With E3 2017 wrapping up in Los Angeles, I thought it would be fun to take a look at all the new retro indie games under develop for release in 2017 and beyond. I do want to clarify this list only contains games for systems we support. I’ve probably missed a game or two, so if you see something I’ve missed let us know!

*NOTICE: Just because a game is listed here does not mean it will be available at The Bit Station. While we would love to stock every game listed below, some things are beyond our control.*

 DREAMCAST

Alice Dreams Tournament

Developer: Alice Team

Publisher: Alice Team

Release Window: Summer 2017

Other Platforms: None

Let’s start off this list with a game that should be available by the end of the summer. This little gem is a tribute to the Bomberman series, but don’t be fooled! It has plenty going on to stand on its own two feet. The early reviews say it’s a top notch game, so it’s definitely a title to keep on your radar. According to the official Kickstarter page, this game is already being shipped out to backers, so the rest of us should be able to order a copy within the next couple months.

Source: Official Website

Ameba

Developer: Retro Sumus

Publisher: Retro Sumus

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: PC, Saturn

This is one of two visual novels currently in development for the Dreamcast. As you can see from the screen shots it’s definitely shaping up nicely. The game follows veteran cop Hugo Smirnov in this investigations throughout Madrid, Spain in an attempt to find the truth about what he feels were covered up murders, closed under false pretenses. This one may be a year or so off, but it looks like one worth waiting on.

Source: Official Website

Chosen

Developer: Yuan Works

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

Not a lot is known about this Action/Adventure title by the fine folks at YuanWorks. Their last game, Wind & Water: Puzzle Battles has become an Indie Dreamcast classic and the best Puzzler to date.

Source: Developers Website

Dungeon Ross (Project Name)

Developer: Ross Kilgariff and Alastair Low

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

Okay, were going out on a limb with this one. Developed in January of 2017, this proof of concept was created at the Global Game Jam in only 48 hours. The two man team has admitted plans to completing the game into a commercial product, but we’ll have to see. Hopefully, they do complete this dungeon crawler, because it looks freaking fantastic!

Source: Dreamcast Junkyard Article

 

Elysian Shadow

Developer: Elysian Shadow Team

Publisher: Watermelon Co.

Release Window: Late 2017

Other Platforms: PC, IOS/Android, Ouya

Funded through Kickstarter way back in August 2014, this 2.5D RPG has come a long way. Despite a troubled development cycle, the developers say they are making progress and hope to have the Dreamcast version complete very soon. The thing that has always caught my attention about this title is how its aesthetic is more like a modern indie game and less like something you would have seen back in the Sixth Generation. This makes it unique among Independent Dreamcast games. I wish the developers well and look forward to seeing the games release.

Source: Official Website

Hermes

Developer: Retroguru

Publisher: DragonBox Shop (rumored)

Release Window: 2017

Other Platforms: More than I can list

This neat little 2D platformer will be coming to the Dreamcast as a budget title. Developed by the same team as the puzzler Fruit’Y. This game follows Hermes, a French chief, as he chases his soon to be meals through various levels. According to the developers website this game takes a more mature tone than Fruit’Y, with tons of crude humor and pixel violence.

Source: Official Website

Hypertension: Harmony of Darkness

Developer: Isotope SoftWorks

Publisher: The Goat Store Publishing

Release Window: Late 2017/Early 2018

Other Platforms: PC

This action horror FPS title is inspire by PC shooters from the late 90s like Doom and Quake. The game has you playing as an undead individual who has returned from the grave to seek revenge on the cult that killed you. Despite a long development cycle, the developers have announced they are very close to completing this groundbreaking title.

Source: Developers Official Blog

Intrepid Izzy

Developer: Senile Team

Publisher: Senile Team

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: PC

Announced in March of 2017, this 2D Platformer is one of the most anticipated games coming to the Dreamcast! Maybe it’s due to the top notch graphics or the fact it’s being developed by one of the oldest and most trusted Indie Dreamcast Developers? No matter the case, we are definitely looking forward to getting our hands on this one!

Source: Official Website

Midsummer (Project Name)

Developer: Duranik

Publisher: Duranik

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

Of all the games on this list, this one is by far the biggest mystery. The above image and the project name “Midsummer” is all we know about this title. Duranik has admitted they are working on a new Dreamcast project and it uses a modified version of the Sturmwind engine, but that’s it. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see on this one.

Source: Official Website

OutbreakX (Project Name)

Developer: 111 (Programmer’s Handle)

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

 This game is a total long shot and little or nothing is known about it besides these few screenshots. The game is so impressive looking though that I had to throw it on the list. I think a lot of people would love to see a new 3D mascot platformer on the Dreamcast.

Source: Dreamcast Junkyard Article

 

Project Bennu

Developer: Alfonso Martinez & Indiket

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: Linux, GP2X

The second virtual novel under development for the Dreamcast. This game is set in a futuristic anime world, but that’s all we know as of right now. Hopefully, the developer will share more about the game in the near future.

Source: Official Website

Reblobed

Developer: 2D Retroperspectives

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

Announced back in 2013, this re-imagining of the freeware platform title “Blob” is meant to be 2D Retrospective’s first attempt at a commercial game. For anyone who played through “Blob”, this upgraded version is something to look forward to`. The original is still available for download on their website if you’re interested.

Source: Official Website

Redux 2

Developer: HuCast Games

Publisher: HuCast Games

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

For anyone that has a history with Indie Dreamcast games, the name HuCast and their Dux series comes immediately to mind. Most likely for the numerous revisions and versions that have been released. Finally, after all this time, HuCast has finally decided to release a true sequel to the original. That’s the good news. The bad news is this may also be HuCast’s final Dreamcast title. The company has been moving away from the zombie platform for a while now in favor of more modern platforms.

