15. The Defender: Farm
and Castle This Free Steam game takes us back to the
good old browser game days when games didn't look like much but offered full functionality
that could last you at least a whole afternoon's entertainment.
The Defender is just that, harkening back to the addictive Base Defense games of that
era. Play the archer and mount a defense against the many monsters that come towards your precious
castle. Upgrade and build weapons and potions by day, and shoot it out nonstop at nightfall.
While its short and not all that strategic, it's perfect for casuals with a few hours
to kill. It has a provisional playscore of 8.79.
14. Neon Boost Ever wondered what it feels like to be in
an 80s music video? Neon Boost is your best chance, with its neon-lit sci-fi stage and
synth-wave inspired soundtrack. At its core, Neon Boost is a simple platformer game in
which most of the challenge lies clearing the stage as fast as you can. Shoot through
walls and use the same gun to give you a boost through those difficult jumps.
For a free game, it's pretty loaded with content. It has 3 different worlds to choose from and
72 levels which gets ever so slightly harder as you go. For cyber fans with a flair for
neon acrobatics, it gets a score of 8.79.
13. Himno At just over 70MB, Himno has a few shining
features. First off is its gorgeous looking pixel art style that melds well with its flowy
soundtrack, creating that perfect relaxing environment for exploring their many procedurally
generated maps.
Relaxing is pretty much Himno's main goal. There aren't any enemies to defeat. It's a
straight-up platformer in which you collect wisps, gain levels, and navigate through their
dark dungeons with a variety of powerups. It controls take a little getting used to,
but for its value, Himno’s flaws are very easy to overlook. It gets a provisional playscore
of 8.83.
12. Minion Masters As a PvP real-time battle card, Minion Masters
will be familiar to anyone who's ever played SUPERCELL's super popular Clash Royale. But
Minion Masters one-ups their mobile counterpart with some really polished visuals. It almost
feels like a game straight from Riot Games' studio, which is saying much considering it's
by an independent Danish studio, betaDwarf Entertainment.
As for gameplay, Minion Masters is easy to pick up. Just unleash the monsters in your
hand on your opponent and pick the best strategy for surviving the waves ahead. Balance is
a little unreliable these days, Minion Masters remains worth checking it out with a provisional
rating of 9.
11. HOME 12 minutes is a short time but it's worth
every second in HOME. It's a walking simulator that takes you through a series of procedurally
generated scenes in which your interactions form the basis for a heartwarming about what
home means to you. And there's always different poem waiting for you every time, depending
on the journey you took.
For some, the game's calm environment is ultimately enough to move them into reflecting on their
lives, whether sad, happy, or hopeful. It's not exactly a full game, but HOME's message
is something you can carry along with you throughout your days--and maybe that's enough.
It has a playscore of 9.03.
10. When the Darkness comes This next one's also a walking simulator.
But now you should start forgetting about all the cheesy stuff about home and relaxation.
When the Darkness Comes gives you another kind of thing you can bring around long after
the game's done, and that thing is a whole load of sadness and fear.
The game is essentially a representation of the creator's own dark psyche, which is why
it offers such a unique brand of horror that might not be for everyone. If there are any
warnings you should heed, it's the warnings in this game. Beautifully haunting it is,
it also has a way of giving voice the various dark thoughts within our own minds. It has
a provisional playscore of 9.07.
9. Unsung Warriors - Prologue More of a demo than an actual game, this Prologue
to Osarion's indie adventure does give players a worthwhile look at what's to come.
Unsung Warriors is packed with both fun platforming and engaging combat. Set in a fictional 2D
European Iron Age, its simple, cartoony art style might not win it any awards but it does
work well in adding to the fun Iron Age atmosphere while also making it accessible to even the
most low-end laptops and devices. And the local co-op is the perfect cherry on top.
Prologue is pretty solid for a demo and it fulfills its purpose of showcasing how promising
their full release will be. It gets a score of 9.14.
8. Enderal: Forgotten Stories Skyrim was too good as a standalone title,
so the modding community decided to make this fan-made mod to pay respect to Bethesda’s
award-winning RPG.
This total conversion mod has its own story and lore to tell, not to mention new Landscapes
that could rival Skyrim’s vanilla launch. Its world, like its inspiration, is full of
atmosphere, horrors, and wonder. With an overhauled gameplay and skill system, make your way across
the treacherous medieval lands and learn about its unique cast of characters.
