Indie games that you missed this semester – Annenberg Media

Chants of Sennaar

A game that teaches you how to master five languages

Release date: Sep 5, 2023

An indie game studio from Toulouse, France created a puzzle game about deciphering alien languages.

This game is full of words we can’t understand. To decipher them, all we have to do is talk to the people present and observe their behavior (similar to learning a language by communicating with people of different races in No Man’s Sky).

Do you want to feel like the first person who ever learned to speak a foreign language? Then try this game.

We play as an outsider who wakes up in a strange tower, where people speak in ways we can’t quite decipher. We observe their body language and surroundings to figure out what the different words mean, write down our guesses, and record them. This reminded me of when I was a kid playing indie games that weren’t in English or Chinese, and I had to guess what each button meant.

The more words you decipher, the more you can understand what others are saying, thus solving the problem of the language barrier.

When you play Chants of Sennaar, you will find that it’s no easier than a proficiency test. There are five different languages spoken by different races; not only their folk culture and architectural style are different, but also the grammatical structure of the language has great differences: subject-verb-object, inversion (like French verlan), superposition, multiple meanings of one word, root word deformation and many other grammatical structures you can observe throughout the game.

Our “reading comprehension” ability is not only tested, but the gameplay also requires us to master the “advanced interpretation” skills – acting as a translator between the races. In the process, you will find the same thing in different races’ languages will have completely different semantics, coupled with differences in cultural practices, and other differences will lead to racial estrangement and hatred,

“Chants of Sennaar” caters to an audience that enjoys deep narrative experiences combined with intellectual challenges. The game’s unique approach to puzzle-solving through language translation is its most distinctive feature, which could be both a source of enjoyment and difficulty, depending on your interests and abilities.

The blend of storytelling, exploration, and puzzles, set in a richly crafted world, makes it a rewarding experience for players who engage with its complexities.

The core mechanic of deciphering fictional languages through context clues and grapheme matching is innovative. Players who enjoy linguistics, cryptography, or puzzle-solving will likely find this aspect particularly engaging.

Gameplay clip:

Also, a warm congratulations to Chants of Sennaar for being nominated at The Game Awards 2023 and Steam Awards 2023!

Head Bangers: Rhythm Royale

The Rhythm version of Fall Guys

Release date: Oct 31, 2023

A multiplayer online battle royale rhythm game from a studio in France.

In each game, 30 pigeons will fight for the crown in 23 different mini-games split over four emu-sing rounds.

There is custom music dedicated to each level and you can customize your pigeon with cute skins/clothes/ What is cool is that other than traditional “hit on the beat” rhythm games, there are other levels like:

1. Faster than sound (identifying the instrument)
2. The battle box (rap battles)
3. Yes commander (Simon says)
4. First piano shooter (remember the notes)
5. Many more to be discovered by you

What is enjoyable is that this is a game for all levels. It does not require a strong musical rhythmic talent to play, and different levels play differently, enhancing each player’s experience!

Tap tap tap on!

Gameplay clip:

Sneak Out

Among Us, but you don’t have to lie

Release date: Coming Soon; was available upon request on playtest

A six-player online hide-and-seek game.

One of the six players gets randomly selected as the hunter at the start of the game, and the remaining five need to escape and hide to avoid being caught. Meanwhile, they also have to do the tasks on the map in their free time to unlock a portal to successfully escape.

The players who are hiding have their own active skills and can transform into scenery items that are not easily detectable. There are also a lot of functional props on the map to help players fight against the hunter. For example, you can also pick up barrels to smash the hunter unconscious. Even if you are caught inadvertently, you can also transform into a ghost to access new skills to interfere with the hunter to help the rest of your teammates.

The hunters can choose between one of two talents after having captured a person, boosting their permanent attributes for the rest of the game. Hunters also have their own skills to catch all players faster.

Coins are gained after each round, it can be used to unlock different characters, upgrade their active skills, or customize their outfits.

“Sneak Out” offers a blend of stealth, strategy, and social interaction in a fantasy setting, which can be highly appealing to players who enjoy multiplayer games with a tactical edge.

The game is well-suited for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay, strategic planning, and the thrill of hide-and-seek dynamics in a virtual setting.

The game’s design for up to 6 players encourages social interaction, teamwork, and competition.

Official trailer:

All presented games are available on platforms; and with the Holliday sales coming up, now would be the right time to snuggle up and get gaming, indie style!