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New Upcoming Indie Games I’m Backing on Kickstarter: Cute, Kawaii, Cozy Sims and RPGs

As a lover of all things cute, kawaii, and cozy, I often find myself exploring Kickstarter for new and exciting games to support. Here are some of the delightful projects I’m currently backing. Many are already funded, but some need a little extra push to reach their goals. If any of these games pique your interest, consider supporting them too!

1. Rebellion GodSoul: Hyper-Visually Anime RPG Card Battle VN

  • Link: Rebellion GodSoul
  • Description: Dive into a hyper-visually stunning anime world where card battles meet RPG and visual novel elements. The game promises a unique blend of strategic gameplay, captivating storylines, and beautifully crafted anime graphics.
  • Rewards: Backers can receive digital artbooks, exclusive wallpapers, early access to the game, and even custom character designs depending on the pledge level.

2. Hotel Galactic: Studio Ghibli Inspired 2.5D Inn Management

  • Link: Hotel Galactic
  • Description: Inspired by the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli, Hotel Galactic allows players to manage their own cozy inn in a whimsical universe. With its charming 2.5D art style and heartwarming narrative, this game is perfect for those who enjoy immersive sim experiences.
  • Rewards: Backers can enjoy perks such as their name in the credits, exclusive in-game items, digital artbooks, and physical merchandise like postcards and posters.

3. Trade Tales: A Farming, Manufacturing, and Shopkeeping Life Sim

  • Link: Trade Tales
  • Description: Trade Tales combines the joys of farming, crafting, dating, and shopkeeping in a cozy life simulation. Players can cultivate their land, manufacture goods, and run their own shop in a charming village setting.
  • Rewards: Rewards range from early access to the game, digital soundtracks, exclusive in-game items, to physical collector’s editions and plushies.

4. Peasant

  • Link: Peasant
  • Description: Peasant is an RPG that puts you in the shoes of an everyday villager striving to make a better life. The game features a rich narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics where every player decision has in-game consequences, and a charming art style that draws you into its world.
  • Rewards: Backers can receive digital copies of the game, access to beta versions, exclusive character skins, and even a chance to design a quest or NPC.

5. My DearLove: Stat Raising Simulation Visual Novel Game

  • Link: My DearLove
  • Description: My DearLove blends stat-raising simulation with visual novel elements, offering a deeply engaging experience. Players will manage their character’s daily activities, build relationships, and uncover multiple storylines and endings.
  • Rewards: Backers can look forward to rewards such as digital and physical artbooks, exclusive game content, soundtrack downloads, and custom in-game characters.

These are just a few of the adorable and engaging games I’m excited to support on Kickstarter. Each project offers something unique, and your support can make a big difference in bringing these charming games to life. If any of these projects resonate with you, consider backing them and joining the community of supporters! read more

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Sunny Side Review: A New Life Sim with Modern Twists

Introduction to Sunny Side

Sunny Side is the latest indie life simulation game that has captured the attention of gamers worldwide. Released in early 2024 by RainyGames, a small but passionate development team, Sunny Side promises a vibrant world filled with modern touches that set it apart from traditional farming sims. In this review, we’ll dive into what makes Sunny Side unique, its strengths, and its areas for improvement.

What is Sunny Side?

Game Overview

Sunny Side is a life simulation game where players can immerse themselves in a large open world, tending to farms, customizing their homes, and interacting with a diverse cast of characters. The game stands out with its inclusion of modern technology and extensive customization options, allowing players to truly make their virtual life their own. read more

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Wish I Didn’t Buy Whisker Waters Even When It Is On Sale. What a Horrid Game Even For Cat Loving Gamer Girls Like Me.

Whisker Waters for the Nintendo Switch had a lot of potential as a cute, engaging life simulation game centered around cats and fishing. Unfortunately, it falls short in several critical areas.

