14 DAY TRIAL // Without a doubt, in the last few years independent studios have started producing more and more stunning experiences, pushing the industry forward in ways that big publishers can no longer do as they don't want to take any risks at all.
2013 was particularly filled with some great indie games that each emphasized all sorts of emotions or gameplay mechanics.
For me, by far the best and most fun indie title of the year is Shadow Warrior, coming from Polish developer Flying Wild Hog and publisher Devolver Digital.
The original Shadow Warrior was a staple of 1990s arcades alongside Duke Nukem and other such cheesy shooters.
When I heard that the old title was getting a reimagining, I got a wee bit worried, but things quickly returned to normal when I heard that Flying Wild Hog, the studio behind the stunning Hard Reset first-person shooter, was handling the new title.
The result was finally released back in September and it's stunning, to say the least.
First and foremost, the visual style and quality blows other games out of the water, as the studio's proprietary Road Hog engine once again shows off its power and style, especially in terms of presentation.
Then there's the actual gameplay, with players being able to wield not just regular guns, but also the iconic katana. While shooting still feels great, just like in Hard Reset, using the katana delivers a much more visceral and impressive experience.
While Shadow Warrior could easily rely on graphics and gameplay to make an impression, the story's not so bad either, as the Polish studio managed to nail a great plot that knows when to parody and riff on stereotypes and when to deliver serious sequences.
Props, of course, go to Lo Wang, the protagonist, who constantly spouts cheesy puns using his own name after defeating different enemies.
Throw in the recently released Survival Mode DLC and Shadow Warrior is a phenomenal indie game that shouldn't be missed.