Following on from Black History Month, what better way is there to celebrate Black game developers than by showcasing some of their games? Here are just a few hidden gems that you should check out.
Treachery in Beatdown City (available on Switch & PC)
Developed and produced by Shawn Alexander Allen, the owner of indie studio Nuchallenger, this retro styled beat-em-up will have you fighting through waves of enemies on a ridiculous quest to save President Orama, who has been kidnapped by Ninja Dragon Terrorists. No, that isn’t a typo.
On your crazy journey to bring back Orama, you’ll have to deal with a whole host of unpleasant people, from the ninja terrorists themselves, to entitled joggers.
This game sees turn based fighting meet real time combat, inventing an innovative new take on the beat-em-up genre. Each of the three playable characters have completely different fighting styles, and you can build custom combos to mow down the dozens of unique enemies; no two fights are the same. To top it off, you can do all this while bopping along to the catchy chiptune OST.
Developer, Shawn, has over 13 years experience working in the world of games, from working on huge AAA titles to smaller projects, and even five years at Rockstar Games where he worked on game trailers.
Check out Shawn’s Twitter here, and find out more about him on his website.
Tiny Bird Garden Deluxe (available on PC & Mac)
Is your life in need of an abundance of tiny colourful birds? Well have I got the game for you!
Developed by husband and wife team Daisy Ein and Zap Layden of Super Retro Duck, Tiny Bird Garden Deluxe is filled with bird puns, birds to take care of, hats to put on the birds, and even a bird that looks like a banana.
Each bird has different friendship requirements, so in order to befriend all of them, you’ll have to figure out what makes each one tick.
As well as customising your garden and earning your feathered friends’ love, there are mini games to play, and even a visual novel story mode to sink your beak into if putting hats on your birds wasn’t enough for you (I don’t know why this would be the case).
The art style in this game is adorable and positively oozing with charm, so if you’re in need of a cute and simple game to relax with, this one absolutely has you covered.
Visit Super Retro Duck’s website here, and follow their Twitter here.
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan (available on PC)
This fast-paced action RPG, brought to you by the first game studio in Cameroon (Kiro’o Games) will have you seeking answers to the question: ‘what is the purpose of mankind?’.
As the newly crowned king, you’ll explore the hand drawn, African inspired world of Aurioma, fighting through dozens of enemies and tough bosses along the way to find out who you really are.
The real time battles take place in a 2D format, and almost feel a bit like Street Fighter, except in this game you have the ability to summon your queen in battle. What a power couple.
The music and sound design is a treat, combining traditional African music with more modern synths.
The fantastical story does a wonderful job of incorporating African culture throughout, and has been praised for its twists and storytelling by reviewers since its release. If you haven’t heard of it, be sure to check it out on Steam.
Check out Kiro’o Games’ website here, and follow their Twitter here
Super Ubie Island REMIX (available on PC)
In this adorable Mario-inspired platformer, you’ll play as Ubie, a cute slime, alien, creature, thing (?) who must defeat Dr Terrestrial, repair his ship, and escape Climate Island.
There are four unique worlds, with plenty of secrets, hidden items, levels and characters to find.
Visually, this game is an absolute treat, with bright colours and a cheery cartoony style which to me feel reminiscent of Yoshi’s Island. The upbeat, catchy music fits this vibe absolutely perfectly, and as Ubie traverses the various levels on a journey with a smile on his face, you simply can’t help but smile too. It’s simple, charming, but overall a really fun time.
Developer Andrew Augustin, the founder of Notion Games, also worked on The Sims 3: Pets, where he designed over 400 characters!
Follow Notion Games on Twitter here, and check out their website here.
Super Weekend Mode (available on Switch, PS4, XBO, PC and Mac)
In this cutesy arcade-style game, you play as a princess on a mission to recover her stolen possessions from “that guy”. On her journey through the labyrinths of despair, bad guys need to be shot and bunnies must be crushed.
The gameplay is centred around three buttons, which may sound simple, but is incredibly addictive and difficult to master.
Think of what would happen if a shooter game had a baby with Guitar Hero, and Super Weekend Mode is probably what that would look like. You’ll need to get those attack patterns burned into your muscle memory if you want to master this.
The art style is incredibly charming and the music is equally as pleasant; and for the incredibly cheap price tag (only £2.09 on Steam) if any of the above appeals to you, it’s absolutely worth checking out!
The solo developer PixelTeriyaki has made other games too (Radio Squid and Mochi Mochi Boy!) with more in the works. Be sure to follow his Twitter here!
Hair Nah (play here)
Hair Nah is a simple online game about a Black woman called Aeva who’s fed up with people touching her hair. The game, made by Black female developer Momo Pixel, went viral when it released back in 2017 after resonating with many other women of colour who’d had the same experiences of strangers feeling entitled to touch their hair.
The pixel art style of the game is beautifully crafted, featuring loads of gorgeous different hairstyles to pick from too (some other games that offer character customisation should take note…)
Get ready to swat those invasive hands away from your locks so you can enjoy your travels undisturbed!
Check out Momo’s website here, and be sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Featured image credits: Super Retro Duck, Nuchallenger, Kiro’o Games, Notion Games.
