Having played the demo of Ruffy and the Riverside at Steam Next Fest earlier this year, I had high expectations for the full version. The inspiration is clear: Paper Mario with hints of Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64 as the icing on the cake. However, this game brings something truly unique to the genre: a magical “SWAP” ability to copy and paste textures around you. Should everyone be playing it right now? Yes and no. However, it uniquely blends collectathon platforming, puzzle-solving, and free-form exploration in a semi-open world, ensuring you’ll keep playing long after the main story ends.

The game follows Ruffy as he teams up with friends like Pip the bee and Sir Eddler the mole to stop the villainous cube Groll from destroying the World Core and plunging Riverside into chaos. I have to be honest: there’s too much pointless dialogue. The characters ramble endlessly about everything, and I’m not ashamed to admit I skipped half of it without missing anything important.

Puzzles throughout the game use the SWAP ability

The SWAP Ability lets you copy a texture from one surface and paste it onto another, transforming the target. Eligible surfaces are highlighted, and you have about 15 seconds to use a copied texture before it vanishes. This mechanic is vital for puzzles and progression, for example, swapping a waterfall with vines creates a climbable path, or turning a stone pillar into wood makes it float. The ability evolves later with the “Pix” tool, allowing custom texture design for both aesthetic and functional purposes.

The main campaign of Ruffy and the Riverside unfolds across a central hub, Riverside, and seven distinct regions. Each area is filled with puzzles, side quests, and collectibles such as butterflies, dreamstones, Etoi creatures, and coins. The moment I realized we have the freedom to explore the map, I happily spent 30 minutes just exploring the first region.

The puzzles vary greatly, from simple tasks like swapping water with lava to burn a tree, to arranging precise stone patterns based on wall images. You might find Etoi hidden behind a wall, requiring you to transform a stone block into wood to breach the area. There’s even an entire puzzle section imprinted as 2D on a 3D wall, accessible via a portal that itself needs a puzzle to be solved. This type of gameplay will follow you through all regions, and you’ll find yourself spending 30-45 minutes exploring each area, which is definitely a lot of fun.

However, not every puzzle is straightforward or easy. You’ll definitely need to think more, and it can become frustrating, as solutions are often found by observing your surroundings. This is partly because the game doesn’t always clearly indicate when you can use the SWAP ability with certain platforms, and these opportunities aren’t always obvious. The SWAP ability also isn’t entirely flexible; you can only use it in designated spots meant for progression, collectibles or on elements that won’t break the game.

Exploration in the game offers many interesting ideas

Despite some drawbacks, exploration in Ruffy and the Riverside offers plenty of fun. Imagine riding a giant ice ball across the sea or atop a bale to win a race. The game also features dynamic shifts, reminiscent of Nikoderiko, like transitioning from 3D to 2D to dodge traps in a temple by hiding from rolling balls and leaping over spikes. In the Realm of Dead, for example, there’s a top-down section where you run from a ghost. The game truly introduces some interesting ideas and worth mentioning is the Buried City areas that combine multiple mechanics.

Ruffy’s moveset includes jumps, gliding with Pip, punches, spin attacks, and sprints, controlled via joystick or keyboard. While gliding and sprinting help travelling, their limited stamina requires coin upgrades. Combat is rather average; enemies pose little threat, and types are repeated. Given that combat isn’t a major focus, the game would have been better as a pure platformer filled with collectibles and puzzles. Boss fights don’t happen often and offer minimal challenge and usually feature predictable attack patterns and segmented health bars. The SWAP mechanic is also underused in combat.

The graphics are truly impressive

Ruffy and the Riverside ties progression to main quests and side content, with collectibles naturally appearing as you advance. While its collectathon structure rewards completionists, some collectibles like Etoi feel less impactful without specific quests, and coins become redundant after early upgrades. If you love collecting and puzzles, this game offers a satisfying experience. Expect about 10 hours for the main story, but around 20 hours to complete the entire game.

The graphics are impressive; just standing on a high hill overlooking the plains and buildings reveals the game’s detail and optimization. There’s an insane amount of content spread across regions, including beaches, farms, and graveyards, while characters like Ruffy and Pip are 2D sprites with thick marker strokes, animated with crayon-like charm.

