It’s not often I cover bundles these days, and there’s honestly a proper good reason for that: they simply aren’t overly interesting anymore. There are exceptions though… like Queer Games Bundle 2, as curated by Midboss.
With its focus on “celebrating and exploring female, LGBTQ+ and people of color perspectives from independent developers” I’d be silly not to spread the word about this one, even though my coverage is a tiny bit late (sorry). That said, the bundle is still heavily discounted at the time of writing, and that’s not going to change until November 30, at which point it will be available at a permanent 15% discount.
Although instead of ranting on about each of the nine games, I’m just going to let their trailers speak instead, and list the lot from Queer Games Bundle 2 below:
2064: Read Only Memories (MidBoss)
2064: Read Only Memories merges old-school adventure gaming with modern storytelling to explore some of the social challenges we will face in the near future. Explore the colorful future metropolis of Neo-San Francisco, meeting a huge cast of fascinating characters and solving a far-reaching mystery. Think carefully about your choices, because you never know how they will affect this dynamic, branching narrative further down the line.
A Normal Lost Phone (Accidental Queens)
The game takes the shape of a narrative investigation: you have to search the phone’s text messages, pictures and applications, in order to learn about its former owner. Through this phone, you uncover Sam’s life, friends, family and relationships, until the evening when they turn 18 and mysteriously disappear.
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story (Accidental Queens)
This game is designed as a narrative investigation where you must piece together elements from the different applications, messages and pictures to progress. Scrolling through the phone’s content, you will find out everything about Laura: her friendships, her professional life and the events that led to her mysterious disappearance and the loss of this phone.
Enola (The Domaginarium and Black Shell Media)
Enola is a psychological adventure game that delves into the inherent darkness of love, death and revenge. As Enola, you must survive a macabre world conjured up by the tortured memories of her lover, Angelica.
Immersed in this emotionally-charged and gripping story, as you decipher challenging death-traps. However, choose your path very carefully – An evil presence lurks in the shadows, watching your every move…
Heavy on atmosphere, Enola is an experience that will crawl under your skin and stay there long after you’ve uncovered the disturbing mystery of this twisted, psychological nightmare.
Even the Ocean (Sean Han Tani and Joni Kittaka)
From the creators of Anodyne comes a grand story about Aliph, a lowly power plant technician for Whiteforge City, who finds her world turned upside-down after a routine maintenance trip goes awry. Now, working directly with Whiteforge’s Mayor Biggs to face an unknown menace, Aliph must navigate her newfound power and influence to save the city.
LongStory (Bloom Digital Media)
On your first day of school you discover that the previous owner of your locker has “mysteriously” disappeared. Do you want to figure out what happened or are you too busy being a social butterfly and trying to avoid your enemies…
The Pirate’s Fate (FoxWright Productions)
Come sail the Pirate’s Fate! Experience the twists and turns of Mila’s emotional journey as a member of the Dread Pirates. Prepare yourself for an intense visual novel experience featuring mirth, action, romance, philosophy and many transformations, with over three hundred choices within its branching plot paths. Can you protect everyone you care about? Can you collect all the coins, scattered to the ends of the Earth? Can you complete the journey without losing yourself in the process?
Secret Little Haven (Hummingwarp Interactive)
Secret Little Haven is a game about old computers, community, creativity, fandom, gender, and the internet. Alex Cole is a teenage trans girl in 1999 who has yet to figure herself out. She spends much of her free time on the internet, browsing a fan forum for her favorite magical girl show, and chatting with her friends.
Herald: An Interactive Period Drama (Wispfire)
Herald is a choice-driven adventure game set during an alternate 19th century in which the West is united as a colonial superpower: the Protectorate.
Help tell the story of Devan Rensburg, a man of mixed heritage who became steward on board of the HLV Herald, a merchant ship set for his country of birth.