Wow, May really didn’t hang around for long, did it?! It’s crazy to think June is here. At least that means a new slew of indie game gems will be dropping on all platforms very soon.
It also wouldn’t be June without E3 now, would it! The legendary game industry trade show is back after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. After two years, it’s sure to be packed full of surprises for all gamers. It does seem as though the envious next instalment in the bug-slashing Metroidvania adventure Hollow Knight: Silksong will be absent from the show though. Don’t worry Team Cherry, we’re sure it will be worth the wait!
Possibly even more exciting than E3 for the indie games fans would be the aptly titled WHOLESOME DIRECT returning to showcase indie games in development. There will also be a bunch of games launching DURING the presentation amongst the reveals. Catch the broadcast at 1 pm ET on June 12th.
So let’s see what’s coming out in June from the indies games section!
Operation Tango
Developer: Clever Plays
Release Date: June 1st
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Action Co-op
“It takes two to save the world in this cooperative spy adventure. Pair up with a friend as Agent or Hacker—with only your voices to connect you—and work together to bring a hi-tech global menace to its knees.”
This one is for all the spies. Grab a friend and help each other through gauntlets for high-security puzzles. As an indie game, this one oozes style and both game roles sound like totally different experiences for the players. Agents grab their gadgets and hackers take control of the mission with access to the world around the agent. I’m keen to check this one out mostly because spy games always hit a sweet spot for me. I love the feeling of being immersed in a stealth operation with high stakes and I reckon this paired with an online friend will be great fun! Read our review here!
Stonefly
Developer: Flight School Studio
Release Date: June 1st
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure
“Harness the wind and soar through the wilderness of Stonefly. Brilliant but naïve inventor Annika Stonefly must recover a lost family heirloom using her smarts and strategy. Glide strategically among flora and fauna, confronting hungry bugs, adventures, and memorable characters. Along the way, you’ll unravel a heartwarming story of self-discovery, family, legacy, and belonging.”
Take this as June’s indie game bug offering, seeing as the Hollow Knight sequel Silksong is missing in action. Stonefly combines a refined art style, iconic character design, and bug battles aplenty. Combat in this game looks awesome, with an emphasis on bug upgrades as the game progresses. Each frame appears as though it’s handcrafted which is a gorgeous touch that will be appreciated by those that savour lovingly crafted visuals. Don’t bother bringing the bug spray for this one!
Hokko Life
Developer: Wonderscope
Release Date: June 2nd (Early Access)
Platforms: PC
Genre: Life Simulation
“Hop off the train and into your new life in the village of Hokko! Take over the old workshop and get creative; use crafted materials and design everything in town! With complete creative freedom, what type of town will you build?”
If you’re a big Animal Crossing or even a Stardew Valley fan then this one is likely already on your radar. Whether you love it or hate it, this indie game appears to do something similar to the aforementioned. You can customise everything right down to other villager houses. If anything, Hokko Life includes many of the quality of life upgrades that many would like to see in Animal Crossing. There’s even a fox villager! I love that this seems to blend a few very current games together so I reckon in time it will rival any comparison.
The Magnificent Trufflepigs
Developer: Thunkd
Release Date: June 3rd
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure
“The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a first-person, romantic, metal-detecting game. You play as Adam, a sharp-witted but compassionate man returning to his childhood village of Stanning. There he’ll help a woman named Beth on her mission to unearth a local treasure. As cracks begin to appear in Beth’s fairy tale plan for everything, you’ll delve into her history and discover all may not be as it seems. And you’ll have to choose how Adam responds to Beth as she faces her demons.”
I’ll admit, I am very pleased to include this one in June’s indie list. It’s a romantic story paced around a small village where one uses a metal detector to find items. I’m keen to pick this one up on the Nintendo Switch and take a trip to the English countryside. The game gives me big Firewatch vibes so I’m interested to see if this game has the same amount of heart. It’s also self-described as a romantic story, so seeing how that plays into a game about metal detecting sure will be interesting. I really want to see more romantic stories told in indie games. Titles like Florence, the ones that show a real interactive connection between two people and how their stories connect and grow. It’s time for more romantic games!
Mighty Goose
Developer: Blastmode – MP2 Games
Release Date: June 5th
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action Shooter
“Mighty Goose is a fast paced run & gun shooter starring a bounty hunter Goose. Use epic weapons and devastating war machines to battle against screen filling bosses and hordes of enemies!”
