DoomRL

Gaming Genres: Roguelike, Turned-Based Strategy
Story Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Graphical Styles: 2D, ASCII Art, Realism, Pixel Art
Series/World: Doom
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Pricing Model: Free
Developer(s): Kornel Kisielewicz, Mossmouth
Publisher(s): Kornel Kisielewicz, Mossmouth
Initial Release Date: Unreleased (But Completely Playable)
Website(s): Homepage, Official Wiki, Official Forum, Wikipedia
Description:
DoomRL (Doom: the Roguelike) is a fast and furious coffee-break Roguelike game, that is heavily inspired by the popular FPS game Doom by ID Software.

Opinion:
Even unfinished, DoomRL is a lot of fun. It has tremendous depth but is also a game you can learn by playing and just jump in and go (though you will likely want to look up some specifics eventually).

Uniquely, it is both completely roguelike; In that it has randomly generated levels, a complete and in-depth character development system, turn-based combat, and permanent death, as well as originally using ASCII art graphics and having a huge level of detail; while retaining a feeling of an action heavy action-adventure.

It is Doom with an expanded and balanced arsenal, a character development system to complement this arsenal, and with the use of strategy instead of run and gun reflexes. Basically it has everything that the original game had: pistol, shotgun, chaingun, BFG, chainsaw, imp, zombie, explorable barrels, etc; In their original form and with many variations. Unlike the original game you cannot carry everything, so they have made everything balanced so pistols are just as likely to be carried to endgame as are plasma rifles.

Images (+):

Related Media (+):

• Graphical Release Trailer

Indieness: Quintessentially Indie
Play?: Must Play

ALTCODE

Gaming Genres: Retro, Shooter
Story Genres: Science Fiction, Comedic, War, Action
Graphical Styles: 2D, ASCII Art, Retro
Platforms: Windows
Pricing Model: Free
Developer(s): FrankieSmileShow
Publisher(s): FrankieSmileShow
Initial Release Date: November 13, 2011
Website(s): Homepage
Description:

Hordes of robotic ships from another world threaten the earth. As the newly self-aware hive mind of every CRT monitor display humans threw away to replace with fancy flat screen plasma tvs, you have to prove your worth and defend those who originally created you. Maybe they will want you back?!!

Choose one of three possible forms the CRTs could take. The light ship is more maneuvrable. The heavy ship packs more punch, can take more damage but is awkward to shoot and move with. The medium ship is somewhere inbetween. Destroy every robot on your path, the humans depend on it!

Game made for the November 2011 Blitzkast.

Opinion:
A simple stylish horizontal shooter. The ASCII art is fantastic, the combat is good, the upgrades work well.

Images (+):

Related Media (+):

• Trailer

Indieness: Quintessentially Indie
Play?: Should Play

Hyperbolic Rogue

Gaming Genres: Roguelike, Turned-Based Strategy
Story Genres:
Graphical Styles: 2D, ASCII Art
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Pricing Model: Free
Developer(s): Zeno Rogue
Publisher(s): Zeno Rogue
Initial Release Date: November 07, 2011
Website(s): Homepage
Description:
The surface the game is played on is called a hyperbolic plane. It seems there is just a very small amount of games and other works of art which use hyperbolic geometry (the most well known are some works of M.C.Escher).

The game dynamically generates new parts of the world as you move. Due to nature of the hyperbolic plane, the chances that you get back to a place where you have been before are very low (unless you go back exactly the same way).

Opinion:
Hyperbolic Rogue is such a simple Rogue-like that there is not really any Rogue-like left, just the random environment. Regardless, it is quite an intriguing game to play for awhile and is actually quite good looking.

Images (+):

Related Media (+):

• Playthrough

Hints/Tips/Walkthrough (+):

• You are @. You can move with the numpad, vi keys (hjklyubn), or mouse. You can also skip turns by pressing "."
• The # are ice walls. They block your movement, but you generate so much heat that they will melt if you stay close for too long
• The $ is gold. Your goal is to collect as much gold as possible (my current highscore is 163$). However, collecting gold attracts dangerous monsters (on the other hand, killing the monsters allows more gold to be generated)
• If the monster was next to you at the end of your turn, it would kill you. The game protects you from getting yourself killed accidentally by ignoring moves which lead to instant death (similar to the check rule from Chess); however, you will probably eventually run into a situation where monsters surround you, so that you will have to teleport back to Euclidean world to survive by pressing 'q' (quit). On the other hand, if a monster is next to you in the beginning of your turn, you can move into it to kill it
• The Y is a yeti. They are intelligent and always find the shortest path towards you
• The w is an ice wolf. They are very good at tracking heat sources

Indieness: Quintessentially Indie
Play?:

Netpack

Gaming Genres: Retro, Roguelike, Turned-Based Strategy
Story Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Graphical Styles: 2D, ASCII Art, Retro
Series/World: Pac-Man
Platforms: Windows
Pricing Model: Free
Developer(s): Royal Paw
Publisher(s): Royal Paw
Initial Release Date: September 14, 2011
Website(s): Homepage
Description:
Netpack is Pac-Man made into a Rogue-like. It keeps the basic Pac-Man mechanics of eating dots, running from the enemy ghosts, and eating power pellets and in turn chasing enemy ghosts and adds to this Rogue-like features including: turn-based movement and combat, combat when a ghosts come in contact with normal Pack-Man instead of insta-death, character stats and levelling up, and even an inventory.

Opinion:
An interesting concept and if you like Pac-Man I would recommend giving this game a try; But even with all these Rogue-like features it is far from feeling like one.

Images (+):

Indieness: Quintessentially Indie
Play?:

Dwarf Fortress

Gaming Genres: Roguelike, Simulation, Construction & Management
Story Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Graphical Styles: 2D, ASCII Art
Platforms: Windows, MAC OSX, Linux
Pricing Model: Free
Developer(s): Bay 12 Games
Publisher(s): Bay 12 Games
Initial Release Date: August 8, 2006
Website(s): Homepage
Description:
A complex fantasy city simulation that sets you in control of a group of dwarfs to build a fortress, trade with neighbouring civilizations, fight goblins and monsters, or just do whatever. There are several modes of play and no real objects.

Opinion:
The most unique and one of the most engrossing games in existence. Dwarf Fortress really makes you think, and will fill your thoughts with city plans both during and between plays if you fall for it.

Images (+):

Related Media (+):

• Where Do Dwarf-Eating Carp Come From? (The new York Times)
• Dwarf Fortress Stories (+):
• Bronzemurder
• Oilfurnace
• How Seven Drunks Opened a Portal to Hell
• Tholtig Crypthrain the Waning Diamonds, Last Queen of the Bronze Orbs and Ruler of Circletower
• Flarechannel and The Fable of Catten and Eagle
• Bravemule
• Dwarf Fortress Story (Dubious Quality)

Hints/Tips/Walkthrough (+):

• Lazy Newb Pack (+):
• A must use, all in one, easy solution for the needed utilities and tilesets to use with Dwarf Fortress (and comes with DF, so it is a single download to play the game)
• Current thread
• Tutorial on how to use the Lazy Newb Pack
• Video Tutorials (+):
• Feature Length tutorial by captnduck (2.5hr!) [0.31.21+]
• Djrodw's Dwarf Fortress Lets Play [0.31.19]

Indieness: Quintessentially Indie
Play?: Must Play