Riffs On GoldenEye 007, Star Fox And Kingdom Hearts, And Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out

August 15, 2026 - 18:15

This week's indie scene is leaning hard into nostalgia, but not in a lazy way. Several new releases take clear inspiration from the N64 and PlayStation era, remixing familiar mechanics into something fresh. One standout is a first-person shooter that borrows the multi-objective structure of GoldenEye 007 but swaps the spy thriller for a neon-soaked cyberpunk heist. Another title channels the on-rails energy of Star Fox, but instead of a spaceship, you pilot a tiny wooden plane through a hand-drawn world that shifts between day and night. There is also a quirky action RPG that plays with the card-based combat of Kingdom Hearts, though here the cards are actual tarot readings that change the battlefield around you.

Beyond the retro wave, animal lovers have plenty to chew on. A dog game has you playing as a scruffy terrier who must herd lost tourists back to a campsite, using barks and nudges to guide them. A cat game flips that idea, casting you as a stray who sneaks through a city at night, stealing fish from market stalls and dodging street sweepers. And for the truly patient, there is a sheep game where you manage a flock across a mountain, dealing with wolves, weather, and the occasional shepherd who wants their wool back.

None of these games are trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they take familiar loops and add a small twist that makes them feel worth your time. The GoldenEye-inspired shooter, for instance, rewards you for ignoring the main objective and exploring every corner of its compact levels. The Star Fox-like plane game lets you choose your own path through a branching map, so no two runs feel the same. The Kingdom Hearts-inspired RPG, meanwhile, encourages you to experiment with different card combos, which can lead to some genuinely surprising boss encounters.

If you are tired of waiting for the next big-budget sequel, these indies might scratch that itch. They are short, focused, and clearly made by people who grew up on the same games you did. And if you just want to watch a dog bark at a tourist, that option is there too.