Fall For Indies: Solar Ash and November’s Feast Before Winter Hits

This is our last installment in the Fall For Indies series, as winter draws near. It seems fitting that we end the Fall For Indies series with an abundance of fantastic titles to help players get through the dark, long months. Solar Ash is one of our favorite games of this year. Although originally scheduled to be released earlier in the season, it now arrives just before the coldest times of the year. And while the nights are getting darker sooner, there are still plenty of bright indie launches we’ve got our eye on for the rest of the year.

Enjoy a hearty serving of fall releases

The last leaves are falling, but there’s no shortage of indies to serve up, as the upcoming feast has many appetizing courses. The Pathless, an action-packed adventure from the creators of Abzû, the brilliant roguelike Death’s Door, and the short-but-sweet A Short Hike are all coming to new platforms. With additional dishes to try like Moncage and Undungeon, this month’s gaming table is stuffed with goodies.

The Pathless

PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and iOS

Giant Squid’s action-adventure game released last year as a PlayStation console and Epic Games Store exclusive, but now it’s making its way to Steam. Playing as the Hunter, you traverse a vibrant open world with your eagle in order to make pincushions out of corrupted spirits and break the land’s curse. While that’s a very important goal, you should also take time to pet your feathery friend because not only is that adorable, but you can use your eagle to fly across the landscape, and it deserves a reward for all the effort. Steam releases The Pathless November 16.

Moncage

PC, iOS, Android

If mysterious puzzle cubes sound intriguing to you, you’ll want to check out Moncage when it launches November 16. The challenge seems easy on the surface. To progress, you must rotate the box that connects shapes. Each side of the cube has a different scene and, by figuring out which object from one scene matches up perfectly with another, you’ll solve the puzzle. The scene becomes more complicated, so the solutions become increasingly difficult to find. While the puzzle game has no dialogue, that doesn’t keep it from folding narrative hints into its evolving challenges.

An Easy Hike

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch.

A Short Hike unexpectedly made an appearance at this week’s Wholesome Snack Showcase, to announce the migration of its game to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. As the title suggests, this game doesn’t take a long time to finish, but its journey is touching and there’s a lot of fun packed in. Playing as a young bird, you head to Hawk Peak Provincial Park to get away from the world’s cares and summit its highest peak. You can even choose to give the game a visual boost to 4K on new-gen consoles, making A Short Hike’s stylized beauty even clearer when it comes to the new platforms on November 16.

Tavern Master

PC

You’ve probably thought about retiring from all your adventures. Perhaps you could start a small pub with your treasures from dungeon digging. You can start with Tavern Master (coming November 16). Growing your charming, medieval watering hole from a one-room establishment to a bustling kingdom of tables, servers, and refreshments won’t be easy. You’ll have to attract paying customers with special events and a good bard or two before you can expand your kitchens and guest rooms.

Wandering Trails: A Hiking Game

PC

It’s hard to think of a better way to escape from the real world’s increasingly cold weather than hopping into a world filled with sun-dappled fields, shimmering lakes, and no pressure. Wandering Trails is about peace and exploration. With no combat – or even objectives beyond enjoying the scenery – you’re free to traverse the game’s 20 square kilometers of wilderness as you see fit. Equipped with a handy camera, you can snap creative shots of the game’s various wildlife, dynamic weather, or memorable landmarks. The game will be available for download on November 17th.  

Undungeon

Xbox Series S/S, Xbox One and PC

Undungeon launches November 18, via Game Pass for Xbox and PC. It aims to recreate the feeling of action-RPGs from yesterday with a modern game. This sci-fi adventure combines stunning pixel art graphics with fast combat. The world’s detail is unbelievable, and every element of the game, including the smallest clump of foliage, is hand-drawn, according to the developer. It is as mind-bending and fascinating that your quest for multi-dimensional order can lead you to creating a multiverse of your choosing.

Exo One

Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC

Changing pace from Undungeon’s combat-focused, pixilated sci-fi world, we move onto the incredibly naturalistic and mesmerizing alien journey in Exo One. It has been nearly a decade in the making, but its launch date for 2020 was delayed by one year. However, it’s set to hit Steam and Game Pass on November 18. The game places you in charge of a strange, disc-like craft which you’ll navigate through a multitude of absolutely stunning extraterrestrial landscapes.

