Sony announced that the PlayStation 4 will be getting plenty of new independent titles in the not-too-distant future, including Spelunky and Nighogg.

These titles were all announced separately on the PlayStation Blog.

 

 

One of the titles, Drifter, is a procedurally-generated space game. Here, players assume the role of a spaceship’s captain, where they can explore the universe, capture bounties, mine for ore or even become a pirate. The game will not only come out for the PS4, but also for the Vita. Whether the game will be cross buy is unknown at the moment, although Colin Walsh, Founder of Drifter’s Celsius Games Studios, said “I definitely want to support cross play and even cross buy :)”

 

 

Next on the list is Chasm, another procedurally generated game–this time an RPG. Players control Daltyn, a soldier sent to uncover the mystery behind some missing miners in a mountain town. Through new abilities and unlockable weapons, Daltyn will be able to save the town and maybe the world in this Metroidvania styled game. Chasm, which will release later this year, is only set to come to the PS4. On the possibility of a Vita release, Chasm Producer James Petruzzi stated that “without a solid Monogame port in place it would require a total code rewrite. Hopefully we’ll have something to announce later this year!”

 

 

Spelunky, the popular indie game already released on the PlayStation 3 and Vita, is also set to come to the PS4 with updated graphics. Those who already own the game on the PS3 and Vita will also get the game on the PS4 with cross buy.

 

 

The sidescrolling sci-fi retro shooter, Axiom Verge, will also come the PS4 and Vita. The Creator of Axiom Verge, Tom Happ, stated that even though there are some intentional glitches in the game, “some self-reflexive fourth-wall-breaking joke about dusty old cartridges or the like…. picture this: you have a full game that would be awesome on its own – your dream Metroid + Contra + Bionic Commando + Blaster Master or what have you – but then, what if in addition to that game, you were given the means to break past the edges of the world and see things beyond — things that weren’t and couldn’t have been designed for you to see? It’s a hard thing to do; maybe impossible. But if Axiom Verge can bring back even part of that magical feeling, I will feel that it’s been a success.” The game is set to release early 2015, with cross buy being “a must”.

 

 

Escape Goat 2 is also set to crash into the PS4, along with his mouse buddy. This puzzle platformer, which is the first game presented by Double Fine, focuses on the titular goat helping to keep some sheep awake in eight different worlds. With a unique physics engine and a focus on transformation, this game promises to be addictive. For a taste of what the original Escape Goat is like, you can find our review here.

 

 

Ironclad Tactics is a card-based game centered around the American Civil War with a healthy dose of robots thrown in. This game, also appearing on the PS4, makes you win for your extra cards in fixed 10-second round matches. This game will also feature multiplayer and a story worth its own graphic novel.

 

 

Another 2D action side scroller is set to come to the PS4 in the form of Apotheon, a game set in Ancient Greece with the look of what you would find on an ancient clay jar. With inspirations from modern FPS games, the game includes a simple yet interesting moveset, light RPG elements, weapons that don’t last long, and looting for more and better ways to kill. The release date, however, has yet to be announced.

 

 

Nidhogg, the simplistic side scrolling fencing game, is also set to appear on the PS4. With its pixelated art style, the game is said to be more comfortable on the PS4, with the lightbar changing color to the player’s character. Streaming is also emphasized in the announcement.

 

 

A space narwal simulator called Starwhal: Just the Tip will also come the PS4 and PS3. This game has players take loose control of a neon narwhal aimed with the task of stabbing other narwhals in the heart with their horns. A challenge mode and versus modes will also be included in the strange game.

 

 

Jamestown Plus is a top-down space shooter set to appear on the PS4 in the summer of 2014. This version of the co-op focused shooter will have more weapons, levels, and an extra chapter to the game’s Mars-based plotline. With 4 players at a time, the game is set to bring in more praise since Jamestown first appeared on PC in 2011.

 

 

The Bone-a-Fide edition of Skulls of the Shogun is another indie game to arrive on the PS4. This combination of strategy and fighting tells the tale of a deceased Shogun getting revenge on an imposter and brings it up another notch with more chapters in the 10 hour campaign, persistent armies, both local and online multiplayer with up to four people, and over 30 multiplayer maps.

 

 

Finally, Source, a Metroidvania game based around a firefly, will flutter onto the PS4. With a look centered around 80’s Tron-like graphics, the world opens up around your character, where the story opens up.

 

My Opinion

 

Wow. There are so many indies coming to the PS4. This is amazing. If you haven’t been counting, that is twelve games altogether announced today for the PS4, with some coming to new consoles. I am especially excited for Axiom Verge, Apotheon and Skulls of the Shogun, although I would love to play the others if I had time and money. I mean, who isn’t fascinated by the game about a floppy narwhal? No one, that is who.

 

I recall hearing some things that I have heard from gamers these days. “Console gaming is dead”, you say? “The PlayStation 4 has no games”, you cry? To you, I say “Ha ha and ha.” You are wrong.

 

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Shawn Richards studies games to understand how they work. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.