Indie Gaming Roundup: Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Routine, and More
Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a retro-style side-scrolling beat-em-up inspired by the Marvel animated shows of the '90s, has finally landed on consoles and PC after 13 long years. The game from Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu offers an enjoyable experience thanks to its variety of characters and their unique secondary moves. Each character's move is different, adding a layer of strategy to combat.
Captain America is one of my favorite characters in the game, with his shield projectile attack being both effective and fun to spam. The co-op features also work well, especially when playing as She-Hulk, whose secondary move involves grabbing an enemy and throwing them around. The character swap system adds a tag-fighting game-like element to combat.
While not overly complex, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an enjoyable enough experience thanks to its solid presentation and variety of playable characters. It's available now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $30, as well as on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Another new release worth mentioning is Routine, a survival horror game from Lunar Software and publisher Raw Fury. The game was developed in collaboration with the aesthetic of what people from the '80s might envision a believable moon base using analogue technology. Players must explore a mysterious moon base to determine how it ended up in its current state.
Routine features an immersive experience, but without any waymarkers or HUD to guide the player. Instead, they rely on a personal data assistant connected to wireless access points throughout the base for guidance. It's available now on Steam, Xbox PC app, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Cloud for $30, as well as on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Sleep Awake is another survival horror game that has been long-awaited by many fans. Developed by Eyes Out, a studio formed by Spec Ops: The Line director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, the game follows the story of Katja and other residents of the last-known city on Earth as they try to stay awake due to a force called The HUSH that makes anyone who falls asleep vanish.
The gameplay is centered around psychological horror elements, with players navigating through surreal environments while avoiding sleep-inducing situations. It's available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $30.
Finally, there's Tingus Goose, an idle game from SweatyChair that combines elements of body horror and surrealism. Players take on the role of a caretaker tasked with healing patients in a mysterious world filled with strange creatures. With its unique art style and dark humor, it's definitely worth checking out.
Effulgence RPG is another new release to add to your watchlist. Developed by solo developer Andrei Fomin, the game features a 3D ASCII art style that immediately caught my attention. The gameplay revolves around taking down enemies to acquire better gear in a party-based setting. It's currently available on Steam as an early access title, with plans for release in June and additional updates.
Log Away is a relaxing cabin builder from The-Mark Entertainment that combines elements of city-building games with the charm of cozy exploration. With its soothing atmosphere and various decorations to choose from, it's perfect for unwinding while taking out any competition on Overcooked-style games.
In addition to these new releases, there are several upcoming titles worth mentioning. Don’t Stop, Girlypop! is an arena shooter that combines elements of hyperpop and anti-capitalism with a Y2K aesthetic. With its movement-focused gameplay and unique art style, it's set to arrive on Steam next year for January 29.
Another title worth keeping an eye on is Limbot, a physics-based game from Ionized Studios where players control the limbs of a cardboard robot to complete precision-based objectives in co-op with friends. It's scheduled to release between April and June next year.
Finally, Zlin City: Arch Moderna is a diorama city builder inspired by historical events of the 1930s and '40s from Polyperfect. The game uses 3D printing, photogrammetry, and 3D scanning to create its beautifully textured environments. However, no release window has been confirmed yet.
These are just a few of the many exciting indie games worth checking out right now. From Marvel Cosmic Invasion's enjoyable beat-em-up action to Routine’s atmospheric survival horror experience, there's something for everyone in this lineup.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a retro-style side-scrolling beat-em-up inspired by the Marvel animated shows of the '90s, has finally landed on consoles and PC after 13 long years. The game from Tribute Games and publisher Dotemu offers an enjoyable experience thanks to its variety of characters and their unique secondary moves. Each character's move is different, adding a layer of strategy to combat.
Captain America is one of my favorite characters in the game, with his shield projectile attack being both effective and fun to spam. The co-op features also work well, especially when playing as She-Hulk, whose secondary move involves grabbing an enemy and throwing them around. The character swap system adds a tag-fighting game-like element to combat.
