5 Indie Action-RPGs to Get Lost In
You can’t go wrong with these recommendations
I confess, I’m a hipster. “I liked them before they got big,” I scream to no one in particular. I’m working on it. However, that need to be 2Cool4U has coalesced with my love of RPGs in a rather lovely way: indie-RPGs. Some of my favorite gaming experiences of the decade have been action-RPGs from indie studios, and today I’d like to share the cream of the crop.
These are all personal recommendations though, and that comes with a few caveats. You won’t find any rogue-likes on this list because they just aren’t my cup of tea. I wish they were honestly, lord knows there are enough indie-RPG rogue-likes out there to enjoy. You also won’t find me agonizing over whether something is technically an RPG. If it feels like an RPG to me, it’s on the list.
So let’s dive in, in no particular order.
Cat Quest 2
If you aren’t sold on this game just by looking at that picture, then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s exactly what it looks like. You play as Cat and Dog, natural enemies, and rightful rulers of the Felingard and Lupus Empires. You must dethrone the corrupt kings who have taken your place, and bring peace to the land. Also, save the world while you’re at it. It’s pretty standard JRPG fare, but with cats! However, while you’ll come for the cat puns, you’ll stay for the breezy action, open-world design, and genuinely witty writing. Cat Quest 2 is basically the open-world RPG pared down to its bare essentials, a punderful testament to efficiency.
X-Factor: The Co-Op — Cat Quest 2 is not the only co-op game on this list, but it is the only one with co-op in every facet of the design. For that reason, and our shared love of all things soft and cuddly, my partner and I had a blast with this. I was a dog with a samurai sword. She was a cat wizard that rivaled the gods for pure power. It was a tail as old as time…
CrossCode
I first learned about this game upon its release in 2015. It was a Steam exclusive at the time and wasn’t available to me for another five years. Boy was it worth the wait. CrossCode is both a love letter and an innovator, managing to push the original Zelda formula to its logical conclusion. I’m bananas for this thing. The story is unique and impactful. The combat is fast-paced yet strategic. And the puzzles? My god, the puzzles. I am a sucker for cohesive game design, but CrossCode’s puzzle mechanics surpass anything I could have imagined. Every aspect of the game flows seamlessly into the next until 40 hours have passed and you find yourself checking the gamedev blog for DLC news. I’m checking right now in fact. Trust me, just play it.
X-Factor: The Puzzles — Did I mention the puzzles?! I need a few more sentences to gush about them. Exploring the world? That’s a puzzle. Fighting enemies? That’s a puzzle. The story? You get the idea. The puzzle design invades every aspect of the game and elevates it such that no matter what you are doing, you are challenged and engaged. It’s a marvel of design and really makes you wonder if the developers can see into the fourth dimension.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is a curious case. It manages to be one of my favorite games ever, while also being the same metroidvania I’ve played a million times before. I suppose that’s its charm though. Hollow Knight isn’t trying to reinvent the genre, it’s trying to perfect it, and it somehow does. The combat is fast, responsive, and punishing. The exploration is vast, surprising, and clever. Even the art is perfect, both charming and striking with gorgeous animations to boot. I could go on. Team Cherry really earned their name here, because every aspect of their game manages to be the cherry on top of an already cherry-filled sunday.
X-Factor: The Minimalism — The RPG aspects of Hollow Knight begin and end with its charm system, but that’s all you need. These equippable skills and passives force you to build your playstyle as economically as possible and can affect the gameplay in big ways. I myself went full magic, slinging spells fast and loose in hopes of crushing bosses before they could crush me. Maybe you’re more of the patient dodge and counter type. Maybe you like to dart around as fast as possible. Maybe you want to be a healing slug! It’s all possible through the charm system, RPG minimalism at its finest.
Hyper Light Drifter
I’ll admit that this one just barely qualifies as an RPG, even for me. It’s worth bending the rules though. It’s just that cool. In fact, Hyper Light Drifter might just be the coolest a game can be. The neon visuals. That bumping synth soundtrack. Your laser sword? Every inch of this game is just dripping with style. As you tackle the four major biomes of the game you’ll find yourself masterfully weaving slashes, dashes, and shots together in beautiful flowing patterns, looking great as you do. The game is much more than that though. It’s almost ethereal. In the end, the game is less an RPG, and more a feeling, a vibe, and one that needs to be experienced.
X-Factor: The Backstory — Alex Preston, the developer of this game, has struggled all his life with heart complications. It is a struggle that has come to define his life and art in many ways. Hyper Light Drifter is the product of that artistic journey, and you can feel that emotion in every pixel. You can read more about Preston here.
Salt and Sanctuary
Imagine a torrid love affair between Dark Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Salt and Sanctuary is their secret love child. Ska Studios casts you as the Saltborn, a stowaway upon a doomed ship that finds themself washed up on a mysterious island. From there you are more or less set free to discover the secrets of the island, and believe me, those secrets will usually try to kill you. It’s a difficult game for sure, but the tight combat and deep customization will always have you coming back for more. “Just one more try.” It certainly doesn’t hurt that those systems are nestled inside an explorable world so beautiful and moody that Bloodborne might ask it to chill. Be still my angsty heart.
X-Factor: The Outfits — You’re not a true RPG fan unless you play dress-up with your characters, and Salt and Sanctuary let’s you go full Meryl Streep. I am embarrassed to admit just how long I spent building the perfect balance of stats and style. Except, I’m not really embarrassed, because if all else fails, looks can kill, darling.
What do you think? Are these good picks? Did you pick up on my not-so-subtle love for isometric action and side-scrollers?
I’d like to hear your experiences with these games, and any other indie-RPGs you can recommend! I am always excited to find another hidden gem. I mean, what hipster doesn’t love a hidden gem?