Despite its promise of unique fishing mechanics and a charming world populated by cats, bears, and birds, the game is plagued by numerous technical issues and design flaws. The controls are notoriously clunky, making the gameplay experience frustrating. The character customization is extremely limited—you can’t make your character look like your cats (at least I couldn’t come close to my two pretty average domestic shorthair tabbies), choose a gender, or even name your character, which detracts from the personalization aspect that many players, including myself, value highly in life simulation games. read more

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Times and Galaxy Demo Review for Nintendo Switch

A Clunky Yet Charming Adventure for Aspiring Robot Reporters

I recently had the chance to dive into the demo of Times and Galaxy for Nintendo Switch, and I have some thoughts to share. This game offers an intriguing mix of customization and narrative choice but is hampered by some frustrating mechanics and uninspired design.

What I Liked:

• Customization Galore: Right off the bat, Times and Galaxy impressed me with its extensive customization options. You can tweak your robot’s colors, body shape, and even pronouns. It’s always a plus when a game lets you personalize your character to such a degree. read more

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Vivaland: Next-Level Online Play in a Multiplayer Life Sim

Vivaland: A Comprehensive Overview

Vivaland, an emerging title in the life simulation genre, presents an intriguing multiplayer-centric approach. Let’s explore its development, gameplay features, and how it stands in the life sim landscape.

Development and Team Insights

Development Journey

  • Vivaland’s development began in January 2022, following a year of research to optimize asset pipelines and workflows​​.

Release Timeline

  • An early access release is slated for 2024​​.

Platform Availability

  • Primarily for PC, with potential expansion to consoles due to engine compatibility​​.

The Development Team

  • The team comprises 8 industry veterans, some of whom worked on the Sims 4 Multiplayer Mod. They collaborate with HypeTrain Digital for publishing​​.

Gameplay Features

Multiplayer Focus

  • Vivaland is designed as a multiplayer life sim where every household is controlled by real players​​.

Community Interaction

  • Players can visit other Vivas (characters), access community areas, and start businesses, all within a buzzing online community​​.

Modding Support

  • While not a current priority, modding support is planned post-early access​​.

Connectivity

  • Internet connection is required for multiplayer, but single-player mode is available offline​​.

Group Play

  • Up to 8 players can join a game, each with their own household and Vivas​​.

Game World

  • The game is set in a small town and neighborhood, but it’s not an open world​​​​.

Visiting and Interaction

  • Players can visit friends’ households, but can only interact with their Vivas when they are online​​​​.

Control Scheme

  • The game will primarily use point & click controls, with potential expansion to keyboard movement​​.

Content Rating

  • Targeting an E rating, the game may adopt a mature approach for realism suitable for adult players​​.

Life Stages and Pets

  • Initially featuring only adult Vivas, with other life stages and pets planned for later updates​​​​​​.

Variety of Locations

  • The game currently has residential lots, with plans for a wider variety of locations​​.

Weather and Seasonal Changes

  • These features are not planned for the initial release but may be added later​​.

Market Positioning and Comparison

Vivaland’s unique multiplayer-centric approach sets it apart in the life simulation genre. While its development is still in the early stages, the focus on real-player interaction and community building is a fresh take compared to more traditional life sims like The Sims series. The game promises a blend of personal storytelling and shared experiences, with an emphasis on connectivity and real-time interaction. read more

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Indie Game Spotlight: ‘A Space for the Unbound’ Review – A Journey of Emotion and Nostalgia

A Space for the Unbound Trailer

Exploring Emotional Depths and Indie Charms in “A Space for the Unbound”

Dive into the captivating world of “A Space for the Unbound,” a game that masterfully blends a deep, emotional narrative with charming indie retro graphics and engaging casual gameplay. If you’ve enjoyed games like “Always Sometimes Monsters” (review here), its sequel “Sometimes Always Monsters” (preview here), “Undertale” (mentioned here), and other narrative-driven indie gems, you’ll find “A Space for the Unbound” to be a remarkable addition to your gaming collection. read more

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Arcadia Fallen – Visual Novel With Alchemy Review

Thanks to the folks at Galdra Studios for allowing me to review their debut visual novel, Arcadia Fallen. As a first release from an indie game publisher, Arcadia Fallen definitely exceeded my expectations in many ways. First of all, the game’s high production values from voice acting, to character portraits, and even a catchy anime opening song and animation, all pull you right into the game. From there, the characters and story and unraveling the mysteries of the game keep you glued to your gaming chair. For those that find routine visual novel gameplay a bit dull, you might like the puzzle aspects in Arcadia Fallen because it has a nice crafting and alchemy feature. read more

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Impostor Factory Game Review

I just finished Impostor Factory, a little short indie game by Freebird Games. They have a few other games under their belts including To The Moon, which is probably their most famous title.

