please tell us some more about your pixel art Metroidvania roguelike genre
pixel art Metroidvania roguelike genre
pixel art Metroidvania roguelike genre deconstruction welcome to watchmojo.com
deconstruction welcome to watchmojo.com
deconstruction welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks
and today we’re counting down our picks
and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 indie game cliches before
for the top 10 indie game cliches before
for the top 10 indie game cliches before we begin we publish new videos every day
we begin we publish new videos every day
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so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’ll be looking
content for this list we’ll be looking
content for this list we’ll be looking at the most notable indie game tropes
at the most notable indie game tropes
at the most notable indie game tropes and cliches and poking fun at them a
and cliches and poking fun at them a
and cliches and poking fun at them a little bit we’re not saying these
little bit we’re not saying these
little bit we’re not saying these cliches are inherently bad or that they
cliches are inherently bad or that they
cliches are inherently bad or that they make the games we mentioned bad by
make the games we mentioned bad by
make the games we mentioned bad by extension in fact most of the games
extension in fact most of the games
extension in fact most of the games we’ll use as examples are actually
we’ll use as examples are actually
we’ll use as examples are actually really really good
really really good
really really good anyway here we go but Stanley didn’t
anyway here we go but Stanley didn’t
anyway here we go but Stanley didn’t want to go back to the office he wanted
want to go back to the office he wanted
want to go back to the office he wanted to wonder about and get even further off
to wonder about and get even further off
to wonder about and get even further off track number 10 synth soundtrack
track number 10 synth soundtrack
track number 10 synth soundtrack [Music]
you don’t know what it is with Cynthia
you don’t know what it is with Cynthia indie game developers but they certainly
indie game developers but they certainly
indie game developers but they certainly seem to love it actually I totally know
seem to love it actually I totally know
seem to love it actually I totally know what it is it’s because of the ages many
what it is it’s because of the ages many
what it is it’s because of the ages many games have incorporated a synth wave
games have incorporated a synth wave
games have incorporated a synth wave sound in recent years including hotline
sound in recent years including hotline
sound in recent years including hotline Miami fury and defragmented and while we
Miami fury and defragmented and while we
Miami fury and defragmented and while we certainly love us some badass eighties
certainly love us some badass eighties
certainly love us some badass eighties synth it’s starting to get a little bit
if the game isn’t incorporating synth
if the game isn’t incorporating synth wave it will undoubtedly beat chip tune
wave it will undoubtedly beat chip tune
wave it will undoubtedly beat chip tune that gloriously retro 8-bit sound from
that gloriously retro 8-bit sound from
that gloriously retro 8-bit sound from the 80s and 90s which is made from
the 80s and 90s which is made from
the 80s and 90s which is made from synthesizers the emergence of this type
synthesizers the emergence of this type
synthesizers the emergence of this type of music is probably due to both its low
of music is probably due to both its low
of music is probably due to both its low cost and the retro appeal of the games
cost and the retro appeal of the games
cost and the retro appeal of the games it appears in so indie games and
it appears in so indie games and
it appears in so indie games and synthesizers basically go together like
synthesizers basically go together like
synthesizers basically go together like peanut butter and jelly
[Music]
[Music] number nine big plot
to go with their synth wave chiptune
to go with their synth wave chiptune soundtracks any developers absolutely
soundtracks any developers absolutely
soundtracks any developers absolutely love writing big stories and characters
love writing big stories and characters
love writing big stories and characters usually as it means to be artistic these
usually as it means to be artistic these
usually as it means to be artistic these fake plot elements come in a variety of
fake plot elements come in a variety of
fake plot elements come in a variety of factors some games have fake characters
factors some games have fake characters
factors some games have fake characters with unclear motivations and
with unclear motivations and
with unclear motivations and relationships like rate sometimes entire
relationships like rate sometimes entire
relationships like rate sometimes entire stories are left open to interpretation
stories are left open to interpretation
stories are left open to interpretation like an inside journey while we’ve loved
like an inside journey while we’ve loved
like an inside journey while we’ve loved a little bit of interpretation
a little bit of interpretation
a little bit of interpretation you can almost guarantee that an indie
you can almost guarantee that an indie
you can almost guarantee that an indie game believes some form of its story
game believes some form of its story
game believes some form of its story even complete or intentionally unclear
even complete or intentionally unclear
even complete or intentionally unclear [Music]
[Music]
[Music] a berate minimal instructions it seems
a berate minimal instructions it seems
