Indie games have not slowed down through the months of August and September, even as we head into our busy fall gaming season. This edition of Indie Watch even snuck one July game in, Sizeable, just because it was so darn charming, but we still saw plenty of great indies within our cutoff, from cozy platformers to life sims on steroids.
Whether we were exploring creepy takes on the life sim farming genre with Elderfield, following adorable local capybaras in Capy Castaway or being truly impressed and surprised by titles like Isle of Reveries, this edition was full of fun. Whether you play XBOX, PlayStation, Steam or Steam Deck, there is an indie game here for you!
Here are our favourite indie games from August and September 2026 (and one from July!).
Sizeable
Developer: Business Goose Studios
Release Date: July 29, 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S
Played by: Jordan Biordi
Sizable sold me on its thumbnail alone. I saw a big turtle with a whole world upon its back, and I didn’t need any more information. I’m glad that was enough to hook me because I went into the game with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised by what it delivered. Here was a simple puzzle game, with a unique gimmick that doesn’t ask a lot of the player, but charms them all the same.
Players are given a range of little dioramas with the goal of finding three keys to complete the level. In order to do this, they’ll need to grow or shrink various objects scattered around the level. But where Sizable really stands out is in how fun it makes resizing objects—adding unique effects to specific things. A tiny cloud can become a giant thunderstorm, a shrunk moon can lower the tide, a small bugle becomes an earth-shattering horn. There’s so much creativity on display that you can just play with it for hours and be continuously impressed by what it pulls off.
Kynseed
Developer: PixelCount Studios
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S
Release Date: August 4, 2026 (for console)
Played by: Philip Watson
Kynseed takes the Stardew Valley-inspired pixel art cozy game genre and runs with it through multiple generations. You start off by starting the title up with some of the best fairy tale musical tones ever, and it immediately transports you into the world of Quill, like how Fable brought adventurers into Albion. If the magic somehow feels the same, you’re not alone; Russell Shaw worked on this soundtrack and brought his BAFTA-nominated compositions to Quill just like Albion. Kynseed may be an indie game, but its production is top tier.
You’re introduced to the world of Kynseed by a rhyming fairy tale; you, the hero, are brought into the world napping on a bridge. Every choice and decision in Kynseed is deliberate, thoughtful and designed to make the player feel at ease. Instead of rigid time limits and events, Kynseed asks you to come up with your future and play through it. With its gorgeous pixel art, stunning production quality, numerous quests, a litany of skills and things to do, and undeniable charm, Kynseed’s re-release on console is a must-play for those who missed the first call.
Capy Castaway
Developer: Kitten Cup Studio
Release Date: August 6, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Jordan Biordi
It seems like these days, everyone loves capybaras. At first, I didn’t really get the hype, even after I moved to Brazil, but the more you see the lovable little goobers, the more they start to grow on you. Capy Castaway is like a Canadian love letter to the world’s largest rodent while also being a super chill, super sweet little platformer with a lot more going on under the surface. Capy Castaway is a cozy platformer where players take control of the titular animal and its crow companion.
Utilizing their unique abilities, players work through a series of small problems, deciding the fate of an entire zoo (that may or may not be from Toronto). There’s a real sense of heart to it as players can make decisions that will affect the lives of these creatures and have lasting consequences for the world itself. There’s a sadness to this indie, but there’s also a profound sweetness that proves doing the right thing can be tough, but is always best.
Echoes of Mystralia
Developer: Borealys Games
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Philip Watson
I’ve been playing through an assortment of roguelike indie titles this year, and while most of them lean into Vampire Survivors-like territory, Echoes of Mystralia takes more inspiration from Supergiant’s Hades than anything else, and that’s a good thing. Borealys Games brings a tale of a world trying to escape its past, and you play Mazarim, a Guardian purpose-bound to protect the world’s Cycle of Memories. While the storyline has density, Echoes of Mystralia’s strongest point is gameplay. Oh, and like Hades, Echoes of Mystralia was built for the Steam Deck.
Mazarim controls memories like weapons, and you can craft and combine them to make incredible builds to break Echoes of Mystralia. This is infectious, and seeing what each weapon will unleash shows Borealys Games knows its stuff. The sky’s the limit to how you can maim enemies in Echoes of Mystralia. In a sea of roguelikes and early access titles, Echoes of Mystralia brings excellent quality to the equation, and if you liked exploring Greek Hell as Zagreus, exploring Mystralia might be your next obsession.
Swordcery
Developer: Temple Door Games
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Philip Watson
In the gaming landscape, nearly every game has you become the “chosen one” to save the world. If you wanted a different cliché opening, I’m sorry, because the indie title Swordcery embraces tradition, and it’s a fun time. A giant sword has cut the sky and the land of Armorial, and with each passing day, the sword drains the planet of life. As Colt, you are the hero, and as the hero, you can wield the fallen swords brought with the massive world cutter.
As the hero, this special power is yours to wield, and even your comrade expresses jealousy over it. Temple Door Games knows how to write, and Swordcery shows it with these funny exchanges. Not only that, even in early access, Swordcery brings an ARPG blend with roguelike mechanics designed to test the player’s sword skill and while combat feels familiar, the myriad of swords you can wield (from a towering, mythical galaxy-coloured claymore to a small, short sword) changes gameplay enough to keep things interesting. Although still in early access, Swordcery is a diamond-in-the-rough and worth a try if you like ARPGs.
Sensory Overload
Developer: Pancake Studios
Release Date: August 20, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Jordan Biordi
When I first saw the indie game Sensory Overload, I couldn’t really tell if it was one of those games that was trying to be wacky on purpose—like Juice Galaxy or Cruelty Squad. Its combination of psychedelic visuals and over-the-top gameplay made it seem like it would be a game specifically designed to frustrate streamers for easy content. But I could not have been more wrong.
