This year finds Indonesian game developers branching even further into different genres of gameplay, offering more variety and fun to keep fans busy. We take a look at some of the most notable local game releases of 2018 and eagerly await what Indonesia’s developers have in store for the upcoming year.

Art of War: Battle of Luoyang

This strategic war simulator takes place during the reign of the Han Dynasty and has players controlling various generals in trying to capture cities. The gameplay is one that fans of real time strategy games will appreciate, with strong colorful graphics and a dynamic gameplay that pretty much guarantees a lot of binge playing.

The endless upgrades and strategic options to wade through certainly seals the deal. The Jakarta-based developer, Mainspring Technology, clearly took inspiration from the iconic Romance of the Three Kingdoms video game series, but makes Art of War feel like something that is their own.

Available on Google Play

Billionaire Capitalist Tycoon

Who wants to be a billionaire? This popular tap-based game from the Jakarta-based Alegrium studio has generated a lot of hype for Alegrium, which actually began building it as a mafia-themed simulation game before figuring out that a simple, get-lots-of-money game was not only easier to make, but faster for casual gamers to get into.

The colorful isometric graphics are easy to navigate, as is the gameplay, which has players trying to manage a rich variety of business types — from hotdog joints to illegitimate practices — and the incoming threat levels that may bring them down.

Available on IOS and Google Play

Rage in Peace

Rage in Peace (Courtesy of Rolling Glory/-)

A brutal side-scroller that is as violent as it is cute, Rage in Peace takes the die-many-deaths route of gameplay, taking the players’ prowess for memorization to task.

Through trial and error, players help the game’s main character Timmy escape the grim reaper — hopping and navigating through eclectic traps that includes killer sharks, golden cobras, endless spears and truly unforgettable boss fights. It’s an incredibly addictive game that’s made even better by its surprising emotional beat and ending. It is quite an achievement for the new Rolling Glory game developer.

Available on STEAM

Pamali

Pamali (Courtesy of StoryTell Studios/-)

Billed as an “Indonesian folklore horror” game, Pamali by StoryTell Studios is one hell of a scary-fun introduction to the creepy tales we Indonesians love to tell each other during blackouts.

Four distinct gameplays focus on four different local ghouls, each with their specific spooky aesthetic and background story. So existing fans of — or those intrigued by — famous ghosts like the Kuntilanak, Pocong, Tuyul and Leak would have a grand time playing this.

The visuals focus on a genuine-looking Indonesian locale and set the mood immediately. There’s also a lot of “teaching” about Indonesian taboos and traditions, which are naturally imbued with supernatural beliefs.

All of these things wouldn’t work if the atmosphere did not make Pamali one of the most genuinely scary games to play. The mood, the sound design and the gameplay are geared toward maximum jump scares. It is a perfect game to play with a group of friends.

Available on STEAM

Rising Hell

Rising Hell is a throwback to the busy-looking vertical platform fun of yore, when multiple tries and quick finger reflexes played a crucial part in a victorious gaming adventure.

Developed by Tahoe Games and published by Toge Productions, Rising Hellis a pixel-heavy game with a heavy-metal heart in which players control Arok (or his demon form), whose claw-like weapon is his only means of escaping the decrepit reality of his literal-hell surroundings.

The game has a rather ironic approach to its heavy-metal aesthetic and soundtrack, but doesn’t go overboard with this. Instead, it creates a game, in which everything is in constant kinetic motion and players have little finger-resting time as they try to connect as many combo attacks as they can.

As Arok, players must battle through Beelzebub’s Lair through a variety of colorful big bosses and a variety of traps. In the game, everything is expressive and rockin’ — just as it should be.

Available on PC

Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds

Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds (Courtesy of Semisoft and Another Indie/-)

Inspired by legendary RPGs like the Final Fantasy series and The Legend of Dragoon, Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds is one of the country’s proudest gaming achievements. The game is epic in scale, with an inspired take on classic turn-based combat strategies and tactical play.

Developers Semisoft and Another Indie called the game a “love letter to classic JPRGs [Japanese role-playing video games]” and it shows through the sprawling universe that takes time to comprehend and even more to master.

Available on Steam, to be available on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One in 2019

Supremachina

A retro-looking third-person shooter with a darkly futurist aesthetic, this game by developer Ghostwhale is a kinetic experience that harkens back to the days of playing games in arcades.

Players try to take out enemies with laser beams and futuristic bullets as dark electronic music creates a menacing ambience. Cool-looking enemies, who can go around the screen, make this game stand out, as does the endlessly colorful space landscape.

Available on IOS and Google Play

Project Retrograde

Project Retrograde (Courtesy of Freemergency Studio/-)

A smart multiplayer stick brawler in which competing players try to win by outlasting each other as the surrounding environment tries to kill them (or before they kill each other), Project Retrograde also has a great look to boot.

Its retro Tron-like look may suggest a game that relies heavily on aesthetic nostalgia, but the game is truly exciting in its simplicity. Up to eight players can compete live in the battle arena, as they blast each other with the laser-like bullets.

The arena is Pong-like, meaning that players are able to rely on ricochets, catching their opponents off guard. This is Freemergency Studio’s first project and from the looks of it, they are off to a promising start.

Available on PC