WE NEED MORE GOOSE GAMES, STAT! Another fun blend, this time the goose is in a mecha in this run and gun shooter. It’s an arcade romp that looks like it’s a new direction in the goose game landscape that is sure to have our feathers flying! Not only will you stomp through vivid pixel art worlds, but you’ll be busting lead to a synth-rock and funky jazz soundtrack. Geese + indie games = FUN.
Backbone
Developer: Eggnut
Release Date: June 8th
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure
“Backbone is a post-noir roleplaying detective adventure, in which you step into the shoes of raccoon private investigator, Howard Lotor, and explore dystopian Vancouver, BC, beautifully rendered in high-resolution pixel art.”
“Here’s looking at you, fox.” This is a post-noir detective tail (get it) that follows a private eye raccoon on the verge of cracking their biggest case yet. You’ll be solving puzzles, collecting evidence, and making connections with the many other creatures that call this dystopian Vancouver home. I’m really appreciating the amount of style this game oozes from what I have seen so far. Get the trench out for this one, the sunset and mystery is beginning to burn like a cigarette.
One Hand Clapping
Developer: Bad Dream Games
Release Date: June 10th (Early Access)
Platforms: PC, iOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Puzzle
“Sing into your microphone to solve musical puzzles and change the world around you as you explore the unique world of One Hand Clapping.”
Some of the best indie games show off a fresh gameplay mechanic and One Hand Clapping is one of those games! Players have to use their voices to control the player character through each of the puzzles. It’s all about discovering one’s own voice and the power it can command. The art design gives off an ethereal quality that almost begs you to hum a melody. Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti…
Summertime Madness
Developer: DP Games – Sometimes You
Release Date: June 12th
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Puzzle Adventure
“Summertime Madness is a single-player first-person puzzle game. The player, in the role of a painter who has made a deal with the devil, has to find his way back to the real world after being cheated and trapped into one of his canvases. A dreamlike journey into a surreal world of the artist’s own creations where the atmospheric gameplay provides mysteries to discover, puzzles to solve and artistic landscapes to explore.”
Don’t get this one confused with that one Lana Del Rey song, this one takes you to the canvas in a slick puzzler adventure. You’re an artist stuck in their paintings. It’s a journey through the hues as you find all the secrets. I love a good puzzler and this one is giving me vibes similar to The Witness with the setting. Definitely pick this one up if you are after something both challenging and aesthetically pleasing.
Out Of Line
Developer: Nerd Monkeys
Release Date: June 23rd
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure
“A unique adventure game filled with beautiful puzzles all hand-drawn in a unique 2D style. Out of Line follows the adventures of San in a quest to escape the Factory that was once home. Dive into a story set in a mysterious world that is revealed through multiple chapters.”
An adorable 2D platformer, Out Of Line is one of those gorgeous indie game titles that looks so very lovingly crafted. Already, I’m taken by the painted visual style. It’s told in chapters and promises to unravel the narrative as players delve deeper into the game. The bar for indie robot games is definitely pretty high as there are a lot based on robots, but this one certainly clears it with art style alone. It does feel like there is potential for a co-op game here considering the platformer gameplay in the chapters.
Sun Haven
Developer: Pixel Sprout Studios
Release Date: June 26th
Platforms: PC
Genre: RPG Simulator
“Sun Haven provides a relaxing farming sim game that also offers RPG gameplay for anyone who wants to do a little adventuring on the side. While there is a main quest packed with adventure, the quest is spaced out over time to allow the player a chance to focus on their farming, fishing, or whatever else they want to do – this is our way of making sure you can play the game exactly how you want to. You want to kill monsters and get loot? Do that! You want to relax, grow some potatoes, and flirt with the town doctor? Do that too!”
Last but not least is yet another pixel art game. I included this one though because I love the addition of magic, monsters, and dragons on top of what is at its heart, a farming sim. Of course, it also features romanceable NPCs which is perfect for those of us who love a digital boyfriend or pixel partner. This one will definitely be picked up by myself. Farming Sims can be pretty formidable to new players, though as many have noted, Stardew Valley is pretty easy to get into with the right person showing you the ropes. If this sounds up your alley, why not check out a live stream where you can ask the streamer questions about the game!
So there you have it, indie game lovers…
These are just 10 of the new indie games we’ll be getting our hands on this month, let us know which one you’re most excited to play or if we missed any!
About the Author
Alex Beaty
They/Them
Alex gets FOMO for game DLC more than they should ever admit. On the run for being too good at Fortnite, they now work in game development.
