2022, A Look Back

The Roguelike Wave Continues

2022 was certainly not the starting point of the Roguelike indie craze that has been dominating the gaming scene for many years now. However, the colossal and seemingly endless wave of roguelike titles certainly did not lose its momentum this year, as in 2022 we witnessed the release of countless worthwhile games from an array of talented and hardworking indie studios. From the many different roguelike titles that I had the chance to play and review this year, the common pattern that stood out to me was the “uniqueness” factor. Exactly because “roguelike” is one of the most popular broad genres of our gaming era, developers try their best to invent and innovate in many different ways in order to make their games stand out in their corresponding sub-genres.



And this year I got to witness many of these awesome ideas first-hand. From 360 shooting in the 3D + 2D pixel-art hybrid game Orbital Bullet to defending and expanding the last remnants of humanity in the RTS Age of Darkness featuring procedural generation and roguelike progression to reversing the roles and commanding undead hordes against humanity’s armies in The Unliving.

One of the biggest roguelike highlights of the year was without a doubt the platformer shooter Madshot (Early Access), featuring intense acrobatic gameplay, an awesome Lovecraftian setting, crazy weapon ideas, well-designed progression, and an awesome art style. Since my preview article back in July, Madshot has received multiple updates introducing new areas, new enemy types, new bosses, new weapons, new abilities, and much more! Not only that, but the game currently has an ongoing Christmas event so if you are ready for some jolly Cthulhu-bashing, now is the time to jump in.

Sokoban Reinvented

Roguelikes are not the only genre getting reinvigorated. In 2022, designer and developer Daisy Games released two Sokoban games that provided a fresh perspective on the genre and that I had the chance to try out. Sokobos used the traditional Sokoban formula as a foundation and introduced smart new mechanics and twists in its puzzle design; while SokoChess on the other side aimed to unite the Sokoban genre with the chess ruleset, producing interesting results. And while I was certainly more of a fan of Sokobos than the more experimental SokoChess, it has to be said that both games contain very clever ideas and carefully crafted levels, and are a great time for anyone looking for hours of challenging brainteasing fun. Speaking of Sokobos, just a month ago the game received a criminally cheap DLC expansion titled “Aphrodite's Trial” featuring new mechanics, another dramatic story inspired by Greek mythology, and 30 brand new levels.

The New Retro

Retro is back in style but not without first getting a substantial makeover. Merging the old and the new is currently without a doubt one of the most influential and far-reaching trends of the Indie scene and appears to have the potential to influence any genre. Ranging from aesthetics to mechanics to overall styles to the smallest of details; these retro/modern combinations have the capacity of forging games that evoke a strange impression of familiarity while feeling fresh at the same time. B.I.O.T.A. is a Gameboy-inspired blast from the past. Featuring classic action platformer combat, countless retro color palettes, and even arcade-inspired vehicle sections; this is a game perfect for anyone looking to blast and blow-up aliens in a Metroidvania- flavoured adventure. While Retro at heart, B.I.O.T.A. features numerous modern additions and conveniences, once again highlighting the indie gaming trend of uniting the old and the new. But not just B.I.O.T.A. Other great titles of this year include: Forrader Hero, a modern tactical roguelike that will travel you back in time with its overall arcade-inspired aesthetic vision. (Forrader Hero has also received multiple updates since my preview article back in October, introducing new heroes and new modes). Tadpole Tales, an old-school shoot-em- up (or “clean-em-up” according to the developers!) that combines one of the most retro genres with an awesome fresh artstyle, modern polish, and very fluid gameplay and animations. And Carbon Steel, one of the many horror indies of the year that aims to replicate the PS1 era aesthetic while introducing brand-new and innovative ideas to generate tension and terror.



I could write a very long list of all the reasons I admire and enjoy playing indie games but if I could condense it into one sentence it would be the love, passion, and dedication that the authors and teams behind these awesome titles have for their craft. This “indie factor” applies to all the games that I had the chance to cover this year but here are some additional highlights of titles that managed to be very memorable and touching.

The Metroidvania platformer Itorah was the first game I had the opportunity to cover at Same Old Gaming. And while it was a game that I believe unfortunately failed to reach its true potential, it nonetheless left a very strong impression through its breath-taking environmental design, its unique setting, its incredible art style, and its mystical sound design (which it received an award for just a few weeks ago!) The short experience Coil also left its mark through its distinct world and melancholic atmosphere, a true passion project with some very interesting themes. Finally, Violet and the Lost Colors was, for me, this year’s most wholesome experience, made by a very talented solo developer, and is the perfect game if you want a smile after a long and tiring day.



Thank you all very much for your support and I truly hope that we helped you discover even just a few of the many indie gems of 2022. Happy holidays everyone, see you next year!