PC gaming is never going to stop, and independent game makers are going to make sure of it. Indie games are the heartbeat of gaming, promoting the free flow of ingenuity and hardcore cleverness and ensuring the industry stays on its toes.

I’ve come to recommend to you two independently developed PC titles that are totally different and pretty awesome. Neither of them are going to blow your mind, but they are both strong examples of what independent game making can be. They are also good for those gaming on a budget, as you can always bet an indie title will have a nice, low pricetag.

Chains
First up on the list is this gem of a puzzler. A solo project of indie game maker Ivan Trayko, Chains builds upon the common match-three puzzle game play we are familiar with from titles like Snood, Bejeweled and Hexic. It builds upon them by adding intense originality and focuses on what a puzzle game should focus on – fun. It doesn’t try to be graphically fantastic or make a statement with its image. It is true to itself and to the purpose of playing games, which is entertainment and challenge.

The graphics are super plain. Vector lines over weird backgrounds, they’re all that you need. The goal is to match up three or more orbs of the same color (yeah, like making a chain) and they vanish. But it’s a lot more complicated than that…

Chains has 20 levels total. Every single one of them has a different objective. One, for instance, has your orbs falling onto both sides of a scale-like structure. You have to make chains and survive for 5 minutes without losing more than 100 (or something) orbs. One has you keeping the flow of a river going by making as many chains as possible to keep the path clear. Others have you trying to make a chain of a certain number of orbs, forcing you to use strategy and eliminate the other colors in a way that will allow you to create the longest chain. There is a lot of mind-work involved with each puzzle.

It’s the varying tasks that keep the game fresh and interesting all the way to the end. It’s not like a lot of puzzle games, where you clear the board and all that happens is a new one appears on a different background. This game is truly original, and once again, focuses on what’s important – fun. The only bad part is 20 levels simply isn’t enough. You’ll get through them eventually, then it’s repeat time.

Still, the game is only $9.95, and worth playing. There is a demo available. Check out said demo or buy the game here.

Incognito: Episode One
This is a very big game from a very small team. Created by Magrathean, a small Canadian company of just three people, this title strives to combine elements of RTS, FPS, RPG, tank simulation and space simulation all in one. While it doesn’t succeed on every level and admittedly has a lot of areas that could be improved, it’s a shining example of how strong indie game development can be.

This game is about an old man who hates his life as an investment banker, kills himself, gets transported to space by an A.I. named HEIDI upon dying, and she forces him to help her repair her spaceship. Sounds pretty insane, but what game’s plot doesn’t when you put them down on paper?

You navigate space, visiting different planetoids and space stations (space travel) to find the elemental resources you need to fix the ship. Landing on a planetoid allows you to harvest the elements you need for each upgrade, and occasionally get into a skirmish if the planet isn’t in a very happy state (RTS). You’ll often have to land your ship and fight on the ground of a planet (tank battle) for entrance into facility for some purpose related to your mission (FPS). All along the way, you have several lines of speech to choose from that you can say to everyone you interact with (RPG) that will change the course of how they relate with you. Just don’t call HEIDI a bitch when you first meet her, or it’s game over before the game starts.

Each genre the game tries to represent is done fairly well, and each one also has its flaws. The title often feels like a work-in-progress, but again, it’s a huge first effort put together by a three-man team. That’s right – this is their first game. Given that this is Episode One, there’s bound to be at least one sequel, so the team has time to gather feedback to the bugs and issues in this game and improve them for the second.

Some of the issues are as follows: The game requires too much processing power from the computer for how dated the graphics are. You’ll likely experience frame rate drops and lag here and there, for no perceivable reason. Also, the AI always knows where you are, the controls for flying the ship in space are kind of weird, and the RTS elements often lack the ‘S,’ and can be quite boring. I’ll admit, I’ve known the Magrathean guys for a couple years, and they work hard at everything they do. I suspect Episode Two will improve upon all the issues of the first release.

Despite any criticisms, this is another game that is only $10, and is cool for all the opposite reasons that Chains succeeds. It aims to be epic, is a beautiful example of the imagination and freedom afforded by independent gamemaking and is worth its measly price. There is also a demo available that allows you to play half the game for free.

Check out the demo or buy the game here.

Here’s a trailer of Incognito: Episode One.

Tags: chains, incognito: episode one, independent