a berate minimal instructions it seems like indie game developers have taken a
like indie game developers have taken a
like indie game developers have taken a page from the from software design book
page from the from software design book
page from the from software design book when it comes to instructions the fewer
when it comes to instructions the fewer
when it comes to instructions the fewer the better in many indie titles the
the better in many indie titles the
the better in many indie titles the player is simply plopped into the game
player is simply plopped into the game
player is simply plopped into the game with no idea what to do where to go who
with no idea what to do where to go who
with no idea what to do where to go who you are or even kind of play
you are or even kind of play
you are or even kind of play the devs here are simply saying here you
the devs here are simply saying here you
the devs here are simply saying here you go figure it out for yourself which is
go figure it out for yourself which is
go figure it out for yourself which is both relief and sometimes a bit of an
both relief and sometimes a bit of an
both relief and sometimes a bit of an obstacle some upcoming games like fan
obstacle some upcoming games like fan
obstacle some upcoming games like fan are considering this approach but the
are considering this approach but the
are considering this approach but the key is striking the right balance and
key is striking the right balance and
key is striking the right balance and communicating the game mechanics to the
communicating the game mechanics to the
communicating the game mechanics to the player in ways that feel natural which
player in ways that feel natural which
player in ways that feel natural which we gotta say a lot of indie games do
we gotta say a lot of indie games do
we gotta say a lot of indie games do quite well west-northwest so there’s two
quite well west-northwest so there’s two
quite well west-northwest so there’s two philosophies I’m going to do it now or
philosophies I’m going to do it now or
philosophies I’m going to do it now or do we do it way later number seven
do we do it way later number seven
do we do it way later number seven breaking the fourth wall if the story is
breaking the fourth wall if the story is
breaking the fourth wall if the story is in Fager confusing it will break the
in Fager confusing it will break the
in Fager confusing it will break the conventions of its genre in a way that
conventions of its genre in a way that
conventions of its genre in a way that just basically screams I’m so clever I
just basically screams I’m so clever I
just basically screams I’m so clever I totally watch Rick and Morty while we
totally watch Rick and Morty while we
totally watch Rick and Morty while we aren’t knocking these gifted writers you
aren’t knocking these gifted writers you
aren’t knocking these gifted writers you can only subvert expectations so much
can only subvert expectations so much
can only subvert expectations so much before the subversions themselves become
before the subversions themselves become
before the subversions themselves become cliche undertale is a prime example of
cliche undertale is a prime example of
cliche undertale is a prime example of this convention as it plays with RPG
this convention as it plays with RPG
this convention as it plays with RPG tropes and other games like the Stanley
tropes and other games like the Stanley
tropes and other games like the Stanley parable break the fourth wall and
parable break the fourth wall and
parable break the fourth wall and experiment with the conventions of games
experiment with the conventions of games
experiment with the conventions of games as a storytelling medium while this
as a storytelling medium while this
as a storytelling medium while this trope is not as common to some of the
trope is not as common to some of the
trope is not as common to some of the others on this list it’s beginning to
others on this list it’s beginning to
others on this list it’s beginning to crop up more and more now it’s time to
crop up more and more now it’s time to
crop up more and more now it’s time to start subverting those subversions come
start subverting those subversions come
start subverting those subversions come to think of it I don’t know what that
to think of it I don’t know what that
to think of it I don’t know what that means
means
means no jokes no games outside of this room I
no jokes no games outside of this room I
no jokes no games outside of this room I might be more tolerant of those things
might be more tolerant of those things
might be more tolerant of those things but now we’re in the number six pastel
but now we’re in the number six pastel
but now we’re in the number six pastel colors
indie games can be fun and innocent
indie games can be fun and innocent little experiences it stands to reason
little experiences it stands to reason
little experiences it stands to reason then that they enjoy some fun colors
then that they enjoy some fun colors
then that they enjoy some fun colors many indie games love to use the pastel
many indie games love to use the pastel
many indie games love to use the pastel color scheme with colors ranging from
color scheme with colors ranging from
color scheme with colors ranging from light green to a few games like braids
light green to a few games like braids
light green to a few games like braids use a lot of greens yellows and blues
use a lot of greens yellows and blues
use a lot of greens yellows and blues while other titles like fast employ a
while other titles like fast employ a
while other titles like fast employ a wider variety of colors but mostly in a
wider variety of colors but mostly in a
