TechRaptor's Top Picks From the Itch.Io's Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

It's not often that your hard-earned cash goes towards a good cause, and considering what's going on in the world, it's nice to spread a little love now and then. The Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality, hosted by the platform itch.io, is making headlines for its absurd amount of games. Spending just $5 gets you over 1,000 games. Best of all, it goes to two great charities: the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Community Bail Fund.

There's only so many games we can pick from, so we're going to highlight 10 different titles that you should play from this bundle. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and there's bound to be some diamonds in the rough. Once you're done playing these, there will be plenty left to choose from. 

Neversong

It was a pleasant surprise to find our Editor's Choice, Neversong, available in this bundle. Neversong released just last month, as well! Neversong is a dark adventure title with a 12-year-old named Peet, but do yourself a favor and experience the story spoiler free. Explore and platform around the game's world while armed with a baseball bat to fight common enemies and fell powerful and downright creepy bosses. If you're still not interested, reviewer Nirav Gandhi compares Neversong to the likes of indie darlings Inside and Undertale. Check out our review.

Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes released earlier this year, so it might still be on your radar. In this narrative adventure, you take the role of none other than the Grim Reaper. We know from different forms of media that it's the Grim Reaper's job is to determine who lives and who dies—and that's exactly what you'll be doing in Death and Taxes. As the paperwork rolls in, you'll read a prompt, short description of an individual and make the choice from there. Choices come with consequences, however, which makes Death and Taxes all the more interesting. As a bonus, you get to customize your office desk and Reaper! Check out our review. 

Night in the Woods

This is one indie everyone was raving about back in 2017. TechRaptor Assistant Reviews Editor Sam Guglielmo said that this game "is basically everything I always hope games can be." Believe me, Sam has played a lot of bad (and good) games throughout the years, so he knows a thing or two about what's what. This is an emotionally charged adventure title that has players take the role of an anthropomorphic cat in a world full of - well - anthropomorphic animals. Considering this, one might not expect a story to be as gripping as it turned out to be. Its story and fun gameplay are complemented by unique, almost paper-like visuals. Check out our review. 

Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!!

Don't let the absurd abuse of exclamation marks throw you off, Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!! is a tasty title worth any foodie's time. This is a deceptively deep restaurant management and cooking simulator game. From rags to riches, rise to the top and overcome the odds to become the best chef and proprietor you can be. There's some devilishly clever writing and humor, and like Death and Taxes, there is customization! The third entry in this franchise released in January of this year, so once you're done this Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!!, there's even more to do. Check out our review. 

Paranautical Activity

Not to be confused with an overused movie franchise of similar name, Paranautical Activity is a roguelike FPS with voxel graphics and plenty of challenge. Our Reviews Editor Alex Santa Maria took a look at Paranautical Activity back in 2015 and described it as "hard as nails." This is to be expected from a roguelike; likewise, expect randomly generated levels, tons of loot and enemies, and dozens of hours of trial and error. Check out our review.

Overland

You might recognize this one from Apple Arcade, but for those of you who don't have an iPhone, you don't want to miss trying out Overland on PC. Overland is an amalgamation of genres, but it comes down to hard choices in order to survive. Lead your band of survivors across the United States and hope you make it alive. Scavenge for supplies and maintain your resources, or you're doomed to fail in this difficult but visually spectacular title. And, being a post-apocalyptic game, it might help you prepare for whatever else 2020 has to throw at you. You just never know. As a bonus, Overland has lots of dogs. Check out our review. 

Oxenfree

Guest starring in this article is TechRaptor's very own Courtney Ehrenhofler, who has a few words to say about Oxenfree, from the developers of Afterparty:

"Oxenfree is one of my favorite games that I have played these last few years. Originally recommended to me by a friend, it’s a game for anyone who remembers being a teenager. While I can’t say much about the plot without giving it away, it’s a story of loss, love, anger, and more than just a bit of horror. With branching story paths and several different endings, how you play affects the outcome and can also lead to some unexpected consequences. If you’re ready to laugh, cry, and scream, Oxenfree is highly recommended. Just maybe leave the lights on."

Celeste

Undeniably, Celeste is one of the biggest names on this list and the bundle as a whole. Who could forget that this was the indie that defied all odds and became a nominee for The Game Awards' top accolade (incidentally, Celeste managed to win two awards that night: Games for Impact and Best Independent Game). This hard-as-nails game gripped players with its addicting and and slick platforming and superb level design. Its story is surprisingly deep considering the genre, tackling themes like mental illness. 

Nuclear Throne

There's are certainly a lot of emotional stories to explore on this list. If you're looking for something a little less serious and more action packed, you can't go wrong with Nuclear Throne. This roguelite is a trippy romp through a brutal and perilous post-apocalyptic world. It's almost bullet hell-like in nature, and as such you'll be mowing through droves of enemies with different weapons and a dozen unique characters. I like to think of it as the Enter the Gungeon of its day, but that in itself makes it worth your time and money. 

Super Hexagon

A timeless classic, Terry Cavanagh's masochistic yet addicting Super Hexagon rounds out this list. A simple idea is turned into a frantic race to the center of a hexagon as the difficulty continuously ramps up. Super Hexagon was a favorite of mine back in its flash game days, but since then, it's made rounds on platforms such as itch.io and Steam. Even if you can't get past the first few levels, the bopping electronic soundtrack is one you should treat your ears to. 

Again, if you'd like to donate to a good cause and get an absurd amount of games, visit this link for itch.io's Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality.