The 10 Most Hardcore Android Indies
There are a plethora of indie titles on Google Play. But who has the time to sift through all those games to find the ones that really shine. Luckily, here at hardcore droid we’ve done the dirty work for you and compiled a list of the ten best indie games on Android.
10. Ailment
Ailment is a pixelated action game by solo developer, Ivan Panasenko. Taking place deep in outer space, your character awakes in the med bay to find his crewmates have become his enemies. Fight your way through the eerie spaceship corridors as you uncover the mystery at the heart of the game’s storyline-why has your crew turned against you. Along the way you’ll pick up tons of cool weapons and even fight alongside some friendlies.
Ailment’s pixelated graphics bring a cutesy charm to an otherwise chilling title. Panasenko has even crafted an online PvP mode. Fans of sci-fi, and retro RPGs will quickly fall in love with this charming indie title.
9. Nobodies: Murder Cleaner
Most games drop a gun in your hands and set you out to kill. But did you ever consider who cleans up the carnage? Nobodies: Murder Cleaner, a puzzle game by Blyts, tasks players with cleaning up crime scenes. This isn’t your average point and click puzzle game. Nobodies: Murder Cleaner requires players to take a stealthy approach. If you’re not careful when disposing of evidence witnesses will call the police and you’ll have to restart the level. The game offers challenging and original puzzles brought to life by beautiful hand drawn environments. Players who have been searching for a morbid twist on the point and click puzzle game genre will find Nobodies: Murder Cleaner fills that void.
8. Alto’s Adventure
Alto’s Adventure developed for Android by Noodlecake Studios, is a spirited endless runner game. Player’s take on the role of Alto, a young shepherd trying to round up his escaped llamas. Snowboard your way through breathtaking environments as you avoid obstacles, collect coins, and rescue llamas. Like most endless runner titles, one misstep and it’s back to the beginning. However, you won’t mind tripping over a rock or falling into a chasm when enjoying Alto’s Adventure’s stellar graphics. While airborne, players can perform flips. Performing flips nets player’s points towards a competitive high score. Throughout the game you’ll unlock new playable characters each with his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Alto’s Adventure will captivate player with its scenic graphics and simplistic yet charming gameplay.
7. Machinarium
Disassembled and left in a scrap pile, Josef, is a robot in exile, who must find his way back into the city of Machinarium to rescue his girlfriend and save the city from the evil Black Cap Brotherhood. A PC port of some note, Amanita Design’s Machinarium is a singularly delightful puzzle adventure game. Unlike most point and click puzzle games in which you can tap objects anywhere on screen, this title requires objects to be within Josef’s reach before you can interact with them. It’s a minor mechanical tweak that allows for truly challenging gameplay.
Machinarium forces players to think outside the box as puzzles often don’t have obvious answers. You’ll enjoy every moment spent in-game as you take in the beautifully hand drawn graphics. Not only is Machinarium full of challenging puzzles, it also offers up a compelling storyline that will keeps players clicking through to the end.
6. Terraria
Terraria is a 2D sandbox adventure game in which players explore, mine, and battle monsters. The world of Terraria is randomly generated which keeps gameplay fresh over multiple playthroughs. This title offers a delightfully destructible world. Tunnel through the earth or explore topside. Above ground the world adheres to a day/night cycle with more dangerous creatures venturing out in the darkness.
Terraria isn’t just about battling baddies. You’ll also build shelter, craft equipment, and explore a vast pixelated world. Build villages and attract NPCs by building houses for them to live in.[AJ1] . There are thousands of items to find and craft such as boomerangs, spell books, and grappling hooks. Terraria also boasts a multi-player mode which allows up to seven friends to play through local Wi-Fi. Often hailed as a 2D Minecraft, Terraria is an epic indie adventure game that will keep you hooked as you slay monsters, craft equipment, and explore a magical 2D world.
5. Sky: Children of the Light
Sky: Children of the Light is a unique roleplaying game by Thatgamecompany set in an enchanting world. As a Child of the Light, players are tasked with bringing light to a dark world. You’ll use your candle to light beacons throughout the world. Players will explore a breathtaking world both on foot and by gliding through the sky. A relaxing adventure, Sky: Children of the Light focuses on cooperation. The game encourages players to socialize as well as team up to free spirits, solve puzzles and uncover treasures. Players can use gestures to communicate in-game. Many of the games’ puzzles require multiple players in order to complete. Sky: Children of the Light is a stunning masterpiece that proves games don’t require violence to captivate players.
4. Rusty Lake Series
Fans of the macabre will quickly fall in love with the Rusty Lake series. The Rusty Lake series are point and click puzzle adventure titles by Rusty Lake. Each game boasts beautifully hand-painted graphics that lend to the titles’ signature creepy atmosphere. In Rusty Lake Hotel, play as a hotel worker who must murder one guest each night—all of which are some sort of animal—and prepare a meal for the remaining guests from the corpse. Rusty Lake Roots spans three generations of the Vanderboom family. Players will experience moments in the lives of the Vanderbooms. In Rusty Lake Paradise, Jakob must stop the ten plagues that have haunted Paradise Island since the death of his mother. Each game is full of strange and challenging puzzles. With compelling storylines, and chilling environments, the Rusty Lake series offers fans of the point and click adventure a unique and superb experience.
3. Limbo
PlayDead’s cross-platform title Limbo has long been hailed as a masterpiece. In this indie puzzle adventure game, players take on the role of a young boy who awakens in a dismal grey world. You’ll complete puzzles as you traverse the dismal monotone landscape in search of your sister.
Limbo’s stark visuals and interface adds to the title’s sense of ominous wonder. The controls are drastically simple; however, Limbo is a deceptively challenging game. There is no hand holding here. Expect to die and die often as you work your way through the games challenging physics-based puzzles. Whether decapitated by a bear trap or impaled on the leg of a giant spider, each death brings player closer to solving the puzzle before them. Constant and brutal player death is only fitting for such a morbid title. Limbo is a genre defining indie title and despite being released years ago, it remains a strong contender.
2. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
Developed for Android by Noodlecake Studios, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery is a unique fantasy adventure game. Players take on the role of a Scythian warrior on a quest to recover a mythical tome in order to ancient magic needed to defeat a powerful evil force. Rather than bog down gameplay with needless cutscenes, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery delivers the game’s storyline through the player character’s internal monologue.
Throughout the game you’ll use magic to solve puzzles. Puzzles tend to be abstract and though not overly challenging serve to draw players further into the game world. In a stroke of genius originality, one of the game’s chapters is tied to the moon and takes a full lunar cycle to complete Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery also offers simplistic yet compelling battles. Player’s will be charmed by the titles visually stunning 8-bit graphics and moving soundtrack. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery is not only original, it’s a masterpiece that fans of puzzlers and adventure games alike will find utterly engaging.
1. Out There: Ω Edition
Want to explore the depths of space without the hassle of combat? Then Out There: Ω Edition by Mi-Clos Studio is for you. Out There: Ω Edition is a one of a kind deep space adventure. Sent on a mission to retrieve resources from one of Jupiter’s moons, your character awakes from cryogenic sleep to find themselves far beyond our solar system. In an effort to find your way home, players will explore a foreign galaxy while carefully managing resources.
Out There: Ω Edition isn’t just a strategy game it’s also an interactive story that boasts four different endings dependent upon the choices players made in-game. Players will interact with different alien races, learn their languages and uncover interstellar mysteries. A challenging game with a beautifully crafted storyline in which choices actually matter, Out There: Ω Edition represents one of the finest indie titles available on Android.
If you enjoyed the list be sure to check out our list of The Best Android Indies of 2021.
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