Underground Nightmares: Discover Unique Indie Gems Like a BioShock-Inspired Shooter Featuring Clowns and Darkest Dungeon DLC

Darkest Dungeon: The Fire’s Edge

Developer/Publisher: Red Hook Studios
Platforms: Steam (Windows, Mac, SteamOS/Linux; base game is Steam Deck Verified), Epic Games Store, GOG, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Price: $7

It has been six years since the last expansion for Darkest Dungeon, and since then, Red Hook has launched a sequel. Thus, the recent announcement of a new DLC for the original game was unexpected.

The Fire’s Edge introduces two new heroes, The Runaway and The Duelist, who were first seen in Darkest Dungeon II. Each hero expands your character roster by one, so they fit seamlessly into your team. The Runaway brings a unique burn ability to the game. In addition to the new characters, the DLC includes a variety of new trinkets, three additional districts, fresh town events, and enhancements to your heroes’ damage.

For newcomers, the base game is available for just $3.74 on Steam until September 1 and on PS4 until August 27. Remember, purchasing the base game is essential before adding the DLC. Or perhaps you, like many, have acquired Darkest Dungeon as part of a promotion on Epic Games Store and haven’t revisited it since.

(I’ve spent way too much time this week pondering how to make the “darkest dungeon” even darker and coming up with inventive sequel names beyond just adding a “II.” The intricacies of the English language are truly perplexing.)

Twisted Tower

Developer: Atmos Games
Publisher: 3D Realms
Platform: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck Verified)
Price: Regularly $15, currently with a 10% discount until September 1

Are you prepared for a horrific journey through a deserted amusement park from the 1950s? Twisted Tower is a horror-themed first-person shooter where you confront terrifying versions of mascots using a variety of customizable toy-inspired weapons, including a mallet, rubber-band pistol, a bubblegum chain gun, and even a “fartin’ shotgun.”

The game displays significant BioShock inspiration, particularly with its upgrade vending machines (albeit without elemental abilities). With the next installment of that series still unannounced, Twisted Tower could provide fans with an engaging alternative. Personally, the chance to take on numerous clowns is tempting, as I have no affection for them whatsoever.

The Lantern of the Laughless Saint

Developer/Publisher: NerveLabs
Platform: Steam (Windows, currently in early access)
Price: Regularly $20, currently at a 10% discount until August 24

While we await the release of The Elder Scrolls VI, there could be interest rekindled with The Lantern of the Laughless Saint, especially for those who enjoyed the remaster of Oblivion or long for pre-Skyrim entries in the series.

This open-world RPG, playable solo or cooperatively, takes inspiration from Morrowind and features an island centered around a tower. As players explore, they uncover the island’s mysteries and encounter peculiar inhabitants. An amphitheater on the island fills with “phantoms” linked to its residents based on your interactions with them. While the theater’s purpose remains a mystery, it seems integral to the game’s narrative. It has certainly piqued my interest!

Though the developers acknowledge that the game is not fully polished due to its early access status, they plan to keep it in this phase for under a year with regular updates. Currently, it boasts a main campaign with over 50 quests, more than 60 unique enemies, over 100 items for equipping, and comprehensive spell crafting and alchemy systems. NerveLabs estimates that completionists could enjoy 30 to 40 hours of gameplay.

Sensory Overload

Developer: Pancake Studios
Platform: Steam (Windows, SteamOS/Linux)
Price: Typically $10, currently offered at a 20% discount until September 4

This precision platformer is designed to test your mental endurance. Pancake Studios claims that “every aspect of this game is meant to challenge your brain.” Expect your depth perception to be challenged as you navigate tunnels while avoiding obstacles, competing for high scores. The levels have fascinating titles like Vertigo, Nausea, Peristalsis, and Apocalypse.

I personally would avoid Sensory Overload, as I struggled to make it through the trailer without feeling dizzy. However, it might appeal to those who enjoy such intense experiences, so I wanted to feature it for fans of that genre.

Rebind

Developer: SteleDev
Publisher: Fallen Games
Platform: Steam (Windows; demo available)
Price: $5, currently with a 21 percent discount until August 26

This platformer is crafted in pixel art and revolves around a clever concept suggested by its name. At the beginning of each level, the controls for your frog character (left, right, and jump) are randomly reassigned. While it’s a captivating idea, it could pose accessibility issues by disrupting muscle memory.

Players can expect elements reminiscent of Celeste and Super Meat Boy, featuring wall jumps and instant respawns, with deaths marked by blood splatter. Collecting fruit unlocks harder levels, and I found the demo enjoyable as I navigated the challenges of remembering controls while dodging obstacles. Rebind appeals more to me than Sensory Overload for its brain-teasing gameplay.