High hopes

BEAT THE JANUARY BLUES WITH ONE OF THESE FIVE FANTASTIC INDIE TITLES

- CHERYL MULLIN

AS MONTHS go, poor old January has to be the bleakest of the year.

All traces of Christmas have been wiped away, the brightly coloured lights that lifted the gloomy nights packed back in the loft for another year.

Days are damp and cold, the winter nights are darker and we are counting the hours to payday.

Despite the early year sales, it also feels like one of the hardest months to justify spending big bucks on expensive hobbies - gaming being one of the pricier pastimes.

But there is salvation to be had in the form of indie games.

Last year was a stellar year for indie studios, who well and truly came out of the shadow of their bigger AAA counterparts. Just as ambitious as the bigger games, and in many cases much better, they are also gentler on the pocket.

So if you're seeking a game on a budget this January, here are five that should be on your radar.

Death Machine

(PEGI TBC) PC Price: £12.79 Another of this month's Metroidvanias, Death Machine is described as a metroidvania with a roguelite-inspired item system.