IndieMania 2026 Showcase

[02:42] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. >> Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. [music]

[03:11] hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. [music]

[04:08] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, [music] hey.

[04:50] [music] Heat.

[06:32] [music] Heat.

[10:21] >> Heat. [music]

[11:46] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat.

[13:32] >> Hey everyone, Paul Gail Network here with Indie Mania 2026, our third annual Indie Mania. And it wouldn't be in Indie Mania without these folks from Way Forward who have been with us from the beginning. Way forward, thank you for

[13:45] being a part of this show yet again. Go ahead and introduce yourselves. >> I'm Vuli Way, tyrannical overlord of Way Forward. Thank you for having us yet again. Third year in a row. >> I'm James Montana, Way Forward game

[13:57] with you. >> Thank you both so much. Let's see. It's been a year, so we've got to start there. A little bit of a recap. How have the last 12 months been at Way Forward when it comes to development of games,

[14:14] releases, anything that you want to talk about in terms of what you've been >> It's actually been a very busy year for us. A lot of it is still under NDA we can talk about, but we did release Sigma Star Saga DX and Shantae Advance.

[14:30] theme has been full circle. There's these games that came out so many years ago. I was playing Sigma Star Saga 20 years ago when I first started at Way back. We're doing this DX version of it.

[14:44] course, Shantae Advance, which had never even had the chance to come out, was in development like some odd 20 years ago. it back. So, that's uh I think that's been kind of like a recent theme for us,

[14:57] these things. >> That's got to be exciting. I know you're cooking. >> We're always going way forward. >> You're going way forward, right? It's in the name. That's cool. What's the hat,

[15:09] by the way? SCV Collectible. >> Oh, [ __ ] I didn't even ask earlier like >> Oh, I was You didn't You didn't notice when you came in. >> No. >> Oh, you got you got to check this out.

[15:21] >> Oh, [ __ ] We're live. >> Well, hold on. I guess this is a bonus >> Well, hold on. I guess this is a bonus part of Indie Mania.

[15:37] >> We're at Way Forward, but we're also at the SCV Collectible Show. employees choose to work from home, which is fine. We don't force anyone to come in. They can come in if they want, but since only about 10% Woo!

[15:52] >> Let's go. >> What should we do with all this extra space we have? And so we turned it into a collectible show. It's think of it a collectible show. It's think of it like a mini comic con that it it happens

[16:04] Southern California, you have to come stop by on the weekend. Every month we stop by on the weekend. Every month we have like a usually a bigger event with, you know, special guest actors and uh celebrities for signings. But we have a

[16:18] way forward booth as well. So we we set this up. We sell um some of our physical products here. most of them from Limited Run. And then we also always have a a kiosk app up with some of our whatever

[16:32] games we you know uh we want to feature up there. And then Forward staff here. We do autograph signing sometimes. >> Oh yeah. >> And uh it's a great chance to get out of

[16:45] print rare or hard to find Way Forward games when we have some spare stock. We can we can uh make sure to share that with you guys. >> All righty. So, this is Paul Gil Network with Indie Mania with Way Forward.

[16:59] Awesome people. Thank you so much, Mike Odyssey. All right, thank you everyone for watching. Hope you enjoy this interview. Mike, let's go. Whoa, interview. Mike, let's go. Whoa, outer space. It's so wide. Wow. Oh, hi

[17:13] outer space. It's so wide. Wow. Oh, hi guys. Welcome to Indie Mania. Well, actually, we're right now we're actually filming Indie Mania 4, the search for >> and cats. >> But in cats, cuz I accidentally lost

[17:29] >> But in cats, cuz I accidentally lost Paul's cat. >> Mario, where are you? Mario, you got to be somewhere in this system. I I heard that cats like space [music]

[17:41] and I well I wanted to give it space. But in the meantime, I want to give a quick shout out to our host IG and all of our amazing developers, our co- of our amazing developers, our co- streamers, right, Paul? What uh what

[17:56] the cat while they while they watch the show. >> Find the find find my cat and find the trailers. >> All right, guys. So stay tuned for Indie Mini4 the search for more trailers in

[18:08] Mini4 the search for more trailers in space and cats and of course uh uh you know I'll make it up to Paul somehow. Enjoy the show.

