Triple-A games are often seen as the pinnacle of the gaming space. The scale originates from the 90s and is often used to describe games that were most likely to meet their financial goals.Final Fantasy VIIwas one of the first games to be released using the triple-A scale. Now the term is used to describe games produced by medium to major production studios, with higher marketing and development budgets.
RELATED:Best Indie RPGs of The Last 5 Years (According To Metacritic)
When players think of Triple-A games names likeFortnite,Call of Duty, andThe Last of Usimmediately come to mind. However, as technology progresses and developers flex their creative muscles, more Indie games are quickly beginning to prove that triple-A doesn’t always mean a game needs a bigger budget. There areplenty of indie games currently in developmentthat look like they are being produced by some major studios when they’re actually produced by smaller teams.
10The Ascent
Fans ofAction-RPGs and cyberpunk themeswill want to keep an eye out forThe Ascent.The Ascenttakes place in a corporate-run metropolis that stretches into the sky. The cyberpunk world is full of enemies and allies, plenty of loot, and various districts from slums to luxury zones.
RELATED:Best Cyberpunk Cities In Gaming
InThe Ascentthe corporation that owns the player characters district mysteriously shuts down, leaving the district’s survival in a precarious situation. Players can battle through the city solo or play with friends thanks to the local and online cooperative modes. Players will be able to customize their characters using cyberware that suits their individual playstyles. They will also be able touse skill points and various augmentationsto find creative ways to take down enemies.
The Ascentwill release on July 29th of this year on Steam.
9Bleak Faith: Forsaken
Players will explore the last remnants of civilization in a vast, unforgiving world inBleak Faith: Forsaken. InBleak Faith: Forsakencombat will push players to their limits. Resource management, positioning, and timing will all play a huge role in combat. This means there will be plenty of challenging boss fights.
Bleak Faith: Forsakenoffers RPG style progression and versatility when it comes to playstyles. Though there will be plenty of chances to build the perfect character, however, the game will have various non-reversible options. This means players will have to choose wisely when the time comes.
Bleak Faith: Forsakenwill release later this year on Steam.
8Salt 2: Shores of Gold
Players looking to set sail across the seven seas will want to keepSalt 2: Shores of Goldon their radar.Salt 2is anopen-world pirate exploration and survival gameinspired bySea of Thieves. What makesSalt 2stand out is that it focuses more on PvE and the single-player experience. Players will explore the ocean and go on quests while crafting items for survival.
RELATED:Best Open World Games Made By Indie Developers
The world ofSalt 2is procedurally generated, players will begin on their boat in the middle of the ocean. They will then need to hunt and seek out resources to survive while facing legendary pirates and other enemies.
Salt 2: Shores of Goldwill release in the fall of 2021.
7Sands of Aura
Sands of Aurais anopen-world action-adventure gameset in a world beneath a sea of sand. After a tormented god is released the world of Talamhel is thrown into neverending darkness. Players will have to track down the evil that’s spreading and protect the realm of man.
Sands of Aurafeatures souls-like combat and an engaging story. Players will sail across the sand setting their own paths in the ever-changing sands. The choices players make will also impact their home base, in positive or negative ways.
Sands of Auradoes not currently have a release date.
6Book of Travels
MMO fans will want to check outBook of Travels. Book of Travels offers a unique social roleplaying experience without linear missions. Players can travel through forests or cities, the choice is one hundred percent theirs to make.
RELATED:Journey & 9 Other Indie Games That Are Pure Works of Art
The serene adventure game does not plan out routes and instead allows players to play in their own way. ThoughBook of Travelsoffers online multiplayer and cooperative options,the game is an MMO on a smaller scale. Players can choose to travel together and make temporary memories from the interactions.
Book of Travelswill release on August 9th of this year.
5My Time at Sandrock
The sequel to theaward-winning life-sim RPGMy Time at PortiaisMy Time at Sandrock. Players will explore the “wholesome” post-apocalyptic world as they take on the role of a builder. Sandrock needs a lot of help, and it’s up to players to save the day.
InMy Time at Sandrockplayers will build their workshop and fill it with intricate machines. Players can also explore a vast desert, and dive into ruins to find ancient relics. Over time players will be able to convert their profits into farmlands and switch to more of a farming sim playstyle.
My Time at Sandrockwill release later this year on Steam, GOG, Epic, and WeGame. The game will release on the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and the next-gen consoles in 2022.
4Behind The Frame
Behind The Frameis a narrative-driven puzzle game that encourages players to savor the little moments. The hand-animated art captured audiences' attention during E3.Beyond The Framecan be played at any pace which makes using the panoramic view a more immersive experience.
RELATED:PlayStation Indie Games To Keep An Eye Out For In 2021
Players will take on the role of an artist on the cusp of finishing her final gallery piece. Players will seek out the colors needed to bring each piece to life, and find out that there’s more than meets the eye.
Beyond The Framewill release later this year on Steam.
3Trail of Ayash
Trail of Ayashis anopen-world gamethat focuses on Pre-Columbian era indigenous people and their myths and legends. Players will interact with various tribes across the Americas, and battle against nightmarish creatures.
Windigo, Skinwalkers, and more lurk in the shadows, and each has its own unique characteristics. In-game quests will be based on legends, myths, and ordeals and players can choose the path they want to pursue.
Trail of Ayashis currently still to be announced.
2OMNO
OMNOis a single-player journey of discovery through an ancient world. Players willadvance through a puzzle and platform-filled worldcarrying the power of a lost civilization. The world is full of unique lifeforms from giant dinosaur-like creatures to smaller frogs.
There are various types of atmospheric regions players can explore, from lush forests and frigid tundras.OMNOchallenges players with hidden secrets, puzzles, and obstacles that they will need to overcome.
OMNOwill release on the 29th of July and will be available on Steam, EPIC, Playstation 4, Xbox, Xbox Gamepass. A Nintendo Switch release is still to be announced.
1RAN: Lost Islands
Battle royale fans who enjoy games such asSekiroandGhost of Tsushimawill want to keepRAN: Lost Islandson their radar.RAN: Lost Islandstakes players back to an era where warriors fight face to face in search of gold and glory.
The melee-heavy battle royale game will have players race to shore in boats. They will then scramble to gather armor and a variety of weapons. Unlike a lot of more recent battle royale-style games,RANequips players with swords, rifles, and crossbows.
RAN: Lost Islandscurrently does not have a release date, however, it will be available on Steam.
