Screenshot Weekly – Fallen Empires, Dark Caves, Strange Knights

Welcome back to Screenshot Weekly !

! Every Tuesday, IGM brings you exclusive looks at upcoming games in various stages of development. The featured image introducing each game will always be original, and made especially for IGM, so you’ll see them for the first time right here (make sure to click the pics to see them in their full screen glory)! Without further ado, let’s take a look at this week’s screenshots:

Exodus Wars: Fractured Empire

Fans of tactical strategy games such as Warhammer and Total War will be interested to know about Exodus Wars . The game is described as “a 3D turn-based strategy wargame that puts you in brigade-level control of futuristic infantry and armored companies, as well as huge super-vehicles.” The folks at Membraine Studios are hard at work developing an “engaging and fully realized sci-fi universe set in a period of interstellar civil war,” with an intriguing mix of notable features. Such features include: An extensive, expanding roster of units for each faction (currently there are two factions – The Royal Empire of Man and the Guild Legions), a cover system, and fast-paced combat that breaks the traditional “You Go, I Go” phase of most strategy games. If you’d like to find out more about Exodus Wars: Fractured Empire , or get some hands on time with the game, you can check out the Early Accesspage on Steam. (It currently costs $19.99.) Additional information can be found on the developer’s websiteas well.

Hollow Knight

Australia has seen quite a boom in terms of the indie development community. There are an incredible number of studios working on a vast array of games from every part of the “land down under.” This week, we’re taking a look at Team Cherry‘s Hollow Knight , which was described to me as “a 2D action adventure, with a focus on gorgeous, atmospheric art and fluid, challenging gameplay.” According to story lore, the game takes place “in the vast, underground world of Hallownest.” In terms of inspirations for the title, Team Cherry cited such early gaming entries as Metroid , Faxanadu , and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (that’s right, Zelda II . Not a fan? Well excuse me, princess). A number of locomotive abilities will be available to the player as they explore deeper into the depths of Hallownest, from dashes to wings for reaching high places, to the ability to explore people’s dreams. The game is currently on Kickstarter, so you can check out the campaign for more info, or just pledge your Greenlightsupport.

Last Refuge

The fine folks at Toaster Squirrel may have a potentially unnerving studio name, but their work-in-progress 2D action-RPG platformer titled Last Refuge sounds far more inviting. The game, currently looking for votes on Steam Greenlight, is described as an exploration and adventure experience, where players will be focused on combing the depths of Ratosk in search of monstrous hordes, and the loot they keep hidden. Crafting is a major component of the game, as the player will be able to return to the surface to better their gear in hopes of delving deeper into the caves. Making the trip more difficult are randomly generated dungeons that will keep adventurers on their toes. Luckily, there are nine different weapon types to craft and equip, which will be necessary for exploiting the weaknesses of various adversaries. The game also features co-op support for up to 4 players, so you won’t have to face the dangers ahead all by your lonesome. For the latest Last Refuge updates, be sure to follow the team on Twitter.

That’s it for this week’s Screenshot Weekly . Be sure to come back next week to see more exclusive looks of the latest indie games in development! Let us know in the comments section what upcoming indie games you’d like to see featured in a future installment. As for any indie developers who would like to see their screenshots featured in an upcoming segment, feel free to send an email to IGM at editors@indiegamemag.com with the Subject Line: “Screenshot Weekly”. Or, if you’d like to be part of our Magazine’s Screenshot Monthly segment, include that in the email as well!