Sneak peek at September's Artist Alley featuring work from Dark Meadow!!!

Issue #019

Want to read more? Link in bio

#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames

Is this a doodoo stinky hot take or are you reading this nodding your head thinking "yeah you know what, they ARE a Christmas food?"

More hot takes and debates in the Dumpster Fire section each month!

Issue #019

Want more? Link in bio!
#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames

This month's column features a breakdown of the Chicago Indie Game Showcase. If you didn't go this is the article for you

Article: CIGS Lights Up, Crashes Servers
Issue #019

Want to read more? Link in bio

PC: Jonah White
#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames

Card battler? Die trying?? Say less 😏

Article: Avitium, Dev Log
Issue #019

Want to read more? Pick up a copy at the link in bio

PC: Splash art c/o Studio MiK
#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames

Speaking from experience, you're gonna want to pick up this game the SECOND it drops

Article: Cold Calling, Dev Log
Issue #019

Want to read more? Link in bio!

PC: Cold Calling’s standard play area (c/o Can’t Get Enough Games)
#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames

A snippet of the devlog for Dock King!!

Article: Dock King, Dev Log
Issue #019

Want to read more? You can pick up a copy at the link in bio

PC: In-game screenshot (c/o City Wizard Games)
#zine #magazine #chicago #midwest #indiegame #backalleygames #gamereview

September's issue is LIVE NOW and this is our CIGS issue! That means this month's edition is LOADED with devlogs, reviews, and more featuring work from the 2nd annual Chicago Indie Game Showcase.

Want one? Link in bio

#zine #magazine #gamereview #indiegame #backalleygames

Cooking up some extremely cool shit with some extremely cool people that I cannot wait to yap about more

A sneak peak at July's Artist Alley featuring work by Vaaasm, bangin as always

Section: Artist's Alley
Issue #017

Want a copy? Link in bio (if I did it right)

PC: Unused Assets (c/o Vaaasm)
#zine #backalleygames #indiecitygames #gamereview #allstars #pixelart

Check out the devlog for this year's AllStars champion, Hotdog Heaven: Chicago!!

Article: Hotdog Heaven: Chicago, Dev Log
Issue #017

Want a copy? Link in bio

PC: An average Chicagoan orders a hotdog (c/o Crowseeds and friends)
#zine #backalleygames #indiecitygames #gamereview #allstars #altctrl

Check out the exclusive dev log on Pan, an alt-ctrl fantasy beat-em-up!!

Article: Dev Log: Pan
Issue #017

Want a copy? Link in bio
PC: Some of the game’s enemies and melody-combos (c/o Miki Straus)
#zine #backalleygames #indiecitygames #gamereview #allstars #altctrl

Is it getting HOT in here cause our dumpster fire takes are HEATING UP! (sry for that, truly)

Want to see more terrible takes? Check them out in each month's issue of Back Alley Games!! (link in bio)

Issue #016

#zine #hottake #indiecitygames #gamereview #dumpsterfire #backalleygames

ANOTHER BANGER BY NEE

Check out more of her work and her thoughts on the Mayterials challenge at Back Alley Games!! (link in bio)

Section: Artist's Alley
Artist: Nee
Issue 016

#zine #mayterials #videogames #3dart #indiecitygames

Our monthly columnist popped off on this one

Column: Overthinking and Analyzing
Title: Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Homo War
Author: Jesse Boruff
Issue #016

Want a copy? Link in bio (if I did it right)
PC: Fire Emblem CYL
#lgbtq #fireemblem #zine #backalleygames #indiecitygames #gamereview

"To be blunt about it, indie games are pretty fucking gay. However gay you think they are, make it gayer. Trust me..."

Article: The state of gaymes in 2025
Issue #016

PC: BOSSGAME fanart (c/o MarshMelody on Steam, using assets by Lilycore Games)

#indiegames #zine #gamereview

"Fiction has always been humanity's most honest mirror, reflecting back the wars we wage within ourselves long before we have the capacity to understand them..."

Issue #016

Image Credit: In-game still from Cartethyia’s story cutscenes (Original Image from Kuro Games)

Tickets for CIGS 2025 are LIVE! We're thrilled to get to bring it to you for our second year running, showcasing guest speakers and over 30 indie games from Chicago and Midwestern devs! Use early bird code CIGS2025 for 20% off! (ends July 19th)

#indiedev #indiegame

buytickets.at/indiecitygam...

"Any true crime fanatic will tell you that they know what it takes to make a sociopath. They’ll rattle off sentences from the DSM and gesture vaguely to figures like Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy.

Swanchime Thien is different..."

Article: Remora Dev Log
Issue #016

PC: In-game screenshot of REMORA

We got socials!!! Take THAT mom (indie city games). For real though, we're psyched to be here as we release our end-of-June edition of Back Alley Games, an independent games magazine focused on platforming the INCREDIBLE creators of the Midwest. #indiegames #zine #midwestlove #notinthatway #unless