2024 was a magnificent year for memorable indie games, with the all-conquering Balatro even securing a nomination for The Game Awards’ top honor. But its creator ‘LocalThunk’ is a big champion of his fellow indies, highlighting other greats including Animal Well, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, and the fantastic Arco. The stunning Mesoamerican RPG is a real sleeper hit, with 97% of players recommending it, and its clever tactical combat and beautiful pixel-art design completely won my heart, but it didn’t get the attention it deserved. If you missed it, however, you’ve now got the chance to catch up for cheap as a Steam sale brings Arco to its lowest price yet.
Arco tells three tales in one, focusing on a Native perspective during the arrival of European newcomers in Mesoamerica. If you enjoy the blend of exploration, story, and combat in Baldur’s Gate 3, Arco follows a fairly similar mix. You’ll travel across the land, which is packed with people to meet and secrets to discover, making exploration feel truly rewarding. Add in a delightfully creative combat system that had me looking forward to every engagement, whether it be against troublesome colonizers, deadly wild beasts, or more mystical unknowns, and you have a recipe for one of the best RPGs of the year.
The choice-driven narrative is packed with emotion and charm, further amplified by the game’s simple but beautiful pixel art and its gorgeous soundtrack. As a very mechanics-driven player, the combat is certainly what won me over most, however. It’s a blend of real-time and turn-based, allowing you to queue up your next moves and watch them play out. It emphasizes careful positioning and planning, requiring smart resource management and offering valuable skill upgrades as you progress. You can learn more in my Arco preview, but suffice it to say that it’s tremendous fun.
Arco is a true labor of love, and it shines through in every aspect of the game – but it didn’t sell well. “We made something new. Our game has been well rated by critics and players but it sold badly,” one of Arco’s creators, ‘Franek,’ wrote in a message to X. Balatro developer LocalThunk also weighed in, saying, “This industry can seem like such a lottery sometimes. Usually results make sense but Arco feels different to me. I hope this game breaks out and finds the wider audience it deserves.”
Accepting the Game Award for Best Indie Game on LocalThunk’s behalf, Playstack PR manager Wouter Van Halderen even gave Arco a special shoutout: “I know you’re probably wondering if you can give this [award] away to another team that you think deserves it more,” he says to LocalThunk, “but sorry, Arco, he has to take this home.” If you’re one of the many who didn’t catch this beautiful indie RPG at launch, however, you now have the ideal chance to correct that, as a new Steam sale means it’s at its lowest price ever.
Arco is 30% off through Thursday January 16, meaning you’ll pay just $13.99 / £11.19 for your copy. There’s also a free demo if you want to try it first. Head over to Steam to check it out and download the demo to see what you’ve been missing.
While you’re here, be sure to browse the best indie games in 2025 to make sure you aren’t missing out on more memorable moments, and look ahead to what’s still to come with our pick of the biggest and best upcoming PC games for the rest of the year.
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