Indie Jam 2026 was bigger and more ambitious than ever. Back for our second year as event exhibitors, we made it a point to do more than just man our booth this time around. Over two days, we joined in on the fun; playing through demos, watching other players react in real time, and talking to the developers building some of the most interesting indie games we’ve seen in the ASEAN region.
The energy of the hall was something else entirely. There’s a particular buzz that comes from being in a room full of people who are passionate about games and what they create. From packed demo stations to enthusiastic conversations, energy was flowing freely between developers, publishers, and players. It didn’t feel like just another event, but it felt much like a celebration of what indie gaming in SEA is becoming.
With 60+ games on display, finding standout titles took focus. After plenty of hands-on experience across the hall, we put together this curated list of 5 hidden gems from Indie Jam 2026 that absolutely impressed us and that we believe deserve a lot more attention. Here’s what we loved, and why we think you should try these titles for yourself.
1. Isekat: Crushed by a Computer, My Beloved Kitten is Transported to a Fantasy World where its Typing Skills Save the Kingdom!
- Release Date: Nov 28, 2025
- Genre: Action, RPG, Indie, Typing Adventure
- Developer: InSpite Games
- Publisher: InSpite Games
- Studio Origin: Singapore
Isekat is a typing-based action RPG where you play as a kitten who dies after being crushed by a computer and is transported to a fantasy world. In this realm, survival, combat, and progression are all driven entirely through typing. Every encounter and challenge is resolved through your trusty keyboard.
The title is a mouthful, but it immediately grabs attention, backed by a cute art style that makes it hard to miss. Once we got hands-on, the concept clicked almost instantly. Its core mechanics are simple and highly accessible, making it easy for anyone to pick up within minutes.
Despite the simplicity, the game still pushes reaction speed and precision, especially in combat where hesitation can cost you. A standout feature is its multilingual support beyond English, including Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese. Typing in different languages adds an extra layer of challenge while keeping the experience feeling fresh, engaging, and memorable.
It’s also worth noting that Isekat is developed by a two-person team, inspired by the co- founder’s childhood love of typing games and a desire to recapture what made the genre compelling in earlier years.
- We’d rate this: 8.5/10. Isekat stands out for its commitment to a fully typing-driven combat system wrapped in an intentionally absurd premise. It’s simple, creative, and most importantly memorable.
- Who it’s for:
- Writers (full stop!)
- Players who enjoy typing or rhythm-based mechanics
- Casual gamers looking for something easy to pick up
2. FiresOut!
- Release Date: To be announced
- Genre: Action, Casual, Simulation, Co-op
- Developer: Dreamonaut Studio
- Publisher: Dreamonaut Studio
- Studio Origin: Malaysia
FiresOut! is a chaotic, multiplayer co-op firefighting game for up to four players, where you take on the role of animal firefighter interns thrown into increasingly absurd rescue scenarios. Teamwork is everything. Whether players are putting out fires with a toilet bowl goldfish or hauling victims to safety, you must do it together.
FiresOut! was one of the most chaotic and laughter-filled games we tried. Fighting fires with a toilet bowl goldfish? The concept alone is hilariously fun, whether you’re playing with friends or family. Built around teamwork, communication, and a bit of friendly yelling, the game throws you into tight spaces where you’ll need to avoid hazards and coordinate actions quickly to complete objectives.
The gameplay itself is simple and approachable, but the real challenge lies in managing coordination under pressure. It reminded us of the Overcooked series, where success depends less on individual skill and more on how well your team works together.
- We’d rate this: 8.5/10. FiresOut! stood out for its strong co-op identity and commitment to chaotic, team-based gameplay. It’s simple to pick up and it’s most enjoyable when playing in a group.
- Who it’s for:
- Fans of co-op party games like Overcooked
- Casual gamers who want something easy to pick up with friends
3. Grim Trials
- Release Date: To be announced
- Genre: Casual, Incremental, Clicker, Indie
- Developer: Glory Jam
- Publisher: Soft Source
- Studio Origin: Indonesia
Grim Trials is a dark fantasy action roguelite where you play as Avelin, a new Grim Reaper recruit navigating an afterlife academy. She is tasked with hunting down corrupted souls while surviving the deadly trials ahead. You fight your way through hex-grid arenas filled with monsters, traps, and challenging bosses, all while uncovering fragments of Avelin’s past life.
What caught our attention was its heavy metal–inspired aesthetic and strong character design. The trailer opening was also particularly engaging, setting the tone for its dark fantasy world.
As a roguelite, the game is clearly combat-focused, built around action, experimentation, and replayable runs. During our demo, we were reminded of games like Hades, especially in how it blends stylish presentation with structured, run-based progression. Between weapons, upgrades, and mid-run blessings, each attempt feels different while still anchored to the same core challenge.
- We’d rate this: 8/10. Grim Trials stands out for its strong combat identity and layered roguelite systems. While still in development, the demo already shows promising potential, with a clear focus on responsive combat, build experimentation, and replay value.
