Here are 10 enchanting indies for October 2024

We’re three quarters through the year but the games aren’t stopping anytime soon. Here are 10 enchanting indies for October 2024.

KILL KNIGHT

Developer: Playside Studios Ltd

Release Date: October 2

Platforms: PC, Switch, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S

“KILL KNIGHT is an ultra-responsive arcade-inspired isometric action shooter. Condemned to eternal sufferance, deep within the voids of an eldritch arena, you must wield an arsenal of devastating weaponry to obliterate swarms of otherworldly horrors – and MASTER THE DEMON WITHIN.”

Developed right here in the heart of Melbourne, KILL KNIGHT is a seriously slick and demonic action experience. With rich reds and frantic action, its style and experience will be one to keep an eye on. Don’t just take my word for it but the 2024 AGDAs (Australian Game Developer Awards). It’s nominated for several categories including Game of the Year.

Grunn

Developer: Sokpop Collective, Tom van den Boogaart

Release Date: October 4

Platforms: PC

“A gardener gets hired for maintenance work over the weekend. A simple task, but strangely some tools are missing…The owner of the garden isn’t around, and their house is off-limits. Perhaps new tools can be found in the mysterious town, or maybe some of the reserved townsfolk have seen them?”

Video games have this innate talent of bringing tedious and boring everyday chores into a new and exciting light with the medium’s interactivity. Already having a love for Powerwash Simulator myself, I’m eager to see that kind of serotonin-filled experience in grass cutting. And it’s lo-fi, spooky and has you travelling to other realms! Sign me up!

Phoenix Springs

Developer: Calligram Studio

Release Date: October 7 

Platforms: PC

“Lose yourself in the mystery of Phoenix Springs, a modern point-and-click set in a striking neo-noir world. It begins with an investigation: find your brother Leo. You already know where it ends.”

Delayed out of last month, I truly hope Phoenix Springs lands and finds its audience. It’s an incredibly painterly-looking title where every frame looks like a work of art. I’m incredibly taken by it. Take a look at the trailer and you just might be too.

Extra Coin

Developer: CINIC Games

Release Date: October 8

Platforms: PC

“Extra Coin is a story-rich life sim set between the real world and a virtual utopia: explore the city, do activities, and face your opponents. Would you rather respect the Loop or break it to find your lost parents?”

Extra Coin is giving Ready Player One, with its promise of an exciting in-universe digital world to escape to, only dosed with layers upon layers of ennui. We’ve had plenty of artful 2D-pixel art side-scrolling narrative indie games that impressed us in recent years, including Until Then. Extra Coin also looks to be cut off that cloth, promising an emotional journey ahead. I’m ready for this one to wreck me.

Europa

Developer: Helder Pinto, Chozabu (Alex PB), Novadust Entertainment

Release Date: October 11

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

“On the moon Europa, a lush terraformed paradise in Jupiter’s shadow, an android named Zee sets out in search of answers. Run, glide and fly across the landscape, solve mysteries in the ruins of a fallen utopia, and discover the story of the last human alive.”

Europa is an incredibly vibrant indie that is coming from an ex-Blizzard developer that looks incredibly like The Legend of Zelda crossed with Studio Ghibli films. There’s something incredibly admirable about quitting the AAA game grind and honing your craft to make an artful indie well-distinguished from prior projects. It looks like that has more than paid off. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

Neva

Developer: Nomada Studio

Release Date: October 15

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

“Experience the moving tale of a young woman and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world.”

From the team that brought us the breathtaking 2D narrative platformer Gris, comes another adventure primed to rip our hearts out and destroy us. Returning is that beautiful painting-like aesthetic and this time a wolf is accompanying our side, bonding with us as we go. All I can say is nothing bad better happen to that dog.

Fear the Spotlight

Developer: Cozy Game Pals

Release Date: October 15

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch

“Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure with a disturbing mystery to unravel. Sneak into school after hours with Vivian and Amy, survive a séance gone wrong, solve tactile puzzles, and, whatever you do, stay out of the spotlight…”

The irony isn’t lost on me that a horror game is being developed by a studio known as Cozy Game Pals. Fear the Spotlight is an interesting little horror title that will be the first project published by Blumhouse Games. It features a crunchy but oh-so-striking low poly art style that’s reminiscent of the original PlayStation and better yet, a big emphasis is on the relationship between two young women. Good for them! I’ve played this game in full when it was originally released some time ago. Then it was mysteriously pulled to be worked on further. Now, we know why. This Blumhouse Games published version offers an expanded storyline to something that was already a great horror narrative. I can’t wait to see what they’ve been cooking with!

Wilmot Works It Out

Developer: Hollow Ponds, Richard Hogg

Release Date: October 23

Platforms: PC

“Wilmot Works It Out is a puzzle-building game about completing beautiful images and using them to decorate the walls of your house.”

Serving as a sequel to the criminally underrated puzzle organisation game Wilmot’s Warehouse, we’ve now graduated from warehouse working to jigsaw puzzle solving! Using similar tile movement mechanics to form gorgeous images to decorate a house, it looks fittingly quaint and sweet. Certainly, one to settle down with a cup of tea with compared to some of the horror games out this month.

Date Everything!

Developer: Sassy Chap Games

Release Date: October 24

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

“Date Everything is a sandbox dating simulator set in the comfort of your own home, featuring 100 fully voice acted datable characters! Let the romance flow between your bed, smoke alarm and… Overwhelming Sense of Existential Dread? Are you ready to Date Everything?”

Joining the ilk of Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Date Everything is another dating visual novel that looks to not be taking itself seriously and wearing its heart on its sleeve. Having a navigable 3D overworld as you go about dating everyday household appliances brought to life is a weird but compelling idea. I hope they pull it off and it doesn’t get too weird!

Post Trauma

Developer: RED SOUL GAMES

Release Date: October 29

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, 

“Post Trauma is a modern-day survival horror, inspired by genre-defining classics. You awaken to find yourself in a twisted reality full of mind-bending puzzles, breathtaking tension, and unspeakable nightmares. Will you find a way home?”

Serving as a celebration of classic horror games, Post Trauma is an incredibly eerie and disgusting 3D experience I can’t wait to be horrified by. Walls made of goo and membrane, subway stations home to monsters that are indescribably messed up… inject this into my veins.

Another month done and dusted. There are our 10 enchanting indies out in October 2024. If you’re somehow after more indie games and can’t get enough from this year, why not check out last month’s article?