GRcade's Recommended XBLIG pg 1 updated 27/09

Last edited by qupe on Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:16 pm, edited 184 times in total.

Welcome to GRcades Recommended Xbox Indie games thread. Below you will find recommended games and videos, their current price and a direct Marketplace link to each game.

Hopefully this thread is going to save you the time trawling through the poor games/applications available from the Indie section of the Marketplace on Xbox Live. Please tell me what you think, what should or shouldn't be in this list, if I get enough feedback for certain games they will be removed/added.

*Prices are subject to change now and then.

Got any comments or suggestions please leave a message.

Indie sites to look at:

Indie Games Catalog

Xbox Marketplace

Xbox Indies

Gamergeddon Game Blog

Xblig.co

Indie Gamer Chick

Indie Ocean

Gear Fish

Armless Octopus

XBLA & XBLIG ratings

XboxHornet

Xbox Indie Games

Writings of Mass Destruction

Xbox Facebook Indie page

Other forum threads:

Neogaf's Monthly XBLIG Thread

Cheap Ass Gamer

The recommended games:

ACTION & ADVENTURE - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

#-L

M-Z

CARD & BOARD - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

CLASSICS - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

EDUCATIONAL - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

FAMILY - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

FIGHTING - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

MUSIC

OTHER

PLATFORMER - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

A-I

J-Z

PUZZLE & TRIVIA - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

A-L

M-Z

RACING & FLYING - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

ROLE PLAYING - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

SHOOTER - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

A-G

H-P

Q-Z

SPORTS & RECREATION - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

STRATEGY & SIMULATION - (Videos, Game Prices and Marketplace links in the spoilered zone)

If you don't want to send a message than put games you'd recommend in here and I will collate the posts and update the front page.

Would you want a leaderboard? Game with the most recommendations?

A complete post with all games A-Z with what people have said next to them too?

Do you want pics or videos in the recommended sections?

This is a really good idea as I often fancy a quick play on an indie/casual game but I'm always reluctant to take the plunge with a game I've never heard of. I reckon it might be worth having a few standard categories to score against for each game, e.g.

Fun
Graphics
Sound/Music
Charm
Overall (not an average, à la IGN)

Each could be given a score out of five and the average for each category could be shown against the game on the main page. The list of categories could be altered, of course. Also, could this be expanded to include Steam games?

Pilch wrote:This is a really good idea as I often fancy a quick play on an indie/casual game but I'm always reluctant to take the plunge with a game I've never heard of. I reckon it might be worth having a few standard categories to score against for each game, e.g.

Fun
Graphics
Sound/Music
Charm
Overall (not an average, à la IGN)

Each could be given a score out of five and the average for each category could be shown against the game on the main page. The list of categories could be altered, of course. Also, could this be expanded to include Steam games?

If there is enough interest in the standard categories then we could trial it and see how it goes. I was thinking of a simple approach initially as this is for Xbox Indie games.

Recommended, trial or avoid.

As for Steam it may be worth doing that in a separate thread due to this being Xbox Indie games. You could then maybe expand on it with recommended free games too? I have never used steam, I hardly ever use my PC to play a game but know loads of places to get free Indie games.

Does anyone have anything they'd recommend? No one has recommended anything yet.

Mini Reviews

Hexothermic (240pts)

Addictive puzzle game that has a simple premise, try and clear all the atoms from the board with the limited amount of shots available. Not for everyone and the developer has put the price up to 240pts. However I would say give the game a trial, you may like it. Just think at 80 pts this game would sell more units.

Verdict: Trial

Angry Barry (400pts)

A beat-em-up parody along the lines of the old arcade game Bad Dudes. Looks decent, the gameplay is a little repetitive. At 400 pts, I am not sure if it can be reduced now that Microsoft has changed the pricing structure, I can't recommend this game so yet again it's another try before you buy game for me.

Verdict: Trial

Biology Battle (240pts)

You have probably all seen this game and it's Geometry Wars comparisions. I initially could not justify purchasing this game, it was 800pts, but now it has been reduced in price for a second time I would recommend this game. The instant leaderboard updates (Live Gold members) as you play the single player mode and all the co-op modes make it at least worth trying. There are even trophies to earn too. Go on try it, you might just like it.

Verdict: Recommended

I have just received my 360 back from Microsoft and have had a quick go on a couple of games.

I Maed a gam3 w1th z0mb1es (80 pts)

This is a simple, to begin with at least, smash tv style game. It's a score based game, there are no objectives, bar survival. The presentation is decent enough and the game plays well. The music is ridiculously catchy and I found myself singing the "stupid but funny" song at work yesterday. All in all this is a steal at 80 pts and is an ideal game if you fancy a quick 20 mins of killing zombies (and other strange things).

Verdict - Recommended *Please note I would like to add this game is not recommended for someone who suffers with epilepsy.

Atomhex (80 pts)

This might be another twinstick shooter on the Indie games scene, however I found this to be one of the better games out there. The big difference here is you have to change your bullet colour to kill different enemies. The game has 100 awards to earn and I think for a piddly 80 pts is definitely worth a trialing at least. Try it you might like it.

Verdict - Recommended

Another vote for IMAGWZ. It's hilarious. :wub:

The fact that I still haven't bought CarneyVale Showtime is downright disgusting. :fp:

Excellent thread qupe.