Death’s Door

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

For many, Death’s Door is not only one of the best indies of the year, but one of the best games of the year period. Although the roguelike, starring a death-dealing bird was initially released on Xbox and PC last summer, it will soon be available for PlayStation and Switch platforms. Combat the forces trying to hold death at bay, travel through cleverly designed levels, and watch the narrative unfold as you overcome the game’s difficult challenges. Death’s Door is landing on its new perches on November 23.

Len’s Island

PC

A little over a year since its successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, Len’s Island is entering Early Access November 26. Described as a blend of action, exploration, sim, and building, the upcoming title promises to cater to the “hardcore dungeon-crawler fans, home-builders and decorators, explorers and completionists, farming fanatics, collectible hoarders, and people who just want to live the simple life of chopping trees as the sun goes down.” On top of all that, Len’s Island seems to have a dark secret lurking beneath its idyllic shores.

Hot Indies To Cold Weather

There’s a blizzard of small titles heading this way, and even though this round-up series is at its end, you won’t get left out in the cold. Here’s a helpful list of some major releases falling with the snow during the rest of the year.

Solar Ash

PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC

Solar Ash has skated in, after a delay of a few more weeks. The colorful title is vibrant in its action and look. It follows Rei, a void runner on her journey to protect her home from being overthrown by the Ultravoid. As they jump into the rift players must grind, grapple, and sprint their way across the void. Along the way, you have to defeat giant foes, attacking weak spots found on their bodies – like a neon-dipped Shadow of the Colossus. Solar Ash will be released December 2.

The Us

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Switch, PC and iOS. Android

Among Us’ PlayStation and Xbox console debut is set for December 14 – just making it in before the jaws of winter close in around us. The social deduction/friendship-ending murder simulator saw an unbelievable surge of popularity on the PC in 2020, but now everyone is invited to join in. With the game’s recent update adding in much-requested roles and in-game currencies, there are a lot of reasons for new and returning crewmates to log a few hours in Innersloth’s killer title.

Card Shark

Change to a PC

Get ready to make your way to the winner’s circle when Card Shark, from developer Nerial, gets dealt later this year. The game’s captivating hand-drawn artwork and stunning backdrop of France in 1700s France are a treat for the eyes. But Card Shark’s gorgeous details aren’t the only thing you can lose your head over. Your opponents won’t suffer cheating in these high-stake contests, and some of the perilous games in this title aren’t the kind you play with cards.

Freshly Frosted

PC

“Fresh apples, hot cider, and delicious maple bar donuts. The perfect fall day.” This quote, posted to the game’s official Twitter recently, is not wrong. This puzzle-like sugary project should be in the delivery queue soon. In Freshly Frosted, it’s your job to make sure a host of delightful treats are properly adorned with icing, sprinkles, and more before reaching the end of the line. This is done by creating a maze of conveyor belts that run around the confection-making equipment. You can send donuts and cookies along the route in order to get to the next level. If you’re feeling lucky, go outside and enjoy a tasty snack.

There is no place for bravery

Change to a PC

No Place For Bravery, a brutal action-RPG that is currently scheduled for release in 2021, features pixel graphics like no other. You play as Thorn, an aging fighter trudging through a deadly world, taking on foe after foe in your quest to find your daughter. This top-down title features some brutal combat. Even the most small enemies can bring down a warrior. Developer Ysbryd hints that the choice-driven narrative may equal the fighting’s brutality, with increasingly challenging moral dilemmas thrown at the player. It will take a lot of effort to reunite with your child after making these difficult choices.

Soup Pot

Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC

Soup Pot has a ready-made soup to warm you up after a cold day. And it’s not just limited to soup. You can create over 100 recipes and share them with your social media followers. You have the option to set up your 3D cooking station, or grab a few ingredients.  This game allows players to experiment with cooking and mixing ingredients, to discover what happens.

Wytchwood

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

While the incredible-looking, fairytale-inspired world in Wytchwood appears ready for a knight in shining armor or a woe-begotten maiden to take the limelight, it’s actually a witch at the center of this tale. Through her eyes, it looks quite different once upon a times. Recently awoken from a mysterious slumber, the game’s atypical protagonist discovers she’s made a deal with a suspicious goat, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any getting out of it. Your magic is there to help you. Wytchwood will be available on PlayStation before the end fall.

Did you miss any indie titles from our Fall For Indies Series? You can find all the entries here, or you can grab the paper below from the goose to see the remainder!