iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 27/09/2026

Movement, racing, dungeon crawling, roguelite combat and progression. These games rewarded me for experimenting instead of playing the obvious way. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/x08k4breOOk #gaming #indiegames @racejam.bsky.social @firstbreaklabs.bsky.social @whitethorngames.bsky.social

youtu.be

These Games Changed How I Played

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

082

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 24/09/2026

The soulslike combat in this game made me re-think my typical approach. The way parries, stagger, and Ave & Lune’s abilities feed into each other made every encounter feel different. ⚔️ Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/eROVofioRbE #gaming #indiegames #soulslike

061

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 17/09/2026

This twin-stick shooter had me second guessing my skills from the jump… then one build experiment changed everything. Runs got very different after that. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/eROVofioRbE #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @slugdisco.bsky.social

040

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 10/09/2026

I was trying to control every shot in this pinball game. And then my build got so strong that I kinda stopped caring where the ball went. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/eROVofioRbE #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @kennymakesgames.bsky.social

071

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 03/09/2026

Some pretty dope demos out today 👀

000

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 03/09/2026

At first, I was just picking upgrades and surviving the swarm. Then I realized I was approaching the whole game wrong. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/eROVofioRbE #gaming #indiegames #bulletheaven @awesomegamesstudio.com

070

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 30/08/2026

The best part of these games wasn't obvious at first. A shooter with ridiculous buildcrafting. A pinball roguelike that lets you break the game. A Survivorslike built around squad synergies. And a surprisingly approachable soulslike. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/eROVofioRbE #gaming #indiegames

youtu.be

These Games Hid Their Best Ideas

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

2103

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 01/08/2026

An indie action adventure RPG game with surprising gameplay mechanics that just keep expanding. #gaming #indiegames #fadingecho @fadingechogame.bsky.social

041

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 31/07/2026

Finally got around to playing Saros. Love how it feels very connected to Returnal but still manages to do its own thing.

000

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 30/07/2026

This indie action adventure RPG never really stopped adding new things to figure out. Every time I thought I had the gameplay down, it gave me something new to play with. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/qvY3egLxPQ8 #gaming #indiegames #fadingecho @fadingechogame.bsky.social

youtu.be

Fading Echo Is More Than Its Combat

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

142

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 25/07/2026

I thought this roguelite was going to feel completely different than it did. One mechanic changed the way I approached every fight. 🎮 #gaming #indiegames #roguelike

031

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 23/07/2026

This roguelite turns a 30-second timer into one of the most interesting gameplay mechanics I've seen. Fast combat, crazy builds, and a loop that kept pulling me back in. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/v0PHZIjv6Yc #gaming #indiegames #roguelite

youtu.be

Ascend to Zero Turns a Countdown Into Its Best Mechanic

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

041

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 18/07/2026

I love when a roguelike shooter makes me unlearn everything I expect from the genre. #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @sidralgames.bsky.social @selectaplay.bsky.social

084

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 16/07/2026

I’ve played plenty of twin-stick shooters, but this one changed how I approached combat. Managing ship resources creates a tense roguelike experience that locks you in. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/6PTm4HcJ3bY #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @sidralgames.bsky.social @selectaplay.bsky.social

youtu.be

Hyperwired Breaks the First Rule of Twin-Stick Shooters

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

052

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 11/07/2026

One minute I'm planning. The next I'm scrambling to hold everything together. 👀 A creative hybrid of top-down shooter and tower defense. #gaming #indiegames #towerdefense @chowbie.bsky.social

051

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 09/07/2026

This indie game never stops progressing. Just when I'd get comfy, a new upgrade changed how I approached the next mission. One of the most engaging top-down shooter + tower defense hybrids I've played. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/JSR-KwAISGs #gaming #indiegames #tacticalshooter @chowbie.bsky.social

youtu.be

This Shooter Turns Strategy Into Action (Antivirus Girl)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

041

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 04/07/2026

I appreciate when an indie game makes me rethink how I play. This FPS did it almost immediately. #gaming #indiegames #fps @wakuwakugames.com

040

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 02/07/2026

This indie FPS breaks one of the biggest shooter conventions... and it completely changes how you play. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/EKbTk6S4re8 #gaming #indiegames #fps @wakuwakugames.com

youtu.be

This FPS Had Me Panicking at Times (The Last Salvage Squad)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

031

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 27/06/2026

Imagine stealing abilities instead of loot. This roguelite takes build crafting somewhere I wasn't expecting. #gaming #indiegames #swapmeat @onemoregame.com

073

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 26/06/2026

One of my favorites to come out this year. They just updated with new content too! I broke down the mechanics and systems that make it one of the most unique hack & slash shooters I’ve come across. 📺 youtu.be/uQojjvV2xzo #gaming #romeoisadeadman

youtu.be

Grotesque, Hilarious, Deep. This Game Does Everything… (Romeo is a Dead Man)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

010

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 26/06/2026

There’s an interesting fascination with game devs and the DVD screensaver logo. There have been 3 games released in the past few months with this theme. Nostalgia or just love of the format? 🤔 I’m genuinely curious. #gamedev #indiegames

051

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 25/06/2026

This roguelite third-person shooter lets you build your character with parts ripped straight off your enemies. It’s a lot deeper than it sounds. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/KM-TwiX-Jz8 #gaming #indiegames #swapmeat @onemoregame.com

youtu.be

The Weirder My Build Got, the More Fun Swapmeat Became

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

032

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 25/06/2026

Great to see Takao still providing updates to the game. I covered Drive Crazy a few months back, and it’s definitely worth checking out. 📺 youtu.be/2vBRFM6m6Ys

youtu.be

DriveCrazy: A Destructive Kei Truck Arcade Racing Game

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

021

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 20/06/2026

Going into this I thought the game was gonna be like that blocky crafting game. It kinda felt that way at first, then totally switched up. #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @runehaven.bsky.social

