Five indie ideas that deserve more attention

The reason we focus on indie and smaller studio games is simple: that's where people take chances. A two-person team has nothing to lose by trying a weird control scheme or an odd story hook.

Take Emberbound's memory system, where your party's past literally reshapes the battlefield. A big studio would probably sand that down into a normal skill tree. The small team left it strange, and the game is better for it.

Tideborne Cities does something similar with its rising tide. It could have been a plain city-builder. Instead it adds constant pressure that makes every decision count, and it's the thing people remember.

None of these are perfect. Rough edges come with the territory. But I'd rather play a flawed game with one brilliant idea than a polished one with none. That's the trade indie makes, and I'm here for it.