Back in 2016, Hyper Light Drifter dropped into the gaming world at just the perfect time. That year, indie games were truly finding their footing and making a significant impact on the industry. Think about the standout titles we saw then: Firewatch, The Witness, Inside, Cuphead, Enter the Gungeon, Darkest Dungeon, and not forgetting Stardew Valley. Reflecting on it, 2016 could easily be dubbed the year of the indie game, don’t you think? Just a couple of years prior, we had gems like Her Story, Undertale, Downwell, Soma, Octodad, and Shovel Knight.
A common thread among these games is how they stood out as largely solo experiences, unlike many indie titles we see today. While Stardew Valley does offer co-op, most of those games were crafted to be enjoyed solo. This contrasts sharply with today’s trend of perpetually playable games, like small-scale live-service titles and roguelikes.
Looking back at these now decade-old games, especially Hyper Light Drifter, it’s fascinating to see how much things have shifted with the upcoming Hyper Light Breaker, Drifter’s unexpected follow-up. What drew people to Drifter during its Kickstarter phase was its blend of modern pixel art, a hypnotic synth soundtrack, and an enigmatic world. It delivered on these fronts, offering a game with a narrative you had to piece together yourself.
Hyper Light Drifter focused on combat and world-building, distanced from the industry’s current state. Nowadays, Steam showcases countless developers aiming to be the next big hit, though self-contained experiences have become scarce. Multiplayer’s the big thing, live-service often dominates (despite its challenges), and roguelikes are everywhere. Understandably, during tight financial times, creating endlessly replayable content seems wise, even necessary. Only the more established indie studios can afford to focus on single-player experiences reminiscent of JRPGs or Zelda.
Given this context, it’s understandable that Heart Machine opted to revisit Drifter’s universe and transform it into a roguelike. It likely includes some live-service aspects to maintain player engagement once it fully launches. Whether this decision pays off is still up in the air. The game is truly in early access, with only the foundational gameplay loop currently available. Drifter’s signature combat has translated into 3D quite effectively, and it’s likely to see enhancements in upcoming updates.
Interestingly, the game finds itself among notable company, drawing comparisons to the anticipated FromSoftware release, Elden Ring: Nightreign. Like Breaker, Nightreign is a roguelike featuring procedurally generated maps and formidable bosses. This comparison only further underscores how the industry landscape has evolved over the past decade.
Does this shift sadden me? A bit, yes. There are still developers crafting experiences similar to Drifter and the other indie titles I mentioned earlier—perhaps even more creators focusing on such projects now than before. Yet, with an overwhelming number of games emphasizing replayability, and discoverability becoming increasingly challenging, these solo experiences often struggle for recognition.
It’s no shock that the industry has transformed over the past decade. However, Breaker has been a wake-up call to just how profound these changes are. I’m not passing final judgment here, mostly I hold hope for Heart Machine that they’ll manage to smooth out the early access wrinkles. There’s potential for something truly exceptional if everything falls into place.
