Southeast Asian Games at Gamescom 2024: Hands-On with Playable Titles
We fought through the vast, crowded halls of Gamescom 2024 in Cologne to bring you the latest on games from Southeast Asia showcased on the public show floor. While Singaporean titles dominated the dedicated booths, we discovered gems from across the region in indie and larger productions.
Singaporean Standouts
Unyielder (Trueworld Games)
This fast-paced looter shooter, now backed by powerhouse publisher Shueisha, impressed us with its breakneck gameplay and immense selection of weapons. In the demo, we sped through a level at dizzying speeds, guns blazing against heavy bosses. While we managed to take down the first tiny mech, a giant robot wielding a battle hammer wiped the floor with us. Make no mistake – Unyielder isn’t pulling any punches in the difficulty department! The game’s technoid sci-fi aesthetic and 3D visuals, combined with roguelite elements, have us eagerly anticipating its Steam release in 2025.
Let’s Build A Dungeon (Springloaded)
After striking a deal with Xbox, Springloaded (makers of Let’s Build a Zoo) secured a prime spot in the prestigious indie area of Xbox’s mega booth in Hall 7. This management sim aims to recreate the experience of developing an MMORPG. Using the studio’s signature 2D-pixel art style, we crafted a world map complete with villages, NPCs, and quests. The real fun began when we designed our dungeon, setting monster spawn rates and loot tables. We even got to “playtest” our creation by controlling a hero character. Look for Let’s Build A Dungeon on PC and Xbox.
Pixelmon (LiquidX)
This Pokémon-inspired franchise, based in Singapore, is pivoting away from its blockchain/Web3 origins to focus purely on gaming. We sampled two new titles:
– Warden’s Ascent: A mobile game featuring over 200 collectible Pixelmon and tactical battles. While it plays well and looks great, we’re curious about how the free-to-play monetization will be implemented.
– Warriors of Nova Thera: A PC title that left a stronger impression. It follows the roguelite formula popularized by games like Hades, having you battle through rooms of Pixelmon while collecting bonuses and treasures that partially carry over between runs.
While enjoyable, Pixelmon‘s success may hinge on its somewhat generic monster designs compared to its inspirations.
Indie Arena Booth Highlights
Kriegsfront: Tactics (Indonesia, Toge Productions)
This tactical mecha-RPG from the publishers of Coffee Talk impressed us with its alternative 1970s sci-fi setting in Southeast Asia. The playable prologue dropped us into jungle and ruin environments for strategic mech battles. We loved the realistic weapon physics, which avoid frustrating random misses common in games like XCOM. The pixelated low-poly style evokes the PlayStation era, perfectly complementing the game’s gritty aesthetics. Available now on Steam, it’s one of Indonesia’s most anticipated releases.
Riftstorm (Indonesia)
Another title distancing itself from Web3 roots, this twin-stick shooter with RPG elements caught our eye. Developed in Indonesia, Riftstorm boasts impressive graphics and surprisingly deep lore. It’s definitely one to keep on your radar.
Robo Frenzy (Indonesia)
This chaotic sandbox boss-battler tasks you with crafting weapons and constructing machines to take down giant robots inspired by everyday electronics. We played the Nintendo Switch version, initially finding it overwhelming before grasping the strategy of combining elements for maximum damage. For example, we built a sword out of scrap, attached it to a rotating robot hand, and unleashed it on the boss. It’s more tactical than its cute 2D style suggests. A PC version is also coming to Steam.
Fallen Tear: The Ascension (Philippines)
This gorgeous 2D Metroidvania from Winter Crew, CMD Studios, and Holysoft Studios features stunning comic-inspired visuals and top-notch animations – a result of years of outsourcing work. We were intrigued by the game’s world and story, which draws subtle inspiration from Philippine mythology. Hollow Knight fans should keep an eye out for their Kickstarter campaign launching August 27th.
Ysbryd Games Showcase (Singapore)
The Singaporean publisher brought several titles, but ‘Love Eternal’ stood out. This challenging platformer blends Super Meat Boy’s precision with horror adventure elements. You control Maya, trapped in a pixelated nightmare of trap-filled levels. The twist? Maya can manipulate gravity, allowing for ceiling-walking and mind-bending puzzles. Prepare for serious difficulty that’s immensely satisfying when mastered. Wishlist it on Steam if you’re up for the challenge!
Southeast Asian developers continue to prove they can create world-class indie games that compete on the global stage. While some benefit from major publisher partnerships, others are building passionate fanbases through grassroots support. It’s exciting to see these diverse titles reaching a wide audience at Gamescom, even if players might not always realize their Southeast Asian origins!
