Games like Back Alley Games #015 - The SICK Issue

This is our CIGS issue! For the second year in a row, Indie City Games hosted the Chicago Indie Games Showcase, an event where game developers from the city and beyond showed off their stuff.  This year, over 500 people came to the Hairpin Arts Center in Logan Square to play independent games, and that’s really fucking cool. Thank you to everyone who made it possible, and if you stopped by to see… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #019 - DIGITAL EDITION.

This issue’s central theme is censorship. As the internet becomes increasingly corporate and users are funneled into a smaller number of sites, there is a greater push to find alternatives to web-based community platforms. It turns out we here at Back Alley Games are very passionate about that.Submissions Located in the midwest and want to submit content to be featured? Email us at backalley@in… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #018 - DIGITAL EDITION.

This issue is all about ICG’s AllStars arcade showcase, an event that struck Night City like a meteor earlier this month. Entries and winners are at the back, but we hope you’ll read through the rest of the tales of game development that make up this issue. Along with all things AllStars, this month we feature devlogs from Pan, Rats Rats Rats, and Hotdog Heaven: Chicago, some incredible art by Va… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #017 - DIGITAL EDITION.

This issue is our Little Gay Issue. Most of the following content is produced by the queers that make this magazine possible every month.  This month we feature writings from Ricardo Lisboa, Jesse Boruff and our very own Seb Galvez. We show off some of community member Nee's Mayterials and so much more!  Grab our the Little Gay Issue TODAY!! Happy pride to everyone in our community. These times … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #016 - DIGITAL EDITION.

This issue's theme is retro gaming! Our editorial team features dev logs from the creators of the upcoming games Phasebound: A Hero’s Journey and SolarFlare. Other articles include Jesse Boruff's thoughts about Nintendo , Nat Quayle Nelson's journey  revamping Blades of Exile, art by Philemene and more! Submissions Located in the midwest and want to submit content to be featured? Email us at b… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #014 - DIGITAL EDITION.

Our publication is 1!! Can you believe it? To celebrate, our unstoppable editor interviews each Indie City board member and we highlight community games that have stuck with us.  We revisit Detect-Dev, spotlight some incredible art by  Astrid “Astro” M and feature an  article from Jonah White. Thank you to everyone who’s shown up month after month as we continue to explore what a grassroots games… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #013 - DIGITAL EDITION.

This issue, catch up with Figburn in a dev log for Contract Rush DX, a review of a short hike by William Carlson and what some of our community players have been playing recently. Make sure you grab this edition to check out the art from Boreas “Mouse”  O’Brien and more community hot takes ;)Looking for a physical copy? You can grab one over on our Ko-fi store About Us  Indie City Games is a C… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #012 - DIGITAL EDITION.

Welcome to the first edition of our 2025 zine and the first edition with our new title BACK ALLEY GAMES!! In this edition we highlight hot takes from the community, art from snurlsss, and reviews on games community members have been playing. We also feature dev logs from the SoulSync City team and the creators of A Llittle Off the Top; participants in our most recent game jam Alpacalypse!. Finally… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Back Alley Games #011 - DIGITAL EDITION.

In our last zine of 2024 we chat with community member Dani Orizaba about her process behind her latest single Lunar Psychosis, her upcoming album, and the intersection between games and her art.  Community member Kyle "Binary Clone" Lueptow discusses the unique design of Hotline Miami and its distinct identity- we also have highlights from our Jampus game jam!  About Us  Indie City Games is … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Indie City Games - Issue #010 (Dec 2024) - DIGITAL Edition.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

79% User Score Based on 109 reviews

Build a home. Attract pets. Grow your world.Galactic Getaway is a wholesome life sim inspired by games like Viva Piñata. Settle into your own peaceful pocket of space and build a home that attracts adorable creatures. Every crop you grow, every decoration you craft, and every detail you put into your home determines who might arrive and who might choose to stay. Carve your very own slice of life… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Galactic Getaway: Build a Home for Pets.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story

82% User Score Based on 1,183 reviews

Enter a novel digital universe with infinite possibilities. Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you'll find your place here. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Resonite.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

82% User Score Based on 710 reviews

Hanging out with friends, bombing walls, and smashing bottles would be much more fun with out the jail time. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kingspray Graffiti.

