It was a year oftough competitionin the Indie Games market. With toolsets that make solo-developing a much more realistic prospect than it has been for the past couple of decades, more creative folks are jumping into the deep end to deliver their vision. Billy Basso did just that withAnimal Well, this year’s winner of Destructoid’s Best Indie Game of 2024 award.
It could have really gone to any of the nominees. Some of them are wholly unique experiences, others are the tightest representations of their genre I’ve seen in some time, and one could say thatBalatrowas the one that reached indie game escape velocity, reaching into the mainstream. But the award can only go to one, and it’s Billy Basso’s subdued metroidvania.
A lot of modern games have become what many refer to as very hand-holdy. Everything is tutorialized or carefully set up to always keep you going in the correct direction, both subtly and overtly. Developers don’t want you getting frustrated enough to drop their game and often have to accommodate the lowest common denominator. So, it’s heartening that games likeAnimal Wellexist and can still find an audience.
Animal Wellcan be described as a game that is all about secrets in a way that reminds me ofTunic. It’s up to you to observe the environment and how it reacts to your presence. You need to get curious and be willing to experiment. If you’re able to massage your grey matter in a way that allows you to figure out its puzzles, it’s among the most rewarding experiences you may find.
If you’re willing to go off the beaten path, Indie games are better than ever. If you flip back to Destructoid’s 2023 awards, it went toLethal Company, which was up against favorites likeEl Paso, ElsewhereandSlayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer. Pack. Just packed.
And next year looks like it will be more of that. Even with the industry squeeze where small studios and indie devs are finding it harder than ever to secure funding, passion for games wins out, ensuring we always have something to play. Personally, I’m pumped forHollywood Animal,Car Park Capital,Psycho Patrol R, andElation for the Wonderbox 6000. Damn!Damn!