wider variety of colors but mostly in a pastel scheme while it’s certainly true
pastel scheme while it’s certainly true
pastel scheme while it’s certainly true that not every indie game does this
that not every indie game does this
that not every indie game does this there’s no denying that many of them
there’s no denying that many of them
there’s no denying that many of them love to use the childish bright innocent
love to use the childish bright innocent
love to use the childish bright innocent colors it gives them that cute charisma
colors it gives them that cute charisma
colors it gives them that cute charisma they’re usually known for
they’re usually known for
they’re usually known for [Music]
number five highbrow writing
number five highbrow writing [Music]
a lot of indie games features
a lot of indie games features storytelling flourishes that somewhat
storytelling flourishes that somewhat
storytelling flourishes that somewhat label as you know pretentious and as a
label as you know pretentious and as a
label as you know pretentious and as a result we got a lot of games with
result we got a lot of games with
result we got a lot of games with extremely high brow writing leading to
extremely high brow writing leading to
extremely high brow writing leading to online discussions about what the game
online discussions about what the game
online discussions about what the game quote means Jonathan Blow the creator of
quote means Jonathan Blow the creator of
quote means Jonathan Blow the creator of games like braid and the witness has
games like braid and the witness has
games like braid and the witness has become the poster boy for this sort of
become the poster boy for this sort of
become the poster boy for this sort of thing however he’s totally not the only
thing however he’s totally not the only
thing however he’s totally not the only one
one
one games like loved also employ this sort
games like loved also employ this sort
games like loved also employ this sort of thing to similar effect we’re not
of thing to similar effect we’re not
of thing to similar effect we’re not saying that intelligent and
saying that intelligent and
saying that intelligent and thought-provoking writing in games is a
thought-provoking writing in games is a
thought-provoking writing in games is a bad thing these are all great games and
bad thing these are all great games and
bad thing these are all great games and interesting stories but they contribute
interesting stories but they contribute
interesting stories but they contribute to the reputation that indie games have
to the reputation that indie games have
to the reputation that indie games have for taking themselves have been too
for taking themselves have been too
for taking themselves have been too seriously
number four spiritual succession ah back
number four spiritual succession ah back and functioning normally it would appear
and functioning normally it would appear
and functioning normally it would appear what on earth has happened it’s chaos
what on earth has happened it’s chaos
what on earth has happened it’s chaos everywhere how to market your indie game
everywhere how to market your indie game
everywhere how to market your indie game say it’s like ex meets ex and then throw
say it’s like ex meets ex and then throw
say it’s like ex meets ex and then throw around the word spiritual successor
around the word spiritual successor
around the word spiritual successor these are the games that are clearly
these are the games that are clearly
these are the games that are clearly inspired by extremely popular old
inspired by extremely popular old
inspired by extremely popular old franchises and tow the line between
franchises and tow the line between
franchises and tow the line between inspiration and copying but that are
inspiration and copying but that are
inspiration and copying but that are made for about a tenth of the budget
made for about a tenth of the budget
made for about a tenth of the budget mighty number 9 was a failed spiritual
mighty number 9 was a failed spiritual
mighty number 9 was a failed spiritual successor to Mega Man by people who
successor to Mega Man by people who
successor to Mega Man by people who worked on the franchise torchlight is
worked on the franchise torchlight is
worked on the franchise torchlight is basically a love letter to RPGs like
basically a love letter to RPGs like
basically a love letter to RPGs like Diablo and come on there’s an entire
Diablo and come on there’s an entire
Diablo and come on there’s an entire genre known as Metroidvania for crying
genre known as Metroidvania for crying
genre known as Metroidvania for crying out loud what do you think they were
out loud what do you think they were
out loud what do you think they were inspired by number three flavors of the
inspired by number three flavors of the
inspired by number three flavors of the week I got shot by a guy in a tree Nora
week I got shot by a guy in a tree Nora
week I got shot by a guy in a tree Nora hold on hold on popular games come and
hold on hold on popular games come and
hold on hold on popular games come and go and with them you can be sure that a
go and with them you can be sure that a
go and with them you can be sure that a million clones will sprout out to leech
million clones will sprout out to leech
million clones will sprout out to leech off their popularity and goodwill unlike
off their popularity and goodwill unlike
off their popularity and goodwill unlike our last entry which focus on the
our last entry which focus on the
our last entry which focus on the influence of older games that might not
influence of older games that might not
influence of older games that might not be so popular anymore these games are
be so popular anymore these games are
