10 terrific indie games to play in February 2022

Well well well, February really snuck up on me this year and before I knew the indies were flying in! It’s a steady month with some interesting diamonds appearing in the rough. I’m particularly excited about Not Tonight 2 as the first game really surprised me. There are also some great games to curl up with here if you’re without a Valentine.

Alas, if I keep squawking February 2022 will be gone!

With You 

Developer: Carol Mertz

Release Date: February 2nd

Platforms: PC

Genre: Puzzle

“With You is a cooperative two-player puzzle-playground. It’s a tiny game that hopes to inspire couples to connect, communicate, and collaborate.”

I’m pretty enamoured by this simple yet cute co-op game. From what began as a student project, With You is a non-violent minigame that’s made to evoke a sense of intimacy between players. Using physics and platform challenges, With You is a problem-solving game made with love and I’m very excited to add this one to my game library. Also, who doesn’t love that sketchbook style!

Porcelain Tales

Developer: Oohoo Studio

Release Date: February 4th

Platforms: PC

Genre: Mystery 

“Porcelain Tales is a 3D platform, puzzle strategy game. Where you become a tiny garden gnome, brought to life by a generous witch in order to help her collect the things she desires most.”

Porcelain Tales is a quaint little mystery game featuring a Gnome causing trouble. It’s quite a simple game and yet I feel It’s a nice way to spend some time exploring the environment from a gnome perspective. It’s also available totally free!

Know By Heart

Developer: Ice-Pick Lodge

Release Date: February 10th

Platforms: PC, Xbox One

Genre: Adventure 

“Childhood friends reunite after spending a long time apart, revisiting old memories and rekindling their friendship. However, something beyond their control will ruin this reunion.”

Know By Heart looks like an instant favourite for me as I love games that explore memories and develop characters through the game. I’m already hoping this is like Virginia, another beloved favourite of mine that dips into the surreal with meaningful symbology. What this game does differently, is that it takes place in a post-Soviet era provincial town in Russia. It also has multiple endings. 

Kingdom of the Dead

Developer: Dirigo Games

Release Date: February 10th

Platforms: PC

Genre: Horror 

“Immerse yourself in a dreadful hand-drawn horror world and push Death’s armies back to the underworld!”

There’s something most unsettling about this monochrome FPS. Described as a horror game, you’ll be fighting off hordes from the underworld in this hand-drawn hellscape! Featuring 8 locations, 8 weapons, 22 + enemies, and old school bosses to riddle with lead – this is just what your trigger finger has been craving! Read our review here!

Prose & Codes 

Developer: Hero Game Co LLC

Release Date: February 11th

Platforms: PC, MAC

Genre: Puzzle

“Explore the wonderful world of books through deceptively simple ciphers.”

Okay, so I know everyone’s obsessed with Wordle, but with the buyout – many are looking for their next writing puzzler and I’d suggest giving this one a peep. Prose & Codes is loaded with 350 hand-selected literary classics. All books featured in the game are also free online so if you do manage to decode a great passage… maybe it will be your next read!

From Heaven to Earth

Developer: EpiXR Games UG

Release Date: February 12th

Platforms: PC, Xbox One

Genre: Platformer

“In this game, you follow an eternal being who got bored in heaven and tries to make their way back into the world of the living. To return to earth it has to pass the path of trials… a path filled with traps, difficult jumps, and hidden secrets. A unique philosophical platformer awaits you.”

Become an eternal being, bored with heaven as you fight to return to the life on earth you once held so dear. Jump, dodge, and find hidden secrets along the way. It’s a platformer for the thinking man if that’s possible. I love the level design in this one and I’ll always jump at a parkour game.

Not Tonight 2 

Developer: PanicBam

Release Date: February 12th

Platforms: PC

Genre: Simulation

“Immigration Enforcement Case #112: You are under arrest. Unless your friends can cross a broken America, retrieve your identifying documents and stay out of trouble… this is the end of the American dream for you.”

I’m so glad to be seeing a sequel to the first game! Not Tonight 2 is a simulation game where your role-playing is politically charged. I found the first game surprisingly good in how it gives you a window into the lives of its characters and human experience. This sequel looks just as good, thanks to a diverse writing team on the game.

Martha Is Dead 

Developer: LKA

Release Date: February 24th

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Genre: Psychological Horror

“Martha Is Dead is a dark first-person psychological thriller, set in 1944 Italy, that blurs the lines between reality, superstition and the tragedy of war.”

Martha is Dead is a game about Martha, and she’s dead. Set in Italy in 1944, the game wants to thrill you with a tale as you uncover the truth about a murder. Set in an idyllic Italian countryside, it’s lovingly crafted for that escapism we crave.

Ghost on the Shore 

Developer: like Charlie

Release Date: February 24th

Platforms: PC

Genre: Adventure

“An exploration game about emotional ties that transcend even death. Riley is faced with a headstrong ghost, urging her on an adventure across atmospheric shores, uncovering the island’s tragic secret. Choices in dialogue shape the bond between the two, ultimately deciding Riley’s fate.”

I’m no stranger to a good walking sim mystery, so seeing a fresh one from the makers of Marie’s Room is exciting. Venture around a desolate island, in search of answers. With a branching narrative, every dialogue choice could mean a new fate. And there’s also plenty of environmental storytelling!

Longvinter

Developer: Uuvana Studios

Release Date: February 25th (Early Access)

Platforms: PC

Genre: Survival 

“Fish, farm, craft, gather, cook, loot or steal from other players and build a campsite or a village with your friends in an open-world multiplayer sandbox game without rules!”

From what does look very akin to Animal Crossing, Longvinter allows you to travel to a fresh island where you can research all about the new discovery. You can build, craft, farm, and trade in this PVP sandbox game. It’s definitely just as charming as Animal Crossing as well, featuring a picturesque island. Maybe you’ll enjoy a fresh look at the life sim!