A solid platformer with its strengths and weaknesses

The game definitely has its charm, especially in its humor and plot. There are moments where it genuinely feels like playing an old cartoon. While I admittedly skipped a lot of the dialogue, I grew quite fond of Sirsil the snake. Reaching the highest point of Riverside and playing barrel games, like riding one over a waterfall or jumping from barrel to barrel, was a surprisingly interesting part of the experience. Honestly, the game truly surprises you with these moments.

Another drawback worth mentioning are the controls. If you’re planning to play with a keyboard, forget about it — it’s not intuitive and quite difficult to manage. A controller is your best option. I’m still surprised how challenging it is to navigate the various cluttered menus, an issue that hasn’t been fixed since the demo. In the end, you won’t be entirely let down by this game. Is it perfect for everyone? Sure, if you can overlook some shallow mechanics and tolerate irrelevant dialogue. But if you enjoy collecting items and want a chill gaming experience, this game is definitely for you.

Review copy provided by the publisher

3.8

The post Ruffy and the Riverside – Platformer that will impress you first appeared on IndieGames.

The game’s monochromatic world, filled with dense forests and secluded huts, creates a somber atmosphere where every shadow hides a threat. Armed with only a few matches, you’ll navigate through the darkness, using fire to light your way and solve complex puzzles. You’ll also uncover hidden truths as you piece together clues scattered throughout the environment.

One-Eyed Likho’s unique gray-scale art style heightens the sense of dread. Simultaneously, the light-burning mechanic adds tension, requiring you to carefully manage your limited light source to solve puzzles and fend off the encroaching darkness.

The post Horor avantura One-Eyed Likho “progonit će” Steam ovog srpnja first appeared on IndieGames.

You play as Deniz, man trapped in a state between life and death, while simultaneously acts as both judge and accused in a confrontation with his own soul. Pera Coda explores Deniz’s traumatic memories through branching dialogues and layered environmental puzzles. Each time loop in this surreal Istanbul forces you to confront regrets, relationships, and hidden truths, uncovering mysteries that reshape the world around you.

Iconic real-world locations reflect Deniz’s fragmented psyche, merging the city’s East and West, chaos and peace. The gameplay uses intuitive point-and-click mechanics to focus on exploration, dialogue, and choices, rather than combat or item collection.

The post Mysterious Adventure Pera Coda is Set in Istanbul, Releases on Steam in 2026 first appeared on IndieGames.

Dark Queen of Samobor draws from the dark fantasy of Croatian folklore, weaving a linear narrative around the mythical Black Queen, Barbara of Celje, inspired by Antun Šenoa’s poem “Zmijska kraljica” and the works of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić. Josip and his brother Mato aim to create an atmospheric experience reminiscent of games like Inside, blending 2.5D visuals with a haunting story.

The game’s development has been supported by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), which provided crucial funding through a competitive grant, allowing the brothers to focus on their vision. However, Vincetić emphasized that financing remains their biggest challenge, describing it as a “marathon” that lasts the entire development cycle.

Dark Queen of Samobor may join Xbox Game Pass, as Josip Vincetić shared that they have talked with people at Xbox about a program that support games in development. This could greatly increase the game’s visibility to millions of subscribers. However, Vincetić noted that such deals need careful financial review, as some involve upfront payments but sacrifice royalties post-launch. “It’s a big chance to reach players”, he said, “but we must weigh if it’s financially better than selling directly after release.”

Optimization remains a big challenge, as the team works to make Dark Queen of Samobor run smoothly on various PCs. Vincetić said balancing optimization with core development is time-consuming, with much work still to do. Early on, they tried smaller side projects to fund the game, but this slowed progress. Instead, they secured support from HAVC, HAMAG-BICRO grants, and Zagreb’s tourism board, though these funds are limited.

The game is preparing for closed alpha testing in late 2025 on Steam and an open beta in early 2026. A Steam Next Fest demo is planned, along with potential releases on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, depending on funding and publisher support.

The post Dark Queen of Samobor: Josip Vincetić on Xbox Game Pass and Development Challenges first appeared on IndieGames.

S.p.l.i.t. blends psychological tension with methodical puzzle-solving, immersing you in a claustrophobic digital world where every command feels like a step deeper into danger.

From a computer terminal, you’ll solve various command-line puzzles, navigating directories and running software. The game features retro tech aesthetics, using Internet Relay Chat (IRC) to connect with other hackers, gather intel, and uncover secrets. What to expect from it, be sure to watch the trailer below.

