Is it me, or are all indie games nowdays the same?

[Igris]

I was always fond of indie games over the last few years, they always seemed to have their own creativity and soul, but lately they all just feel the same to me. They all are going for either the VHS effect feeling or PS1 graphics and it is kinda getting to the point where they feel less creative and just feel like a copy of one to another.

[Rin]

Have you considered not buying/playing indie games? Being stuck with a low budget means you're mostly locked to copying others with a similar (or way way lower) budget that got successful due to FOMO.

[The nameless Gamer]

It's just you. Even, for example, pixel art games, have a rather distinct look. Take one closer look at "Anno: Mutationem", "Momodora - Reverie under the moonlight" and "30XX". But you are not entirely wrong when it comes to the variety of genres . I feel like the indie scene is getting heavily saturated with 2D and isometric rogue-lites, metroidvania, "clones" of "Vampire Survivors" and deckbuilding games. There are a few indie RTS games in the pipeline and a few hidden gems in not heavily featured genres but... a few too many of the aforementioned.

Don't expect groundbreaking graphics from indie games, they are quite expensive. There ARE some, like

or

as well as


But don't expect games trying to mimic realistic graphics.

[Tiberius]

I have to disagree. If anything, imo indie looks the best this gen

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[Maria]

Couldn't be sure you already played it because you private your game list, but inmost blew my mind.

The gameplay is one thing, but the story and how it develops was novel to me. Very recommended.

[kallenaksi]

I feel you. PS1-esque graphics peeve me to no end, but I think the problem itself is broader than that. In my honest opinion, diversity in game design / genre innovations has taken a nosedive in recent years.Whilst there exist outliers, and I may have forgotten some other popular genres, a majority of indie games nowadays can be slotted into a handful of categories such as PS1-VHS-horror, metroidvania, rougelike, walking simulator, Earthbound-inspired RPG about depression, cozy/farming or the mix of - god forbid - all of the above.

Would definitely love to hear what everyone else has to say about this.

[Rin]

Everything is just an RPG in the end. People tie the RPG genre to stats and/or the character you're playing but then GTA is just an RPG as is every game or sport on the planet. We can go even further back with LARPing like theology or some other type of ideology. Even clan mentality is just RP in the end.

[Tito Shivan]

Trends will be trends, both in AAA and indie games. However you're bound to find way more variety in the latter ones.

If all the indies you're looking at look the same, try broaden your views.

[76561199675789752]

It's you. Or maybe it has to do with what you are using to discover new games?

[miakisfan]

Originally posted by Casey:

I was always fond of indie games over the last few years, they always seemed to have their own creativity and soul, but lately they all just feel the same to me. They all are going for either the VHS effect feeling or PS1 graphics and it is kinda getting to the point where they feel less creative and just feel like a copy of one to another.

Eventually fresh ideas run out.

Unless you are around my age (I'll be 59 in a few months) and have been playing games all your life like I have you'd know that new ideas for gaming have long since run out.

There isn't a game in existence now that doesn't owe at least a part of itself to an older game or how that game plays.

Anime would never have started if it weren't for cartoons like Betty Boop back in the day.

You can either grasp that idea and come to an understanding of it OR you can wallow in that knowledge and not give other games a chance.

I hope you choose the right path. I know I have.

I don't waste my time regionalizing games or complaining this one is like that one. I learned to be grateful I even get to play games.

Think about it this way. You are complaining about something that may never have existed. Shouldn't you learn a lesson from that instead?

[Crazy Tiger]

I see a wide variety of indie games in a wide variety of genres.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

I see a wide variety of indie games in a wide variety of genres.

Blame superficial knowledge for the usual "all ..... games are the same". I have a friend who thinks all fighting games are the same and all he ever did in them was mash random buttons. Meanwhile, an avid fighting game player knows that, for example, Street Fighter III and IV are worlds apart and completely different games. And that's within one and the same franchise. Even if games LOOK the same, the feel can be completely different.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

I see a wide variety of indie games in a wide variety of genres.

Blame superficial knowledge. I have a friend who thinks all fighting games are the same and all he ever did in them was mash random buttons. Meanwhile, an avid fighting game player knows that, for example, Street Fighter III and IV are worlds apart and completely different games. And that's within one and the same franchise. Even if games LOOK the same, the feel can be completely different.

True. But even in RPG Maker games there can be quite the different feel. All depends on how everything is set up and how the story is and such. Games like Space Pilgrim (all 8 of them), The Deed, LiEat and Mad Father are excellent, for example.

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Originally posted by The nameless Gamer:

Blame superficial knowledge. I have a friend who thinks all fighting games are the same and all he ever did in them was mash random buttons. Meanwhile, an avid fighting game player knows that, for example, Street Fighter III and IV are worlds apart and completely different games. And that's within one and the same franchise. Even if games LOOK the same, the feel can be completely different.

True. But even in RPG Maker games there can be quite the different feel. All depends on how everything is set up and how the story is and such. Games like Space Pilgrim (all 8 of them), The Deed, LiEat and Mad Father are excellent, for example.

Yes. Only first-hand experience is a valid metric if two games are similar or not.

[Volfogg]

Haven't noticed it. I only know majority feels overpriced, so I'm waiting for 60% or higher sales, but by the time I find something interesting, there is already bloat of newer titles. I just can't compare at this pace.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Casey:

I was always fond of indie games over the last few years, they always seemed to have their own creativity and soul, but lately they all just feel the same to me. They all are going for either the VHS effect feeling or PS1 graphics and it is kinda getting to the point where they feel less creative and just feel like a copy of one to another.

Its you and this happens as a regular part of any creative media. Fads come up and many people take their turn at the fad.