5 Interesting Indie Games at PAX East

Big-budgeted, highly marketed video games absolutely dominate the industry (Grand Theft Auto V generated more than $1 billion in three days!), but indie games are an important market segment, too. Titles like Banner Saga, Gone Home, and Rogue Legacy represent relatively small games that provide big entertainment for a fraction of the price of mainstream, juggernaut titles—you can purchase an acclaimed indie for roughly $15.

That's a wonderful thing in this era of the troubled AAA game, a time when $60 titles ship to stores littered with bugs that require massive Day 1 patches.

Indie games, free from large publishers' vice-like grip, often dare to be different. While AAA titles typically feature shooting, shooting, and more shooting, indie games come in a variety of flavors. And PAX East is full of them.

In fact, the show plays host to the Indie Megabooth, dedicating a sizeable chunk of the spacious Boston Convention and Exhibition Center show floor to these smaller titles. The Indie Megabooth has scores of independent games, and in years past I've had serious hands-on time with the likes of Broforce and Shovel Knight before they reached their final forms. It's truly a great place to hunt for the next big thing in the independent video game space.

So, you're probably asking "What is the next big thing?" Logical question! Honestly, no one can know for certain, but there are a handful of games that certainly have the potential to blow up. Below are the five indie games that you should look forward to playing later this year.

20XX (PC)
Remember Mega Man? At times it feels like Capcom doesn't, but that hasn't stopped legions of gamers from lamenting the Blue Bomber's absence in recent years. If you count yourself among them, keep an eye out for BatteryStaple Games's 20XX, a co-op rogue-like game that takes cues from the beloved Mega Man X. In it, you explore procedurally generated levels, collect new weapons and abilities, purchase upgrades, and battle mighty robotic bosses. You can give it a test drive right now via Steam Early Access or await the full release sometime in the first half of the year.

Adventures of Pip (PC, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox One)
Tic Toc Games may not be a familiar name, but the developer's comprised of members who have created titles for Disney, Nickelodeon, Sony, and WayForward. The team's indie game is a novel one: You play as Pip, a 1-pixel hero in a 32-bit world who's tasked with defeating the Skeleton Queen. Pip has the unique ability to absorb defeated enemies' pixels to increase his size and abilities. You can buy Adventures of Pip in May.

Gathering Sky (Android, iOS, PC)
Gathering Sky has the potential to be 2015's Journey. You guide a single bird through the sky as you explore the game world and find other birds to join you. The goal? Fly through beautiful environments and create an expressive story without words. You can expect to see Gathering Sky in digital marketplaces in mid-April.

Jotun (PC)
You play as Thora, a Norse warrior who has died an inglorious death and must face purgatory's challenges before entering Valhalla. Your mission is to find the runes that unleash the powerful jotun, giant Norse elementals. If you defeat them, you'll impress the gods and be granted access to Valhalla. Jotun will be available in September for the Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms.

Leap of Fate (Mobile, PC)
Leap of Fate, a cyberpunk action-RPG from Clever-Plays, explores the hidden underworld of present day New York City where select mages—who have the power to bend reality—undergo a rite of passage in order to reforge their futures. Packed with randomly generated levels, multiple skill trees, and more than 100 magical abilities, Leap of Fate requires player to deftly combine powers and strategically place their characters on the battlefield in order to conquer their demons and regain control of their lives. Expect Leap of Fate later this year.