Indie Games - The New Retro?

In the vast world of independent game design, a common trend is to have visuals and sounds that are reminiscent of the much-beloved 8-Bit and 16-bit eras of video games. Some games use this in tribute to a time when games were genuinely fun and challenging, others use it for artistic merit. But there's no denying that the retro-look is something that's become rooted deep into Indie Gaming.

Hydorah combines classic visuals and brutal difficulty as a tribute to classic SHMUPS.

The crude simplicity of 8-bit graphics takes us back to a time, when many of us were young, enchanted by the interactive entertainment that only an early home console could provide. The visuals also accompany another element that was prevalent in early games. Difficulty. Games today have gradually become less and less difficult. For the past couple years, Indie gaming has long been the hub for people who seek a genuine challenge, something that commercial games no longer provide. When you don't have to sell thousands of copies, you can provide to a more 'hardcore' audience.

Majesty of Colors draws players in with it's deep and interesting story elements.

The minimalistic qualities of 8-bit graphics also provide an artistic front for indie developers as well. As commercial gaming focuses more on the presentation rather than the experience, indie developers do the opposite. The games have minimalist visuals, but are still able to engage the player through unique gameplay or an interesting story. Though these are very vague looks at why the retro experience has been adopted by the Indie world, It's still very apparent that indie gaming truly is the "New Retro." The classic visual/gaming experience is alive and well, it hands of the people who truly appreciate it.

- Kyle K.