The indie gaming landscape offered a diverse array of releases and announcements this week, ranging from emotional road-trip narratives to mobile adaptations of popular television franchises. Engadget’s latest roundup highlights new titles available for immediate play, upcoming releases, and key takeaways from recent industry showcases.
Among the most notable new arrivals is Forever Ago, developed by Third Shift and published by Annapurna Interactive. Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox platforms, the game follows Alfred, an older man undertaking a scavenger hunt designed by his late wife, Audrey. The narrative explores themes of grief, self-discovery, and the passage of time. While the article notes occasional clumsiness in storytelling and interface prompts, the poignant performance by Piotr Michael and Clark Aboud’s score create an absorbing, sincere experience that demands a slow, deliberate pace.
For mobile gamers, The Traitors: Interactive Game by Fusebox Games has launched on iOS and Android. Free to play with in-app purchases, the single-player title mirrors the reality TV show’s mechanics. Players select a role as either a Faithful or Traitor, manage daily outfits, complete missions to build the prize pool, and engage in social deduction to vote out opponents.
Another significant release is Echo Weaver by Moonlight Kids, published by Akupara Games. Priced at $20, it is available on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2. Distinct from traditional Metroidvanias, progress in Echo Weaver is gated by player knowledge rather than ability unlocks. Players start with all necessary tools but must deduce their functions while navigating a time loop where time itself serves as a resource for healing and traversal.
Also available now on Meta Quest is Shil, a puzzle-platformer from OSM Games and Nuostabūs Žaidimai. Costing $15, the game utilizes a striking two-tone silhouette art style to conceal secrets and threats within its horror-inflected environments. A Steam version is anticipated shortly.
In showcase news, the Triple-i Initiative’s second edition revealed several upcoming titles. Among Us Story: On Guard, a detective spinoff, is scheduled for release on February 17. Other announcements include Gods With Badges from Strange Scaffold, the narrative deckbuilder Lazare’s Sacrifice, and gameplay footage for The Talos Principle 3. Playtests for many of these titles, including the long-awaited Militsioner, are currently live.
The Out of Bounds showcase highlighted 16 games, including the bingo-inspired roguelike Bingone, the Tetris-influenced castle builder Draftula, and the puzzler Haunted Cleaner. Meanwhile, the Convergence Games showcase announced that Kick will launch on November 3.
Additionally, LudoNarraCon is currently spotlighting 50 narrative-driven games, with a companion sale on Steam running until October 15 offering discounts on over 150 titles. Notable mentions include Titanium Court, Wax Heads, Perfect Tides: Station to Station, and Cairn.
In other news, Playdate Season 3 has begun, and the single-player campaign for Star Wars: Galactic Racer is now available at no extra cost for Amazon Luna Prime subscribers.
Is Echo Weaver actually a Metroidvania if you have all tools from the start? The knowledge-gating mechanic fascinates me.
A mobile Traitors game? Finally, I can betray my friends while waiting in line at the coffee shop.
Forever Ago sounds beautifully poignant. Annapurna’s catalog never disappoints with emotional depth.