News Highlights: Guerrilla Collective Showcase 2024 (June 7, 2024)

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If you're looking for the best indie titles during this annual gaming showcase week, it's usually a pretty good bet that you can find a lot of them through Guerrilla Collective. Beginning when E3 was cancelled ("temporarily") at the beginning of the pandemic, the showcase features announcements and trailers about dozens of titles from independent developers worldwide. Following the two-hour showcase is the Publisher's Spotlight, which puts the focus on a handful of publishers provide financial and operational support for indie developers so they can focus a bit more more on art and a bit less on business; this year it features Joystick Ventures, Assemble Entertainment, and Top Hat Studios. I've also included these featured games here. As always, I've roughly translated Northern seasons to annual quarters: "summer" is now Q3 and "fall" is now Q4.

Game highlights

Neon Blood (ChaoticBrain Studios)

Neon Blood is a fast-paced cyberpunk adventure set in 2053. Viridis is a city that encompasses both the dangerous Blind City and the fancy-pantsy Bright City. It is a place of great inequality, if it isn't obvious from those names alone. Former police detective Axel McCoin finds himself key in unlocking a city-wide plot of corruption. He will try to overthrow the established order, demolishing the corrupt society's foundations. Axel will also have to defeat Emerald Ruby, a mysterious and powerful rich girl who will do anything to maintain the status-quo… but maybe not for the reasons you'd think.

Neon Blood will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One in Q4 2024.

Clock Tower: Rewind (WayForward)

Originally announced during Limited Run Games Summer Games Showcase 2023, Clock Tower: Rewind brings iconic 2D survival-horror game Clock Tower to players outside of Japan for the first time. It follows a teenage orphan as she explores the disturbing Barrows family manor. While finding items and uncovering secrets, she will also have to evade a murderous, unstoppable, shears-wielding psychopath known as Scissorman. Clock Tower: Rewind includes an original mode to play the game as it was released in 1995 plus an enhanced mode with updates and extra content. There's lots of other new things: an animated intro, opening and ending vocal theme songs, motion-comic cutscenes, a creator interview, an art gallery, border artwork, save states, and a music player.

Clock Tower: Rewind will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One in Q4 2024. Physical pre-orders are open through June 30 at Limited Run Games.

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Urban Myth Dissolution Center (Hakaba-Bunko)

Honestly, the title is what got my attention here – but occult mystery adventure game Urban Myth Dissolution Center really does look like a neat 2D action platformer! You'll join forces with the center's director to solve cases about cursed items, shady rental properties, and dimensional anomalies. Okay, that escalated quickly. Collect evidence (including social network posts) to uncover the truth behind each case.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center will be released for PC via Steam in 2024.

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Cozy Dungeons (Them Handsome Fellas)

If you want a game with a wide scope of inspiration, Cozy Dungeons certainly is that! Inspired by games like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and House Flipper, the game puts you in the shoes of Ren, the leader of a monster-elimination guild. She decides to add renovations to her service roster. Owners/clients will request that Ren visits their dungeons and not come out until the renovation requirements are done, encompassing things like cleaning garbage and building a decoration.

Cozy Dungeons will be released for PC via Steam.

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The Secret of Crystal Mountain (Revolutron)

Platforming RPG The Secret of Crystal Mountain is just plain cute. It's about a delivery fox stranded on the island of Crystal Mountain after its crystal exports suddenly cease. Explore the island, getting to know the folks who live there and uncovering its secrets. The fox can run, swim, climb, glide, find magic items, and use its bird friend's abilities to reach the peak.

The Secret of Crystal Mountain will be released for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.

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Little Problems (Posh Cat)

It's a scary world out there, filled with lies and danger and corruption and pollution. But Little Problems isn't about all that; rather, it's about solving the mysteries around minor inconveniences and everyday misunderstandings. You're not saving the world, but you are making it a bit better one case at a time.

Little Problems will be released for PC via Steam "this winter," which I take to mean late 2024 or early 2025.

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Renaine (Octosoft)

Fighting games meet action platformers in Renaine. Aine, the Phoenix Knight, is on an eternal quest to save her cute and colorful world filled with, uh, "unique" characters. She'll explore the world as she tries to uncover a mysterious past, creating combos with movement and fighting while dancing through challenges.

Renaine will be released for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.

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Constance (BTF GMBH)

Our titular Constance is a starving artist who wields a paintbrush while trying to escape from a colourful, decaying inner-world created by her declining mental health. Yep: she's an artist trapped in a world of her own making, whether subconscious or not. The paint-based mechanics allow for a constant state of flow, and Constance can unlock new techniques to help defeat enemies, platform successfully, and solve puzzles. The world is non-linear, containing several unique biomes, multiple paths, and side quests.

Constance will be released for PC via Steam in late 2025. (Sorry, you read that right: it won't launch for a year and a half!)

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Mira and the Legend of the Djinns (Little Knight Games)

I don't think there are many Moroccan-inspired 2D pixel art Metroidvania games floating about, so Mira and the Legend of the Djinns really stands out. Use powerful ancient weapons to forge through deserts, necropoli, islands, and mountains while trying to uncover the secret of the last Djinn. The four different weapons each relate to one of the four Primal Elements represents the Djinns, and there are seven (several) tools to acquire. A skill tree unlocks new skills, abilities, and moves.

