Iron Circus and Indiepocalypse bring cartoonists and game designers together for a collection of experimental independent games

Indiepocalypse is working to bring new ideas to the fore, both with their games and the model for release. A collaboration between lauded cartoonist and founder of Iron Circus Comics Spike Trotman and Indiepocalypse founder Andrew Baillie, Iron Circus Games is working to bring artists and designers together to release a curated selection of independent games. Funding on Backerkit now, the project contains six games covering a broad spectrum of mechanical and artistic styles.

Iron Circus has a long track record of work in independent comics, and is probably best known for its work on the recent Lackadaisy animation, one of the recent non-studio projects to explode in popularity. The quality of animation and genuine identity, free of soul-sucking corporate interest, gave it a rare spark of life that I am encouraged to see in the modern landscape. Indiepocalypse has been steadily releasing game bundles for the past few years, and this collaboration sees them bringing the finest in artistry and programming together for some of the most unique games I have looked at in quite some time.

I will discuss some of the games in detail below, but I first want to mention how much I appreciate this approach to independent releases. Too often a small project will be overlooked in the sea of new releases. Indiepocalypse’s model will go a long way to highlighting these projects. Where at first you may only be interested in a few of the games, the price and amount of material you will receive will make it much more likely that these smaller projects will find an audience. The result is a greater diversity of ideas and creators who can access that audience, and acts as a great boost to gamers looking to find something different.

Of the games available in the campaign, I got a look at three:

Clown Angel Dragon, by Emily Koonce & Paloma Dawkins

A new god, you must grapple with the limits and rules around your powers to reach your full potential and create a new world. The game features clashing philosophies via art styles and a rock-paper-scissors combat system.

Interactive History of Compuvations and Interactive Software, by PIZZAPRANKS & John-Charles Holmes

I’ve seen many filmed mocumentaries, but this would be the first gaming mocumentary I’ve come across. Compuvations is a playable documentary telling the history of a fake gaming company, replete with versions of their “games” from multiple eras. Crossing genre and visual styles, I find this particularly interesting following my review of Making of Karateka, an actual gaming documentary. In a collection already full of new ideas, this game packs in a smaller collection of even more diverse gaming concepts.

Tale Teller, by Jess M. × Farbs

An exploratory adventure, this game tasks an apprentice storyteller with finding his teacher. Finding your way around the environment and meeting its inhabitants, the game opens up much like a fairy tale book. Its inhabitants are vibrant 2D cutouts, with the 3D background unfolding and filling with color as you make your way through.

To learn more and check out the other games on display, check out the Backerkit campaign running now. Already close to funding, it has extra options for comics bundles, for both child and adult friendly material.

See below for our list of partners and affiliates: