You know what, I've started to like Free Game Mugen ("mugen" meaning "between dreams and reality"). First of all, it has a great design that's easy to explore. Even without understanding the words, you can figure out each category by its icon.
If you've studied katakana, you'll be able to recognize most of them already!
Plus, they tag each game with its operating system, going back as far as Windows 95!
Back in my day... actually, let's not date myself.
And, since I got permission from the site manager to translate what's written for each game, I'll be introducing some of them... with insider information(?)! We'll start with something anyone can play... EntreatDream genre: shooting
"A scrolling bullet hell game."
It's split into four difficulty levels, so there's fun for anyone from newbies to pros. In addition to three basic types of equipment, you can choose two of four magic-consuming powers. In a somehow-familiar foreign world, a magician struggles to solve the riddle of the foreboding skies. What truths will be revealed?!
Highlights
Compatible with controllers
About 30 minutes per round, with 7 stages total
*Epilogue unincluded
Player reviews say it makes up for its unfinished polish with a great design sense, specifically in terms of its unique graphics and shooting gameplay. It's just a bit hard to tell things apart on the screen, but you'll get used to it. Other than that, it's interesting if only a bit difficult! Language Difficulty: 0 / 3 ✩✩✩ Looks like it's all in English!
To download, click the blue button under the social media icons!
I've just discovered Mogura Games, a website dedicated to introducing free and indie games from around the world... but of course that also means Japan. Weeding out the ones that have already gone to Steam or elsewhere, the first one I came across was ELMIA by AECRNIA. [Action] ELMIA
by AECRNIA
for PC (Windows, Mac)
to be released later this year on Steam
expected price of 980 yen
It's a cute, storybook-style side-scroller made with Unity in which your character can be transported to her spirit at any moment. That means you have control over both your character and the spirit... which gets tricky at times. Plus, you have to recharge after using your transportation ability, so time it well. The story is written in Japanese but the menu is in English and additional hints throughout the game are given through illustrations.
You can choose from normal, hard, and one-life mode, plus three additional modes that seem to be unlockable. Anyone able to get that far, let me know! The demo on their website is free.
Language Difficulty: 0 / 3 ✩✩✩
While the introduction is written in Japanese, it doesn't affect your ability to play or understand the story, as hints are given through illustrations.
Update 10/21: I have it from an insider source that the game will be on Steam later this year with support for Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese! The OST will also be put on sale at that time.
Update 8/14: The full game has been released! Public online release scheduled for late 2017.
At Comiket (short for Comic Market, a huge convention for dojinshi, or self-published works), they handed out these buttons and sold download cards for the game and its soundtrack. The things you get at Comiket tend to be created for the convention only, so they can become extremely valuable!
To set things straight, the developer is an effects designer at the company they entered after graduation, and in their hobby group they're a technical artist.
The spirit's name is El, and the girls' name is Mia. Put them together, and you get ELMIA. (No connection to the convention center in Sweden... probably.)
ELMIA starts out like Kirby and ends like Donkey Kong. How many lives will it take you? The developer's bad at games so they're looking at a lot of dead girls...
Earlier, the developer was asked if they wanted to sell their game on a self-publishing site. It might be easier for Japanese gamers to play? Maybe they'll start selling on Steam and "DOO" [I've never heard of this!]. But prospects look good!
They want to localize into Japanese, English, Chinese, French, and German!
And after sending a DM, it sounds like they plan to release the game on Steam in November, within the year at the latest! Of course, I'll have the link here when they do.
