We at Chalgyr Games Room hope that your Canada Day celebrations were as awesome as our Canadian reviewers and news editor's were. So much so, that we were late in posting our Happy Canada Day wishes!
With that in mind, we thought we'd do something different this year. Below is a small collection of some great Canadian Video Games and Studios to check out. Starting with a couple of indie companies, we went looking for titles that might interest our audience. Of course, this is not a complete list, but it has awesome games to play if you haven't dipped your toes into the great white north!
Indie Studios
- Max Inferno studios is based out of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is comprised of two people Annie Macmillan and Lukas Steinman who wanted to make unique games from GMTKJam 2020. While they only have one title to their name, A Little to the Left, I'm sure we'll see more interesting and creative works moving forwards. https://www.maxinferno.com
- One of our favourite game studios is called Capybara Games. An award winning studio based in Toronto, Canada, they are known for some unique titles that can be played on a variety of platforms like PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Some of these titles include Battle Vision Network, Grindstone, Don't Starve: Shipwrecked, and Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes!
- Based in Toronto Ontario is Massive Damage Games who has a motto of "Indie Spirit with Big Vision." The team consists of indie all stars and AAA veterans alike to build innovative games. Currently, the team has three titles beginning with an upcoming RPG titled Fera: The Sundered Tribes. If you're looking for a different style of RPG, look no further than a tactical roguelite one called Star Renegades, or perhaps a strategy RPG with base building elements is more your speed. If so, check out Halcyon6. All three titles are available on Steam!
- This list wouldn't be complete without Phoenix Labs, who has studios in both Vancouver, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec. This company may be a familiar name because it has a couple of titles that we personally have played. Those titles are Faefarm and Dauntless! While Faefarm is a cozy farming sim that can be played solo or cooperatively (up to four players), Dauntless is a monster hunter style of game that is completely free to play.
Larger Studios
- BeHaviour Interactive was founded in 1992 and has become one of Canada's largest independent game developer/publisher. Their studios are located in a variety of locations but the ones in Canada are in Montreal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario. You may know them because of their hit game Dead by Daylight which has more than 60 million players across all platforms. Take a look at their website here to see what else they have to play.
- Vancouver, British Columbia has another large studio that goes by the name of Klei Entertainment. Sound familiar? It should! They are the developers responsible for titles like Don't Starve, Griftlands, and Oxygen Not Included. These hit games are well received in the indie gaming scene. I, for one, love Oxygen Not Included even if I'm terrible at it. Check them out on Steam since Klei is having an epic Publisher Sale RIGHT NOW!
- The final studio on this short list of Canadian Developers is none other than Digital Extremes based out of London, Ontario. You may know them because they are the ones responsible for the hit free to play looter shooter Warframe. It is a game that persisted over many years and it keeps improving as time continues. I'm personally a Volt Prime main, but there are lots of other frames to try and places to explore. Don't miss out on all the epic content. Besides, you can't lose given that the game is free to play! Check out Warframe on Steam today.
Article by Susan N. and Valerie.
