6 of the coolest upcoming indie acts at SXSW Sydney

SXSW Sydney is back this month, bringing the festival of technology, film, music, and games back to Australia for its second year. This time the SXSW Sydney video game show took place at the University of Technology, Sydney, where developers come together to showcase indie titles from within Australia and overseas.

Times are undoubtedly tough for the video game industry, which has been hit hard by mass layoffs this year. Fortunately, there are still other developers who continue to work on exciting new games that we can look forward to playing soon.

In no particular order, here are some of the coolest indie games we checked out at SXSW Sydney 2024.

SEDAP! Adventure Culinary

As someone who loves food in video games, especially Asian food, I’ve been following along SEDAP! Adventure Culinary temporarily. This “culinary adventure” from Singapore’s kopiforge features Southeast Asian delicacies such as teh tarik, nasi lemak, ondeh ondeh, and even strays north for Taiwanese bubble tea.

SEDAP! has a clear resemblance to Overcookedwith cartoon characters running around to prepare a variety of delicious food. However, instead of collecting ingredients in shared storage areas, SEDAP!’Cooks must collect them fresh from the source. This might mean picking a pineapple, but it might also mean using your chef’s knife to wrestle with the chicken, adding a risk of combat to its cooking equation.

You won’t have to fight alone again, with SEDAP! supporting two-player co-op and solo play.

SEDAP! Adventure Culinary It is scheduled for release in March 2025.

The Winter Burrow

Who among us has not wished to be a little mouse who lives in a tree and weaves jumps in the grass? Pine Creek Games’ The Winter Burrow allows you to fulfill your Beatrix Potter dreams, albeit with a heavy bent.

Billed as a cool survival game, The Winter Burrow putting you as a mouse restoring their childhood home after returning to find it in ruins. You must also search for your missing aunt, who was tasked with taking care of her, and provide assistance to the residents of your area.

The weather is very cold, so first you will need to gather supplies and arrange your furniture, keep yourself fed, and knit warm clothes to wear on your adventure. The Winter BurrowThe storybook-like graphics give the game a unique charm, and it takes the dark edge off such dangers as freezing to death.

The Winter Burrow It is scheduled to be released in 2025.

Mashable Top Stories

I was afraid of Sushi Derby

Of all the shows I tried at SXSW Sydney, I was afraid of Sushi Derby it was quick to capture my heart.

Developed by ITAMAE STUDIO of Japan, I was afraid of Sushi Derby Play as a sushi chef creating delicious little bites and putting them in races. These adorable characters automatically run along the track of the sushi train, avoiding hungry customers and speeding up if you enjoy them, but eventually they will lose their freshness if they are not eaten. You can even train your sushi to improve its stats, which is very satisfying. I would totally eat sushi to grow a sim.

Although the game was simple, I was afraid of Sushi DerbyThe fun sushi pixel art and fun concept grabbed me easily – I could happily sit and watch them run around the track for a while. I’m curious to see if the full release will continue to keep players interested.

I was afraid of Sushi Derby It is scheduled to be released later this year.

Dungeon Inn

While your traditional business management sim will never get old, it’s always fun to see developers try something new. Developed by South Korean studio Cat Society, Dungeon Inn is different because rather than focusing directly on building and running an inn, players will spend most of their time arranging signs to guide the flow of guests.

You play as a business minded owner of a new inn, conveniently located near a famous hole. Said dungeon is a common destination for members of two competing adventure guilds, providing two streams of potential customers on either side of the inn. The catch is that you have to use both parties without letting yourself find out that you are playing with the other side.

While Dungeon Inn it allows you to build new structures, with a focus on temporary roadside installations. This can alert potential guests to your inn, sell them snacks to change their travel speed, or even stop them on the road, preventing rival gangs from running into each other and intercepting your scheme.

Dungeon Inn is scheduled for an early access release on Nov. 14, and is expected to be fully launched in 2025.

Identfile

Identfile was one of the smartest games at the SXSW Sydney show, positioning you as an antivirus that fights malicious computer attackers. Developed by Gearbyte Games of Singapore, Identfile it uses a folder-based process system based on the PC desktop screen, with each file acting as a new room. Open the file, and you can find upgrade coins, keys to unlock zipped subfolders, and, of course, malware.

Players’ attacks depend on the cursor they choose initially, with each option providing different stats. One may require you to repeatedly click on ugly pixellated representations of malware that run across your screen, while another deals damage by moving around it. Just remember to play in short bursts to prevent RSI.

At first I had a hard time figuring out why I was losing life, as the build I played didn’t make it clear that you are your target and you have to avoid attacks properly. It is possible Identfile will make some changes to address this, however the game is still in development.

Identfile He has not announced a release date yet.

A school of demons

Higher education is hard enough without dealing with gangsters, demons, and “big weirdos,” but at least A school of demons it gives you a team to help you get through it. From California Necrosoft Games, A school of demons a turn-based role-playing game that draws inspiration from Italian giallo horror and Shin Megami Tensei (except collectable monsters).

Described as “a simple horror story,” A school of demons luckily it’s not too scary – especially since you can punch demons in the face. Dealing with supernatural citizens who have no business being near the school, A school of demons plan an attack for four of your team members on the battlefield, then click a button to do it all at once while you sit back and watch the carnage.

You also need to organize your school schedule to build your characters’ skills, and make friends with people so you can accompany them on your demon-slaying journey, just like real life.

A school of demons It is scheduled for release in early 2025.

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