Freeplay Student Games
One thing I think the games industry press at large does a very bad job of is paying attention to the up and coming new talent that comes out of game design courses across the world. It is tough to try and keep track of, but one cool thing these courses have started to include is for students to upload their games to Steam for the wider public to check out.
Digipen is especially good with this - every week, they upload a game students have created through their program, available to play for free. These games have previously always been available through Digipen’s website - but putting them on Steam gives them a new lease on life, opening them up to a newer, wider audience.
There’s plenty of gold in these experiences - nuggets of cool design ideas, beginnings of wonderful indie games and much more. Well worth keeping an eye on. Note: Every one of these games is available to play for free.
Equinoxe
Hailing from IIM - Institute of Internet & Multimedia - Equinoxe is a contemplative 3rd person narrative game with some puzzle elements.
Fayburrow
A positively gorgeous 3rd person mystery game that I wish there was an expanded sequel to.
Malyshka
One of the only non-student games on this list, this first time dev has created a fascinating little game with wonderful mishmash of art styles, narrative, music and mystery.
Legend of the Outlaw Mage
SMU Guildhall is another great producer of cool student games, albeit a little less regular. Outlaw Mage is a fun little top down action RPG set in the cartoony wild west.
Sword of Atlas
Grid based and real time, this student project out of University of Utah has some cool ideas and nice pixel work.
Shadow Burglar
A short and sweet stealth game with cool shadow-melding mechanics.
Witchpunk
A skateboarding shooter arena game with a funky art style.
Tag: The Power of Paint
Tag: The Power of Paint is the first person puzzle game that would inspire the now infamous mechanical additions to Portal 2.