The Critical Moves podcast crew spent their Independence Day discussing indie games. Here’s what they covered, without the usual podcast rambling.
The Last General: Modern Warfare Done Right
One developer is building what Broken Arrow should have been. The Last General tackles modern military combat at the strategic level—you’re the theater commander, not some grunt managing individual soldiers.
The scale here is impressive. Million-plus procedurally generated battlefields. Post-Cold War setting with Western Alliance versus Eastern Bloc forces. You control companies, regiments, logistics, supply lines. The combat uses arrow-drawing mechanics for troop movement and synchronized operations.
Most importantly, it’s learning from Broken Arrow’s mistakes. That game launched without basic features like AI skirmish matches and proper infantry mechanics. The Last General developer is watching and adapting.
One-person development team means unpredictable release schedules. No firm date, which is probably smart given how badly rushed releases have burned other indie titles.
Nebulous Fleet Command: Space Combat Without the Fantasy
Real-time tactics in space, but grounded in physics and tactics rather than Star Wars nonsense. This focuses on sensor warfare—finding enemies before they find you, managing detection ranges, firing missiles across massive distances.
The combat is deliberately slow. Missiles take time to reach targets. You’re working with radar signatures and passive sensors rather than magical targeting systems. Ships can hide in passive mode or risk detection by going active.
Still in early access since 2022. Full campaign planned but not released yet. Recent updates added carrier mechanics. The developers are still actively working on it, which matters more than arbitrary release dates.
Star Traders Frontiers: The Indie Game That Delivers
Made by two brothers who respond to bug reports on Reddit within 24 hours. That level of developer involvement is rare.
You start as a ship captain with customizable backgrounds affecting your starting conditions. The game offers multiple paths—trading, combat, exploration, piracy. Turn-based combat includes both ship-to-ship battles and crew boarding actions.
The boarding mechanics are particularly well-developed. You can disable enemy ships rather than destroying them, allowing for better salvage and cargo acquisition. Combat resembles a turn-based card game with abilities tied to crew skills.
Cross-platform compatibility between PC and mobile versions. The developers have been adding content consistently—ten new classes and expanded storylines since launch.
Fallen Frontier: One-Person Space Opera
Industrial aesthetic inspired by The Expanse. Utilitarian ship designs where every component serves a function. The developer has brought in artists for the ship models, which show impressive detail and variety.
Procedurally generated solar systems suggest open-ended gameplay rather than linear campaigns. The challenge will be creating interesting strategic decisions in the emptiness of space. Early footage shows asteroid fields for cover and radar positioning mechanics.
Originally planned for 2025, but release dates from solo developers are meaningless. The Steam wishlist numbers and Discord community indicate strong interest. The risk is extended development without income, which has killed similar projects.
Battle Brothers: Medieval Mercenary Management
Low-fantasy medieval setting where you manage a mercenary company. Turn-based tactical combat combined with persistent world management. Recruits are expensive and require mental fortitude for the brutal work.
The economic pressure creates meaningful decisions. Can’t recruit everyone you want. Can’t afford to lose experienced fighters. The world becomes increasingly dangerous as you progress, creating escalating challenge.
From Overhype Studios, who are working on Menace—an XCOM-style game set on a distant planet. Published by Hooded Horse, which has a solid track record.
The Indie Advantage
These games share common strengths that AAA titles can’t match. Risk-taking on unusual mechanics. Developer passion over corporate formulas. Direct communication with players. Willingness to iterate based on feedback.
The downside is unpredictable development timelines and limited resources. But when indie developers nail their vision, they create experiences impossible in corporate environments.
That’s the real value proposition. Not cheaper prices or retro nostalgia, but genuine innovation that corporate risk-aversion kills.
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