Indie Spotlight - Part 14

Lumines Arise

Do you still remember "Lumines"? The puzzler, which launched on the PSP in Germany in 2005 and was addictive within minutes, was more than just a game - it was an audiovisual experience. Under the creative direction of Tetsuya Mizuguchi, he combined shapes, beats and light to create a hypnotic flow that synchronised the pulse with the rhythm. With "Lumines Arise", this feeling returns, bigger, more colourful and more immersive than ever before.

The creators of "Rez Infinite" and "Tetris Effect: Connected" have taken the principle further. principle: over 30 levels lead through neon cities, seascapes and cosmic spaces, while every block you solve becomes becomes part of the soundtrack. The new burst mode allows you to pause entire sequences, overload them and turn them into orchestral chain reactions. into orchestral chain reactions. If you want, you can use a VR headset to dive even deeper into the synaesthetic world in which sound and movement are inseparably merge inseparably.

With music by Hydelic and Takako Ishida, a frenzy of beats, colours and shapes unfolds. beats, colours and shapes. "Lumines Arise" is the evolution of a classic classic, familiar enough to draw you back in immediately and fresh enough to show why puzzle games can still evoke a feeling somewhere that lies somewhere between flow and ecstasy.

Goodnight Universe

In "Goodnight Universe", the unknown awakens in the nursery. Isaac is six months old and discovers that he can move things with his gaze. Building blocks float, lamps flicker, the world bends to his will - and no one has any idea what is going on in this little head. While his parents remain stuck in a digital routine, the baby becomes the silent centre of a story about closeness, control and the need to be seen.

The Nice Dream studio, known for "Before Your Eyes", takes its idea of gaze control to a new extreme here. Once again, it is the camera that makes the difference: blinking, staring, focussing - every moment is action. What meant disempowerment in its predecessor becomes a revelation here. Your eyes become the controller, your body the interface to a world that you don't just play, but feel.

The result is an experience between tenderness and anxiety that can be located somewhere between Pixar and Philip K. Dick. "Goodnight Universe" asks what humanity means when perception becomes power - and when even a baby has to learn the cost of trust. A play that doesn't shout at you, but whispers deep into your soul.

Into The Grid

Welcome to the data stream. "Into The Grid" is not a classic roguelike deckbuilder, it is a journey into the digital underground. You take on the role of a hacker fighting his way through the networks of corrupt mega-corporations, armed with nothing but code, instinct and an arsenal of programme cards. Every move is a command, every decision a risk, every deleted firewall a small victory against a system that controls everything.

Flatline Studios transforms cyberspace into a living battlefield of neon, bit fragments and data avalanches. The heart of the game is the VIM system: a second resource that adds depth to each map. Even weak moves can be strategically fuelled until the screen explodes in virtual fireworks. The deck grows with each run, but so does the resistance. And anyone who hesitates too long will be devoured by their own algorithms.

"Into The Grid" is speed and precision, chaos and control at the same time. A game that not only shows its world, but makes it tangible in time with pulsating beats, in flickering light, in the moment when the last move decides everything. If you love Deckbuilder, you won't be playing cards here, you'll be making sparks. Now available in Early Access.

Flesh Made Fear

Back to the era of fixed camera angles and creaking doors, when survival horror still meant heart palpitations. Developer Tainted Pact, known for "Suffer the Night" and "Terror at Oakheart", quotes the DNA of classics such as "Resident Evil" and transforms it into a new, dark experiment. Two characters, one mission, one nightmare: as a member of the Reaper Intervention Platoon, you are tasked with stopping the mad scientist Victor Ripper, whose experiments have turned an entire city into monsters.

Nothing is left to chance. Every shot counts, every step needs to be planned. Limited save points and scarce resources bring back the excitement of past decades, while modern camera changes and revised controls bring the gameplay into the present. The mixture of tactics and terror feels surprisingly fresh, proving that the genre can still get under your skin.

With its morbid backdrops, grotesque creatures and an ominous soundtrack, "Flesh Made Fear" exudes the dense, physical fear that has long been missing. A game that sees nostalgia not as a throwback, but as a return to the roots of horror, uncompromising, merciless and strangely fascinating.

Rue Valley

One man, one city, one time loop. "Rue Valley" weaves mystery, psychology and classic storytelling into an unusually introspective RPG. Developed by Emotion Spark Studio and published by Owlcat Games, the game tells the story of a protagonist who lives through the same nightmare day after day - and yet discovers something new in each repetition. The loop becomes a mirror of his own mind, each dialogue a decision about identity and consciousness.

Mechanically, "Rue Valley" focuses on freedom of thought. Instead of fights, conversations, relationships and mental states take centre stage. Those who start as cold analysts can become empathetic optimists, depending on their own decisions and the attitude they choose. The game reacts dynamically to mood, behaviour and inner conflicts, resulting in a different psychological profile every round.

The thematic depth is remarkable. The team has incorporated medical expertise into the development in order to credibly address issues of depression, trauma and self-acceptance. "Rue Valley" is not intended to be a moral lesson, but rather an invitation to self-reflection. In its quiet consistency, it reminds us that some battles are not fought against monsters, but begin in our own heads.

Winter Burrow

An abandoned burrow, a harsh winter and a mouse that returns to its old home. "Winter Burrow" is a small-scale survival game that combines the atmosphere of a children's book with the structure of classic crafting titles. Instead of danger or pressure, it focuses on a calm pace in which collecting, crafting and caring intertwine.

After years in the city, the little protagonist finds his once familiar building in ruins - and the aunt who was supposed to look after him has disappeared. While snow falls outside, a new home slowly grows inside. Between sewing needles, stove light and conversations with other forest dwellers, a story about closeness, memory and the quiet comfort of routine emerges.

Pine Creek Games sees "Winter Burrow" as an alternative to typical survival titles: a game about perseverance without pressure, about progress without haste. Every animation, every sound and every recipe contributes to a world that makes security tangible without explaining it. A small, quiet title about returning home, community and the art of creating warmth for yourself in winter.

Possessor(s)

The Metroidvania genre thrives on orientation and control, "Possessor(s)" by Heart Machine breaks both down. In a destroyed metropolis flooded with strange creatures, you control Luca and Rhem, a mismatched duo who are literally bound to each other. Their only chance: to maintain the fragile alliance while uncovering the origin of the catastrophe.

In terms of gameplay, the adventure combines fast-paced jumping passages with a combat system reminiscent of modern platform brawlers. Attacks on the ground merge seamlessly into aerial combos, while precise dodging makes the difference between victory and defeat. The open world remains challenging and those looking for new paths often have to fight for them. Despite the tough battles, the game remains accessible enough to create flow.

"Possessor(s)" uses its conflict as a strength. It shows a city on the brink of collapse, whose beauty lies in its decay. Between physical horror, melancholy and tempo, a play emerges that is as mechanically sharp as it is visually. Heart Machine proves that the genre can still surprise today and delivers a Metroidvania that plays as intensely as it looks.

→ If you're already in the mood for more indie adventures: You can find more highlights in our "Level Up" section - and of course in the current issue.