Sensory Overload is a ridiculously fun, fast-paced arcade game where players need to avoid obstacles while falling through the infinite void. Its use of vibrant, blending colours adds to the challenge of fitting through holes and cracks, and the way everything is constantly moving keeps you on your toes. It’s so addictive and incredibly seamless that every death just makes you want to jump back in and keep playing. All backed by a slammin’ techno soundtrack.
Lou’s Lagoon
Developer: Tiny Roar
Release Date: August 27, 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S
Played by: Jordan Biordi
Lou’s Lagoon was another one of those indie games that happened across my socials one day, and immediately drew me in with its fun aesthetic, laid-back gameplay, and the fact you could pilot a seaplane! I’ve always liked the idea of a cozy platformer, but I’ve long said they need to have enough reason for the player to want to play it. Thankfully, there are plenty of reasons to play this one.
It’s a fairly straightforward exploration/platformer where players are kept consistently engaged thanks to a steady stream of small quests for the world’s many inhabitants. These quests usually involve retrieving materials to help reconstruct several things damaged by a terrible storm. In between these moments, players fly from space to space in a sort of Wind Waker, but with a plane traversal section. It’s got a lot of charm and a really satisfying gameplay loop, and makes it easy to get lost in it for hours.
Isle of Reveries
Developer: desertcucco
Release Date: September 4, 2026
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, XBOX
Played by: Lane Martin
Somehow, I did not have Isle of Reveries on my radar, and I absolutely should have. This was a successful Kickstarter from several years back, looking to pay homage to beloved top-down adventure games from the Game Boy era (Mostly The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening), with lovely talking animals abound. However, I would not let the friendly sprites throw you off, as this game deals with mature themes, difficult gameplay, and tricky puzzles. The cute talking frogs and owls are just icing on the cake.
In Isle of Reveries, players are cast as a little owl fella named Lief on a quest to return balance to the world while forsaking his own wishes in the process. Lief has three slots in which he may equip items, a tiny little hop, and a friend to help him through his travels. The dungeons are fun, filled with intelligent puzzles and inventive boss mechanics. The pixel art and chiptunes are wonderful, and there is even a happy little town filled with ghosts to build back up. Invariably, Isle of Reveries will have a hard time being noticed with similar games out this year, but it is well worth a look.
Elderfield
Developer: Chris Cote
Release Date: September 10, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played By: Dayna Eileen
Though it was a bit early for fall, I was happy to get some spooks out with Elderfield. Whether it is the dark, unsettling atmosphere, creepy visuals or ominous music, if you were looking for a new take on your farming or life sims, this is it. This “cozy horror RPG” gave me some Stardew Valley vibes if it were all part of some uncomfortable nightmare, and for the most part, it works.
I found Elderfield a bit slower to get into than a standard life sim and regularly found myself wandering around aimlessly, but by choice. I wanted to explore every creepy corner and meet every weird NPC. Romance, farming, quests and exploration, paired with a turn-based combat system, offer something different in this genre if you’re looking for a change.
Magical Blush
Developer: Alkacer Game Studio
Release Date: September 10, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Jordan Biordi
I’ll be honest, when I saw the name Magical Blush, I assumed this would be a game where you had to use makeup in order to cast magic, which sounds like an incredibly fun idea. Instead, what was on offer was a magical Metroid-like with an interesting top-down aesthetic. But where it really stands out is how unconventional it is despite where it’s clearly drawing its inspiration from.
It’s an interesting blend of fast-paced combat and freedom of customization built around exploring a creative and dangerous world. It gives players a wide array of elemental abilities and challenges them to use them effectively against enemies—exploiting weaknesses to gain the upper hand in battle. It encourages players to utilize unique traversal abilities to explore the world and unlock new abilities. It’s got a serious sense of style and is seriously engaging once it gets going.
Nocturne
Developer: Pracy Studios
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Jordan Biordi
When I saw Nocturne in my inbox, I knew I needed to highlight this indie based on its description alone. A rhythm-based combat game about exploring a digital afterlife and accepting death. I hadn’t heard of a concept so cool since Wan! Wan! was making a spiritual successor to Gitaroo Man with a similar idea. But once you sit down and play Nocturne, you quickly see just how intense and fun its ideas are.
In a falling-beat style rhythm game (similar to Guitar Hero), players take on twisted abominations in a digital afterlife that is seemingly falling apart. As players hit their beats, they better position themselves to survive enemy attacks—which make the beat patterns way more intense. As they progress, they’re given skills to turn the tide of battle and unleash incredible abilities. It’s so unbelievably engaging, so intensely fun and backed by an absolutely incredible soundtrack!
Stick it to the Stickman
Developer: Free Lives
Release Date: September 23, 2026
Platforms: PC
Played by: Lane Martin
After a lengthy stay in early access, Stick it to the Stickman has finally come out in earnest. This is a silly little game about work. In a world where a person needs money in order to live, they find work at the lowest rung of a corporate office, and must fight to reach the top, literally. I didn’t think I would actually enjoy the gameplay in Stick it to the Stickman. It looked floaty and wonky, and that can lead to frustration with me. Good news though: I kind of love it.
As your stickman bashes through waves of guys as they ascend, they add new moves to their combo and even upgrade existing moves. An uppercut becomes a shoryuken, a thrown knife turns into shurikens, which turn into a hadoken, and so on. Finally, your stickman will square off with the CEO at the top of the building, defeat him and assume his title, then the whole thing can start again for a new stickman, with a different move-set. It’s deceptively simple with some interesting twists and turns along the way, and I was pleasantly surprised the whole time.