BRAVE ALICE GAMES DISCORD SERVER Join us and be part of our awesome community! About the GameFantasy Adventure Builder (TM) is the digital version of the famous book “Tome of Adventure Design”. It contains hundreds of tables that help you come up with ideas for quests, adventurers, monsters, and anything related to High Fantasy TT RPGs. In addition, it features the Table Designer tool with whic… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fantasy Adventure Builder.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, optimization

93% User Score Based on 46 reviews

The Founder Test, Served HotStreet Grub is a tycoon, management, and strategy game built around one uncomfortable question: Do you actually have the instincts to run a business? You sell burgers. That part is simple. Everything else is the test. Every Decision Hits The Ledger Set your price and find out if customers think you are bold or delusional. Tune your recipe to balance cost, qual… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Business Heroes: Street Grub.

Welcome to HyperBody dungeons, an experimental open-world VR game space with six intense gameplay levels: Pinkray, Seventeen/Sixty-One, Vampire Squid, Stratholme.GoStop, Typhoon Lionrock, and Garden Portal. Immerse yourself in an aesthetised trance world that showcases the anime, comics, games, and novels of European and Asian fandoms. The VR experience is "passive", requiring only bas… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to HyperBody.

100%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:music

100% User Score Based on 64 reviews

Find 100 cats. A carefully hand drawn scene filled with cute characters. The process is short and won't take up too much player time. You can choose your favorite dyeing for the convenience of color blind players. Extremely easy to achieve. Automatically save and read files. There is a local timer ranking. No punishment, easy and enjoyable. You can play games with family and friends on the same co… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Where Cats 猫咪在哪里.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

74% User Score Based on 54 reviews

Super Slime Arena is a multiplayer, 2D fighting game with one-hit knockouts. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Slime Arena.

48%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

48% User Score Based on 1,990 reviews

Welcome to the metaverse! A shared social universe where both casual users and creators coexist. Play and explore with your friends, collaborate with your coworkers or grab powerful building tools and create something new right inside VR. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Neos VR.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

61% User Score Based on 1,045 reviews

Tabletopia is the only free-to-play sandbox virtual table with 100% licensed board games and ready setups. Already 300 games and counting! Play how you want with whom you want: guests don't need accounts to play. Or make your own games, no programming skills required. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tabletopia.

61%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:atmosphere, music

61% User Score Based on 75 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 3 reviews

Telefrag VR is a hellishly fast-paced shooter with visceral movement and combat mechanics. Dash, shoot, and teleport around unique arenas that feature impossible geometry where there is no right side up and death can come from any direction. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Telefrag VR.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, grinding

89% User Score Based on 765 reviews

Grab some ale, choose your deck, and get ready for Cards & Tankards - the laid-back strategy card game that is truly immersive and easy to learn. Join a tavern for a shared virtual experience where you can battle other online players, or just hang out while you build your deck, sip your tankard, and socialize in our cozy fantasy tavern! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cards & Tankards.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding

94% User Score Based on 420 reviews

Allumette tells a story about love, sacrifice and a deep bond between a young girl and her mother. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Allumette.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding

92% User Score Based on 957 reviews

To say it’s a PC sandbox-building, AI-driven MMO where people play with Art, developed by folks who really love architecture and abstract characters… would be a bit of a mouthful. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Occupy White Walls.

Dash FPS is a fun-filled Multiplayer First-Person Shooter with all kinds of new mechanics. Players have the option to utilize Jetpacks, Super speed, and much more. Play against our High Quality AI or battle against others on an online server. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dashverse.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

96% User Score Based on 547 reviews

The role-playing experience, where you can do anything, of your dreams... as if it came out 30 years ago! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Devil Spire Falls.

