Exploring Indonesian Gaming Gems on Steam: The Top 7 Must-Play Games!

Indonesian games have been rapidly growing over time. On the Steam platform, there are over 200 Indonesian-made games, making Indonesia at the top spot among Southeast Asian countries as of January 2024, according to Virtual SEA. Looking at the numbers, it's understandable if you feel overwhelmed and unsure which games you can play first. But, fear not! We've got you covered with our top 7 must-play Indonesian games on Steam, offering diverse genres, from puzzles to horrors, to give you the maximum gameplay experiences.

1. Coffee Talk, Toge Productions

Amidst the seemingly never-ending downpour, there are tales waiting to unfold in a cafe in Seattle. In Coffee Talk, you will take on the role of a barista who listens to every patron's stories and helps them while serving them drinks. What makes it more interesting is that the patrons are not only regular humans; there are also orcs, elves, succubi, and other fantasy creatures who live side by side.

Coffee Talk is a visual novel game featuring classic pixel art reminiscent of anime from the 90s. To complete the entire game, you will need approximately three to four hours. The game successfully evokes a 'warm' feeling for players by incorporating a relaxing atmosphere complemented by jazz chill-hop style music as the soundtrack. It is no wonder that 95% of all the 8,497 user reviews of this game are positive according to the review section on Steam.

There are two episodes of Coffee Talk, with the first one released in 2020 and the last one released in 2023. Both episodes are available for play on Steam. Toge Productions, an independent game development and publishing studio based in Tangerang, Indonesia, is both the developer and publisher for this game.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Windows

• OS *: Windows 7 SP1+
• Processor: 2.4 GHz or faster processor
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: 512 MB display memory
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Storage: 600 MB available space
• Sound Card: Stereo

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

MAC OS

• OS: Mac OS X 10.5
• Processor: 2.33 GHz or faster processor
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: 512 MB display memory
• Storage: 600 MB available space
• Sound Card: Stereo

2. A Space for the Unbound, Mojiken Studio & Toge Productions

What if, as your high school days begin to end, the world is also coming to an end? What would you do? A Space for the Unbound delves into the journey of Atma and Raya, high school sweethearts, as they face the looming apocalypse amidst a series of peculiar events they need to overcome.

This is a slice-of-life adventure game developed by Mojiken Studio and published by Toge Productions. Featuring beautiful pixel art, the game is set in rural Indonesia in the late 90s. Through this setting, players are allowed to interact with other townsfolk—engaging in the Indonesian tradition of 'basa-basi' (small talk, in English). However, these seemingly casual conversations often go beyond 'small' themes, as they can reveal deeper personal stories.

A Space for the Unbound has received positive reviews from 97% of the 3,772 users in the review section on Steam. Not only that, the game also earned several awards, including the Best Visual Arts award, the Best PC/Console Game award, and the overall Game of the Year award at the Indonesia Game Awards 2023.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Minimum:

• OS*: Windows 7
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 (2*1866) or equivalent
• Memory: 2 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce 7600 GS (512 MB) or equivalent
• Storage: 3 GB available space

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

3. Troublemaker, Gamecom Team

If A Space for the Unbound focuses on high schoolers with a slice-of-life genre and emphasizes non-violence, Troublemaker takes a different approach. It is an action beat 'em up game that revolves around fighting in high school. The game tells the story of Budi, a transfer high school student who enjoys fighting. As the player, you will take on the role of Budi and engage in combat with enemies through high school days.

