By Terry
My last mixtape was intended for non-gamers – this one is more of an insider thing.
Over the long term in this medium, I think people tend to only remember the highlights. The best games on a system. The best games in a genre. The best games in a given year. A developer’s best game. In the process, a lot of flawed, interesting games get forgotten.
We’re long enough into this whole solo-indie developer thing that there are now quite a few prolific developers out there with a substantial body of work – in many cases, a body of work that includes extremely interesting games overshadowed by more famous productions. You could make many mixtapes like this one.
This mixtape is a collection of early or lesser known works by designers I like. (The title, “obscure”, wasn’t quite the word I was looking for, but I struggled to find a better one.)
Click here to download the entire collection for windows, or play the games individually below:
| TRACK 1: “Operator Status” by Nifflas Better known for: Knytt Stories, NightSky |
[Download for Windows] |
| TRACK 2: “Striptease” by Increpare Better known for: English Country Tune, Mirror Stage |
[For Windows] [For Mac] |
| TRACK 3: “Calamity Annie” by Anna Anthropy Better known for: Dys4ia, REDDER |
[For Windows] [For Mac] |
| TRACK 4: “Enemy Of The Solid State” by Bento Smile Better known for: Air Pressure, Tanaka’s Friendly Adventure |
[Win] [Mac] [Linux] |
| TRACK 5: “Exploit” by Gregory Weir Better known for: The Majesty of Colors, How to Raise a Dragon |
[Play online] |
| TRACK 6: “Night Raveler and the Heartbroken Uruguayans” by Daniel Benmergui Better known for: Today I die, I wish I were the moon |
[Play online] |
| TRACK 7: “Moneyseize” by Matt Thorson Better known for: Give up Robot, An Untitled Story |
[Play online] |
| TRACK 8: “Painter” by Jonathan Blow Better known for: The Witness, Braid |
[Download for Windows] |
| TRACK 9: “You Shall Know The Truth” by Jonas Kyratzes Better known for: The Infinite Ocean, The Sea Will Claim Everything |
[Play online] |
| TRACK 10: “Barista 1” by Blendo Games Better known for: Thirty Flights of Loving, Flotilla |
[Download for Windows] |
| TRACK 11: “Tekkyuuman” by Ikiki Better known for: Nikujin, Hakaiman |
[Download for Windows] |
| TRACK 12: “Precision” by Cactus Better known for: Hotline Miami, Norrland |
[Download for Windows] |
| TRACK 13: “Randy Balma Municipal Abortionist” by Messhof Better known for: Nidhogg, Flywrench |
[Download for Windows] |
“Exploit” was actually how I first discovered Gregory Weir. It’s a pretty good game!
I think the term you’re looking for is “deep cuts”.
[…] Mixtape 2: Obscure (distractionware: devlog) “Over the long term in this medium, I think people tend to only remember the highlights. The best games on a system. The best games in a genre. The best games in a given year. A developer’s best game. In the process, a lot of flawed, interesting games get forgotten. We’re long enough into this whole solo-indie developer thing that there are now quite a few prolific developers out there with a substantial body of work – in many cases, a body of work that includes extremely interesting games overshadowed by more famous productions. You could make many mixtapes like this one.” […]
Operator status! I made the music for the hidden supar secrit bonuz level for this! 😀
Nice!