - SLIVAL
If you have 1-7 friends and love couch co-op and chaos, then this game is for you! Compete in this fast-paced local multiplayer party game. Dash, leap, and punch your way through a series of chaotic mini-games, all while striving to be the last player standing in each round! This student game is pretty well-fleshed out and super cute, it’s bound to catch the attention of a lot of gamers!
MMMMMM also won the Best Student Game Award at SXSW Sydney 2024 and although they don’t have a demo on Steam, you can find the game on its Itch page below!
Mystiques: Haunted Antiques - Lemonade Games
Mystiques was a strong contender among the games showcased at SXSW Sydney. It’s also been a game that I have seen circulating more than a few times on my social timelines. Lemonade Games also had the chance to debut a never-before-seen trailer at the opening ceremony of the SXSW Syd Games Festival, which got a tremendous reaction!
Mystiques is an adventure mystery game centered around four quirky women running a struggling antique shop, and it's haunted. Gem, Aspen, Winnie, and Barb are the owners of this failing store, and the only thing that could save them is psychic powers. Use Gem’s psychic abilities to communicate with spirits attached to the antiques and uncover hidden secrets. Get creative with shop displays, decorating windows with your finds. Along the way, build your dream retro wardrobe, investigate a mysterious local cult - and maybe resist texting your ex about it.
This game won the People’s Choice Award at the SXSW Sydney Games Awards and is very highly anticipated among the audiences. It is not out quite yet, but you can wishlist it using the Steam link below.
No Case Should Remain Unsolved - Somi
No Case Should Remain Unsolved is a detective game where players join retired Inspector Jeon Gyeong in solving a long-unsolved case. Twelve years after the disappearance of a young girl named Seowon, a young officer persuades Gyeong to reopen the investigation. As Gyeong digs into the case, she begins to uncover unsettling truths: those closest to Seowon’s disappearance have been hiding the truth. Players must help Gyeong piece together fragmented memories and clues to uncover what really happened to Seowon and expose the lies surrounding the case.
No Case Should Remain Unsolved won the Discovery Award at SXSW Sydney 2024 and rightfully so! This game is super elaborate and well-thought out, and if you would like to check it out yourself, you can purchase the game using the steam link below!
SEDAP! - Kopiforge
SEDAP! is a co-op cooking and adventure game that blends kitchen chaos with the thrill of exploring a mysterious world. Join two aspiring chefs as they open a traveling food truck and set off to Khaya Island, a dangerous, monster-filled place full of hidden secrets. As they journey through this reimagined Southeast Asia, they discover new ingredients, create delicious dishes, and face various challenges. Play solo or team up with a friend to tackle cooking orders, gather ingredients, and battle fierce creatures while uncovering the island's dark mysteries.
SEDAP! Was showcased at the SXSW Sydney Games Showcase among many other cooking or food-related games, and this one stood out to me in particular because of its super adorable playstyle. The game is not yet available but you can wishlist it using the Steam Link below!
SOPA - Tale of the Stolen Potato - StudioBando
There’s nothing Miho loves more than helping his grandmother make soup, but when he steps into the pantry to fetch a potato for his grandmother’s soup, he’s suddenly transported to a fantastical land.
Enter a vibrant, animated world inspired by Spirited Away, The Little Prince, and Coco. Explore unique 3D environments deep in the mysterious landscapes of South America and meet unforgettable characters. Immerse yourself in a captivating story about the legacies we leave behind, resonating long after the adventure concludes. Experience a touching journey filled with wit, warmth, and timeless themes suitable for all ages. Engage in gameplay that involves solving puzzles, climbing mountains, soaring through the air, drifting down rivers, and unlocking incredible songs. Enjoy a rich soundtrack featuring contemporary Latin American beats from underground artists. And each time Miho returns to the kitchen with an ingredient, things have changed in unexpected ways.
SOPA is a tale of family, adventure, and the legacies we pass on, as comforting as the first sip of hot soup on a cold day and as vital as an ancient memory. If this sounds like a game that you would like to try, SOPA - Tale of the Stolen Potato has a demo available on Steam!
Spook-A-Boo - Wala Interactive
Spook-A-Boo is a fun ghost-hunting couch co-op game for up to four players, where you team up with friends or family to track down sneaky ghosts hiding all around. You'll travel through wild worlds and crazy dimensions, racing against the clock to capture the mischievous ghosts before they cause chaos. With 30 unique levels to tackle, you’ll need to work together to outsmart the spooky foes and uncover the mystery behind them. Whether you're playing offline or online, Spook-A-Boo is all about laughs, teamwork, and a good old-fashioned ghost hunt!
I got the chance to speak to Megha, one of the team members and owner of the Indie Dev studio behind Spook-A-Boo, and when asked about the development she mentioned “We have a team of 6 people, recently expanded to 10 and we started developing this game about a year back in August 2023. We also plan to release it next year in August 2025!”
When discussing the difficulty of the game, Megha said “The game has 30 levels and we’ve divided those into 5 teams - 6 levels each, and every 6 levels is a boss level. Different types of ghosts to keep them fun. We also wanted the game to have a larger audience so we kept the mechanics pretty easy for even kids to pick up - to enjoy with the family!”
If you’re a fan of Ghostbusters or enjoy games like Luigi’s Mansion, Overcooked or Moving Out, this game will be perfect for you and your friends! Chaotic, cute and a whole lot of fun perfectly describes Spook-A-Boo. It’s not yet available as a full release but the steam page does have a free, playable demo if you would like to try it out!
The Palace on the Hill - Niku Games
The Palace on the Hill is a game that caught quite a bit of attention at SXSW Sydney this year! Experience a heartfelt tale of ambition, struggle, and friendship through the eyes of a young boy in a fictional 90s rural India. Delve into ancient palace ruins and uncover hidden secrets as you explore. Set up your garden, cook traditional Indian dishes, and run a tea shop to create a unique experience. Interact with over 25 diverse characters, each with their own stories and quests. Discover your history by making art and running errands for quirky locals. Enjoy a soothing open-world experience with vibrant hand-painted watercolor graphics, offering a relaxing and immersive adventure.
The Palace on the Hill is truly a game where you can immerse yourself in a feel-good story of achievement and resilience, exploring a 15th-century Indian royal palace and overcoming social challenges. If you would like to try this game out for yourself, you can play the prologue now on steam!
Winter Burrow - Pine Creek Games
Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game where you explore the wilderness, gather resources, craft, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals. It has one of the cutest art styles’ reminiscent of a children’s book, and there is a lot to unlock both in story and in the surrounding areas of your burrow. Use your time to restore your broken-down childhood home, find your lost Aunt and relax in front of the fireplace after a hard day's work.
Winter Burrow is a survival game that lets you set your own pace. Personalize your character, design your burrow, and choose a path that aligns with your unique play style! If you want to give it a go, there is a free demo now available on Steam!
Out of 120 games being showcased, I’m so glad I got to play and learn about these small few! I also want to thank each development team that took time out of their schedules to allow me to interview them and gain more insight behind the ideas of their games and how they were created!
If you would like more information on the games that aren’t in this list, you can view some that were showcased on the official SXSW Sydney website here: https://www.sxswsydney.com/sxsw-2024/games-industry
Editor's note: Big props to Ellie for covering SXSW for us. She's done an amazing job, especially having PAX the weekend beforehand, flying out the day after and jumping straight into SXSW. An absolutely mammoth effort, and an effort that deserves a follow on all her socials below!
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