Franz. Franz. 2023's greatest obscure indie games

• 2023's Best Obscure Hits and Hidden Gems - A List of Year's Best Indie Games
• Franz

Franz

I don't have to introduce you to the Ice-Pick Lodge studio, do I? You know, the developers of Pathologic? Their latest achievement is Franz. Out of all the experiments that this developer has served up so far this one is probably the most experimental. And disturbing.

By installing Franz on your smartphone (for free), you can meet the titular character. A mysterious figure, lost, mistreated – but also capable of causing harm and manipulation. You'll receive messages from him (sometimes in the form of puzzles) and reply to them, creating a relationship that... could lead you to unexpected, dark places. Franz may remove you from the "game" for unfriendly behavior and then start sending notifications in the middle of the night, asking you to come back.

Ice-Pick Lodge studio has created a remarkably convincing illusion of a person capable of disturbing actions. Not every psyche will be able to handle Franz, judging by the accounts of some players. You have been warned.

Torn Away

War through the eyes of a child. When was the last time you played a game that could be described with these words? The most recent game that I can think of is My Memory of Us from 2018, developed by Juggler Games studio and featuring a narration voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart. This can easily lead to feeling helpless about the fact that our industry doesn't often tackle such challenging issues, but let's save these reflections for another time.

At this point, let's simply acknowledge the existence of a game like Torn Away. The gameplay offers a simple adventure game with a slight emphasis on arcade-style mechanics that switches between a 2.5D side view and a first-person perspective. The focus is on the setting: a tale based on the actual diaries of children about a ten-year-old who flees from a labor camp in Germany and attempts to make it back home to Russia.

The game was developed mainly by Russians, who didn't receive recognition in their homeland for addressing the subject...

We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe

Let's stay a bit longer on difficult topics in electronic entertainment. Second question: when was the last time you saw a video game that addressed the refugee crisis? The last one I remember is Bury Me, My Love, released in 2017 and initially available on mobile devices. On MOBILE devices!

Notably, Ticket to Europe – later renamed We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe (the publisher, Polyslash, added a titular link to its previous game, We. The Revolution) – originally, its target platforms also included smartphones and tablets. However, the Polish developers from Act Zero studio also considered PCs and released the game on Steam... where it got lost in the crowd.

The developers describe their creation as "a text-based RPG with many choices and consequences." Based on what I saw in the demo version (which is still available, by the way), I think the game is actually more like an adventure game. Regardless of how you classify it, the most important thing is that this title deserves a little more attention.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie

You shouldn't have to worry about attracting players' attention with your next game when your studio is named Don’t Nod and you have developed titles like Life Is Strange or Vampyr. And yet, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie seems to have been forgotten.

I assume that the players might have been put off by the relatively high price and the trailers, which were somewhat too closely linked to visual novel games... Before you run away as well, please acknowledge that this is actually a slightly different kind of adventure game, providing a highly non-linear narrative with numerous thought-provoking choices to make, along with fully voiced dialogues and a meticulously crafted audio-visual presentation.

Fortunately, the latest smaller game from Don't Nod – Jusant, released at the end of October – made more noise. Perhaps this will prevent the studio from being discouraged from such experiments...

Heavy Duty Challenge

We probably can't fully call this game a missed one - at least some of you should be familiar with it.

In September, this game could prove to be quite a treat for many fans of big cars. However, be aware that with each new update, Heavy Duty Challenge is gaining increasing recognition among players who have cut their teeth on SnowRunner and are seeking another off-road trucking challenge.

The developers at Nano Games studio have developed a highly advanced simulation that neatly fills the niche popularized by the aforementioned game by Saber Interactive. Given that we are dealing with a de facto sports competition (a licensed one), it's impossible not to acknowledge that the game isn't lacking in originality.

Clash: Artifacts of Chaos

Do you also get the feeling that almost every TPP action game being developed these days that isn't a shooter is a soulslike? Perhaps the lack of attention to the game described here, which is also inspired by FromSoftware's titles but offers a different philosophy of close-quarters combat, provides a clue as to why this trend is so popular...

Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is perhaps the most "mainstream" game featured on this list. In a way, it continues the Zeno Clash series from years ago, and it's published by the well-known company Nacon. As you can see, neither one nor the other was enough to become a hit. The unique style also didn't help (or maybe even scared off players?).

Meanwhile, nearly everyone who has played this game and posted a review on Steam praises it. The original ideas in gameplay mechanics, world design, storyline, and the satisfying combat system deserved recognition. The few negative reviews come mainly from people who cannot digest soulslikes, or have encountered an exceptionally nasty bug, or... cannot regret switching from FPP view from Zeno Clash to TPP.

Honorable mentions

Are you hungry for more overlooked "gems"? Alright, here's the telegram with a little extra:

1. Blanc (PC, Switch) – a cooperative adventure of a fawn and a wolf cub in aesthetic shades of gray; 76% positive reviews on Steam.
2. Desta: The Memories Between (PC, Switch, And, iOS) – a cozy roguelike in which we play a turn-based quasi-dodgeball game in the land of dreams; by the developers of the Monument Valley series; 94% positive reviews on Steam.
3. Dordogne (PC, PS5, XSX/S, PS4, XOne, Switch) – a nostalgic tale of traveling through childhood memories, depicted in an exceptionally artistic and painterly manner; 96% positive reviews on Steam. The game is available in Game Pass.
4. GeneRally 2 (early access on PC) – a continuation of the iconic micro-races from over 20 years ago, where the competitions are viewed from a bird's eye perspective and the tracks fit entirely on the screen; 84% positive reviews on Steam.
5. Mask of the Rose (PC, Switch) – a visual novel set in an alternative, underground version of 19th century London, within the universe known from the game Sunless Sea; positive reviews on Steam.
6. Rytmos (PC, Switch, And, iOS) – a logical rhythm game with an excellent audiovisual setting, in which, as we solve the puzzles, we compose musical motifs using over 20 instruments; 86% positive reviews on Steam.

1. Tails Noir Preludes (PC) – a prequel to the 2021 noir-themed 2D adventure game, which gained moderate attention as Backbone and was later rebranded as Tails Noir; 93% positive reviews on Steam.
2. The Banished Vault (PC) – resembling a board game (and/or a puzzle game), an exceptionally challenging space strategy set in a unique, quasi-gothic setting; 82% of positive reviews on Steam.
3. The Wreck (PC, PS5, XSX/S, PS4, XOne, Switch, and, iOS) – a narrative adventure presented in a rather cinematic manner (although with highly stylized graphics), in which we help to sort out the life of a certain 36-year-old woman; 90% positive reviews on Steam.
4. Tin Hearts (PC, PS5, XSX/S, PS5, XOne, Switch) – a modern take on Lemmings, a puzzle game where players guide tin soldiers through enchanting 3D locations, uncovering a melancholic story; 96% positive reviews on Steam.
5. Tron: Identity (PC, Switch) – a brief detective adventure based on the Tron film series license, creatively expanding on certain deeper themes from its universe; 86% positive reviews on Steam.