061

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 18/06/2026

It looks familiar at first… a voxelized world, survival, exploration. But the moment runes show up, it turns into something way more interesting than I expected. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/Xl864yn8o4g #gaming #indiegames #roguelike @runehaven.bsky.social

youtu.be

I Thought Runehaven Felt Like Minecraft Until It Didn’t

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

031

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 13/06/2026

Button mashing got me through the first few fights. This roguelite had other plans. #gaming #roguelike #roguelite @arcsystemworks.com @arcsystemworks.fr

020

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 11/06/2026

Went in expecting another familiar roguelite. Left surprised at how much the systems actually connect and evolve once you get deeper in. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/F8_SErbdfMM #gaming #roguelike #roguelite @arcsystemworks.com @arcsystemworks.fr

youtu.be

The Beat Em Up Roguelite Nobody Told Me About (River City Saga: Journey to the West)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

010

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 06/06/2026

Wow. Definitely some fire coming out of Summer Game Fest.

000

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 04/06/2026

This might be one of the strangest genre combinations I've played recently. It actually works. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/JccVedVE6SA #gaming #fps #bullethell @lunaabyssgame.bsky.social @kwaleegaming.bsky.social

youtu.be

Luna Abyss Changed My Idea of FPS Games

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

010

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 30/05/2026

I did not expect this mechanic to be the thing that hooked me. Now I want more. 👀 #gaming #indiegames #shmup #bullethell

151

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 28/05/2026

I played a bullet hell that somehow convinced me getting closer to death was the correct strategy. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/VybdT2WuDwY #gaming #indiegames #shmup #bullethell

youtu.be

This Bullet Hell Punished Me for Playing Safe (Shikhondo: Blue Pieta)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

131

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 24/05/2026

Sometimes you just want a game that lets you shut your brain off. This absolutely delivered. #gaming #indiegames #hackandslash

041

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 21/05/2026

This game skips the story setup and just throws you straight into massacring entire hordes for loot and busted builds. Honestly, it’s way more fun than it has any right to be. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/sjo8qSXVedo #gaming #indiegames #hackandslash

youtu.be

I Was Surprised This Indie Hack & Slash Got This Wild (The Awakener: Battle Tendency)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

011

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 17/05/2026

The combat looks simple at first. Then one enemy explodes and suddenly everything falls apart. #gaming #nintendoswitch #arianaeldercodex @ifi.games

010

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 14/05/2026

Most magic combat systems want you to spam abilities. This one turned elemental damage into chain reactions so satisfying that I rebuilt my entire loadout just for bigger explosions. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/RhGNmtaSv4E #gaming #nintendoswitch #arianaeldercodex @ifi.games

youtu.be

The Chain Reactions in This Game Are Insanely Satisfying (Ariana and the Elder Codex)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

010

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 14/05/2026

Congrats to the Sektori team on the Nintendo Switch 2 release! Check out my breakdown to learn more about this dope twin stick shooter. 📺 youtu.be/Fs6i0IhhLI8

youtu.be

Sektori: A Roguelike Shmup Game (The Lovechild of Geometry Wars and Gradius)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

030

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 09/05/2026

Every fight felt harder the moment I slowed down. Then I realized the game was literally undoing my progress in real time. #gaming #indiegames #crimsonoath

021

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 07/05/2026

Thought this was another “wait your turn” Soulslike… turns out hesitation is exactly what gets you punished. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/26FNmureYpE #gaming #indiegames #crimsonoath

youtu.be

Why Playing This Like Dark Souls Was the Problem (Crimson Oath)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

031

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 06/05/2026

Sometimes you just gotta embrace the jank. 😉

000

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 02/05/2026

One move turns into two… then five… then chaos. And it doesn’t slow down. #gaming #indiegames #vampirecrawlers @poncle.games

131

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 30/04/2026

This looks like a chill card game… until you realize you’re chaining everything and the whole game starts moving way faster than it should. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/oMYRG8ulL4U #gaming #indiegames #vampirecrawlers @poncle.games

youtu.be

A Deckbuilder With a Surprising Sense of Speed (Vampire Crawlers)

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

021

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 25/04/2026

Looks familiar at first… then it starts bending the rules. Movement, combat, and exploration all shift in ways you don’t expect. #gaming #indiegames #chainstaff @mommysbestgames.bsky.social

0137

Reposted by Backlog Approved

Kimmo Lahtinen @gimblll.com · 23/04/2026

Yes, it's true! Sektori is coming to Switch 2 on May 14th. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IQE...

youtube.com

Sektori - Switch 2 Trailer

YouTube video by Kimmo Lahtinen

1210122

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 18/04/2026

It looks cute. It feels easy. That’s the trap. Next thing you know, you’re all in. #gaming #indiegames #littlenemo @diesoft.games

0155

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 15/04/2026

This is probably the fastest shoot ‘em up I’ve ever played. #gaming #indiegames #radirgyswag

042

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 14/04/2026

This game rewards speed… then punishes you for it. I couldn’t stop playing. Full breakdown 📺 youtu.be/FUqfohNaG8w #gaming #indiegames #radirgyswag

youtu.be

Why speed is your greatest enemy in Radirgy Swag

YouTube video by Backlog Approved

132

Backlog Approved @backlogapproved.com · 12/04/2026

I’ve given auto-battlers multiple tries but none have yet to grab me. I must be doing something wrong? Seems like people love them. Send some recs if you got em.

000