Each month, the Indie Spotlight highlights a new game that exemplifies the creativity, cleverness, and beauty of today’s independent games market.
This month’s Indie Spotlight is:
The Search for Planet X
As those of us here on Earth continue to wrestle with a series of matters both massive and mundane, one of the brightest moments in recent memory – both literally and metaphorically – came with the successful launch of the SpaceX capsule to the ISS, establishing a means of catapulting ourselves to the stars with the first new delivery vehicle in a couple decades. Not only was it pulled off successfully, but in that brief moment it also served as a shining reminder of what can be accomplished we combine the will of progress, perseverance, innovation, and the determination to reach for the horizon. It was a bright spot in cloudy days.
Indeed, space represents a lot of different things to us overall, but perhaps the most universal among them is how it reflects our insatiable drive to explore the world, the universe, and ultimately, ourselves. That need to always be learning, always seeking what is over the next hill, is one of the uniquely human qualities we have. In what was originally a trait solely used for survival, our limitless capacity for knowledge and the need for understanding is no better encapsulated than in the vast cosmos that lay beyond our tiny blue bauble.
By sheer coincidence, this recent real-world event ties directly into our Spotlight for June, as we once again look to the stars in as many months. Except in this case, the entire premise is centered on the gathering knowledge on space rather than barreling through it. And we get to do it right here on planet Earth, with The Search for Planet X, the latest title from Foxtrot Games.
At its celestial core, The Search for Planet X is an app-driven logic-based deduction game, in which players are competing astronomers trying to pin down both the existence and location of the elusive and mysterious Planet X, a heretofore undiscovered planet residing at the edge of our solar system. Over the span of an hour or so, players take turns scanning the night sky looking for clues as to Planet X’s location, all in the hopes of being the first to publish their findings and solidifying their place in the annals of astronomic lore.
Besides the inherent amusement that The Search for Planet X is, essentially, a game about performing academic research, the game is also particularly novel in the way it blends the atmosphere of classic board game deduction titles – replete with paper pads and note-taking – with a 21st century driven app that controls the randomized game matrix. Through this pairing the game feels both familiar enough to dive into quickly but innovative in that setup and gameplay are handled via the push of a button rather than some cumbersome book of tables or stack of cards – which also precludes the need for any sort of GM-like player role. Because of that, it allows everyone the equal opportunity to take their respective telescopes for a lightweight competitive spin around the cosmic neighborhood. The results of which is quite stellar.
So grab your telescope and notebook, because it’s time for one of the nerdiest contests this side of the Kuiper Belt!
Need more information about any of our previous Spotlight selections? Check out the list below or contact us at: info@cardboardrepublic.com!
Previous Indie Game Spotlights:
April 2020: Far Away | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
March 2020: Chai | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
February 2020: Dungeon Drop | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
January 2020: The TOKYO Series | Review | Q&A | Interview | Developer’s Site
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December 2019: Rival Restaurants | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
November 2019: Fantastic Factories | Review | Q&A | Design Diary | Developer’s Site
October 2019: Chocolate Factory | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
September 2019: Rurik: Dawn of Kiev | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
August 2019: Re-Chord | Review | Developer’s Site
July 2019: The Artemis Project | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
June 2019: The Valley of Alchemists | Review | Developer’s Site
May 2019: Unbroken | Review | Strategy Tips | Q&A | Developer’s Site
April 2019: Mountaineers | Review | Developer’s Site
March 2019: Defense Grid | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
February 2019: Fire Tower | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
January 2019: Good Dog, Bad Zombie | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
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December 2018: Wu Wei: Journey of the Changing Path | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
November 2018: Dice Hospital | Review | Designer Interview | Developer’s Site
October 2018: Swordcrafters | Review | Q&A | Design Diary | Developer’s Site
September 2018: The Brigade | Review | Q&A | The Future of Tinderbox | Developer’s Site
August 2018: Who Goes There? | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
July 2018: Dwarven Smithy | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
June 2018: End of the Trail | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