77%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music

77% User Score Based on 92 reviews

JOIN OUR DISCORD ROADMAP Macromanagement Macromanagement builds out the scope of retail management to all-new levels! Store Automation is now in King of Retail 2, and with it, a host of Human Resource Management tools that keeps your employees on track. As you grow your business, you can step back and look at the big picture. Run multiple stores, and build your enterprise! Promote From W… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to King of Retail 2.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

70% User Score Based on 403 reviews

Wild Indigo Ranch is a cozy cowboy-life RPG for 1-4 players. Start a new life on the prairie, explore the frontier, build the finest ranch in the West, and ride into the sunset. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wild Indigo Ranch.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay

93% User Score Based on 27 reviews

She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game is a point and click game with looping levels, which features comics, documentaries and gaming to explore OCD and anxiety. You become trapped in a flat and are forced to figure out how to escape. In this lo-fi game your guide is narrator TIGER ORCHID - a Twitch/ YouTube style narrator who is with you all the way. Played by Shaniqua Okwok (Small Axe, It's a S… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

81% User Score Based on 349 reviews

Windward Horizon is an RPG-adventure set on the high seas, a sequel to the game Windward released on Steam in 2015. Trade, quest, fight, or just sail the world and fish -- it's your choice, and you can do it alone or together with your friends. You will start as a young, unaffiliated pirate with the whole world open for you to explore. Before long, you will run into various other faction leaders,… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Windward Horizon.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

80% User Score Based on 1,142 reviews

Sketchy's Contract is a co-op horror looting game set in outer space on a mysterious asteroid belt where you, a traveler, have caught wind of an exciting advertisement promising a grand adventure with great rewards. Your duties will be simple but fun! Whether alone or with friends, you'll be able to travel to and explore exotic planets, harvest planetary materials, fight alien lifeforms, and searc… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sketchy's Contract.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, monetization

92% User Score Based on 119 reviews

In Slipstream: Rogue Space, Streamers captain a massive starship and viewers are the crew. Together they explore the galaxy, fight aliens, and operate the ship in real-time. Battle through challenging rogue-like maps as a team and work together to see how long you can survive.Captains and CrewPlay as two unique roles: The captain, who makes key decisions, gives orders, and leads the ship. This c… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Slipstream: Rogue Space.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, graphics

74% User Score Based on 639 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 2 reviews

Traverse the universe and fight strategic, real-time battles alongside your friends in This Means Warp - an intense cooperative roguelike game. Upgrade your ship, take down individual enemy subsystems, and adapt your strategies in a constantly changing fight for survival. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to This Means Warp.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

87% User Score Based on 167 reviews

Open beta available on STEAM [Media 6933182] [Media 7131643] You can join us on our Discord server to chat about Pocket Bravery and give us some feedback. :gj/smile: [Media 4172339] [Media... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pocket Bravery.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

97% User Score Based on 1,567 reviews

DISCLAIMER: The file is a very very early Tech Demo which was released in early 2019. You can support the latest and full version of the game by clicking here: After you stole a time machine from a secret facility you go on a trip through time. Visit all possible time periods with specific jobs and quests for each of them. But watch out for the Time Agents.  And avoid yourself when traveling in t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to No Time.

98%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

98% User Score Based on 86 reviews

Beat up planets in Asterogues, a cosmic bullet hell shoot-em-up hybrid! Pick your character from a band of outcasts banished to the Asteroid Belt, dodge and shoot your way through a brutal onslaught of bullets, and take revenge against the Solar System! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Asterogues.

The Severn Rising 2222 is an ambitious imagining through gaming, of what the City of Worcester, might look like 200 years in the future, where Worcester has been flooded, humans have left, and the city is consumed by nature. Who were the humans? Why did they have to leave? Where are they now? In the style of a classic point and click adventure you guide a swan and a duck as they explore the ab… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Severn Rising 2222.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, monetization

85% User Score Based on 39 reviews

Create, play, and remix immersive 3D experiences with mtion—where you can bring immersive stories to life without coding. Build interactive worlds, publish with ease, and connect with a vibrant community across platforms like Twitch and YouTube. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to mtion studio.