Mira and the Legend of the Djinns will be released for PC via Steam.

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Sonzai (2 Odd Diodes)

Sonzai is a hand-drawn mash-up of expansive life-sim RPG and character-action spectacle fighter combat. The game is set in the only town in the world here magic is real, with students training at a local academy. The town holds many secrets, and spirits roam at night. You're returning after many years away. Explore the town, improve yourself, learn about your neighbours, and gain benefits during the day and search for answers at night. Sonzai is based on the developer's Indian heritage and their love for Japanese RPGs, character action games, and underground culture.

Sonzai will be released for PC via Steam.

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Full list of featured games

• Wreckless (PC via Steam/Epic) – Q4 2024
• Yooka Re-Playlee (PC via Steam)
• Deathbound (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series) – coming soon
• Völgarr the Viking II (PC via Steam/GOG, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – August 6
• Knights in Tight Spaces (PC via Steam)
• Neon Blood (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – Q4 2024
• SteamWorld Heist II (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – August 8
• Kiborg (PC via Steam Epic) – prologue available August 2024
• Disco Samurai (PC via Steam) – demo available June 10
• Killing Time: Resurrected (PC via Steam/GOG/Humble, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One)
• Tomba! Special Edition (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch)
• Project Tides (PC via Steam)
• Airborne Empire
• Ascendant.com
• Primal Planet
• Project Haven
• Final Knight (PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch)
• Ninja Slayer (PC via Steam) – Q3 2024
• Light Odyssey (PC via Steam) – 2024
• Fallen Aces
• EvilVEvil (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series) – July 16
• Antonblast (PC via Steam Nintendo Switch) – November 12
• Wizard of Legend II (PC via Steam)
• Clock Tower: Rewind (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – Q4 2024, physical pre-orders open through June 30 at Limited Run Games
• Post Trauma (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series) – Q4 2024
• Into the Pepperoni (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – 2024
• Hollow Body (PC via Steam/GOG) – 2024
• Demonschool (PC via Steam/Epic, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox) – 2024
• Projektz Beyond Order (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series)
• The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – 2025
• Urban Myth Dissolution Center (PC via Steam) – 2024
• Cozy Dungeons (PC via Steam)
• Double Shake (PC vis Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch) – coming soon
• Creatures of Ava (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG) – 2024
• Egging On (PC via Steam)
• Motorslice – 2025
• The Secret of Crystal Mountain (PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch)
• Little Problems (PC via Steam) – "this winter"
• Day of the Shell (PC via Steam)
• Cataclismo (PC via Steam/GOG) – July 16
• Grit and Valor – 1949 (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series)
• Kriegsfront Tactics – Prologue (PC via Steam) – free demo, July 18
• Starminer
• Chocolate Factory (PC via Steam) – June 18
• Rebots – Q3 2024
• Monterona (PC via Steam)
• Beloved Rapture – 2024
• Dungeon Clawler (PC via Steam)
• Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series)
• Bittersweet Birthday (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series) – early 2025
• Escape from Ever After – Onboarding (PC via Steam) – free demo, July 19
• Aethermancer (PC via Steam)
• Echo Generation: Midnight Edition (PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch) – July 10
• The Axis Unseen (PC via Steam) – October 2024
• Slime Heroes (PC via Steam)
• Deadlink (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series) – July 20 2024
• Elsie (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)
• Grifford Academy (PC via Steam) – demo now available
• Bloodless (PC via Steam) – August 29
• Toxic Crusaders (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One)
• Devilated (PC via Steam) – October 2024
• Iron Meat (PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – late 2024
• Beyond the Ice Palace II (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – coming soon
• Renaine (PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch)
• Immortal Hunters (PC via Steam)
• Pinball Spire (PC via Steam)
• Chainstaff
• Storm Edge (PC via Steam) – Early Access, Q3 2024
• Munch (PC via Steam) – 2024
• Constance (PC via Steam) – late 2025
• Somber Echoes

Publisher Spotlight: Joystick Ventures

• Chicken Police: Into the Hive (PC via Steam) – 2024
• Big Boy Boxing (PC via Steam)
• Hell of an Office (PC via Steam) – Early Access available now
• Enter the Chronosphere (PC via Steam)
• Toy Tactics (PC via Steam) – Early Access available now
• StarVaders (PC via Steam) – 2025
• Trailblazers: Into the March (PC via Steam)

Publisher Spotlight: Assemble Entertainment

• Urban Jungle (PC via Steam)
• Asgard's Fall (PC via Steam)
• Mira and the Legend of the Djinns (PC via Steam)
• Massacre at the Mirage (PC via Steam/GOG)
• Endzone 2 (PC via Steam/GOG)

Publisher Spotlight: Top Hat Studios

• Crypt Custodian (PC via Steam PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – Q3 2024
• Sonzai (PC via Steam)
• Labyrinth of the Demon King – 2025
• Under the Island (PC via Steam)
• Ova Magica (PC via Steam) – Early Access, July 23
• Frogun Encore (PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One) – June 25

Watch the showcase

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