Screenshot Survey: Raygun Ravens

Every Saturday, game developers from around the world take a break from coding and testing to post tweets featuring screenshots of whatever they happen to be working on at the time. The current media landscape has been a boon to anyone interested in how exactly games are made, with some newer titles being completely documented from the first line of code to the final product sitting on a digital storefront. This means that every week, stories are already being forged about the next great indie hits and hidden gems. Every week in the Screenshot Survey, we impart just a few of those tales.

https://twitter.com/dukope/status/571893683903021056

Check them out we shall. Here is an example of the unique art style of Return of the Obra Dinn, Lucas Pope's followup to breakout hit Papers Please. That game had a style that evoked a place, but Obra Dinn's visuals bring forth a mood and atmosphere that few games can achieve. A static image really doesn't do them justice, so it's worth seeking out gameplay from the playable build that is available online. Obra Dinn was announced only a few months ago, so it will be a while before you'll be able to solve the game's pirate flavored mysteries in an A-Ha video.

https://twitter.com/AQuiverOfCrows/status/571806229254815744

Next, here is some neon drenched scenery from A Quiver of Crows, a twin stick shooter where you play as a crow that shoots lasers at bird skeletons and the creatures from The Langoliers. It's definitely a unique look for this genre, and it's colorful enough that it doesn't remind one of Limbo at first glance which is nothing if not a good thing. The game was greenlit at the beginning of February, so be on the lookout for it on Steam sometime in the near future.

https://twitter.com/ezacariasv/status/571601713465036800

A genre that only the most grizzled of gamers will likely remember is the "Maze Game". Much like FPS games spawned from DOOM, maze games spawned from Pac-Man and they were everywhere from the heyday of arcades all the way to the middle of the NES era. All-Stars: Dungeons and Diamonds is a modern spin on the maze game formula, featuring colorful characters, Bomberman-style power-ups, and competitive multiplayer. Plus, this game is one of the many indie projects out there to guest star Shovel Knight as a playable character, which is always a nice bonus.

https://twitter.com/ConnorWestrope/status/569292624802283521

Not all indie developers are prolific enough to nab Shovel Knight as a guest star. In fact, some are just starting out, like Connor Westrope. He decided to post this love letter to over the top style, and I personally am glad that he did. From the knife with a brass knuckle handle to the cyberman who may also be a werewolf to the giant neon sign proclaiming that you have ridden straight into the danger zone. There is certainly a lot to like here. According to his personal website, the game, called The ARC, is being worked on by 20 students at the moment, and now I'm looking at the wolf head and wondering if it's a panther head and that is great.

https://twitter.com/trufun202/status/569281327821819904

Finally, we have a shot of the physical soundtrack for Super Rad Raygun, which is an evolution of one of the finest games to come out of the indie black hole that is Xbox Live Indie Games. It also affords me a segue into a quick heads up regarding next week's Survey! I'll be heading up to PAX East in Boston next weekend, so expect less in game stuff and more pictures of swag and giant statues. We'll return to our regular indie game roundup the week after that, no worries.

Any screenshots that you saw that we didn’t include in this week’s Screenshot Survey? Why did Steven King write a novel about flying meatballs? Is that cyberman really a panther? Maybe a cougar? Answer these and other questions below in the comments, or check out the Indie Screenshot Megathread on the fourms!