- Who it’s for:
- Fans of roguelite action games
- Fans of Hades-style combat structure and progression
4. I NEED SPACE
- Release Date: To be announced
- Genre: Adventure, Platformer, Exploration, Narrative
- Developer: Khayalan Arts
- Publisher: Khayalan Arts
- Studio Origin: Indonesia
I NEED SPACE follows the journey of a Space Traveler and a Cosmic Cat as they travel across a fractured universe, searching for a home while trying to restore balance to a dying world affected by a mysterious galactic pandemic. Along the way, the story explores themes of environmental decay and cosmic restoration, woven into a gentle, narrative-driven space adventure.
The game’s aesthetics have a hand-drawn charm, almost like a children’s storybook brought to life. It carries an atmospheric tone that leans heavily into exploration and emotional storytelling. We navigate a spherically shaped world where, no matter which direction we travel, we eventually loop back to the starting point.
From our experience, it feels designed for a calm, reflective mood, encouraging players to take their time, explore freely, and enjoy the journey rather than rush through it.
- We’d rate this: 8/10. I NEED SPACE stands out to us for its artistic direction and theme. While still early in development, it shows strong potential as a narrative-driven experience focused on exploration, tone, and environmental storytelling.
- Who it’s for:
- Players who enjoy cozy or atmospheric games
- Players who prefer a slower-paced game and narrative-driven exploration experiences
5. Sous Raccoon
- Release Date: Early access available
- Genre: Action, Roguelite, Management, Cooking
- Developer: Novice Flow
- Publisher: Rising Tide
- Studio Origin: Thailand
In Sous Raccoon, we play as a raccoon sous chef managing a chaotic restaurant. This is a fast-paced game with a mix of cooking, serving and combat. Take orders, prepare dishes, and fend off enemies from eating your customers, all within a roguelike structure that evolves with each run.
When we first saw it, it immediately reminded us of Overcooked and Bronzebeard Tavern. The game ramps up quickly, getting more chaotic as we progress and really putting our multitasking skills to the test. Everything happens at once, the serving, gathering,upgrading, and fighting all within a single loop. There’s even a fun touch where you can dance to make customers more patient. At one point, we were so focused on serving food that we completely forgot about the monsters.
The visuals are cute, which contrasts nicely with the chaos. What stood out most was playing as a raccoon chef, adding a fun and quirky charm to the overall experience.
- We’d rate this: 7.5/10. Sous Raccoon stands out for its concept and energetic gameplay loop. The combination of cooking mechanics with roguelike combat feels fresh. This is great for players looking for something more fast-paced and unconventional.
- Who it’s for:
- Fans of cooking or management games with a pinch of action
- Those who enjoy roguelikes with progression and replayability
Honourable Mention: MONOWAVE
*Not from the SEA region, but way too good to skip.
- Release Date: To be announced
- Genre: Adventure, Puzzle Platformer, Action
- Developer: Studio BBB, Inc.
- Publisher: Studio BBB, Inc.
- Studio Origin: South Korea
MONOWAVE is a puzzle platformer built around the theme of emotions. Players switch between four abilities, each tied to a different emotion, using them to navigate challenges, interact with emotional states in the environment, and influence how events play out. The game gives new meaning to empathy, showing how the emotions we carry can shape the world around us, and how the world in turn shapes us back.
The first thing that pulled us in was the art style. It’s hand-drawn, simple, colourful, and full of charm. The gameplay immediately gave us Hollow Knight vibes, but on a lighter note, especially in how movement, platforming, and combat come together. The core mechanic of switching between emotion-based abilities adds depth to puzzle- solving, with each ability serving a distinct purpose.
Progression depends on understanding when and how to use each emotion effectively. Some sections were quite challenging, which made getting through each stage even more satisfying. It’s the kind of game where you keep telling yourself “One more try~” until you finally hit that breakthrough moment.
- We’d rate this: 9.5/10. MONOWAVE stands out as one of the more thoughtfully designed games. It balances challenge and reward well, making each breakthrough feel earned while reinforcing its emotional core in a way that lingers after you put the controller down.
- Who it’s for:
- Fans of puzzle platformers and Hollow Knight-style gameplay
- Players who enjoy challenging but rewarding progression
- Those who appreciate games with emotional or thematic depth
Indie Jam 2026 showcased a wide range of indie ideas, from experimental mechanics and emotional platformers to roguelite combat and chaotic co-op fun. This experience gave us a closer look at both the games and the developers behind them. These five stood out to us the most, but overall, the games at the event reflected the creativity and momentum of the region’s growing indie scene. We came for the booth, but we left with a list of games worth remembering.
Alison Chai is a marketer at TESSR, an artist, and a gaming creator with a finance background. She writes and explores the intersections of creative work, structure, games, and mental wellbeing.