[18:28] [music] There he is. Paul, >> what

[18:44] >> what did he got that hunk of junk to run >> over here? >> Let's go.

[18:57] >> You fixed it. >> The find fixed. >> The find fixed. >> Trailer treasure detected. Temporal signal active. >> What is that?

[19:10] >> Trailer treasure detected. Earth realm. No time jump required. [music]

[19:23] Waking life is a fragile balance. The light burns. The darkness drowns. [music] You keep to the narrow road between. But what if Power.

[19:40] Power in horror. Power enrage. It was always there, buried in your shadow.

[20:09] When nightmares rain and the world counts in its sleep, contors,

[20:22] embrace it, wield it.

[20:37] >> May you wake to find your choice was wise.

[20:51] [music] game trailers located. Time jump required. You mean the treasure is real? is real? >> Oh, it's real.

[21:44] Heat >> [music] here. [music]

[24:04] [music] >> Heat. Heat.

[24:37] Okay, this one I like. [music] and powerful Mike. >> Cozy bash. Wow. Locked in. We got some >> Cozy bash. Wow. Locked in. We got some trailers, Paul.

[26:21] >> That's [music]

[26:42] >> Heat. [music]

[27:01] Heat. [music]

[28:36] consortium. [singing] Nothing is too foul or fair to find in Nothing is too foul or fair to find in my scriptorium.

[28:50] hast come to the source I know from whence a trumpet bloweth and I can draw a horse [music and singing] be it salt or deed or it or inspiring quote I can pen [music] a tidy hymn or write a ransom [singing] note yes I can

[29:07] write a ransom [singing] note yes I can scribe Anything forest or nothing is [music and singing] too far to find in my scriptor.

[30:02] Can we stay here for a minute? Oh, if this bus starts farming, we'll never this bus starts farming, we'll never leave.

[31:08] seen countless [music] changes. Mysterious forces determine whether nations crumble or forge [music] glorious empires. They were strategists.

[31:23] These elusive shadows revealed the secrets of science. Build [music] strong and vibrant economies.

[31:38] >> [music] >> velvet glove. >> velvet glove. Engage in diplomacy for the greater good Engage in diplomacy for the greater good and lead armies [music] to victory.

[31:59] time, take on the mantle of a stratagist, stratagist, and haunt the halls of history.

[32:20] lead developer of Tiny Terrace Spaces. It's a cozy, stressfree, risk-free Scottish island builder. that you can enjoy in a single [music] sitting or return to whatever you like. The game is inspired by titles like Dwarf Droatic

[32:34] and Islanders uh but with its own Scottish early Viking era twist. Interpaces isn't a deep city builder with research trees or complex systems. >> Instead, it focuses on giving players a relaxing experience, building a cozy

[32:49] Scottish island [music] in different modes, one block at a time in fresh communities in sandbox mode with selection of buildings available, or exploring the history inspired hope mode, where [music] you sail between

[33:02] Scottish islands and uncover small stories inspired by Scotland's rich island heritage [music] and history. I hope you enjoyed the game and the peaceful atmosphere I aim to create. Thank you for playing.

[33:54] >> Hey. [music]

[34:40] Heat [music] up

[35:10] the kingdom. Venmine has a plan. Not every step is clear, but she's determined. Discover every [music] kind of tulip.

[35:27] Expand the field. Breed the rarest colors.

[35:43] You deal with her. Remember to help other villages. They Remember to help other villages. They will return the favor.

[35:56] The most beautiful field in the [music] kingdom. That's the plan.

[37:10] >> Action adventure R PG and platformers. Multiple trailers detected. >> And we got some fantasy signals. RPG everything trailers. Boop boop boop beep boop beep. Barking them down.

[37:26] >> Please tell me that that was part of the trailer.

[37:38] Heat. Heat. [music]

[39:08] [music] Oh,

[39:45] [music] >> Heat. Heat.

[40:00] [music] Heat. Heat.

[40:57] >> Heat. Heat.

[41:31] Lumen plays. Lumman walks and Lumman flies. [music] Join Lumander Panda on an unforgettable

[41:46] adventure. [music] Explore a wonderful world. world. Collect apples Jam across exciting platforming challenges.

