LogFAQs > #977601721

15. Hollow Knight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSPJXlYjENE

Hey there, another soulslike metroidvania, and I don't think it's a crazy stretch to say it's probably the best one. Again, 2017 was a loaded year for indie games, and I think Hollow Knight caught people's attention the most. For good reason, as Hollow Knight is incredible. The characters are all very memorable, despite communicating in weird bug noises (and also being bugs). The boss designs are easily some of the best I've seen in the genre (Dung Defender is my personal favorite). Beautiful level design. Absolutely gorgeous music (the City of Tears theme hits me right in the gut every single time). I really just don't have much of anything to complain about here.

14. Ape Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6-ChUXSMn8

If you like Hotline Miami and haven't played Ape Out, go do so immediately. It's a similar top-down, action-packed, die-easily style of game, but Ape Out just really clicks with me in such an incredible way. Ape Out just has so much style to it. I mean this art style is just so instantly powerful, utilizing the bold, simplistic color schemes to immediately set the tone combined with a shaky cam feeling. It does so much with so little. And instead of a normal score, you get one that evolves as you play, with jass drum combat that makes it feel like you're playing Whiplash: The Game. Has anyone here played De Blob? Another wildly underrated game, but I always thought the adaptive soundtrack of that series was so revolutionary and I'm surprised so few games have attempted it. You don't have to be a rhythm game to be clever about the impact of the music!

13. Sayonara Wild Hearts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-RyxYcxSQ4

You don't need to be a rhythm game to be clever about the music, but it helps! I would legitimately go as far as to say that Sayonara Wild Hearts is, without much question, my favorite indie game soundtrack (HM to Hollow Knight, Celeste, and one of my top 10), and one of my favorite game soundtracks of all time. Like I don't have much VGM in my main spotify soundtrack, but the entire Sayonara Wild Hearts soundtrack is there. Absolute gorgeous game in every way, to the point where even if the gameplay sucked, I'd still love it because it's such an incredible sensory experience. The gameplay doesn't suck though, it's fast-paced and fun in an interesting action/racing rhythm game style that's unique from pretty much anything else I've played. And when I died I was fine with it, because it just means I'd get to listen to the song again.

And that closes out the 2nd highest tier. There are 12 of my absolute favorite games left in the final tier.