98%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding

98% User Score Based on 87 reviews

FEATURES Vibrant hand-painted watercolour graphics. Indian Cooking and tea shop management. A relaxing play style with an open-world exploration and questing. Over 25 regionally & culturally diverse cast of characters to interact. A feel-good story of achievement despite social marginalization. 15th century Indian royal palace exploration. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Palace on the Hill.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

96% User Score Based on 978 reviews

Vermillion is a VR painting simulator, bringing the full analogue joy of oil painting into the digital world. Get the unrivaled sense of accomplishment from creating something beautiful on the canvas, without the messy living room. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vermillion.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:atmosphere, replayability

83% User Score Based on 163 reviews

Gather weapons and warriors from the community's imagination in the first strategy card game designed by its players. Create any card you can imagine, and The Collective decides what will show up on the battlefield. Test your skills (not your wallet) in the game that is never beaten, never solved. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Collective Card Game.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

82% User Score Based on 152 reviews

Amber Throne is a traditional JRPG-styled game that focuses on turn-based battling and some light exploration. The game features a large cast of unique monsters that change stances depending on actions taken during combat, and a party with mostly mixed hybrid roles to deal with them. Learning monster behavior and how your skills affect them is essential to reaching victory. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Amber Throne.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

83% User Score Based on 472 reviews

Drop In is a VR social space with a Lobby, Mini games, Solo missions and Multiplayer Gamemodes. Battle Royale Dedicated Servers are planned for the future as the game developes from Early Access to full release. Drop In Consist of the following detailed gameplay mechanics. - Guns, Guns, and More Guns - Zip Lines! - Zombies! - VR interactive mechanics, physics objects and throwing - Dr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Drop In - VR F2P.

88%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, atmosphere

93% User Score Based on 45 reviews

Bik is a retro-style point and click adventure game. In Bik, we follow a young boy who is abducted by aliens while on a camping trip with his friends. After joining forces with two friendly alien mercenaries, Ammut and Tatenen, Bik escapes from his abductors and tries to find his way home. Along the way, Bik and his newfound friends outsmart hijackers, (eat some brownies), accept a perilous missi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bik - A Space Adventure.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:humor, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

76% User Score Based on 3,517 reviews

Teamwork and betrayal in space! In this VR party game, Crewmates work together to complete tasks before one or more Impostors kill everyone aboard. Experience all of the same deception and deceit as the original game, but now in your own virtual Skeld. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Among Us 3D: VR.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

81% User Score Based on 144 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 5 reviews

Aftercharge pits invisible robots against a squad of specialized security enforcers in competitive 3v3 quick-paced skirmishes. The robots must sabotage the energy extractors scattered on the map while the enforcers are tasked to spot them and stop them. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Aftercharge.

54%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

54% User Score Based on 206 reviews

In The Warhorn you will get to play as an adventurer, who decides to leave his homeland to start a life he dreamed of. The world is full of puzzles, stories, enemies and traps. You will learn how to fight, build, steal, hunt and use magic runes. You can build a village and develop it into a great kingdom. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Warhorn.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, replayability

Most mentioned negative aspects:story

100% User Score Based on 25 reviews

Elevate your leisure time with "Let's Puzzle," a digital jigsaw puzzle game that transforms this classic hobby into an immersive digital experience. Engage with a diverse array of stunning, high-resolution images that capture the essence of locales and moments from across the globe. "Let's Puzzle" caters to enthusiasts of all skill levels, offering a spectrum of difficulty settings from a manageab… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Let's Puzzle.

Help young Aris to solve the mystery of the fall of Asfand and It’s guild of alchemists, avenge the death of her brother, discover the limits of her powers all of that and more inside a 3D voxel action adventure game where you control weapons made of metal. Aris has been training for all her life due to her special powers and skills along with her brother to go inside the Alchemists Dungeon and re… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mystic Fate.

91%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music

91% User Score Based on 64 reviews

RPG Stories is an online 3D World Builder and a Virtual Tabletop that provides you with all necessary, easy-to-use Tools, 3D assets, animated heroes, and monsters for Fantasy, Modern, and Sci-fi TTRPGs, to create your quests and 3D environments.By summer 2023, you will be able to connect with your friends and play your TTRPG sessions online! Everything you need in all-in-one software!We know you a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RPG Stories.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

78% User Score Based on 948 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 2 reviews

Emulate your favorite arcade games in an environment engrossed with retro realism and extremely detailed surroundings. Be filled with nostalgia and realise what arcade life felt like back in the 80’s/early 90’s. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to New Retro Arcade: Neon.