[42:02] Solve tricky puzzles and outsmart mischievous enemies. and outsmart mischievous enemies. [music]

[42:14] Uncover hidden secrets and learn fun with panda [music] facts. But most importantly, have fun as you journey through the have fun as you journey through the world with Num the Red Panda. [music]

[42:30] world with Num the Red Panda. [music] Heat.

[42:43] Heat. [music]

[43:13] [music] heat, heat.

[45:09] >> [music] >> I love you.

[45:58] hey, hey, hey. [music]

[47:10] >> Heat. Heat.

[47:30] [music] Heat.

[47:59] [music] Heat. Heat.

[49:19] It slowly but surely succumbs to the invasion. invasion. Yet there are some who still believe in the crusade against evil. We've sworn an oath to defend this land

[49:32] against any form of villain. Be it [music] common thieves, sinful heretics, [music]

[49:51] Our strength lies in our brotherhood. To stand a chance against Bibub's spawn, we train together. We eat and pray together. And we welcome [music] new together. And we welcome [music] new brothers to our order.

[50:07] >> The demons may outnumber us as creatures of the abyss. [music] They may thrive in darkness. But our ally is light.

[50:19] And we shall soak our enemies in [music] that light. [music] And we trust in the strategic mind of

[50:34] our grandmaster. We believe in you.

[51:00] >> Retro inspired Vimus [music] arcade trailers detected. Lots of quarters recommended. quarters recommended. >> All right, now retro batch loaded. We

[51:13] got some retro games here. Bloated, >> dude. Mike, do you have a quarter? >> I have a cassette tape. I got two two little screws. little screws. [music]

[52:31] Heat. Heat. [music]

[54:13] Go [bell] go go go go. Heat. Heat.

[54:38] Heat. Heat. [music]

[55:13] [music] by now.

[55:28] synchronized. [music]

[56:09] Heat. Heat. [music]

[56:35] Heat. [music]

[57:05] >> Heat up here. [music] [music] Heat up

[57:36] [music] >> here.

[57:54] [music] >> Heat up here.

[58:48] [music] Heat

[59:06] [music] here.

[59:35] Can we go back to cozy world? >> Um, [music] maybe. Spooky horror and thriller trailers [music] detected. Viewer discretion advised and protection recommended. Our bats confirmed. Paul,

[59:53] recommended. Our bats confirmed. Paul, we got we got the trailers. was learns how doors work. >> Uh, good news. The doors barely work.

[1:00:49] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat.

[1:02:55] unusual event in Spain which occurred in the village of [music] Salana Paladra. >> My god, my head. Did I faint? I don't remember changing my clothes. His front door and all the windows of

[1:03:11] his house had been sealed up with concrete. Someone had placed strange riddles in every room and had left instructions that by solving them he [music] could escape

[1:03:23] from his confinement. >> [ __ ] What is all this madness? Am I dreaming? >> But he wasn't alone at home, for he was accompanied [music] by a strange entity who wouldn't stop chasing him.

[1:03:40] And in fact, if I were you, I wouldn't bother trying to get out of here.

[1:04:15] Heat. Heat.

[1:05:35] future. >> New trailers detected. [music] You have also acquired a traffic ticket due to how old this hunk of junk is. >> Did we just get a ticket? >> Uh, no time for future laws. We got

[1:05:50] trailer detection. >> You're ignoring a [music] ticket from the future. >> Well, uh, technically it hasn't happened yet. >> Why do you build

[1:06:22] [music] You discover problems. [music] You invent solutions.

[1:06:37] >> [music] >> You find the answers.

[1:07:01] out now. >> [music]

[1:07:43] [music] >> Hey,

[1:08:52] [music] Heat.

[1:09:36] >> Cucumber is a [music] very good canon. is this round winner and gains a star [music]

[1:09:53] [music] is waiting to the spectators.

[1:10:23] >> They are now entering the final stage of the race. [music]

[1:12:23] [music] explosions? I don't know, Paul. Maybe because driving towards him feels kind of rude. >> Battle world and competitive trailers detected. You have also lost your health insurance [music] by entering this

[1:12:37] insurance [music] by entering this world. Good luck. What's that? Oh no. Action trailer signals found. Bats incoming.

[1:13:37] >> Heat up here. [music] Heat.

