Video Gamers Podcast
Indie Heat Check: The Most Anticipated Games of 2026 – Gaming Podcast
08 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What indie games are shaping the landscape of 2026?
Hello, fellow gamers, and welcome to the Video Gamers Podcast. 2026 is already shaping up to be an absolute banger of a year for games, and indie games are not an exception. We've got Metroidvanias, we've got roguelites, and you know we got them 3D platformers. I am your host, Ace, and I hope he's ready for a repeat of last year. Another year of the indies is incoming. It's Josh.
I am here for year two of the indie domination because I'm looking at this list, Ace, and there are a lot of really good games on this list.
There's not like a lot of sequels to like really big ones, but there's still a lot of really new titles I'm very excited for.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's at least like six games on this list that are like must plays for me. That's pretty good. Yeah.
and the guy who'll probably decide at the end of the year that one of these games is overrated it's ryan oh you know what you're probably not wrong honestly you're probably not wrong i could totally see it like you looking at mouse pi like looking back on at the end of the year if it does really well he's like you know what mouse pi is really
If MousePI does really well, it will be overrated. I'll tell you that right now.
I was going to say, that's one where... Ryan may be right. I like that Ryan's got this reputation now, though. It's just one terrible take. One bad take.
It is not a terrible take.
One bad take.
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Chapter 2: What makes MIO: Memories in Orbit a must-play indie title?
I'm innocent. Please don't lump me in with these guys.
Who said what?
Come at me, bro.
Actually, I hate the midnight walk.
I'm just saying I'm a part. I'm away, man. I'm away. There we go. There's another clip. Oh, no. Oh, no. Internet's forever. Internet's forever now.
That's the end of your career here. But next up we have replaced, which all replaced the game. I did not expect this is at the top of my height meter right now.
I think like for games that I know are coming out like sooner rather than later, like replaced is way up there, man.
I don't know what kind of game Replace is going to be, but I'm in. I don't either. I'm in.
I just know I think I like it. Exactly. I know I think I like it.
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Chapter 3: How does Cairn redefine the climbing survival genre?
We got through five in that first half, and we took a late break. Five of 50. And we've got, I don't know, 11 more to go.
All right. Well, I'll jump around some, and we'll just hit some of the important ones.
No, because I want to talk about all these, man. They all look great.
Well, then we're going long, boys. All right, well. We'll try to keep a decent pace.
Yeah, no worries, guys. I'll eat at some point today. It's fine.
I feel like this is the first time we've brought this game up on this podcast, which is weird, but Slay the Spire 2... is entering early access this year.
That's why. It's the early access thing.
I think that is why. I think early access kills a lot of game interest for us because it's like Hades 2. I didn't play the Hades 2 early access because I got to experience the full game. And oh my gosh, the full game is so much better.
Just release the game. Just release the game, dude. How hard is it to finish the game and release the game?
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Chapter 4: What unique features does Mewgenics bring to the gaming community?
Did you get a plushie? I didn't get a plushie for this one. I didn't have the money. Didn't have the money.
Ace cheaping out once again. I opened my first time. Look at his wall behind him. He has not cheaped out at all.
What are you talking about?
Ace has more money on his shelves than I have in my family vehicle, man.
Ace has funded half of the indie world right now.
What are you talking about? Guys, I just bought another indie game plushie, too, to go on the wall. Oh, my gosh.
Where are you going to put it, Ace?
There's no more room. Why do you think he's reorganizing? I've got Hornet and Hollow Knight and all of them up there. I'm going to put them up there. We can't see them. I know. You can't see it.
That's like the shelf of shame then, you know, where it's like, look, this shelf. I'm not going to adjust my camera in real time just so you can see that because I'll knock something down. I'll say this. Crowsworn looks really good. Crowsworn looks fantastic.
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Chapter 5: Why is Replace considered a standout title among indie games?
Hey, everybody, surprise! We're releasing six months earlier now, and everybody's going to be like, oh, heck yeah!
Battle drop it, and then boom! Yes!
Exactly. Nobody's going to get upset if you release it sooner than what you say, but it does get annoying if you delay, and then you delay again, and then you're like, okay, we just don't know what date we're throwing this out there either.
We're going to use you, T.A. We're going to get it this year.
Brian's so filled with optimism.
I'll buy it again next year, dude. I don't care.
I know you will. You will not get it a third time in a row. I can guarantee you that.
We hate to see delays, but I think we all appreciate the quality that comes from them. Take your time. Make your game how you envision it. Don't rush. Never rush. There's enough AAA slop out there. Where they just want your money and they don't care how you actually feel about their games. This game clearly has heart and I want people to experience that.
But it is coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and of course Xbox Game Pass day one. So... That was a mouthful. If you thought there were no indie games this year, I just proved you wrong. There are so many indies coming this year to be looking forward to.
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