Source: SEGA Nerds Article

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriff

Developer: Team Saber Rider

Publisher: Watermelon Co.

Release Window: late 2017/early 2018

Other Platforms: PC, Turbo CD, 3DS

Without a doubt, the weirdest title on this list is Saber Rider. This was an anime series that debuted in the US way back in 1987. For some unknown reason, the developer thought it would be cool to create a new game based on a largely obscure 30 year old IP and then put it on a zombie platform like the Dreamcast. The funny thing is I don’t think anyone’s complaining. In fact, this 2D action game looks awesome and were looking forward to giving it a try ourselves. A demo for the Dreamcast version can also be downloaded from the games official website if you’re interested.

Source: Official Website

Saviour

Developer: 2D Retroperspectives

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: TBA

The second title in development by this small German team. Saviour is an Action JRPG style game that has been in development since 2011. The developer has been tight lipped about this game since it was announced and I don’t see that changing until they feel the time is right to share more.

Source: Official Website

SLaVE

Developer: Isotope SoftWorks

Publisher: The Goat Store Publishing

Release Window: Late 2017

Other Platforms: None

This game has been a long time coming. Pre-orders originally opened way back in 2014, but shortly thereafter the team at Isotope discovered a nasty game-breaking bug in the games 3D engine. It wasn’t until early 2017 that the developer announced that they had finally fixed the issues by practically rewriting the engine’s coding. Despite all the issues, this game is groundbreaking for the Indie Dreamcast scene. Not only is it the first true 3D game to be released in over a decade, but it’s also the first FPS since the system was discontinued by SEGA way back in 2001.

Source: Official Facebook

Survival Code

Developer: Titan Games Studio

Publisher: TBA

Release Window: TBA

Other Platforms: Saturn, IOS/Android

This run and gun is being developed by a small team out of Brazil. The games story is based around a hypothetical interpretation of the real life “WOW! Signal” that was picked up by SETI radio telescopes back in the 1970s. This game is also on track to be the first commercial game to be released for the Saturn since the system was discontinued back in the 1990s.

Source: Developers Website

Tanglewood

Developer: Big Evil Corporation

Publisher: Big Evil Corporation

Release Window: Late 2017

Other Systems: PC, Mega Drive/Genesis

 This game is the only true port on our list. The games primary platform is the Mega Drive/ Genesis. A Dreamcast version is expected sometime after the initial Mega Drive/Genesis release in late 2017. If you want to know more about the game, I’ll elaborate more down in the Mega Drive/Genesis section of this list.

Source: Official Website

 

Xenocider

Developer: Retro Sumus

Publisher: Retro Sumus

Release Window: Late 2017

Other Platform: PC

If you’re into Retro Indies and you’ve never heard of this game, then you’re living under a rock. The developers have been extremely vocal about this games existence and development. The game started as a tribute to the Space Harrier arcade game, but has since evolved into its own game.  Currently, this game is in competition with SLaVE to be the first 3D Dreamcast game in over a decade. Which game will reach the finish line first? We’ll have to wait and see!

Source: Official Website

MEGA DRIVE/GENESIS

 

Coffee Crisis

Developer: Mega Cat Studios

Publisher: Mega Cat Studios

Release Window: Q2 2017

Other Platforms: PC

Once again, we are starting off this list with a game that is already in the hands of some gamers. After a successful Kickstarter in November 2016, the game started shipping to backers in February. Hopefully, the developers don’t take too long in making the game available to the masses. We all want a piece of saving the world from aliens as baristas!

Source: Developers Website

 

Paprium

Developer: Watermelon Co.

Publisher: Watermelon Co.

Release Window: Q3 2017

Other Platforms: None

By far the highest profile Mega Drive/Genesis since Pier Solar’s release back in 2010, this beat em’ up is looking to break the record for the largest Genesis title ever released. The developers have put a lot of work into this one, with it looking more like a Neo Geo MVS game than a Genesis release.

Source: Official Website

Tanglewood

Developer: Big Evil Corporation

Publisher: Big Evil Corporation

Release Window: Q4 2017

Other Platforms: Dreamcast, PC

As previously mentioned up in the Dreamcast section, this neat little 2D mascot platformer will be coming to the Mega Drive/Genesis in 2017. The game follows Nymn as he tries to survive the horrific night in hopes of being reunited with his family in the morning.

Source: Official Website

Viking Democracy

Developer: Mega Cat Studios

Publisher: Mega Cat Studios

Release Window: 2017

Other Platforms: PC

Announced in early 2017, this 4 player arena brawler looks super fun! Hopefully, the developer will share more about the game as its release date gets closer.

Source: Developers Website

GameBoy Family

 

Ruthless Racer (GBA)

Developer: Mega Cat Studios

Publisher: Mega Cat Studios

Release Date: 2017

Other Platforms: TBA

Not a lot has been said about this title. It appear to be a Spy Hunter style game set in the Australian outback a la Mad Max.

Source: Developers Website

*Sadly, this is the only GameBoy Family game we know of currently in development for commercial sale.*

Well that wraps up our list for E3 2017! We really hope you found some games that intrigued your senses! Unlike the mainstream gaming world, the only way we get new games like these is for gamers like you to actually buy them! Sadly, we have seen two companies bow out of Dreamcast development this year alone. The good news is there are still tons of new games and companies still working hard to bring you awesome new games!