Golden Lance for Indie Game of the Year
Some might wonder why we have both a Game of the Year award and an Indie Game of the Year award. After all, last year Psychonauts 2 was our Game of the Year for 2021. However, having an Indie Game of the Year is not in lieu of their nomination for Game of the Year, but rather an addition to it. It gives us a chance to showcase some of the very best games that made the most of limited resources to produce stunning experiences. Indie games often have a flexibility and clarity of vision that bigger budget AAA games quite simply logistically cannot. This award celebrates those games. With that in mind, here are the recipients of this year’s Golden Lance Award for Indie Game of the Year.
Winner: Sifu
Wearing its inspirations on its sleeve with numerous references to the likes of Old Boy, Ip Man, and The Raid throughout, the tight, controlled and ruthlessly fast hand-to-hand gameplay of Sifu was the stuff I’d dreamed of as a child. With seemingly thousands of combos, animations and patterns, coupled with a gorgeous art style and phenomenal sound design, the game has one of the most satisfying combat systems I’ve had the pleasure of playing. That is, of course, when I could pull it off. Sifu necessitates patience. You might be able to brute force the first level, but its unforgiving progression system had me seeing ‘Game Over’ before completing the second of its five levels.
It unapologetically forces you to train, as the protagonist has done for years. You must whittle away at bad habits, memorize effective counters and hone evasive maneuvers. Studying your enemy, their styles and stance, and learning how to adapt and overcome paves an immensely satisfying and stylish path to success. Sifu is not a game for everyone, but if you have the tenacity to see it through, it delivers one of the most rewarding combative experiences to date.
Runner Up: Eiyuden Chronicle Rising
Eiyuden Chronicle Rising is a prequel to the highly anticipated Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes. Rising draws players in with its beautiful scenery and stunning character sprites. It peaks player’s interest by setting the tone slightly for what you might get to expect in Hundred Heroes. Boasting a memorable cast of characters all with their own thoughts and beliefs adds a unique dynamic to the story which is absolutely amazing. As you grow and progress, your town where the game mostly takes place gets restored over time. This allows everyone to feel a sense of accomplishment. Rising does amazingly for a game that was never even supposed to be a game in the first place. This is why it belongs as our first runner up for Indie Game of the Year!
Runner Up: Trek to Yomi
Trek to Yomi was an indie game that I spent some considerable time with. Artistically, this title is more stunning than most AAA games. Devolver Digital accomplished creating a game that felt like you were in a classic Samurai movie. Even with some small issues with the combat, this title was incredible. While Trek to Yomi didn’t make it as our top Indie game, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend the money to buy this game.