All these games deserve a vote:

1. Miner Dig Deep - Best game on Indie Games IMO yet criminally overlooked - hours and hours of fun so far for a mere 200 points. Mine various minerals to make money, then buy better equipment, to mine deeper, to make more money etc.

2. I ma3d a gaem w1th z0mb1es - (or however it's spelled). Essentially a 15 minute joke, but a really clever one, in the guise of a twin stick shooter. Worth it for 80 points.

3. Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp - Excellent puzzly platformer with loads of levels, crazy value at 80 points.

4. Easy Golf - Pricey at 800 points, but this is possibly the most polished game on the service. A bunch of courses, and a fully featured course editor. It's also had a bunch of free updates. Good work.

5. Machevellis Ascent - Probably not worth 200 points as it's so basic, but an incredibly addictive game. That and the trial never seemed to expire when I played it, so you may be able to blag it free. Each go only lasts about 30 seconds, so it's a great snack between other activities.

mokeyjoe wrote:4. Easy Golf - Pricey at 800 points, but this is easily the most polished game on the service. A bunch of courses, and a fully featured course editor. It's also had a bunch of free updates. Good work.

Easy Golf is 240 MS Points now

Garth wrote:
mokeyjoe wrote:4. Easy Golf - Pricey at 800 points, but this is easily the most polished game on the service. A bunch of courses, and a fully featured course editor. It's also had a bunch of free updates. Good work.

Easy Golf is 240 MS Points now

Really??? That's incredible value. It's better than many XBLA games.

I have updated the thread with your votes, thanks all =).

I have just played the trial of Veks and Silence, I will purchase the full version later and let you guys know my impressions. The trial is only 1, very short, level long.

Another Mini Review

Octagon (240 points)

Another shooter on the Indie Service. Octagon is played, funnily enough, in an Octagon. The basic objective is to kill all the different coloured enemies to progress. To fire different coloured bullets you use the coloured buttons, holding down the button longer increases the size of the shot. The problem was I found the aim didn't feel very tight and the game felt lacklustre. It looks reasonably polished but the music on the first few levels really started to grate. I just didn't get on with it.

Verdict - Trial/Avoid

qupe wrote:I have updated the thread with your votes, thanks all =).

Miner Dig Deep isn't there, l do I need to message you?

Love this thread. :mrgreen:

I didn't know about many of the Indie game price drops, so I've just bought bought a good few of the games now, and downloading demos for many more.

:wub:

mokeyjoe wrote:
qupe wrote:I have updated the thread with your votes, thanks all =).

Miner Dig Deep isn't there, l do I need to message you?

Sorry I update the voting part, it's in the Video Section.

Please people say if you would recommend game/s so I can update the thread.

Mini Review

Veks & Silence (400 points)

Veks and Silence is a Metal Slug run and shoot game. It's decently presented with some nice backgrounds and some humourous touches. The demo is only one very short level long and tbh the first 2 levels are very short they do get longer. You have 5 weapons, 4 guns (assigned by the dpad) and a bomb, control is good. If you like these sort of games give this one a shot you may just like it. I do, most of the time. If you get stuck on the first boss give me a shout.

Verdict: Recommended

Another game I forgot to mention last time is Word Soup.

It's a fantastic puzzler The best way to describe it is Bejewelled but instead of matching colours you're joining letters to form words. It's well presented, has a decent number of features, and is great value at 400 points.

Indie games have demos? I'd try them, but not buy until I tried them. Ha

Last edited by qupe on Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Tried some more games so here are my opinions

Colotristar (240 Points)

Very basic Bejewled style game. I found it very dull and the control felt a bit clunky.

Verdict: Avoid

World Revolution (200 points)

Missile Command played via a globe. Just didn't grab me and I don't want to go back to it. Felt like it was missing something. Shame though. See what you think.

Verdict: Trial

Crystal Crush (80 points)

Puzzle game played on a Hexagon where the objective is to clear the crystals as per Puzzle Bobble. Give it a trial it does grow on you once you get use to the control method.

Verdict: Trial

Nebulon (200 points)

Another Geometry Wars style game. This game, unfortunately, from the demo just felt too basic and slow and not enough variety. Looks ok but what with Atomhex (80 pts), Biology Battle (240 pts) and the soon to be released Echoes+ this game is way down the pecking order.

Verdict: Trial

Streets of Fury (240 points)

Side scrolling beat em up. This game is a complete mixed bag for me. The presentation is all over the place, decent in some places, terrible in others. The colours used for the text are terrible, sorry. The gameplay feels very basic yet there is something that makes me want to go back and see if it gets any better. Doubt I will. I know others like it though.

Verdict: Trial

Alien Ambush (80 points)

I don't care what this costs it is gooseberry fool.

Verdict: Avoid

mokeyjoe wrote:
Garth wrote:
mokeyjoe wrote:4. Easy Golf - Pricey at 800 points, but this is easily the most polished game on the service. A bunch of courses, and a fully featured course editor. It's also had a bunch of free updates. Good work.

Easy Golf is 240 MS Points now

Really??? That's incredible value. It's better than many XBLA games.

This. It's a smashing wee game, soooo good for a nice relaxing sunday afternoon with some podcasts on. Plus, the course editor is really easy to use.

GRcade's Recommended XBLIG pg 1 updated 27/09

Who is online

Affiliates