Indies are Coming!

August sure was packed with great games so I'm happy to present the very best indie games from last month that you're sure to love.

Nothing causes more disappointment than hype so at Video Chums, we avoid hyping games prior to playing them for ourselves. 🤩

Funguys Swarm Roguelike of the Month

Funguys Swarm is my favourite Survivors-like so far with its adorable presentation and challenge-filled gameplay that rewards each and every unique build that you devise as you play. With lots of unlockables, upgrades, characters, and stages, you'll happily play for a long time! 🍄 v1d30chumz xzyzteywxtywze

Funguys Swarm Review Award image → All of these fruity chums are making me hungry Dodo Duckie Platformer of the Month

Dodo Duckie is one of the silliest games I've played all year and its blend of 2D and 3D gameplay is brilliantly implemented as the campaign is full of perspective-shifting scenarios that often present as elaborate puzzles to work out. And the animal cast is downright delightful. 🦆

Dodo Duckie Review Award image → I've heard of penguin bear but duckie frog?! The Mermaid Mask Adventure Game of the Month

The Mermaid Mask is a detective game with gorgeous art and colourful characters as well as a gripping story that has some truly clever twists and turns. Throw in rewarding and unique puzzles and you're left with an incredible adventure that'll stay with you for quite some time. 🧜‍♀️

The Mermaid Mask Review Award image → Time to put my grey cells to work Lou's Lagoon Casual Game of the Month

Lou's Lagoon is a lovely laidback adventure platformer where you recycle and refine materials to essentially make the world a better place. Chatting with chums as you solve their problems and clean up areas feels great and you get to fly a cute plane between locales; awesome! 🛩️

Lou's Lagoon Review Award image → It's a lovely little town but I can make it even lovelier Parkasaurus: Dinoluxe Edition Simulation Game of the Month

Parkasaurus: Dinoluxe Edition is a funny sim where you tend to dinosaurs' needs and try to make a compelling park for your visitors. Its main appeal is its wide variety of stage-based challenges that'll have you building in some very unique locations to accomplish rewarding goals. 🦕

Parkasaurus: Dinoluxe Edition Review Award image → As long as my dinos are taken care of; that's all that matters Heave Ho 2 Multiplayer Game of the Month

Whether you're enjoying its cooperative campaign or competing in its variety-filled party mode with your chums, Heave Ho 2 is absolutely bursting with multiplayer good times that'll offer as many laughs as it does frustration. I hope you haven't been skipping arm day! 💪

Heave Ho 2 Review Award image → We just had quite the swingin' party! OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek Party Game of the Month

OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek is a very cool asymmetrical multiplayer experience where teaming up to hide and run from a ghost makes for delightfully tense matches. It's so well-balanced and has lots of unlockables that playing match after match almost always feels fresh. 👻

OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek Review Award image → Is that bunny chum really a human? Brave Escape Co-op Game of the Month

Brave Escape is one of the most underrated games I've played all year and its co-op gameplay where 1 player is a cowboy and the other is a robot is a ton of fun. Its single-screen stages are so well designed that mastering them while trying to snag collectibles is a blast. 🤠

Brave Escape Review Award image → I got you, little robot buddy Dead Estate Twin-stick Shooter of the Month

Dead Estate is a very well-presented isometric shooter with superb audio and stylish visuals that really make its world pop. With its challenging roguelike structure and a bonus stealth survival horror game, there's a lot to love and you'll happily play it for hours. 🏚️

Dead Estate Review Award image → I really want to pop whatever's on these monsters' heads Turnip Mountain Arcade-Style Game of the Month

Turnip Mountain is the sort of game that I imagine would be well-adapted for arcade play as you could see how high you can climb before falling. The clever jump-based gameplay really puts your skills to the test and the clever stage designs really shine with uniqueness. ⛰️

Turnip Mountain Review Award image → I'm so close to being able to reach that key... Star Racer Retro-Inspired Game of the Month

Star Racer was clearly inspired by old-school futuristic racing games yet it incorporates so many fresh mechanics that it stands tall on its own. With complex gameplay that's tricky to master, you'll have a wonderful time once it all clicks so stick with it, chums! 🏁

Star Racer Review Award image → Futuristic racing all the way from the year 2000 Monsters are Coming! Indie Game of the Month

Finally, the very best indie from August is Monsters are Coming! which combines Survivors-like gameplay and a tower defense city-building element. It's so much fun that I mastered every single stage and can't wait to play more so if it sounds intriguing, definitely play it! 🏰

Monsters are Coming! Review Award image → Another triumph for me and my city! Gameplay video playlist for Indie Game of the Month Awards August 2026 114:19

Sections on this page: Funguys Swarm, Dodo Duckie, The Mermaid Mask, Lou's Lagoon, Parkasaurus: Dinoluxe Edition, Heave Ho 2, OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek, Brave Escape, Dead Estate, Turnip Mountain, Star Racer, and Monsters are Coming!.

You may also be interested in these: Fun Indie Games, Top 10 Games to Chill With During Summertime, Virtual Console vs. Switch Online, 2D Switch Games, Mega Man 9 vs. Mega Man 10, 4 Player Indie Games, ACA NeoGeo Shoot 'em Ups, Metal Gear Solid 2: Classic Stealth Action at Its Prime, Astral Chain vs. NieR: Automata, and Heavy Rain vs. Beyond: Two Souls.

Filed under: Articles › Indie GOTM Awards.