2021 is arriving in just a few days, and we can expect to see some exciting new releases from the year. For this week however, things are a rather quiet. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any new releases, though, as the following indie titles that are coming out on Steam can attest to.
BELLING COINS
In Belling Coins, you’re an adventurer who’s pursued by a ninja clan. Gameplay is of the maze variety, with the player being required to pick up all of a level’s coins while avoiding ninjas and traps. There are also special crystals that lets you turn the tables on your enemies and become the hunter for a while instead, like Pac-Man’s Power Pellets. The game will be released on December 28.
The Picture in The House
Based on the 1920 short story of the same name by H.P. Lovecraft, The Picture in The House follows a researcher who is carrying out genealogical studies in a city called Arkham. He becomes lost and ends up in a “worn-out house forgotten by the world”, where he has to solve puzzles and uncover “dark and ancient mysteries”. The game promises puzzles with different “ancient and mysterious mechanisms”, “unique” 2D animated cinematics, and books that can be interacted with. It’s set to be released on December 28.
The Dream of Shadowlands Episode 1
The first part of a planned five-episode horror RPG series, The Dream of Shadowlands Episode 1 is an RPGMaker game with ink-and-paper art assets, 90s anime-style character designs, and dark content like body horror and suicide. The game follows Rina as she wakes up in a different world and teams up with the demon Jyl after finding out that she has been cursed. As they journey across this “underwater dreamscape”, the two end up dealing with a cult and monsters. The developers acknowledge that the majority of the voice actors are amateurs, and have included the option to turn off voice-acting. The game will release on December 28.
