Welcome to Indie Watch, a regular feature here at P2 where our Editorial team take it in turns to highlight 2 or 3 Indie titles that have them excited. It is our chance to show off some games that you may have missed and a way to help boost the things we love most about the industry. Join us each week for a new edition.
Indie Watch - Mexican Ninja & Yet Another Zombie Survivors
Mexican Ninja
After spending way too much time with Absolum, I needed something else to scratch that beat-em-up itch. Along comes Mexican Ninja, a game that shares quite a bit with Absolum but sets itself apart with a bonkers setting and a really great sense of humour. If you ever wondered what would happen if Mexican cartels invaded Japan, well this is the game for you
This is, of course, a rogue-like title, so persistent upgrades, boosts and single-run powers are used and unlocked as you push through the levels, die, then push through again. What really stands out to me, though, is the super tight combat as well as the really interesting level design. There are a surprising number of secrets to find in each level, much more so than you would traditionally find in a game of this nature, so it makes poking your nose into every corner worthwhile.
This isn’t the sort of game that is going to change your world, but it is the perfect title for a quick blast of beat-em-up fun and is perfect for handheld PCs like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally. It is the sort of game I can see being installed on my handheld for a long time to come, just in case I need that old-school arcade fix.
Yet Another Zombie Survivors
Developer: Awesome Game Studios
Release Date: 1.0 in August 2026
Format: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Buy Yet Another Zombie Survivors here:
Talk about wearing your inspirations on your sleeve. Yet Another Zombie Survivors is… You guessed it, a survivors-like. Shocked, I know. But I have to say, despite the cheesy (if pretty cool) title, this is a game you shouldn’t skip if you ever got some joy out of Vampire Survivors because it really does some interesting things with the format.
The coolest feature is without doubt the 3-character system. Players pick a class to start each run, but as they progress through the level, they will get the opportunity to rescue two other survivors, adding their powers and abilities to your base set. This allows for some cool combos to be unlocked and a real strategy as to who you will pick each time, knowing whose abilities match with the ones you already have. Along with that, the game has an understated sense of humour and, despite the grim graphics and feel, never takes itself too seriously.
Once again, this is a game that is perfect for handhelds and is ideal in short bursts, but at the same time don’t be shocked if you lose hours to chasing in-game quests, upgrades and new levels. I know I did on more than one occasion.
