It’s always the ones you don’t expect, right? In a year full of AAA powerhouses competing for the top spot, I’m actually not too surprised thatLethal Companymanaged to sneak in and steal hearts. Thousands of them, even.
It was actually a narrow competition this year forour newly founded indie game category. Intended as a way to get more independent games involved in the conversations we have at the end of every year, we wound up with an intriguing mix of games.
Chained Echoeswas a holdover from last December, but still retained more staying power than most early-year launches. AndWorld of Horror‘s full launch finally arrived, leaving a mark on us. ButLethal Company‘s recent surge seems to be the note we’re ending 2023 on.
The co-op horror might, at first, seem familiar. It reminded me ofPhasmophobia, another indie breakout that’s retained its following over the years. ButLethal Companyhasexplodedin a way others haven’t.
Maybe it’s the theming, pitting players against an ever-present race against the clock to serve the Company as best they can. Or maybe it’s the monsters, scarily effective and varied enough to keep you guessing with their SCP-esque designs. It could even be themodsthat pushesLethal Companyover for some.
For me, what’s madeLethal Companymemorable has been the laughs. It is a genuinely funny, engaging game. The voice communications use distance and area so well, so you can hear someone’s yells get louder and softer as they run by you. Even the noise a ladder makes, when it accidentally bonks a player on the head, is hilarious.
Still, it’s hard to undersell how competitive this field was. While yourBaldur’s Gate 3s andTears of the Kingdoms loomed large over the crowd, many indies were favorites this year, garnering nominations here andelsewhere. While one wins the vote, all of these nominees are worth your time and attention:
