Upcoming Indie Games Releasing in September 2026
- Narukoopa
- Aug 25
- 8 min read
We’re finally leaving Summer and are now entering a very action-packed two months, as far as video game releases are concerned. Seriously, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the AAA market, so much so that the indies releasing in this period might be buried underneath it all.
So I will do my best to promote indie games as much as I can for the duration of this carnage. September in particular looks to be a very exciting month for the indie scene. A couple of the games on this list are perhaps some of the strongest titles I have profiled on this website so far.
Unfortunately, because I can only dedicate five games to each of these articles, there are lots of fantastic-looking experiences that ultimately don’t make the cut. This is why, moving forward, I will be posting extra games on my Bluesky account; the ones that I couldn’t include here but desperately wanted to.
Make sure you follow me on Bluesky if you don’t want to miss out on those. You never know, I might just post your next favourite indie game. Regardless, I’m very excited to show these off because they are really unique. Let me know if there are any indie games coming out that you want me to showcase!
Are we going to ignore the fact that I didn’t do one of these articles dedicated to August? Yes we are. Now, let’s begin.
Rogue Blight
Rogue Blight is a 2D, action-packed rogue-lite taking place in a dark fantasy realm infected by the blight. Overrun with all manner of horrific creatures, it is a world filled with darkness. The only way to survive is to become as strong as you can possibly be.
Alas, there are many ways to become powerful, and Rogue Blight showcases this perfectly by including a wide variety of weapons and skills. Both of these can be upgraded to become even more effective in combat.
In regards to said combat, the game takes inspiration from the likes of Dark Souls. Precise movements and careful planning are necessities, especially when fighting against larger, more gruelling opponents, of which there are many.
Since it’s a rogue-lite, however, you are expected to die quite a lot, which is why acquiring permanent upgrades is vital for future progression. The more you fight, the more you learn and obtain.
One of the main reasons I am showcasing Rogue Blight here is its visual style, which reminded me quite a bit of Pentiment, made by Obsidian and released back in 2022. If you search up pictures you will know exactly what I mean. The presentation is very similar, but really charming in its own way.
The lighting is what really steals the show here, with enemies sometimes being hidden in darkness, only for a new light source to reveal them. It’s got a horror element that makes every encounter significantly impactful.
The map is always randomly generated, meaning you’ll never know what you’ll bump into on each run. What you can expect is a constant, unnerving atmosphere made all the more intense by the monsters that roam this world.
Rogue Blight has a lot to offer, and for those who are fans of rogue-lites or games that have a similar vibe to the likes of Dark Souls, this might be right up your alley. You can see for yourself when it releases on PC and Linux on the 3rd of September.
Garden Ink
This one is rather unlike anything I have profiled on this website so far. Garden Ink is a relaxing sandbox that has you fill in and decorate an empty world. You start this by placing rocks and vegetation, and then mixing the two together to create all kinds of creations.
Every design you see in this game is hand drawn, which is incredible when you take into consideration just how much there is. There are over 150 possible combinations, giving you the ability to make a diverse and beautiful garden.
Everything you place is black and white, but crafted in such a way that makes it look like an ink drawing. What starts off as monochrome, however, quickly comes to life with the game’s painting system. You are given complete freedom when it comes to how you want your garden to look, whether that’s by using realistic colours, or going for something that looks alien.
Your garden is an expression of your creative imagination. Garden Ink is designed to be a purely relaxing experience, so how much work you put into it is entirely up to you. Alas, if you’re not too fussed about making the perfect eco-paradise, there are other activities you can engage with.
The game contains minigames and puzzles that, once completed, unlock new colours and decorations. If you want to go into this with a ‘collect all collectables’ approach, this should more than suffice, as there will be plenty of them.
If you just want to relax and not do much, Garden Ink contains a pleasant soundtrack that should easily do the trick. Couple that with some cosy decorations and at least a bit of colour here and there, and you have the perfect zen device.
I’m very much looking forward to giving this a go. I work in retail, so something like this is very much geared towards me. I’m sure many out there can relate. Nevertheless, we can all get our hands on this when it releases on PC on the 10th of September.
Monster Alchemy
I knew I had to include this from the moment I saw it, primarily because of its visual style, but also conceptually, it’s just fascinating. Monster Alchemy is a rather self-explanatory name for the game. It’s an RPG in the same vein as Pokémon, but whose main focus is fusing creatures together to create even mightier beasts.
What makes Monster Alchemy different from the likes of Pokemon is that instead of finding and catching creatures, you create them by mixing ingredients together. Crafting is one of the major components that makes this game what it is. You experiment with things you find to see what kinds of life forms you can make.