The post Mike Klubnika’s new psychological horror s.p.l.i.t. releases next month on Steam first appeared on IndieGames.

You play as a sorcerer from a forbidden line of horticultural mages, returning to your family’s abandoned castle in Chandley village. Here, gardening isn’t ordinary: you’ll grow everyday plants like runner beans and turnips alongside mystical ones like thunder-calling taran. Your goal is to restore the castle’s tangled grounds by placing garden beds, decorations, and cozy spots, nurturing both mundane and magical plants from seed to harvest.

The game’s open world is alive with uncanny spirits and old powers in which you’ll also meet a cast of various villagers, each with their own stories. Evening activities include reading ancient books by candlelight, cooking new recipes, or drinking tea with the god in your chimney. However, the world follows the Covenant of the Hearth: lights go out at night, and the Mara, otherworldly beings, rule the darkness.

The post Mandrake is a blend of Mirthwood and Perennial Order, but it's a true fantasy farming sim first appeared on IndieGames.

In Away Team, you play as a lone Duplicant (a colonist clone from Oxygen Not Included) who accidentally lands on a strange new world. You must build a base, scavenge resources, and survive a landscape where every tile is simulated in detail. Like Oxygen Not Included, Away Team thrives on dynamic interactions, creating physics-driven chaos. Liquids flow and evaporate, fires spread, and every action demands a careful understanding of thermodynamics.

The game’s side-scrolling view blends exploration with survival crafting as you explore procedurally generated environments. As mentioned, every tile reacts to your actions, creating a world where one mistake can lead to disaster.

The post Klei’s New Survival Adventure Away Team Blasts Off in the Oxygen Not Included Universe Soon first appeared on IndieGames.

In Heidi’s Legacy, you play as Adèle, a young woman leaving city life for the peaceful Swiss Alps, seeking a simpler purpose. Each day starts with morning light and your goats, ready for your care. You’ll guide them through meadows, and in return, their milk and wool become resources for crafting goods like cheese, wool clothing, herbal remedies, and wooden carvings.

These creations can be traded or shared with villagers, strengthening your bonds and helping rebuild their homes and lives. Every choice shapes your relationships and the village’s future, with branching dialogue. Additionally, you’ll forage for herbs and mushrooms and fish in calm waters. As you aid the village, new abilities unlock, making it easier to climb rugged cliffs or leap across gaps, opening up hidden areas.

The post Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling Lets You Live in the Swiss Alps and Tend to Goats first appeared on IndieGames.

Whether you play solo or with friends, Farever encourages cooperative play. You can assemble a party to tackle enemies, clear dungeons, and face dynamic world events like Rift Invasions, where hordes of foes test your teamwork. Content scales with group size and roles, ensuring balanced and engaging battles against bosses or invasions.

Farever’s combat is fast and highly customizable, launching with 10 character classes (four in Early Access) across tank, support, and DPS roles. With over 100 weapons, each tied to unique skills, you can create countless personalized builds.

The game also offers non-combat activities. You can take on jobs like blacksmithing or cooking, gathering rare resources across Siagarta to craft powerful gear, accessories, and unique weapons. Exploration is equally rewarding, with platforming challenges, environmental puzzles, and dangerous dungeons scattered across the world.

The post New Co-Op RPG Farever Announced by Wartales and Northgard Devs first appeared on IndieGames.

You’re summoned to a mysterious world with a huge task: slay colossal giants to get their magical cores. To do this, you can build enormous mobile fortresses with cannons and defensive towers, turning them into walking or even flying war machines. These fortresses need energy cubes to run, which you craft from resources found across the land. Gathering these materials isn’t easy, as enemies fiercely guard them, forcing you into strategic fights to power your creations.

The open world of Loya is filled with diverse biomes each hiding caves, dungeons, and villages. You can take your time discovering secrets, fishing, cooking, or tackling quests with randomized rewards. Puzzles are woven into the environment, adding variety and challenging you to think creatively to unlock treasures or progress. For those who love companions, you can capture and mount pets to join your journey.

Loya offers four distinct classes, unlocked at an in-game altar, providing varied playstyles like melee, ranged, or magic. A crafting system with a forge and procedural items lets you create weapons, tools, and structures, while a gem system and talent tree add further customization depth. Additionally, multiplayer supports up to 25 players per server in co-op or private modes.

The post Build Walking Fortresses to Fight Giants in a Vast Fantasy RPG Loya first appeared on IndieGames.