Friday Follow-UP: Hirogami, MOTIONREC, Tanuki: Pons Summer, MindVenture, APWOT, and more!
This week, we have a handful of indie games to wishlist, A Profound Waste of Time is gearing up for Issue 5, and Lost in Cult is back with a new Design Works featuring the indie darling Outer Wilds.
Wishlist XP
MOTIONREC is an action game where you progress through stages by recording and replaying your own movements. They are demoing the game right now at Tokyo Game Show and I am very jealous of attendees. The visuals remind me of Gato Roboto, and the gameplay looks completely fresh and unique to this genre.
🎮MOTIONREC | Steam | Twitter
🗓️Release Date | 2025
Pon is a Tanuke (not a raccoon!) just a month away from the Tanuki Festival. With his shrine in disrepair, he picks up a part-time job at the local Post Office to fund the necessary repairs. Pon’s skills as a BMX biker add a fun twist, letting you pull off tricks while making deliveries. The cutscenes in TANUKI: Pon’s Summer are animated in a Ghibli-esque style, bringing a charming and whimsical touch to Pon’s adventure.
🎮TANUKI: Pon’s Summer | Steam
🗓️Release Date | Coming Soon
I came across vhalennn’s new game, MindVenture, on Threads, and it was an immediate follow for me. The style of the game looked great, and even though the game type isn’t usually my style, it still drew me in. The trailer does a great job of capturing the game’s look and feel. You join a group of explorers to play, discover, and create your own adventures with friends.
🎮MindVenture | Steam | Threads
🗓️Release Date | TBA
Big Hops is a fresh and froggy action-platformer focused on deep movement and emergent gameplay! Use parkour and your tongue to explore 3 huge, colorful worlds full of charming animal friends and discover a huge range of surprising, playful interactions with veggies and gadgets!
🎮Big Hops | Steam | Twitter
🗓️Release Date | Coming Soon
Hirogami was just revealed during last night's Convergence Showcase. You explore a beautiful origami world as Hiro, a fan-wielding master of the art of ‘folding.’ Embark on a mystical journey to save your fragile home from deadly digital invaders. The intro shows your origami character flying up to a platform, unfolding into a flat piece of paper, and reanimating back into Hiro when you land. It looks amazing.
🎮Hirogami | Steam | Website
🗓️Release Date | 2025
Crowdfunding Checkpoint
A Profound Waste of Time was the first campaign I ever backed, and it was during the pandemic. It was slightly delayed due to delivery issues, but when I received my special edition Issues 1 and 2 of the magazine, I was blown away. It’s the peak of video gaming magazines and books combined. The artwork featured throughout elevates it to new levels, with a fresh design that gives it a premium feel. Since then, Caspian Whistler has released two more campaigns for Issues 3 and 4, and now he’s back with a pre-launch page for Issue 5.
The special edition of Issue One is glow-in-the-dark, and Issue Two features a rainbow edition of the panoramic cover. These elements add to the premium style of APWOT. You can save the new project now to get notified once it launches.
I picked up a few addons, like a bookmark and pin designed by Keita Takahashi of Katamari Damacy fame. His collaboration solidifies APWOT as a standout publication deeply rooted in the indie gaming world, covering stories from developers, artists, gamers, and studios, big or small.
Speaking of Keita Takahashi he has a new gaming coming soon. To a T is a narrative adventure about a 13-year-old whose body is shaped like the letter "T." Set in a quaint seaside town, players explore on foot, by train, or their trusty unicycle, meeting a quirky cast of characters along the way. From a loyal dog and caring mom to bullies and a sandwich-making giraffe, the town is full of surprises. After a chance encounter, the teenager gains a new ability, setting off a story that revolves around a mysterious glowing object that falls from the sky.
📔A Profound Waste of Time Issue 5 by Caspian Whistler — Kickstarter | Website
🎮to a T | Steam | Website
Quest Loot
I asked if anyone wanted a post about gaming merch and received great feedback, so I’ll introduce this in the newsletter. If it gets a good reception, I’ll make it a dedicated post on gaming merch. What better way to start than with the newly announced Outer Wilds: Design Works by Lost in Cult.
Design Works is a series of books focusing on indie game titles, featuring exclusive interviews, never-before-seen art, essays, and more in a 250+ page book. It is the definitive way to better understand the game and the inspirations behind it.
Outer Wilds is one of the most celebrated indie games of our time, and seeing a definitive tribute to this modern classic fills me with joy. Just look at the deluxe edition add-ons—the included papercraft ship is jaw-droppingly gorgeous!
The pre-order campaign ends on November 2nd, so be sure to save your pennies to get your hands on a wonderful piece of indie gaming history. I’m currently waiting for my copies of the Eastward and Sable Design Works.
Outer Wilds Design Works Deluxe Edition | Pre-Order
Lost in Cult | Website | Twitter
Great selection. Tanuki and Hirogami look like future gems.
So many charming games! A Profound Waste of Time looks super pretty and I will check it out. Also, I really need to play Outer Wilds. That book and papercraft of the ship is beautiful. I've heard so much about Outer Wilds, specially regarding its storytelling and exploration.