#42. Our Mid-Year Best Indies Check-In 2025

Hello, I'm the Ostrich that Indieventure commissions to write episode descriptions while Rebecca is on holiday. They pay me in small stones, which I swallow to grind up insects and plants in my gizzard because I don't have any teeth. That's a real ostrich fact, proving that I am indeed an ostrich. Stop EMAILING ME.

On this episode of Indieventure (a podcast about indie games that has never mentioned ostriches once in its entire run, just FYI), the gang discuss their favourite indie games of 2025 so far. That's right, it's summer, and instead of running around sand dunes and flapping their big wings like, oh, I dunno, a cool bird that deserves to be paid more for its writing, they're banging on about computer games they've played instead.

Liam - who looks like someone who would trap an ostrich's head in a car window at a safari park for a laugh - reckons Shotgun Cop Man might be one of this year's best platformers, but makes sure to circle back to the warm joy of tea-making sim Wanderstop. Rebecca - a known friend to Ostriches and the only host who looks me in the eyes while giving me my pebbles - is still not over Blue Prince, but finds some time to talk about The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy as well. And finally, Rachel - Ostrich enemy number one as far as we're all concerned - enthuses about a trio of truly excellent games in the form of Citizen Sleeper 2, The Alters, and Promise Mascot Agency. She may think Ostriches look like, and I quote, "if God shoved a long sparrow into a tumbleweed", but you can't deny she has good taste in games.

In part two, the gang lists off the games they're most excited to play in the second half of the year. They yap about Tiny Bookshop, SHUTEN ORDER, Roma Sands RE:Build, Demonschool, Paralives, Ball X Pit, Star Birds, The Mermaid Mask and Morsels. Tbh I didn't really pay attention to this bit, I was thinking about grain.   Finally, we reach Hyperfixations. Despite the summer heat, Rebecca's still been spending time with hot boys in the visual novel Bustafellows. Rachel's been standing next to a TV with her arms folded like someone's Dad while watching a bunch of movies, including Spice World, Clueless, Longlegs, and Death Becomes Her. Meanwhile, Liam found an old script he wrote 8 years ago, and instead of never mentioning it to anyone ever again (except maybe his therapist), he's chosen to read it out on the podcast instead. Yikes!   Anyway, I'm off to look at my two toes, which is how many toes I have, because I am an ostrich. Cya, LOSERS.   Our music was written and performed by Ollie Newbury! Find him on Instagram at @newbsmusic. Meanwhile, you can find us at indieventurepodcast.co.uk or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget that you can now join our dedicated Discord too, and be sure to check out our new Steam Curator page if you simply still can't get enough of us!