Itch.io, the indie-focused Steam alternative is generally good for hidden gems, low-poly horror, fan zines and, with a few shameful interruptions, smut. Now it’s playing host to a new kind of indie: Folk pop stars. Songstress superstar Phoebe Bridgers has launched a page of her own on the gaming platform, kicking things off with an infinite runner based on her latest single.
Lost Boys Game is a simple infinite runner. You ride passenger princess, dodge goblins, hop obstacles, gain power-ups, nab “PB” coins and rapidly pick up speed in the fantasy lands before succumbing to a broken heart. You can submit your score to the leaderboard to see where you rank amongst other lornful knights. Sharing a name and chip-tune rendition with Bridgers’ new Judee Sill-like single, “Lost Boys,” the little game seems to continue the journey from the RuneScape-inspired music video starring Superman’s Skyler Gisondo. It’s not as good as, say, Canabalt or that Chrome dinosaur one when your internet conks out, but for a first effort I gave it a round or two.
“Lost Boys” is Bridgers’ first release since announcing a hiatus in 2023. The song belongs to the upcoming record Lost Weekend, which will be her first solo album in six years, having played in the supergroup Boygenius in the interim. Whether she contributed to the tie-in game during said hiatus, or plans to invest more in itch.io during the next one, it’s never too late to pick up RPG Maker. So long as you wait for a sale.
If you’re looking for an indie game from an indie musician with a little more depth, James Ferraro’s murky, miserable Desolation Seed just entered early access on Steam. You could also wait and see if The Weeknd’s current fanboy phase will lead to anything beyond enviable selfies with Yoko Taro and Hidetaka Miyazaki.