Whether you need an adrenaline boost or just fast-paced action, the magnum opus Doom Eternal or the classic Quake come to mind, but amid the recent indie games galore, the genre has been nearly perfected to its peak. If we talk about the fast-paced formula, many indie games have followed it through and through, crafting absurd masterpieces of gameplay mechanics.
In the last few years and counting, numerous indie games have been released that include such satisfying, fast-paced gameplay mechanics never seen before, enough to meltdown your adrenaline reactors.
Publisher
James Dornan
Cruel is a perma-death and roguelike fast-paced FPS that infuses thrilling Hades-esque perks and environmental elements to create a blend of pretty intriguing and unique gameplay. Packed with hordes of enemies on the cramped floors of a hotel and with a touch of minor comedy elements, the game makes everything it offers fascinating down to the core.
The low poly graphics with two-dimensional enemy sprites make Cruel quite reminiscent of old-school Doom-esque shooters. Moving around a hotel on fire that catches up with you if you stop kicking enemies through the windows and blowing out their brains with the mesmerizing but short arsenal is what makes Cruel amazing.
The only fast-paced indie game that features a slo-mo movement system but yet has a truly stupefying and unique gameplay mechanic, Katana Zero puts you in the shoes of a legendary hunter named Zero, who goes on a hunting rampage while suffering from severe PTSD and hallucinations of his past.
Not only does Zero have the ability to slow down time, but his extremely precise accuracy allows him to parry the incoming bullets, eliminating the shooter instantly. Looking for something unique with a pretty interesting and strong narrative included? Katana Zero is a game you should pick.
A cult classic with a sequel in its catalog, Hotline Miami is a grueling and mind-crunching experience known for its absurdly hard levels and tasking the player to infiltrate Russian gang hideouts and clear them out with a frightening touch of philosophy. Every kill has to be initiated fast while keeping track of time; if you die once, the whole level restarts.
What makes the game interesting is the ranking system; it grades your level according to time and combos. With stunning environmental advantages, excellent music that keeps you immersed and interested even if you die continuously, and a storyline mixed in, Hotline Miami is a top-tier indie game, no matter how painful it becomes.
What makes a police officer out for a hit scarier? Having a mullet. Mullet Madjack is a ‘high-octane’ fast-paced shooter taking place in the far future with a90s anime stylewhile following the fundamentals of being an impressive boomer shooter. Out to hunt the Robbilionares that control the world, our Mullet-man named Jack Banhammer is hired by the police and decides to go all guns blazing on his adventure.
Featuring supremely fast-paced gameplay, an arcade-styled system, and an energetic soundtrack, Mullet Madjack puts you on a crackdown with time that gradually increases with each enemy killed, and no matter the situation, do not stop making haste.
With Pizza Tower, you know it’s time to craft a pizza delicious enough to make the Italian critics say Mamma Mia. Thisunique indie precision platformerfollows an Italian odd ball cook who decides to climb a tower made of pizza to save his restaurant from complete annihilation. As odd as it may sound initially, this concept infused with fast-paced gameplay makes it surprisingly fun.
Eating down the ingredients-enemies and the touch of 90s cartoonish-esque art style paired with a groovy soundtrack that forces you to continue the game, Pizza Tower is a pretty unique experience with fun as the focal point.
Handpicked from hell to exterminate your own kind, but in heaven. Neon White is a fusion of fast-paced platforming and first-person shooting where cards hold all the power. In the missions, you must collect numerous types of cards and use them to defeat the demons all across the platforms then throw them away to execute movement abilities.
Smooth movement mechanics, eerie story-telling medium and unique shooting system through discovered cards make Neon White one of the best fast-paced indie games for its uniqueness.
Celeste is a beautiful yet tedious precision platformer about Madeline, a passionate individual who decides to climb the highest peak in their region: Celeste Mountain, all while fighting her demons. Packed with emotional and mind-dazzling music along with lively characters, the game crafts a one-of-a-kind climbing experience with a touch of supernatural powers.
With Atari-based pixelated HD graphics, a gorgeous view that keeps the player in awe, and an edge-of-your-seat fast-paced climbing experience where one mistake could cost your life, Celeste is truly something remarkable that will stay with you for a long time.
Ultrakill is an FPS that holds nothing back to show the unadulterated world that is yours to paint all red. Taking the players deep into the layers of Dante’s Infenro, Ultrakill provides you with a huge arsenal of weapons to conquer all the demons lingering in hell.
An extraordinarily fast movement system with unlimited things to learn about, a raw rock and metal soundtrack, and a style system inspired by Devil May Cry that unlocks some exclusive rewards, Ultrakill is simplified into three simple phrases: Mankind is dead. Hell is full. Blood is fuel. Jump into hell and drown in the rains of blood to heal yourself and continue your rampage.
