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Kakuchopurei SEA Indie Game Awards & Appreciation 2023
December is the month when we recollect our thoughts and present them yet again in a retrospective fashion. Like in the form of a “Best Of Year” list to remember the good times while forgetting the bad times.
While we do have a Best Games of 2023 list already out, we also have to praise the work done by the region we’re in: Southeast Asia (SEA). We have a good number of game developers in the region making great games, with some of them out right now. This feature is to celebrate those titles.
Before we start, here is the list of jurors & awesome friends of KKP joining us to present the awards.
The Magic Rain is an anime, cosplay, and gaming news outlet and event organiser. The company recently launched an Indie Jam 2023 event.
Gamer Matters is a video game news site in Malaysia covering various game topics and news. Go check out their recent Best Games of 2023 selections!
Kaigan Games is one of the leading indie game developers in Southeast Asia. They are known for the Simulacra horror game series and are currently developing the upcoming sci-fi title Nullspace.
Weyrdworks is a Malaysian game development studio known for its award-winning eccentric games and a penchant for tinkering with experimental interactive experiences. The company is working on an upcoming pet simulator title named Weyrdlets.
Game developer, game journalist, co-founder of game studio Make With Friends and 2022 The Game Awards Future Class member. Check out the Make With Friends website here.
With that said, here are our picks:
If you ever wanted to turn the loot from your dungeon excursions into mouth-watering delicious meals. This is it. The game finds a balance between two genres, one being a roguelite and the other being a management sim. You gather resources by killing enemies and breaking objects in a dungeon which then supplies your restaurant growth, which also funds your combat upgrades. It just makes sense.
Characters (and food) are beautifully drawn, there are tons of quests and NPCs to talk to, and this game just keeps giving. The game having delicious SEA recipes to unlock is also a fun little touch. – Jeremy Ooi, Kaigan Games
Cuisineer is a casual and relaxing take on the action-savvy roguelite genre mixed in with some breezy-if-simplistic-and-slow management gameplay. Even if you feel like you have to manage your expectations a tad, you’ll do fine in Battlebrew Productions’ latest, especially with the isometric attack-savvy bits where you let a cat girl go hog wild with a flame-powered spatula and grenade egg timers against fire elemental yaks and sentient potatoes tossing projectiles.
Battlebrew’s latest is definitely a must-play if you want a hybrid experience consisting of a roguelite and a Diner Dash tribute. – Kakuchopurei
This year’s action RPG slots are dominated by the fourth Diablo game and the Remnant sequel. But in case you don’t have a ton of money and want something a bit more unique, you can’t go wrong with 2023 Singapore-made gem Ghostlore, complete with old-school aesthetics and old-fashioned “dungeon crawling”.
If you fancy hunting ghosts in isometric action RPG form, you may want to put this Singapore-made title on your “to buy” list. It’s fast-paced, it has an inventive power-up system with a “block arranging” element to it via the glyph system, and it features a ton of Southeast Asian folklore ghosts and spirits to kill.
Just the vibe and inclusion of such classical ghosts like toyols and pontianaks are enough to make this action RPG entry uniquely Asian. We do hope to see the duo of Andrew Teo and Adam Teo go far with the genre. – Kakuchopurei
Coffee Talk Episode 2 perfectly encapsulates the feeling of sitting down with an old friend; from the warm nostalgia of reminiscing on the good ol’ days, to the excitement of introducing new faces to the circle.
Paired with a loveable cast of new characters and the same thoughtful approach to difficult topics, Episode 2 is everything you’d expect out of a sequel to a beloved game — and leaves you wishing for another cuppa. – The Magic Rain
The “More Please” moment for the Coffee Talk series flows quite well with this 2nd episode also by Toge Production. This brings in more relaxing tunes as you settle in, mix drinks and maybe change lives once again, and remember, there’s no such thing as too many Teh Tarik for your favourite character. – Gamer Matters
Coffee Talk Episode 2 reminds me that once in a while, we just gotta slow down and just enjoy the company of others. Sometimes the stakes don’t have to be high, and just listening to the daily struggles of everyday people can bring comfort, joy and a good time. The combination of colourful cast and relatable stories makes for a chill and relaxing time. Something that you can enjoy over a cup of coffee. By the way, you can make latte art in this game. That’s pretty neat. – Jeremy Ooi, Kaigan Games
‘MOVE MOVE MOVE!‘ is what I constantly remind myself to do in Katana Rama as I dash to kill mobs with my katana-lightsaber crossover. This fast-paced action game delivers enticing visuals, splendid boss fight cutscenes, and an ecstatic Tron-like neon colour palette. The game is easy to pick up and play, so even noobs like me can enjoy the game! – Wing Yee, Weyrdworks
Full disclosure, I served as additional support for Katana Rama. I came on at the end of the project to help with some marketing-related duties, and the developers are dear friends of mine.
So Katana Rama captures this sort of nostalgia for the Dreamcast era of gaming, where things were just like… kind of a vibe. The game feels good to play, which isn’t always the case when you play something combat-centric. Overall, it’s something fun, fast-paced, and fluid – exactly the type of game you would love to tell your friends about, and then dare them to beat your high score. – Sophie Azlan
Made by ex-Passion Republic developers who worked with luminaries like PlatinumGames (pre-Babylon’s Fall), I do feel this action game may be on the short side. But it has that action game aura emanating from its not-so-lengthy runtime.
Katana Rama managed to captivate me with its unique gameplay mechanics, distinctive aesthetics, and undeniable passion from the developer. The consensus is clear – this indie gem has great potential, and with further development and expansion, it could evolve into a must-play title for fans of the action genre. – Lewis Larcombe, KKP
Made by Mojiken Studio, A Space For The Unbound tells a tale about love and nostalgia, of Murakami-esque creatures and superpowers, and the importance of trying to move forward from one’s past. The interwoven stories beat its heart with emotions. Personally, we would recommend starting this one blind. – Gamer Matters
Nominated at The Game Awards 2023, A Space For The Unbound delivers a tear-jerking narrative mirroring struggles that some can relate to. This indie gem blends bitter realities, creating a surreal gaming experience.
The inclusion of adorable cats adds a delightful touch, providing a purr-fect distraction as you immerse yourself in the bittersweet story. The narrative’s depth makes this indie a masterpiece. Missing out on this would be a cat-astrophe. – Wing Yee, Weyrdworks
A Space for the Unbound truly feels like a personal journey that is not only genuine and insanely heartfelt, but relatable without feeling like it’s trying to be relatable, if that makes any sense actively.
Playing the game, you can feel the love that was poured into it, and it comes out as something that leaves a profound impact on you. It was nominated at The Game Awards 2023, and rightfully so. Without going into details, this is the kind of video game that can leave you feeling at the end of it, “Man, I’d like to make a game like this one day.” – Sophie Azlan
In related news, do check out the best games of 2023 from all over the world.
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