Congratulations: You’ve almost made it through one of the busiest Septembers in video game history! For anyone who enjoys keeping up with new games as they come out, September has run a ceaseless pace. Marvel’s Wolverine, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Control Resonant, and more all made for a fun but nonstop month of action.
Those big-name games were only the tip of one gigantic iceberg, though. September was filled with lesser-known indie gems that are worth coming back to if you ever manage to finish Fortune’s Weave. From cozy puzzle games to excellent Metroidvanias, these three September deep cuts make for a much-needed cooldown between hours of hacking and slashing.
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He Who Watches
For my money, He Who Watches is the best game that you probably haven’t even heard of this year. Created by solo developer Bobby Vanden, the first-person puzzle game is a mind-bending trip cut from the same cloth as Portal. The basic premise is easy enough: solve puzzle chambers by shooting switches and moving boxes with your arrow. The twist is that you can walk on any surface, and flip gravity to match your orientation. That means occasionally flipping the entire room upside down as you solve puzzles from the ceiling. That magic trick is worth the price of admission on its own, but He Who Watches is also filled with ingeniously designed puzzles that are tough but always have solutions that make perfect sense. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on this one.
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Woodo
If you’re looking for something that’s less likely to leave you with some nausea, Woodo is a safer and sweeter option. The cozy puzzle game plays like a tactile coloring book, as you need to fill in a colorless diorama by placing wooden objects in their correct spot. It’s not too complicated, but it is remarkably relaxing thanks to its gentle music and playful sound design. The real star of the show, though, is Woodo’s gorgeous art direction. The entire game looks like it was carefully carved out of wood. I wanted nothing more than to reach through the screen and actually touch every little puzzle piece. Even if its hokey story can be a little eye-rolling, Woodo is a kind-hearted escape built for a lazy Sunday.
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Well Dweller
If you’re the kind of person who frequents review aggregate sites like Opencritic, you may have been shocked this week to see that Well Dweller is currently one of the best reviewed games of 2026. That was less surprising to those who are already familiar with the work of developer Kyle Thompson. The mind behind last year’s lovely Crypt Custodian has put together another strong twist on the Metroidvania formula with the fairytale-like Well Dweller. If you’re looking for something that has the vibe of Hollow Knight: Silksong minus the crushing difficulty, Well Dweller is a more approachable 2D action game that’s still complex enough to please fans of the genre.