be so popular anymore these games are just basically ripoffs once minecraft
just basically ripoffs once minecraft
just basically ripoffs once minecraft shot to stardom there were a million
shot to stardom there were a million
shot to stardom there were a million games in its wake with more or less the
games in its wake with more or less the
games in its wake with more or less the exact same thing heck we even made a top
exact same thing heck we even made a top
exact same thing heck we even made a top 10 about it look it up right now top 10
10 about it look it up right now top 10
10 about it look it up right now top 10 minecraft clones
minecraft clones
minecraft clones anyway while they are noticeably easier
anyway while they are noticeably easier
anyway while they are noticeably easier on our wallets than the real thing
on our wallets than the real thing
on our wallets than the real thing indie games are supposed to be about
indie games are supposed to be about
indie games are supposed to be about innovation be on the lookout for a wave
innovation be on the lookout for a wave
innovation be on the lookout for a wave of play around knowns battlegrounds copy
of play around knowns battlegrounds copy
of play around knowns battlegrounds copy hats to start rearing their ugly heads
hats to start rearing their ugly heads
hats to start rearing their ugly heads oh wait that’s already happening isn’t
oh wait that’s already happening isn’t
oh wait that’s already happening isn’t it
number two a Kickstarter campaign with
number two a Kickstarter campaign with most indie games comes a Kickstarter
most indie games comes a Kickstarter
most indie games comes a Kickstarter campaign and as we’ve learned throughout
campaign and as we’ve learned throughout
campaign and as we’ve learned throughout the years a lot of those come to nothing
the years a lot of those come to nothing
the years a lot of those come to nothing and end up being massive disappointments
and end up being massive disappointments
and end up being massive disappointments to all involved Kickstarter for the few
to all involved Kickstarter for the few
to all involved Kickstarter for the few who are – where is a website in which
who are – where is a website in which
who are – where is a website in which fans can give the developer money in
fans can give the developer money in
fans can give the developer money in exchange for exclusive goods and
exchange for exclusive goods and
exchange for exclusive goods and services it’s a great way for legitimate
services it’s a great way for legitimate
services it’s a great way for legitimate developers to earn some money and have
developers to earn some money and have
developers to earn some money and have their dream financed but many campaigns
their dream financed but many campaigns
their dream financed but many campaigns don’t go anywhere and the developers
don’t go anywhere and the developers
don’t go anywhere and the developers just kind of take the money and run
just kind of take the money and run
just kind of take the money and run nowadays it’s all but unheard of for an
nowadays it’s all but unheard of for an
nowadays it’s all but unheard of for an independent game to come as a surprise
independent game to come as a surprise
independent game to come as a surprise they all go to Kickstarter or some other
they all go to Kickstarter or some other
they all go to Kickstarter or some other form of crowdfunding Kickstarter is a
form of crowdfunding Kickstarter is a
form of crowdfunding Kickstarter is a perfect framework to do this kind of
perfect framework to do this kind of
perfect framework to do this kind of project debt number one retro graphics
we get it developing video games is
we get it developing video games is expensive and for independent companies
expensive and for independent companies
expensive and for independent companies or individual fella person it just costs
or individual fella person it just costs
or individual fella person it just costs way too much to produce a triple a
way too much to produce a triple a
way too much to produce a triple a worthy graphical experience as a result
worthy graphical experience as a result
worthy graphical experience as a result a large amount of indie games have retro
a large amount of indie games have retro
a large amount of indie games have retro style graphics usually a nice style of
style graphics usually a nice style of
style graphics usually a nice style of eight or 16-bit many games like braid
eight or 16-bit many games like braid
eight or 16-bit many games like braid and spelunky have adopted these
and spelunky have adopted these
and spelunky have adopted these side-scrolling gameplay and graphics of
side-scrolling gameplay and graphics of
side-scrolling gameplay and graphics of old and titles like to the moon and
old and titles like to the moon and
old and titles like to the moon and hotline Miami employ the old-school
hotline Miami employ the old-school
hotline Miami employ the old-school top-down perspective to keep an
top-down perspective to keep an
top-down perspective to keep an authentic nostalgic experience if you
authentic nostalgic experience if you
authentic nostalgic experience if you want to relive the pixelated classic
want to relive the pixelated classic
want to relive the pixelated classic games of old with a modern twist the
games of old with a modern twist the
games of old with a modern twist the indie market definitely has you covered
indie market definitely has you covered
indie market definitely has you covered [Music]
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do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from watch mojo
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