[Column] General: Six Indie RPGs to Watch in 2014

SBFord

2014 has barely begun and it already looks like it will be a banner year for the single-player, or small group, role playing game. This level of RPG game development has been largely missing for the past decade but thanks in large part to crowd-sourced funding, both "big house" and independently developed RPGs are back in vogue. In The List today, we take a look at six independent RPGs that are set to debut this year. 

Read more of Suzie Ford's The List: Six Indie RPGs to Watch in 2014.

Wizardry

Wasteland 2 is the ONLY game that "might" have some quality.

Problem is you can't label it as an INDIE developer,the guy has more experience than maybe the best execs at blizzard lol.

Hatefull

Originally posted by Wizardry

Wasteland 2 is the ONLY game that "might" have some quality.

Problem is you can't label it as an INDIE developer,the guy has more experience than maybe the best execs at blizzard lol.

Still an indie studio.  He has no backing from one of the established 'big' studios.  The list looks pretty good, I guess nothing there that really catches my eye as being anything special.

Tumora

Although not an indie game, Im still heavily awaiting The Legend of Zelda as an MMO

PumaClipper

The article contains some factual errors about Elite: Dangerous

First It's worth noting that Elite: Dangerous can be played as both an MMOG and Singleplayer game.      

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Elite Dangerous is the spiritual successor to 1984's Elite

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Elite from 1984 has had 2 true sequels already and Elite: Dangerous is the sequel to Frontier: First Encounters (Elite 3) from 1995. 

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the game offers players tons of different ways to interact with the game including player classes such as the trader, pirate, bounty hunter, leader, team player, opportunistic assassin, grand schemer, and more.

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Elite doesn't have traditional fixed player classes, the players use their own real skills.

 

lunatiquez

Wasteland 2 is definitely on my waiting list

I heard that the alpha isn't going very well, but there's still hope

oh, and how about project eternity, project phoenix, torment, divinity original sin, and satellite reign?

i haven't do my research lately, but those titles got me hyped back then

Nadia

the new Divinity game is inspired by Ultima 7

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-10-divinity-original-sin-preview

the early release is available on steam

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/403756/new-RPGs-on-steam-Banner-Saga-MMX-Divinity-Original-Sin-alpha.html

 

 

 

kabitoshin

Originally posted by Nadia

the new Divinity game is inspired by Ultima 7

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-10-divinity-original-sin-preview

the early release is available on steam

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/403756/new-RPGs-on-steam-Banner-Saga-MMX-Divinity-Original-Sin-alpha.html

 

 

 

Really enjoy this game can't wait to see this as a finished product. The combat is great if ranged enemies shoot spells / arrows while their team mates are in front of you they get hit. I really got into it cause I had to pay attention to the dialogue on what to do in the game, doesn't hold your hand. This game has alot of playability cause choices affect the outcome of your quests.

SirPKsAlot

was disappointed by Divinity II on Steam but maybe this one will be improved

Nadia

Originally posted by SirPKsAlot
was disappointed by Divinity II on Steam but maybe this one will be improved

Divnity 2 did not inspire me

but their latest game seems to have more in common w Divine Divinity (and Ultima 7)

SBFord

I love the Divinity series too. We left both Larian and Obsidian's games off the list as they are still considered "AAA developers" more than "indie". Does that make any sense? That said, I'm looking forward to projects from both studios.

Kuppa

Good list! I already played Banner Saga and it's easily one of my favorite games of the last 5 years, hands down my favorite so far this year.

Kuppa

Originally posted by Wizardry

Wasteland 2 is the ONLY game that "might" have some quality.

Problem is you can't label it as an INDIE developer,the guy has more experience than maybe the best execs at blizzard lol.

I beg to differ, some of these look to have some good quality to them. I can attest for the Banner Saga being a high quality game that has a super solid feel.

orbitxo

Grim dawn.

muffins89

the forest should be on this list.

Sajman01

Also playing Banner Saga, very good game and certainly very challenging.

Betaguy

Originally posted by Tumora
Although not an indie game, Im still heavily awaiting The Legend of Zelda as an MMO

 I mentioned this years ago on these forums and too wait patiently.

kevjards

bought grim dawn and played early access on steam.its amazingly polished and great fun.has for banner saga I am more reluctant because of the cost.its £19 for 10 hrs of gameplay.thats a bit steep for me considering I got grim dawn ,blackguards which are both reasonably big games or are goin to be so I get a lot more gameplay.i will play banner saga when all chapters are released and its on offer but not until.

UserUndeleted

Elite: Dangerous isn't an RPG it's a space sim (like Star Citizen and the X games). It doesn't have classes and it won't be released in March either, expect it sometime later in the year.

Nephaerius

I picked up Van Helsing based on the interview here and was quite satisfied with the purchase.  Nothing mind blowing but very fun and engaging.  Definitely looking forward to the sequel. 

Reklaw

Wish I could be excited, but for some reason I just can't really get into isometric views anymore unless it's RTS.

As a visual "gamewhore" I do love many of the isometrics graphics and animation.

Back playing RPG's in the day's of oldschool I already was imagining gaming coming into a first person perspective rather then top down or isometric. This is not meant for these games to become first person shooters but pure first person view.

I just get far more immersed within the gameworld when in FPV. And with all other type of views while there might be some form of immersion it will remind me more of playing a game then entering a new world.

But that's just me.

Do hope all games in OP list do succeed and are fun for those who want to play them.

stevebombsquad

Originally posted by Wizardry

Wasteland 2 is the ONLY game that "might" have some quality.

Problem is you can't label it as an INDIE developer,the guy has more experience than maybe the best execs at blizzard lol.

That is an ignorant statement. You obviously haven't tried Banner Saga. It is quite good and has great reviews too. 

stevebombsquad

Originally posted by Betaguy

Originally posted by Tumora
Although not an indie game, Im still heavily awaiting The Legend of Zelda as an MMO

 I mentioned this years ago on these forums and too wait patiently.

Can you imagine the group puzzles? It would be awesome. It will never happen, but I dream of this too.....

Razeekster

Originally posted by SBFord
I love the Divinity series too. We left both Larian and Obsidian's games off the list as they are still considered "AAA developers" more than "indie". Does that make any sense? That said, I'm looking forward to projects from both studios.

Actually, technically Larian is an indie development studio. They develop their games the way they want to, and then publish the games themselves without any other company's help. Publishing games without another company involved is almost nigh impossible in today's industry, and that's why Divinity: Original Sin was funded via Kickstarter, making it a definite indie game.

 

Also, how the heck is Torment: Tides of Numenera and Project Eternity not on this list?!

DamonVile

I was looking at banner saga the other day and decided against it. The reviews people have given it here have made me rethink that. I'll probably end up trying it now.

Ozmodan

The original Van Helsing game was horrible.  Can't believe they have the nerve to make a version II.

I think Wasteland 2 will be a hit, the first game of the series was pretty darn good.