EntertainmentgamingGame Releases
Highguard, a hyperpop arena shooter and other new indie games
Alright, let's dive into this week's indie chaos, starting with the weirdest drama: the Switch version of *Dispatch* just dropped, and it's got everyone talking because it's censored with big black bars covering up, well, everything. Nintendo's usual line is they don't mess with partner content, but here we are—characters are getting pixelated and flipping the bird is a no-go, while other games like *Cyberpunk 2077* keep their dongs intact on the eShop.It's a confusing mess, with devs AdHoc hinting it might be about Japanese rules, but honestly, it just feels like a strange, half-explained choice that's sparked more debate than the game itself. But the real chatter this week is about *Highguard*, the free-to-play 3v3 raid shooter from ex-*Apex Legends* devs.They broke cover at The Game Awards thanks to a friend-of-a-friend deal with Geoff Keighley, but then went radio silent until launch day, which was a massive tactical error. The community turned on it fast, review-bombing it before most people even got their hands on the controller.Having played a few rounds, I can say the gunplay is snappy—no surprise given the *Titanfall* pedigree—and riding a bear into battle is an absolute vibe. But the maps feel too big for six players, and it's got a steep hill to climb to pull folks away from *Overwatch*.Still, it's free on Steam, PS5, and Xbox, so it's worth a shot. Then there's *Don’t Stop, Girlypop!*, the hyperpop arena shooter that looks and sounds incredible, with a killer soundtrack, but the gameplay doesn't quite land.The visual clutter makes spotting enemies a pain, and the complex 'wave hop' mechanic gave me hand cramps faster than a Soulsborne boss. Slapping rhinestones on my gun was a delight, though.Over in the climbing scene, *Cairn* from The Game Bakers is getting solid reviews for its intense, free-solo-inspired ascents, perfect if you want the thrill without the real-life splat. And keep an eye on *Steel Century Groove*, a rhythm RPG where you battle with dance moves—it lets you load your own MP3s, so you know I'm gonna be throwing some Electric Callboy into the mix. From the roguelike platformer *Wanderling* to the absolutely unhinged *Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator* (yes, you short-sell simulated infants), it's another week where the indies are bringing the wildest ideas to the table, no black bars required.
#indie games
#Highguard
#Don't Stop Girlypop
#Cairn
#Steel Century Groove
#Nintendo Switch censorship
#featured
