Indie games to look out for at PGDX 2026

It’s the wonderful time of the year once again when Indie Games take the center stage with the country’s very own Philippine Game Dev Expo (PGDX) 2026! Now in its 4th year, it boasts the biggest roster of over 160 Indie Games present with those coming from students to professionals and from Filipino natives to even guests from abroad.

There was so much variety in the games displayed that it was quite difficult to narrow it down but with that said and done, here are 10 of the games that you definitely need to have on your radar!

PinPow

There’s a certain charm to finding buried treasure and one game that never got out of anybody’s mind especially if they grew up with Windows XP was the Space Cadet pinball game. Now mixing Pinball, RPGs and Roguelikes was not something you’d expect would work but in the case of PinPow it made it happen with a mix of classic pinball gameplay with a hint of RNG sprinkled on the side.

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While the game currently doesn’t have a demo up, it’s definitely worth checking out for its mix of addictive and unique gameplay together with a cozy art style over on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4178860/PinPow/

Loophole: The Prison Break

Escape simulators are a dime a dozen with mechanics that are realistically reused over time. You go from point A to point B and it ends up degrading into a puzzle where it eventually just turns into a time trial to see how fast you could go out but Loophole is a different case. It’s a play on the genre heavily inspired by the prison break scene of Multi Paul in Invincible season 3 and with the variety of the level design which increasingly gets difficult, it’s a fun puzzle that the whole family could enjoy.

With the game coming out later this year, interested gamers could try out the demo for themselves with this being the link of the final game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4323880/Loophole_The_Prison_Break/

Brimvahl Crown

In the pursuit of power in RPG games, levels would oftentimes determine your strength but with an equal playing field, skill reigns supreme. Brimvahl Crown is the type of game perfect for those looking for a challenge with fights similar to a one on one hunt in Monster Hunter. With character design similar to games found during the PS2 era and the versatility in letting you change your combat style, Souls-like fans and hunters alike are bound to find a good time one way or another. Did I mention it has wrestling moves integrated too?

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While the genre may not be for everyone, it’s still worth checking out with a demo currently found over on itch.io and eventually over on Steam. https://themeparkterry.itch.io/brimvahl-crown-demo

ALTEREDBLOOD+ [AB+]

The boomer shooter genre has had multiple success stories with titles like Ultrakill taking the spotlight but with it also comes the revelation that speed is another aspect of its gameplay that just gives an entirely different experience altogether. From the same developer behind the indie game Unyielder comes ALTEREDBLOOD+, a movement shooter with an emphasis on speed and unique mechanics that change gameplay with the blood of your enemies! Violence is never the answer they say but Ultraviolence never looked so cool!Check out their Steam page and sign up for their playtest here! https://store.steampowered.com/app/4318080/ALTEREDBLOOD_AB/

Ctrl Opt Out

From one shooter to another we enter the world of CTRL+OPT+OUT. This FPS Indie game by FOOL COMBO won a multitude of awards at the recent PGDX in the Student Category including Best in Game Design, Best in Art Direction, and Game of the Year, and to play it for yourself is a testament to why it achieved all those accolades. Stylish, fast and fun, this title is one for the books with the FOOL COMBO group being one to look out for.

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Try out the demo for yourself and experience the game firsthand, over on their itch page. https://foolcombo.itch.io/ctrloptout

Mecha Blitz

An age old question that everybody knows the answer to is whether or not giant robots are cool and the answer is hell yeah. Mecha Blitz, a top down arena mecha fighter has players in control of their own giant mecha in the hopes of surviving the onslaught and between the customizability of the mech itself and the variety of weapons available together with a newly added story campaign and PVP, mecha fans are gonna eat their heart out.

Get set to get mech’d and check out the game over on Steam! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2607180/Mecha_Blitz/

Signal No. 5

While the pursuit of fun is always an important part of game design, oftentimes gaming as a tool for education is actually quite effective and Signal No. 5 tackles storm preparedness in a fun but meaningful way. This co-op game has you controlling siblings as they brace for impact and while the game may be short, it definitely did teach you about basic storm safety one way or another.

Play together with your loved ones and check out the game over on their itch page here.

Pitchfork Perfect

Rhythm games are always in style and Pitchfork Perfect delivers not just as a Rhythm game but as a Bullet Heaven too! Featuring a unique music based attack system, this game by KYD Games has players at the helm of a your archangel that uses music and rhythm to manifest spells and abilities as she faces a countless amount of foes.

Follow the beat of their drum and then some by checking out their Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4612510/Pitchfork_Perfect/

Fallen Tear: The Ascension

The makings of a good Metroidvania often revolve heavily in its world building, combat and mobility and in the case of Fallen Tear: The Ascension, it delivers in spades. This Filipino made game had been making waves for the longest time and with an emphasis on its Fated Bond system making it feel like a full on one man army, the storytelling is pretty great and if you’re a Metroidvania fan, this is a must buy!

Try out the demo for itself and make the most out of its current discount as it exits early access in the near future! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1446900/Fallen_Tear_The_Ascension/

RELATED STORY: Fallen Tear: The Ascension game review

Sepak U

While sports based games would always stick to a sense of realism even with the mystic arts and magic aplenty, adapting one of the most anime like sports in Sepak Takraw into a video game is sure to be amazing and Sepak U is proof of that. Rooted in fighting games, this e-sport in the making is fun for the whole family featuring a wide variety of characters from the Good Knight Collective Universe and if you haven’t been cockblocking with Pride, a literal chicken, you’re missing out on some finger licking good gameplay!

Follow its developments and check it out when it visits your area through updates on their Steam page here. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4566850/Sepak_U__Sports_Fighting_Game/

High Times

A visual novel will live and die on its writing but in the case of High Times, it already sets a high bar and somehow just gets higher with donuts of all things. Featuring a huge variety of romanceable characters filled with a star studded cast and a fun cooking and dating sim experience, this is the type of game that makes you want to support your faves, get their happy ending or maybe just have some laughs along the way.

Check out their steam page and enjoy their full release which coincidentally dropped on the 1st day of PGDX. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251220/High_Times/

Bloodbreaker: Labyrinth of the Witch

The only way to go through is forward and this fast paced metroidvania inspired by a multitude of inspirations both in and out of the gaming space is the definition of speed and getting good. Hailed as GDAP’s Most Anticipated Game of the Year back in 2025, Bloodbreaker is by and large a rush within itself offering a multitude of choices along the way as you face the white witch in your pursuit of rescuing your brother.

With a release window slated sometime in the near future, you can try out this Metroidvania roguelite or should I say roguevania for yourself over on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3530380/Bloodbreaker_Labyrinth_of_the_Witch/

Final Thoughts

With so many games to choose from, it was quite difficult to whittle down an extensive list of titles ranging from various genres and then some but while not every game may resonate for everyone, there’s definitely one out there for you. Thankfully this year PGDX had also released its hatch website holding details on the games currently showcased with it being found here. https://hatch.pgdx.ph/#/

Gaming is fun and to see the Independent side of gaming flourish the way it does has us excited for the coming years but with all this potential, who knows what other buried treasures you may eventually find on your own.

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