A collection of free indie games about a limbo museum, a traveling chef, and the inner conflict of a creator

Contents:

• Himno
• Irori
• Time is Solid Here
• Truss
• There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015

Skillbox Media's Gamedev team continues its review of free games on Steam and itch.io. In the previous issue, we looked at rhythm games, action games, and Metroidvanias. Today, we offer a diverse selection, including a cozy platformer, a cooking simulator, a surreal limbo adventure, a budget-friendly take on The Stanley Parable, and a monologue about creative self-acceptance. These games offer unique gaming experiences and are sure to captivate players with their originality and creativity. Don't miss the opportunity to learn more about these exciting projects.

Himno

Himno is an aesthetically pleasing 2D pixel platformer that combines a meditative atmosphere with challenging gameplay. The game offers a unique experience, never allowing the player to relax, forcing them to overcome various obstacles and explore vast worlds. In Himno, every detail is thought out, making it interesting for both platformer fans and those looking for new challenges in video games.

The main goal of the game is to get through the door in each level, which opens access to the next stage. Locations are created using procedural generation and are represented by platforms that go upward and slightly wide, hidden in deep darkness, from which the outlines of surrounding objects are barely visible. This element adds a challenge, as the player must jump carefully, avoiding falls into the water below, which leads to certain death. The temptation to jump into the unknown is strong, but strategy and precision are key to successfully completing levels.

The darkness in the game is periodically cut by bright lights: golden experience stones, torches, and spirits that accompany the player, providing various bonuses. These bonuses can include a double jump, a boosted jump, a slow fall, and the ability to stick to walls. When a character dies, the player is offered to choose one of the found spirits for the next run, which adds an element of strategy and variety to the gameplay.

Each level of the game has three teleporters that will help you return to a safe zone if you find yourself in an unfavorable place. Gradually overcoming area after area, you ascend to a secret temple. The next stage is an endless climb that will take your breath away. The journey resembles exploring an enchanted cave, teeming with gems and bright lights. The darkness surrounding you eludes all but the tranquil waters far below. This immersive experience allows players to soak up the adventure and explore wondrous locations full of secrets and treasures. Himno began as a therapeutic project for David Moralejo Sanchez, which he participated in when he needed a break. With the same goal in mind, he decided to make his game available for free to other users. Two and a half years later, the roguelike Himno - The Silent Melody was released, expanding on the first game and incorporating crafting elements, combat mechanics, and even local co-op. This project not only supports players but also offers engaging gameplay that combines a deep atmosphere with opportunities for co-op play.

Irori

Irori is a meditative exercise that immerses players in the atmosphere of travel, giving them the opportunity to become a chef. In the game, players board a train, are given skewers and a plate of ingredients, creating a unique culinary experience. Irori allows you to develop your cooking skills and enjoy the process, combining elements of gaming and meditation.

The game creates a cozy atmosphere: before you is a flickering fireplace with gently smoldering embers, and the sound of rain can be heard outside the windows. The passengers, although in reality there is only one, are reminiscent of the characters from Spiritfarer. There is no food economy, strict recipes, or timers, allowing you to focus on exploration and enjoyment. This allows players to immerse themselves in a unique world where not only the goals are important, but also the gameplay itself.

Stress levels can increase in the short term for two reasons. The first reason is the completion of a short demo version of the project. The second reason is that the project has been frozen for four years and will probably not be resumed. In December 2019, the three-person PomePomelo team announced a temporary hiatus and hasn't provided any updates since.

Despite its unfinished nature, Irori is worth your attention. Take a few minutes to appreciate its features and potential.

Time is Solid Here

Limbo is a space reminiscent of a Salvador Dalí and Frida Kahlo museum, where paintings come to life. In this secluded place, time stands still, the halls remain empty, and the canvases on the walls gradually become covered in layers of dust and dirt. As a result, the memory of those whose faces were once depicted in these paintings begins to fade. Time is Solid Here is a metaphor for the oblivion and stillness that reign in this mysterious space.

You don't remember how you got here, and you can't even remember your face. After several flights of stairs, you encounter a huge, shapeless head that introduces itself as Charon. This head refuses to answer your questions and immediately offers you a job: cleaning paintings. You accept the offer, as there's nothing else to do in this place.

