Last week was Boston FIG, our favorite indie game festival. We talk favorite games and impressions, with special guest co-host and staff writer Corey Lagunowich.

As in past years (2017, 2016 digital, 2016 tabletop, 2015), we couldn’t see everything. Instead, we’ll tell you about our favorite games of the festival.

Digital Showcase

We noticed a lot of derivative games. What held our interest were games that did something unique or games that did something very well. And, it goes almost without saying, we stuck to games that were family-friendly.

39 Days to Mars – 2D, Myst like in that it doesn’t hold your hand. Very few visual clues. Victorian steampunk theme, cooperate with another player to build a rocket to get to Mars. Most puzzles absolutely required both players’ cooperation with simultaneous action.

Squatbot – 2D platformer, already available free for mobile devices. Simple but not easy; feels smooth and natural, nicely polished. Play either in infinite mode or level-by-level.

FUR – First-person game. Free the furballs, then throw them at various kinds of obstacles. Designed by a student team. First showed at PAX East, with linear level design (too easy); re-did the level design for Boston FIG to include lots of backtracking, making it much more compelling.

Flock of Dogs – local cooperative for up to 8 players, still in early development. Odd theme (flying dogs, flying whale, etc) but very family-friendly.

(16:00) We noticed a lot more local multiplayer than previous years, and more player counts higher than four. We noticed this last year in King of the Hat, and we’re glad to see even more now.

Chibisu’s Costume Combat – top down 2D multiplayer battle. Pick a costume at the beginning of the round, and that determines your attack style and special powers.

Save Your Nuts – another top down battle, but in teams. Basically a capture-the-flag. Less chaotic than I thought but also harder than I thought. Reminds me of Rocket League, in that the action went just a little bit too fast. Winner of “Figgie” for Multiplayer and Connected Games.

Swimsanity – polished dual-stick shooter. Choose a role. You’re a team of scuba divers… with lasers! Charge up a certain number of “kills” and become an aquatic animal with a super attack. Play free for all, 2-on-2, or all players together against environment. (Coming out early 2019)

Exposure, which we saw last year and liked a lot, won the “Figgie” for Experimental Game Design.

Tabletop Showcase

Where we spent most of our time (as usual). The tabletop showcase had a lot of games with great staying power.

Born to Serve – from Shoot Again Games. Players are a bunch of second-rate super heroes, competing for the last job in town – a waiter. Don’t use your superpowers… when people are looking! slated for Kickstarter 2019.

Luke Warm (Figgie for Most Innovative) – 4 player asymmetric game,