Developed by Gamecom Team, Troublemaker seamlessly combines 2D and 3D graphics to vividly capture the nuances of an Indonesian high school. From classrooms to the canteen and even the motorcycle parking area, every aspect is meticulously portrayed. As seen on the website, Troublemaker 2 is currently in development which is planned to be released in 2025.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Minimum:

• OS *: Windows 7 SP1 (64bit version only)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-2400s @ 2.5 GHz or AMD FX-6100 @ 3.3 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or AMD R9 270X
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 25 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX compatible using the latest drivers

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

4. When The Past Was Around

Letting go has always been a challenging endeavor, yet an essential step to continue living. In 'When the Past Was Around,' we embark on a journey alongside Eda, aiding her in confronting her past by unraveling puzzles scattered across places that correlate with her memories and nostalgic items from her past. This game offers a short, silent narrative experience with a touch of surrealism depicted through the presence of an owl-human. Through this game, we can learn a lot about love, loss, moving on, and letting go. The violin, serving as the main instrument in the game's soundtrack, is capable of toying with our emotions; from tranquility to angst.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Windows

• OS *: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
• Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster processor
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compatible video card
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Storage: 2 GB available space
• Sound Card: Any

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

Mac OS

• OS: Mac OS X 10.9+
• Processor: Dual Core 1.6 GHz
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Storage: 2 GB available space
• Sound Card: Any

Read also: 5 Best Publisher Games in Indonesia

5. Escape from Naraka, XeloGames

If you have an interest in Balinese legends and mythologies, then Escape from Naraka could be your choice to spend your spare time while also learning a little. Escape from Naraka is a first-person action platformer that incorporates many elements of Balinese culture, including legends, mythologies, and even an original soundtrack featuring Balinese instruments.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Minimum:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10, 64-bits
• Processor: 3.2 GHz Dual-Core Processor
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 930
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 11 GB available space

Additional Notes: PLEASE NOTE: Below GeForce 10 Series better to choose DirectX 11 during the game launch. UPDATE the GPU Driver for the optimal performance

6. DreadOut, Digital Happiness

Still set in a high school environment, unlike Troublemaker and A Space for the Unbound, DreadOut stands out as a supernatural horror game developed by Digital Happiness. Drawing from Indonesian legends such as kuntilanak and pocong, as a player, you are tasked with battling the ghosts and solving mysterious puzzles.

DreadOut has two episodes, both of which are available to play on Steam. DreadOut 1 was released in 2014, followed by DreadOut 2 in 2020. Due to its popularity, this game was then adapted into a movie in 2019.

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Windows

• OS *: Windows 7 / 8
• Processor: Intel Dual-Core 2.4 GHz or AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT or AMD Radeon HD 3830 or Intel HD Graphics 4000, 512 MB VRAM
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Storage: 5 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
• Additional Notes: 32-bit Windows is supported but known to have problem running DreadOut if it has less RAM available

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

SteamOS + Linux

• OS: Ubuntu 14.04
• Processor: Intel Dual-Core 2.4 GHz or AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT or AMD Radeon HD 3830 or Intel HD Graphics 4000, OpenGL 2.1
• Storage: 5 GB available space
• Sound Card: OSS Compatible

7. Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror, StoryTale Studio

Pamali is a common belief in Indonesia, particularly among the Sundanese and Javanese people. It involves rules about what people should and should not do to respect the environment. In this Pamali game, you play as Jaka, who plans to sell his old family's house but then discovers he is not the only one living there. The game offers an authentic Indonesian horror experience with the White Lady (kuntilanak).

System Requirements (According to Steam)

Minimum:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS *: Windows 7 64-bit
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7200U CPU @ 2.50Ghz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 2 GB available space

Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

Indonesia Levels Up! New Regulation to Boost National Gaming Industry

Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 19 of 2024 on the Acceleration of National Games Industry Development on February 12th, 2024. This regulation covers various key aspects, including research and development, educational enhancement, financial and funding facilities, infrastructure provision, promotion and market access, incentives for intellectual property, and the protection of creative works. This regulation aims to boost and strengthen the rapidly advancing ecosystem of the national gaming industry.

Read also: Indonesia Gaming Industry 2024: Beyond Entertainment, A Rising Profession

Conclusion These top 7 games are just the tip of the iceberg. With various genres, unique game backgrounds, talented developers and publishers, as well as the new issued regulation, it is evident that Indonesia's gaming industry is not just thriving, but also continuously expanding. By supporting these games through playing, sharing with friends, writing reviews, or giving ratings, we can contribute to the growth of this industry.