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Canada has a vibrant video game development scene. Here are a few of the best Canadian indie games you should add to your wish list.
Cuphead
Steam, Xbox One, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Ah, Cuphead. Taking inspiration from the noodle arm era of animation, this run-and-gun boss-fight extravaganza is entirely hand-animated and features an
Pro tip: Get the Smoke Bomb upgrade as soon as possible. And don’t give up!
A Short Hike
Steam, Xbox One, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, itch.io, GOG, Epic
This cute little open-world exploration game proves that sometimes shorter is better. In fact, you can beat the game in one sitting. A Short Hike has all the things you’d expect from an open-world exploration game, such as collectables, a minigame, side quests, interesting characters, and more, but the relaxed pace and low-stakes atmosphere make it a real delight.
Spiritfarer
Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Spiritfarer is a unique management sim where you play as Stella, the woman taking over for Charon, ferryman for the dead. Your job is to ferry souls to the afterlife in your new ferry, which you can build out and upgrade with things like kitchens and gardens. It’s also your job to get to know the spirits you’re transporting and make the journey as comfortable as possible for them. All in all, this unique game will make you feel so much.
Nightingale
Steam, Epic
Do we need another PVE open-world survival co-op crafting game? Yes, because Nightingale brings kind of a steampunk meets fae fantasy to the whole affair. Mix 19th-century gunplay with magic, build bases with a variety of tilesets, and explore all kinds of different worlds by travelling through portals. Technically, Nightingale is still in early access, but it goes live in the spring of 2024.
Nobody Saves the World
Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, GOG
You’re Nobody. Nobody starts out as nobody special, but Nobody soon unlocks a shapeshifting gift and learns to transform into things like a dragon, a rat, a slug, and more. Much more—by transforming into over 15 forms with various abilities and powers, in this action RPG Nobody can take on an ancient evil threatening the world. Nobody Saves the World is addictive and can be played in co-op.
Sea of Stars
Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Sea of Stars is a turn-based JRPG with platforms, puzzles, and a ton of personality. Clearly inspired by the likes of Chronotrigger but committed to modernizing the genre, Sea of Stars mixes up turn-based combat with things like timed hits, a way to interrupt incoming damage, and attack boosting. Plus, they’ve done away with some of the genre’s more annoying trappings, such as random encounters, transitions to separate battlefields, and grinding.
Boyfriend Dungeon
Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Okay, this gets a little weird. You’re clearing dungeons for some extra cash, but you’ve never been on a date in your life—and it turns out you can date your weapons. Finally, we have an action roguelike-meets-dating sim in Boyfriend Dungeon. Come for the dungeon fighting, stay for the inclusive romance featuring male, female, and nonbinary characters.
Celeste
Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
There are many hyper-difficult precision platformers out there now, but few are as well done and as beautiful as Celeste. Named for a mountain that protagonist Madeline is doing her best to climb, Celeste is a story-driven game full of creative and devious platforming. It’s difficult, but that’s the point.