Impostor Factory is meant to be a prequel in a way to To The Moon, although it’s slow to link the puzzle pieces together. It all makes sense by the end. You will see some familiar characters from To The Moon by the end.

I had thought I reviewed To The Moon here at some point, but I couldn’t find the review to link to it, so perhaps not. read more

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Wildermyth RPG Indie Game Review

I just started playing Wildermyth on the PC yesterday. This game is very fun and very challenging. I warn you, don’t get too attached to any of your characters, because it won’t be long before they die. Permadeath is real in this game. You get two chances. First time, your character will be maimed, second time, dead. I’m thinking I have to start all over because my characters just aren’t strong enough for the battle that they’re facing. I’ve tried twice now. Some had already died before that too. read more

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Sumire Nintendo Switch Game Review

This game touched my soul so deeply. I haven’t cried so much while playing a video game in years. I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed a game as much or connected as deeply to the characters and story as I did while playing this game.

So a bit of background. This is a cheap quick little indie game. It’s what I would call a story-driven game. In this game, you play a young girl whose family fell apart after her grandmother passed away. Her grandmother was kinda the backbone and glue of the whole family. After her grandmother’s passing, her father started working more hours and days further from home in a city far away. He almost never came home which left the girl’s mother feeling insecure and depressed. Slowly their relationship deteriorated, until one day, her father just stopped coming home altogether. read more

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Pine – Kickstarter Game Based On Personal Illustrations By Tom Booth

Pine is a successfully funded Kickstarter game about a grieving woodcutter who lost his wife. What makes the game unique and even more interesting is that it is based on an internet-famous set of images from illustrator Tom Booth.

For the past 3-4 years he has been creating the story of the Wood Cutter based on his own deeply personal feelings of dealing with the death of a loved one. No one knows the whole story because Tom has said he wanted to “try something different” to tell his story – so here it is. He has chosen to do a kickstarter game. read more

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Coral Island Kickstarter For Inclusive Farming Simulation Game

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coralisland/coral-island-reimagining-the-farm-sim-game

One good kickstarter deserves another I guess. This is the second kickstarter I’m blogging about today, and is in some ways quite similar to the previous Ova Magica. Both kickstarters are still active at time of this posting.

This next kickstarter is titled Coral Island, and it aims to make inclusivity a big focus of its game. Bringing in characters of different races and ethnic backgrounds.

The gameplay itself looks fun. You date the townsfolk while tending the farm. You even have children and watch them grow into teens. And the other people of the village also grow older as well. read more

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Cattails Become A Cat – PC Game Review Like Stardew Valley But With Cats

Ever wonder what would happen if you took Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, Or Stardew Valley and replaced all of the humans with cats? Me neither, until I played Cattails Become A Cat on Steam. It’s on sale right now for the winter steam sale, the biggest sale of the year, for a few more days.

So what is Cattails? I’ve only begun playing the game today, but it’s advertised as being “Like Stardew Valley But With Cats” and near as I can tell so far, that’s a very accurate description. It also reminds me of the children’s book series “Warriors” about various cat clans and lives of cats. read more

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Cat President 2 Visual Novel Otome Game Review

I received this game for free, but that does not influence my review – thank you very much for allowing me to review this game. I also received and reviewed Cat President (1) awhile back which you can read here.

Much like the first game, the second game is all about an alternate future universe where humans are banned from holding government offices and the country is run by cats.

Also like the first game, Cat President 2, never takes itself very seriously and is full of a lot of over the top cat puns and cheesy humor. read more

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