Devolver Digital over the last decade has quickly cemented itself among the most notable names in the industry thanks to an eclectic and rich selection of Indie content, providing games for all types of gamers to enjoy. Their extreme marketing tactics have also put them above the rest when it comes to getting a game's name out there, connecting with audiences almost instantaneously.
As the years go on, however, Devolver Digital's offerings have become more robust in scale and ambition - as seen with their brand-new release, Cult of the Lamb, combining farming and rogue-lite elements - with hit after hit reminiscent of the likes of Annapurna Interactive, and these titles come in an array of forms that it can be difficult to remember they're published by Devolver Digital because of how they present themselves, and each is a new and inventive look into what certain genres are capable of.
The Talos Principle
Seen as one of the greatest puzzle games of all time, The Talos Principle has been consistently talked about since its release in 2014 and is highly praised for both its brain-bending puzzles and philosophical storyline, having an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.
From manipulating lasers, distracting drones, disabling turrets, and more, The Talos Principle had players think from a whole new perspective that was also done in a non-linear fashion. This inventive gameplay would eventually lead it to receive a plethora of awards and have an incredible staying power, with its most recent release being a 2019 port on Nintendo Switch.
Ruiner
What is arguably one of the most over-the-top twin-stick shooters to come out in recent years alongside The Hong Kong Massacre and Hotline Miami, Ruiner's cyberpunk setting immediately made it a draw for most gamers and took them on a brutal ride of taking down a corrupt system all while uncovering the truth.
It was also one of Devolver Digital's most talked about releases in 2017 before it would eventually get ported to Nintendo Switch in 2020, and its stylish, adrenaline-fueled gameplay that saw countless explosions and a wonderful hub world filled with lore really gave the game a proper cyberpunk feel, and a layer of depth that's typically missing from this genre.
Stories Untold
Stories Untold is undoubtedly one of the most unique and thrilling games Devolver Digital has in its catalog, and it's also a standout title for text-based adventure games that modernizes the mechanics of the genre and what it's capable of.
Four experimental stories are told throughout the game, each relatively short and given its own setting and compilation of brilliant puzzles within it where everything the player says and interacts with has an outcome that can change the surrounding environment. It's an adventure that's as thoughtful as it is inventive, with outlets such as Eurogamer placing it on their Top 50 Games of 2017.
Pikuniku
Puzzle-exploration can be a scary undertaking if both parts don't complement each other, however, Pikuniku not only executes it well but has so much charm alongside it thanks to its simplistic yet cute art direction that it creates a short yet memorable experience throughout its colorful world.
Winning a few awards in 2019 and sitting at an Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, Pikuniku provided a joyful adventure with goofy characters in an ironic dystopian setting that also supplied an immense amount of humor, adding to the overall charm and left a lasting impression well after credits rolled.
My Friend Pedro
Prior to My Friend Pedro's release, it garnered immediate appeal and recognition due to the wacky nature of both the game's premise and the fact that its mascot was a talking banana. Upon release, the excitement grew tenfold as the nature of My Friend Pedro's side-scrolling combat on top of its excellent music created an incredible package that was difficult to put down.
With smooth, responsive controls, great adventurous level design, and a story that was enthralling, My Friend Pedro took no prisoners and quickly put itself on the map to be one of the most inventive and eye-catching games of the genre, with a slick sense of humor and parkour elements that were finely tuned and played with finesse.
Hotline Miami
What is undoubtedly considered the king of top-down shooters that many aspire to be like, Hotline Miami came out of the woodworks by surprise and gave players an addictive yet difficult setting of pitting assassins and gangsters against each other in an almost puzzle-like manner, going from room to room, floor to floor, trying to survive each level before heading on to the next.
This incredibly difficult indie game used short form structure to its levels and gave players an incentive to keep trying again and again, and each time a level was completed it was not only a breath of fresh air but an achievement in itself. Sharing optimization techniques became incredibly popular as well, which created a community of its own in 2012, and it still remains a template for masterful implementation of the genre.
Observation
From the developers of Stories Untold, Observation takes inspiration from the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien to create a stunning amalgamation of philosophical, sci-fi puzzle brilliance. All this is done in an ominous spaceship where players control an AI, S.A.M., to help Dr. Emma Fisher find the rest of her crew and make contact with Earth after power has been mysteriously depleted.
Observation was nominated for multiple awards including Best Game, Best Storytelling, and Best Visual Design thanks to taking a similar but broadened approach to Stories Untold in which players would manipulate the environment and solve puzzles to progress. It's a fantastic piece of storytelling that, while linear, still leaves enough player freedom to feel in control and immersed.
Trek to Yomi
Japanese history provides some of the most profound and richest stories, filled with samurai, rōnin, and the like that all respected a code of honor that's still deeply rooted in its culture today. Trek to Yomi can arguably be seen as one of the most authentic and respectful perspectives on a period piece outside the likes of Ghost of Tsushima, providing a fantastic story with an unforgettable direction akin to the legendary films made by Akira Kurosawa.
The game exercised patience and discipline, like a real samurai, and provided a good balance of combat and side-scrolling atmospheric storytelling similar to the likes of Little Nightmares. Its short but impactful duration left most feeling rewarded by the end of Hiroki's tale.
Death's Door
There's no shortage of Zelda-like games that try to emulate the high of what made The Legend of Zelda such a globally beloved franchise, but while a lot underdeliver, Death's Door provided a gateway into modernizing the mechanics in an astounding atmosphere where its striking visuals were only rivaled by its compelling and engaging gameplay.
Death's Door found a special, almost poetic balance between keeping things simultaneously simple and challenging, allowing for room to grow through skills learned in gameplay, while keeping the UI and progression system intuitive and accessible for anyone jumping in for the first time. Its level design was impeccable, and the depth of its fights and polish was a visual feast that commonly led to jaw drops and praise.
GRIS
Most studios don't make a name for themselves until a few projects in once they've had the time to hone their craft and seek the right publisher, but Nomada Studio's debut title, GRIS, was not only an impressive showing that lead it to sell over one million copies to date but became a masterful work of art in the eyes of many, winning the Games for Impact award at The Game Awards 2019 as well as numerous Art Direction awards and nominations, and sits at an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.
Lost in her own world, GRIS is an astounding journey and visual delight with a fantastic female protagonist that goes through a beautifully illustrated yet somber story where the environments change with the mood and the music complements everything that happens moment to moment with the player's actions. By the end, GRIS became an all-time favorite among many, and its impact is still felt years later as it highlights itself as one of the biggest standout Indies ever made.