[1:15:27] minions, evolve to unlock new powers, then send into battle. Flawed Tactics is a PvP auto battler where players control the balance. Each game, choose your pool of minions and spells, but pay careful attention. Costs change over time based

[1:15:41] on market demand. There is no such thing as an overpowered spell or minion. The market will keep adjusting the price. Fight other players in live PvP where you can cast spells to buff minions, create powerful relics, clone your

[1:15:55] superstar, or even steal the most powerful enemy. For a slower paced, more casual [music] experience, play async PvP, where you will battle the ghosts of past players, unlocking new difficulties until every army you face is a

[1:16:09] formidable opponent. In flawed tactics, you construct your team, you choose the spells, but you can't rely on net decking. The market is always balancing and the meta is always shifting. Welcome back to constructed PvP, where theory

[1:16:24] back to constructed PvP, where theory crafting is required for success.

[1:17:49] reports of people vanishing and hideous creatures emerging. Nature itself is withering. And this can only mean that dark magic is back in our realm. Demons and war once consumed our lands.

[1:18:08] The fear, the hate. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. itself. Paladin, you are all that stands between

[1:18:20] Paladin, you are all that stands between the forces of evil and our lands. Go now and do what you must, as without your help, the world is already doomed.

[1:18:58] [music] Heat.

[1:19:24] Heat. [music]

[1:20:02] [music] Heat. Heat. [music]

[1:20:36] Heat. Heat

[1:20:55] here. [music]

[1:21:46] Heat. [music]

[1:22:16] [music] >> Heat up here.

[1:22:58] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. [music]

[1:23:25] >> Beeping sounds, bobbing sounds, and more beeping sounds. Am [music] I done yet? beeping sounds. Am [music] I done yet? >> Dude, that's a lot of beeping. >> That's a lot of trailers. Oh, final badge fall. That's a lot of

[1:23:39] trailers thing coming. >> Can the bus handle that many signals? >> Can the bus handle that many signals? >> Uh, define handle. >> Uh, define handle. [music]

[1:24:08] >> [music] >> Come closer. [music] The apocalypse is now.

[1:24:32] [music] Oh my god.

[1:25:48] >> I'm a solo game developer. [laughter] Okay, it's a bluffing game show and a bunker builder.

[1:26:01] and a bunker builder. It's easy. Just press the button. Lly a bit of strategy and a really great story, too.

[1:26:14] things take talent and time. What? >> You know, I don't have to do this interview. interview. That's it. I'm out of here.

[1:27:35] [music] >> Yeah. [music] Heat.

[1:28:21] >> Heat [music] up

[1:29:21] [bell] Heat. Heat. [music]

[1:30:08] Heat. [music]

[1:30:25] here. [music]

[1:30:55] [music] Yeah.

[1:31:11] the pirates? >> Karate chopping the pirates. >> Oh my goodness. Ow. Watch out. >> Watch out for that sword, Paul. >> Oh my goodness. Paul, we have a introduction to do. We have a segment.

[1:31:26] >> Oh my goodness. He's all right. While Paul uh fights those pirates over there, I guess is my I'll I'll do the introduction. This this segment is introduction. This this segment is brought to you by Pirate PR. They put

[1:31:39] brought to you by Pirate PR. They put the R in PR for your indie gaming marketing needs. >> Oh my goodness. >> Oh my goodness. >> Pirates, give me those trailers.

[1:32:02] Heat. [music]

[1:32:16] Heat. [music]

[1:32:38] Heat. [music]

[1:34:01] >> System failure. Organic threats detected.

[1:34:50] >> I'm Sam from 64. My game Stip is a number puzzle game. You put numbers into dots. That's all there is to it. It's fine. Everything's fine. Just Just look at the puzzles.

[1:35:17] [music] [bell]

[1:36:03] Think, Alan. Where is he? >> [music] >> We'll get him one blink at a time

[1:36:19] [music] before it's time.

[1:37:13] >> Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat

[1:37:35] >> up [music]

[1:37:48] here. [music]

[1:38:45] >> Dear Edith, a part of me hopes you'll never find this. And I'm ashamed to admit that I only know small bits about your life. When she left, [music] she left a hole bigger than her stature would imply. A hole so big [music] I

[1:39:01] couldn't see you waiting for me on the other side.