May 2018: Visitor in Blackwood Grove | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
April 2018: Feudum | Review | Q&A | Strategy Guide | Developer’s Site
March 2018: The City of Kings | Review | Developer’s Site
February 2018: The Last Garden | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
January 2018: Triplock | Review | Developer’s Site
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December 2017: Bargain Quest | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
November 2017: Cytosis | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
October 2017: Periorbis | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
September 2017: Overlords of Infamy | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
August 2017: Escape Room in a Box: The Werewolf Experiment | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Kickstarter Preview | Developer’s Site
July 2017: Nemo’s War (2nd Edition)| Review | Podcast | Developer’s Site
June 2017: Tau Ceti: Planetary Crisis| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
May 2017: Zephyr: Winds of Change| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
April 2017: Sagrada| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
February & March 2017: Gloomhaven| Review | Goomhaven & Representation | Podcast | Developer’s Site
January 2017: Santorini| Review | Podcast | Developer’s Site
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December 2016: Karmaka| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
November 2016: Days of Ire: Budapest 1956| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
October 2016: Roll Player| Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
September 2016: The Guardians: Explore | Review | A Tale Of Two Campaigns | Q&A | Developer’s Site
August 2016: Vast: The Crystal Caverns | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
July 2016: Dark Dealings | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
June 2016: Millennium Blades | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
May 2016: World’s Fair 1893 | Review | Q&A | Renegade Games Interview | Developer’s Site
April 2016: Apotheca | Review | Q&A | Designer Journal | Developer’s Site
March 2016: Paradox | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
February 2016: The Shadow Over Westminster | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
January 2016: Hocus | Review | Q&A | Strategy Guide | Designer Journal | Developer’s Site
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December 2015: Trickerion | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
November 2015: Monarch | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
October 2015: Resistor_ | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
September 2015: Steampunk Rally | Review | Developer’s Site
August 2015: Operation F.A.U.S.T | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
July 2015: Stockpile | Review | Q&A | Strategy Guide | Developer’s Site
June 2015: Lift Off! | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
May 2015: Ophir | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
April 2015: Penny Press | Review | Q&A | West Meepleville Gazette Headlines #meepleville | Developer’s Site
February 2015: Fallen | Review | Q&A | The Taken: A CYOA Short Story | Developer’s Site
January 2015: Scoville | Review | Podcast | Strategy Tips | Developer’s Site
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December 2014: Epic Resort | Review | Q&A | Strategy Tips | Developer’s Site
November 2014: Tiny Epic Kingdoms | Review | Podcast | Developer’s Site
October 2014: Lagoon: Land of Druids | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
September 2014: Battle Merchants | Review | Design History | Q&A | Strategy Guide | Developer’s Site
August 2014: Magnum Opus | Review | Developer’s Site
July 2014: Praetor | Review | Google Hangout | Developer’s Site
June 2014: Boston Festival of Indie Games | Why You Should Submit | Indie Convention Bump | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
May 2014: Havok & Hijinks | Review | The Creation of H&H | Podcast | Developer’s Site
April 2014: Euphoria | Review | Favorite Gaming Pieces | Google Hangout | Developer’s Site
March 2014: Relic Expedition | Review | Q&A | Designer Diary | Developer’s Site
February 2014: What’s He Building In There? | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
January 2014: Empires of Zidal | Review | Q&A | Beginner’s Guide to Zidal | Developer’s Site
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[spoiler show=”Click For 2013 Selections”]
December 2013: Eons | Review | Q&A | Strategy Guides | Developer’s Site
November 2013: Compounded | Review | Developer’s Site
September 2013: Deadwood Studios, USA | Review | Q&A | Podcast | Developer’s Site
August 2013: Heroes of Metro City | Review | Q&A | Developer’s Site
July 2013: Pixel Lincoln | Review | Q&A | History of Lincoln’s Hat | Developer’s Site
June 2013: Viticulture | Review | Strategy Guide | Extra Pieces on Game Flavor | Developer’s Site
April 2013: Island Fortress | Review | Profile on Creator | Developer’s Site
March 2013: Zpocalypse | Review | Q&A | Z-Breakout Print & Play | Developer’s Site
February 2013: Inevitable | Review | Developer’s Site
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