The first portrait immerses the viewer in a world of alien madness, captured in the memories of an elderly woman who is rapidly losing her ability to remember. The door behind her opens into a tangled labyrinth, and at its center lies the root of evil, which leads the heroine to the edge of sanity. This image evokes deep reflections on the nature of memory and its loss, at the same time emphasizing the fragility of the human psyche.

The second and third portraits become portals into the half-forgotten memories of the departed. A little boy waiting for his mother who will never return. A soldier who lost his humanity in the war. All three are prisoners of their consciousness, suffering, and limbo. Charon may have been lazy, leaving you to do his job of ferrying souls to the afterlife. But perhaps he helped you find a way out, because the final painting is your story.

Shortly after the release of Time is Solid Here, the AlgebraFalcon team presented a new project called Cohabitation, developed as part of a Digital Storytelling course at the University of Chicago. This game retains the same graphics and mechanics, but emphasizes horror elements. The plot revolves around a sci-fi setting involving aliens facing the threat of extinction on their planet. They manage to establish contact with Earth, which opens new horizons for the development of history and interaction between worlds.

Truss

Imagine waking up in a hut surrounded by forest silence and covered in snow. Night reigns all around, and frost howls behind the wooden walls. Inside, the stove crackles comfortably, creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. But something calls you beyond this comfortable space, brave the frosty wind, and explore the mysterious forest. This setting awakens a spirit of adventure and a desire to know the unknown.

Truss is a journey into an endless dream, turning into a snowy forest with a cozy fireplace in the center. Truss is a symphony of sounds that react to every movement, and whimsical lines crossing the frozen space. Truss is a monologue of the creator about deep and personal experiences. This project immerses the viewer in an atmosphere of mysticism and beauty, creating a unique perception of time and space.

The text touches on the trap of the creator who creates and experiences other people's lives, forgetting about his own. It explores the escape from his true calling, perceived as a curse, and the desire to artificially adapt to a "normal" reality. A key theme is the return to one's true self and reconciliation with it. The developer described this monologue as an elegy for those condemned to suffering. The creative process, filled with internal conflicts, prompts reflection on the meaning of self-expression and the search for personal identity.

Sam Bly, better known by his username ompuco, is the creator of several small experimental projects on the itch.io platform, such as I Am Not What Remains and NL. His work focuses on visual effects and shaders, which play a key role in his work. Bly explores the boundaries of graphics, creating unique visual solutions that attract attention and inspire other developers. These projects demonstrate his mastery and creative approach to creating interactive content.

There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015

There Is No Game: Jam Edition 2015 is the perfect choice for fans of The Stanley Parable and games that break the fourth wall. The game turns the menu into an interactive space, where the program's voice constantly reminds you that there is no actual game and there is nothing to do here. However, if you decide to stay, you can expect funny bugs caused by your intervention. In addition, the developers added a meta-joke about Goat Simulator, which makes this experience even more unique and engaging. This game offers players an unconventional approach and original humor, which makes it unforgettable.

Advantages of the game, according to the developer:

• Save time, because there is nothing to play in it.
• There is a useful keyboard shortcut Alt + F4, which makes life easier.

The game lasts only 15 minutes, and it is worth saving some moments in secret, so you can discover them on your own. The gameplay is fairly linear, and the puzzles are simple, but the lack of menu access and witty one-way dialogue with the narrator make this short period of time captivating. Despite its brevity, the game is capable of captivating attention and leaving a positive impression.

There Is No Game won first place at the Construct "Deception" Jam 2015. Participants had a month to develop projects in the Construct 2 engine, with the theme being the word "deception" or "illusion." The game's success laid the foundation for its sequel: in 2020, Draw Me A Pixel released There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, which has been receiving positive reviews from players and critics for three years now. This game continues to attract attention thanks to its unique approach to the genre and intriguing plot.

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Bonus. It's also worth mentioning a few games that deserve attention but weren't included in the main list due to their small size. These projects can offer unique gaming experiences and interesting mechanics that could attract gamers' attention.

• You Must be 18 or Older to Enter. A very specific, but realistic simulator: you play the role of a teenager who has just learned about adult websites from classmates. Your parents have finally left home, you run to the computer, open a search engine with a sinking heart, and type in the word: p... o... r...
• Please Answer Carefully. A seemingly ordinary questionnaire, which becomes less and less impersonal and comfortable with each question.