Of course, you need to have Skyrim in your library to play this game, so it’s not technically
FREE per se. But come on, who doesn’t own Skyrim at this point? For a community-made
game, it receives a provisional playscore of 9.15.
7. Coloring Game L. Stotch’s anti-stress game is what it
is. It’s a coloring book. Animate the pixels by adding colors to each square inch. Once
everything is in place, watch your creation come to life.
There is no real challenge here. You don’t go around beating bosses, complain about unfair
hitboxes or rant about its difficulty. It’s a game made to de-stress.
Select from its huge collection of artworks or buy the Expansion Packs to support the
creator and add more content to increase your overall Coloring Game experience. The game
receives a provisional score of 9.29.
6. BirdGut A bizarre 2D platformer where you take control
of a bee after being consumed by a bird. In a weird turn of events, the Bird’s internal
organs aren’t really organs. In fact, it’s a mechanical factory where you do most of
the puzzle-solving and gameplay. Don’t ask us why.
It is quirky at most, especially with its adorable hand-drawn art style. Enjoy its physics-based
platformer levels with secrets hidden in every corner.
Meet other insect characters and escape from this crazy avian sweatshop. Compared to most
of Steam’s FREE platformers, this one stands out the most. The game receives a score of
9.34.
5. Mushroom Cats We talked about this game on our previous
video and it continues to surprise us on how they made it to the list. As a simple point
and click title with adorable cats, maybe that’s the point?
Set in the magical land of Toadstool, aid these furballs to survive the coming winter
storm. Dress them up, give them cute hats and don’t let the cold be their doom.
There’s not much to the game, really. As a FREE title, it’s justified. Simply spend
five minutes of your time bringing smiles to these feline furries. Who knows? We might
see more of Toadstool in the paw-sible future. It has a provisional playscore of 9.40.
4. What Never Was The influx of walking simulators set in someone’s
abandoned house is not surprising. Marie’s Room, What Remains Of Edith Finch and Gone
Home opened the doors to the unique storytelling found in each area of the household.
What Never Was shares the same concept. You walk around a house, pick up some stuff, and
have a deep existential crisis about things you never knew about your loved one.
Tasked to clear your grandfather’s attic, uncover mysteries and other family secrets.
It’s casual, point and click, first-person gameplay is still a relaxing treat, especially
after a long and stressful day. What Never Was was praised for its emotional story, visuals
and atmosphere. The only downside is that the game is only an hour long. A playscore
of 9.42.
3. missed messages. Angela He’s visual novel slash romance title
is an ode for millennials who are having a hard time trying to keep up with today’s
society. This is a game that’s trying to express the concept of romance and mental
health in a new light.
Keeping up with the trends of 2019, numerous pop-culture references and memes litter around
the game’s dialogue to ease its poignant atmosphere. If the narrative doesn’t lure
you in, then Angela’s fantastic art style is something you should appreciate within
its 30-minute playtime.
Every scene feels like a work of art and despite its somber tones, the vibrant colors offer
a moment of respite to the fate of these two individuals. It has a provisional playscore
of 9.46.
2. Neon Beats 2D platformers with rhythm elements are rare
nowadays. Blending neon aesthetics and mad 2D parkour using polygons is something OKYO
GAMES wants to achieve.
As an indie title, it doesn’t get much attention since it’s a short game with not much replay
value. However, the fun begins when you get to appreciate its great soundtrack and stellar
particle effects. Every level offers a variety of challenges. Expect ridiculous twists and
some difficulty spikes that might catch you off guard.
Unfortunately, as a FREE title, it’s only 30 minutes long depending on your playstyle.
So if you have half an hour to spend, this is something you should consider playing.
It has a playscore of 9.63.
1. Backbone: Prologue It’s odd seeing a FREE demo game on the
top list, but the numbers don’t lie. EggNut’s noir-inspired adventure puts you into the
shoes of a Racoon Detective sniffing out clues and solving mysteries. Despite its FREE tag,
it makes up for its brilliant design and narrative. Set in a bleak dystopian world, traverse different
districts and meet some of its anthropomorphic cast.
Also packed with a smooth jazz soundtrack, every little question posed before you is
a perfect set up its atmosphere, story, and characters. There’s a lot to digest here
since this obviously a teaser for what’s to come. It receives a playscore of 9.63.