[1:39:27] I hope this box brings you some insight into why I acted the way I did. Not as an excuse, just as an explanation. [music]

[1:39:56] >> I got her. Come on down to the Grilluminati Steakhouse and enjoy our finest homegrilled dishes. We've been serving our customers locally sourced and freshly prepared grilled ribs [music]

[1:40:09] since 1666. Here at the Illuminati Diner, we believe every meal should be Diner, we believe every meal should be to good.

[1:40:41] I'm going crazy. [music] sure to visit the Greum steakhouse so that we [music] may serve you.

[1:41:53] are happy volcano. Here is our game Midnight Moments which is a small cyberpunk diarama builder. If you like cozy games where there are no goals, just neon vibes, we would appreciate if you wishlist the game on Steam.

[1:42:14] [music] city at night. The neon glow, the pouring rain, that feeling that every nook [music] holds a story. In our small cyberpunk holds a story. In our small cyberpunk diarama game, there's no pressure,

[1:42:29] no goals, just vibes. [music] Kick back and build a cozy corner in a city that feels alive. [music] Dress it with handcrafted props. Place people into your world.

[1:42:45] Then sit back and just admire your creation. Cozy isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes it glows. Sometimes it glows. Welcome to Midnight Moments.

[1:43:13] here's my dog, Pichu. Together, we're working on a very special pet simulation working on a very special pet simulation game. Let's take a look. game. Let's take a look. >> [music]

[1:43:43] >> Hey, [music] Heat. [music]

[1:45:04] >> Heat. Heat.

[1:45:34] Heat up here. [music]

[1:46:10] Heat. [music]

[1:46:36] [music] >> Hey Indie Mania, thank you so much for having us. My name's Ellen. You can call me Axi, and I am the co-founder and 3D artist for Mango Leaf Games. We're currently working on our second project,

[1:46:49] Winter Whiskers, and plan to release it later this year. Winter Whiskers is a cozy snow cleaning game where you help reconnect a town after a freak blizzard the night before. Please enjoy our trailer.

[1:47:04] >> [music] [bell]

[1:48:12] >> I'm Tom. And I'm Jeremy of Weat Studios. And we are the developers of Box Knight. [music] Box Knight is a beat him up rogike. Picture Hades castle crashes and South Park [music] having an angry baby. You play as the Box Knight and you

[1:48:25] battle your way up the cursed tower through these monstrous abstractions of your most terrible and toxic co-workers on your quest to beat up the CEO and escape the Stor and it's got [music] catch.

[1:48:47] [music] and torment is upon us. All hope is lost until now.

[1:49:32] [music] Heat.

[1:50:41] [music] Heat. [music] Heat.

[1:51:19] >> Huh? >> Oh.

[1:52:40] In zero gravity, mining creates floaters. [music] clutter. [music]

[1:53:01] the next. Start your first training mission now.

[1:53:47] >> here. >> [music]

[1:54:58] Belgium. I make games using real paintings from painters that died a long paintings from painters that died a long time ago like Pet Mondrean and James Ansour. In my next game, you'll be on

[1:55:12] observation duty at the museum at night spotting anomalies in living paintings. Can you guess the painter? Here's a little teaser showing some of game. Hope you enjoy. >> Bye-bye.

[1:55:34] summoner who's trying to end creation through the three realms. He owes me money. Sir, what's next?

[1:55:47] Sir, what's next? [music]

[1:56:52] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [bell] [music] Heat. Heat.

[1:57:45] Carlos. >> I'm Sio. >> And we are Anima Product, a small threeperson team. and we're excited to beast. >> It's a dark fantasy action RPG where two

[1:57:59] unlikely companions are drawn into a journey through a lost civilization. We put out a lot of passion into every part of it. We hope you enjoy the trailer. Welcome to the [music]

[1:59:00] [music] >> Heat

[1:59:22] [music] [singing]

[1:59:35] real. Told you. And now now we share it with the world. Indie mania. Indie mania.

[2:01:11] Fall [singing] in love with Are >> [music]

[2:02:37] love with me. [music]

[2:03:09] [music] All in love with love. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. [music]

[2:03:37] love with me. [music]

[2:04:13] All in love with [music]