“You think you’re special, little man?”: My 14 Favorite Trailers from the Indie Quest Showcase 2025
Artis Impact by Mas
I missed the live airing of Indie Quest 2025 so I played catch-up over the weekend. Immediately, I knew I made the right decision. Overworld maps are back in a big way! I think I found my people.
As with all my coverage so far, I’ve deliberately kept some of these impressions brief in the interest of bringing attention to more titles. I want to thank the organizers for including timestamps (I can’t stress how much they help)–now if only we could do something about the horrific numbers of ads.
So grab your sword and stock up on potions. It’s not THAT dangerous to go alone, but I’m thankful for the company.
Note: I’m including the full showcase here because many of these specific trailers don’t exist independently, yet. I apologize for the inconvenience—I tried to find them.
The Time I Have Left
The Time I Have Left is a genuinely cool surprise.
It has a distinct style and a nightmarish world that I want to fully immerse myself in–but there’s also a constantly ticking clock to prevent the player from getting too comfortable.
It has a demo you can check out now.
The Backworld
You’d be forgiven for being lulled into thinking this is just another pixel art, Earthbound / Undertale inspired adventure…and then it flips the switch. Suddenly, we’re left to battle fleshy abominations while a chaotic soundtrack hums in the background.
Top Hat Studios has been absolutely crushing it lately. This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about them in the lead up to Summer Game Fest and I doubt it will be the last.
Forge of the Fae
Forge of the Fae is stunning–but it’s a bunch of the little details that caught my attention in this trailer (the turn order displayed at the top of the screen during combat, a possible day/night cycle, etc.). I’m excited to learn more–but with no release date (it didn’t even have a request to wishlist at the end of the trailer–though it is on Steam–go Wishlist it for me), we might be waiting a while.
Tactics Returners
There’s something about Tactics Returners that makes me believe it would have been the perfect PSP game.
I am in love with the Amano inspired logo art.
Kingdoms of the Dump
“A game made by real janitors.”
Again, I think I found my people (shout-out to anyone responsible for cleaning up messes).
The artstyle is very Chrono Trigger (especially that shot of the dimly lit throne room), and the clips of traversing the overworld might be the most impressed I was from a graphical standpoint during the whole showcase.
CyberThreat
It might be a combination of the soundtrack along with the school and train station locations, but CyberThreat gives me Persona vibes (its blank slate NPCs give me Feel the Magic XY/XX vibes).
More games should credit their voice cast in their trailers.
Runa
This is going to sound like something really strange to latch onto, but I’m curious about how the infrastructure works in Runa (both rebuilding whole structures and reactivating lifts). It has base building according to its Steam page. Do I dare get my hopes up that it has Dark Cloud DNA?
My Familiar
F-A-M-I-L-I-A-R
Going into this event, if I told you one of these trailers would contain an original rap, how nervous would you be? It’s awesome, by the way, When the Game Awards inevitably introduces an original song category, this gets my nomination.
If developer Chintzy Ink hasn't used the phrase Zoo-Dystopia in their marketing yet, they’re missing out. Unrelated, but if anyone reading this wants someone to write copy for their indie game, I’m painfully available.
The mantis shrimp is the most character designed creature in the animal kingdom and I’m glad another game recognizes it.
You can make friends here–or you can make maneuvers.
Luminous Nights
I find it incredible that the indie scene has progressed to the point that developers can make their own Kingdom Hearts (the floaty platforming and lock-on sword combos give it away).
That last shot of the protagonist overlooking a palace is so cozy.
Artis Impact
I’ve been following the development of Artis Impact on Twitter for some time and I am completely entranced by its combat animations. This might be one of my most anticipated titles across all of video games right now. It’s out August 7th. Don’t sleep on it.
Also, shout-out to friend of the site Branden from Just the Gems for his stellar presentation skills.
Guard Break
This trailer is a pure, nostalgic dopamine hit.
Its low poly style is imitating not just a game from the original PlayStation but an EARLY PlayStation game (it’s clearly a love letter to 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, but I think I spy some other influences in here too).
It has a demo available now. I will definitely be checking out the full release.
Spaceman Memories
Spaceman Memories blends HD-2D, a thick CRT filter, rural Japan, and Asian mythology. That sounds like a mess, but somehow, in this trailer, it all works. I just hope we’ll have the freedom to explore beyond the 2D plane.
Last Moon
Last Moon’s hand-drawn aesthetic makes it easily one of the prettiest games of the showcase. I worry a bit about the combat (the sword swings don’t seem to have much impact and just sound wet), but with no firm release date, there’s plenty of time to fine tune that.
Class Zero Seven
I’ve been following this one on Twitter, as well.
You play as a delinquent Japanese schoolgirl and punish your rivals with fists, feet, and paper airplanes.
I’m already sold on its combat and look (the smacks sound so satisfying). Now I need to see how the rest of the game plays.
Thanks for reading!
In case you missed it, I kicked off the summer reveal season with a look at the Horror Game Awards Showcase. If this one didn’t satisfy your bloodlust (or trailer lust, I suppose), make sure to check out the 20 trailers I highlighted from that absolutely massive presentation (100+ games and 50 world premieres in about 2.5 hours). It’s under the “Features” tab–probably an article or two below this one.
Check back regularly, I’ll be here all week with even more coverage. IOI just added their own event for Friday (we’re finally going to see their 007 game).