While not overly complex, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an enjoyable enough experience thanks to its solid presentation and variety of playable characters. It's available now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $30, as well as on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Another new release worth mentioning is Routine, a survival horror game from Lunar Software and publisher Raw Fury. The game was developed in collaboration with the aesthetic of what people from the '80s might envision a believable moon base using analogue technology. Players must explore a mysterious moon base to determine how it ended up in its current state.
Routine features an immersive experience, but without any waymarkers or HUD to guide the player. Instead, they rely on a personal data assistant connected to wireless access points throughout the base for guidance. It's available now on Steam, Xbox PC app, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox Cloud for $30, as well as on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Sleep Awake is another survival horror game that has been long-awaited by many fans. Developed by Eyes Out, a studio formed by Spec Ops: The Line director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, the game follows the story of Katja and other residents of the last-known city on Earth as they try to stay awake due to a force called The HUSH that makes anyone who falls asleep vanish.
The gameplay is centered around psychological horror elements, with players navigating through surreal environments while avoiding sleep-inducing situations. It's available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S for $30.
Finally, there's Tingus Goose, an idle game from SweatyChair that combines elements of body horror and surrealism. Players take on the role of a caretaker tasked with healing patients in a mysterious world filled with strange creatures. With its unique art style and dark humor, it's definitely worth checking out.
Effulgence RPG is another new release to add to your watchlist. Developed by solo developer Andrei Fomin, the game features a 3D ASCII art style that immediately caught my attention. The gameplay revolves around taking down enemies to acquire better gear in a party-based setting. It's currently available on Steam as an early access title, with plans for release in June and additional updates.
Log Away is a relaxing cabin builder from The-Mark Entertainment that combines elements of city-building games with the charm of cozy exploration. With its soothing atmosphere and various decorations to choose from, it's perfect for unwinding while taking out any competition on Overcooked-style games.
In addition to these new releases, there are several upcoming titles worth mentioning. Don’t Stop, Girlypop! is an arena shooter that combines elements of hyperpop and anti-capitalism with a Y2K aesthetic. With its movement-focused gameplay and unique art style, it's set to arrive on Steam next year for January 29.
Another title worth keeping an eye on is Limbot, a physics-based game from Ionized Studios where players control the limbs of a cardboard robot to complete precision-based objectives in co-op with friends. It's scheduled to release between April and June next year.
Finally, Zlin City: Arch Moderna is a diorama city builder inspired by historical events of the 1930s and '40s from Polyperfect. The game uses 3D printing, photogrammetry, and 3D scanning to create its beautifully textured environments. However, no release window has been confirmed yet.
These are just a few of the many exciting indie games worth checking out right now. From Marvel Cosmic Invasion's enjoyable beat-em-up action to Routine’s atmospheric survival horror experience, there's something for everyone in this lineup.
!! marvel cosmic invasion looks like a blast from the past come to life, and routine sounds super immersive and eerie 
. sleep awake just got me shook with that creepy concept of the HUSH force making people vanish 
. and tingus goose is already on my wishlist due to its unique art style and dark humor 
. can't wait for don't stop, girlypop! and limbot to drop next year 
- Theodore Roosevelt 
. It's great that it's available on multiple platforms too!
. I love how immersive and atmospheric it sounds, even without any waymarkers or HUD to guide the player. The '80s aesthetic is so cool too! 
The concept of The HUSH force that makes anyone who falls asleep vanish is so creepy and intriguing! I'm definitely adding this one to my watchlist.
. Maybe it'll be my thing... maybe 
and the surreal environments sound SO intriguing 
I need to get my hands on this ASAP 
The indie gaming scene is always on point with these new releases... Marvel Cosmic Invasion's co-op mode has me hyped 
, I need to check it out ASAP!
. And Sleep Awake's story about The HUSH force has me curious! It's great to see indie devs pushing boundaries with their survival horror experiences 
.
. I'll have to check it out just for the art style alone. Effulgence RPG's ASCII art 3D graphics are so cool - can't wait to dive in! And Log Away sounds like the perfect relaxing game to unwind with 
.