Once made, they are vital when it comes to gathering even more resources, exploring different parts of the world, and engaging in combat. The more you find and explore, the more unique kinds of creatures you can discover. As if that wasn’t enough, you can fuse them together to make something even more powerful.
Its visuals are just as impactful, with some beautiful-looking environments bolstered by a charming art style that feels both retro and modern. The appearances of all the creatures look great, and I love that fusing them together results in physical attributes from both creatures being present in the final design.
The world of Monster Alchemy is quite large, containing a variety of environments ranging from deserts and forests to villages and haunted graveyards. Naturally, it can be dangerous out in the wilds, so having the right party members is crucial for survival.
There’s a challenge in having a team of creatures that can work seamlessly together, in a way where each of their skills brings something to the table. This is also something to consider when fusing them together; what skills or elemental abilities are currently lacking in your team?
As for its story, Monster Alchemy promises a world rich in lore, with plenty of histories and myths that play a crucial part in its narrative. How you are able to create creatures by mixing ingredients -- the art of alchemy -- is a significant topic, and something that is deeply explored in the game.
Definitely has the potential to be a stand-out hit. Alas, we shall see for ourselves when it releases on the 10th of September on PC. A shame there’s no console versions as of yet, but if it does well then maybe that could be a potentiality later down the line.
The Bird of the North
The Bird of the North is an investigation-style adventure game taking place in an alternate universe that sees an industrial revolution put to an end by a sudden ice age. You play as an investigator who witnesses visions of tragedies.
Each chapter revolves around a new scene, and you must use your insight from these visions to deduce what happened and correctly identify the chain of events that led to the event occurring. This means analysing a timeline, choosing dialogue options for characters, and moving around the scene to spot anything you might have missed.
All these chapters tell the story of an expedition sent out to find a solution to the current crisis the world is facing. This journey was brought about by desperate people who have suffered for too long. Naturally, things went wrong, and it is up to you to discover what happened to the missing group.
Mechanically, it’s rather simple to get the gist of. Navigating scenes is a straightforward process, and the general gameplay loop is piecing together your findings on an investigation board, then putting things in the right order until you’ve figured out the case.
But getting things correct is a bit more challenging than it may come across. In regards to those dialogue options, each character in a scene has quite a lot of them, and just because the first ones you pick seem right, what happens later on might put into question all your findings you have come across thus far.
Scenes are also quite comprehensive, so it’ll take some time finding everything there is to uncover. How much time you spend on your investigation board will entirely depend on your investigative skills.
Regardless, The Bird of the North describes itself as a short game that can be completed in a couple of hours. If you’re looking to have your brain scratched, consider putting this on your radar. Releases on the 17th of September on PC. Lots of PC exclusive titles in this article…
Rivage
Rivage is a complex, sci-fi puzzle game published by Raw Fury, the same team that published titles such as Blue Prince and Routine. This game is developed by Exnilo Studio, and is their debut game. For a first game, Rivage is quite an undertaking.
You play as Miranda, a scientist part of a crew sent to an alien planet known as Vesta, investigating its suitability for possible human colonisation. Taking place in the distant 25th century, humanity has begun spreading its wings by taking its first steps outside the comfort of the solar system and towards the stars.
At some point, the mission goes south, and Miranda ends up alone and stuck on her ship, with no recollection of what happened. Her crew are missing, and while her environment should be familiar, something is off.
Before long, she realises she is trapped in some kind of space phenomenon. Every time she wakes up, the station resets itself to a specific time, meaning everything Miranda does becomes undone.
In order to escape this time loop, you must solve intricate puzzles that can revolve around ship maintenance or altering environmental forces like magnetism or gravity. Careful examination of your surroundings is crucial in order to find out how the ship ended up this way.
But what’s just as important is figuring out what happened to your missing crew. Remnants of them remain on the ship; their cabins are untouched, their tools and belongings lie scattered around. Listening to voice recordings and reading notes can reveal crucial intel.
Rivage promises a fully interactable environment with plenty to explore and dozens of rooms to rummage through. Any clues or important spots of interest can be preserved through Miranda’s K9 system, which can take pictures and save information.
A compelling mystery situated in a comprehensive space station featuring in-depth puzzles and countless pieces of worldbuilding, with an engaging narrative and some beautiful looking visuals, all contained in a debut game made by a very small team.
I’m very much looking forward to giving this one a go. It releases on the 22nd of September on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Which of These Indie Games Stood Out to You the Most?
Rogue Blight
Garden Ink
Monster Alchemy
The Bird of the North
You can vote for more than one answer.
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