3 Charming Indie Games You Need To Play @ LudoNarraCon (LNC) 2025 — “Detective Dotson,” “Expelled!,” & “Tiny Bookshop”

Each year, LudoNarraCon (or LNC¹ for short) invites gamers, writers, and storytellers alike to celebrate the magic of narrative-driven video games — and the best part? You don’t even have to leave your couch.

Hosted entirely on Steam and organized by indie label Fellow Traveller, LNC recreates the excitement of a traditional gaming convention in an accessible, digital space. From May 1–5, 2025, the event returns for its seventh year, bringing a lineup that’s bigger and bolder than ever.

(And, yes, we can say that since we have attended all seven years since its inception — it has come a long way.)

This year’s festival showcases 50 narrative-rich indie games, offers more than 15 hours of panels and talks from developers and writers across the industry, and gives players early access to over 25 demos — all free to explore from anywhere in the world. Plus, for anyone looking to expand their gaming library, more than 170 titles will be on sale during the event.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of story-driven games or just curious about what’s next for interactive storytelling, LudoNarraCon is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and connection — all without the airfare or hotel hassle.

“Detective Dotson”²

• Release: 24TH APRIL 2025.
• System: PC/Steam Deck (Xbox TBA).

Of all the demos at this year’s LudoNarraCon, “Detective Dotson” immediately stole the spotlight thanks to its vibrant aesthetic, witty writing, and unmistakably Indian soul. This isn’t just another point-and-click adventure game — it’s a full-blown cultural love letter wrapped in a detective mystery, complete with Bollywood-style pizzazz and clever game mechanics.

The core gameplay sticks to classic sleuthing: you’ll gather clues, question suspicious characters, and chase down leads across four distinct cases — each one brimming with uniquely Indian storytelling. But what sets Dotson apart is everything layered around that core. It’s got:

• Mini-games that range from cricket challenges to a chaotic wedding dance-off, dodging traffic on a motorbike, and yes — even haggling for clues at the local market.
• A unique 3D environment filled with charm, where every NPC interaction feels deliberate, colorful, and frequently hilarious.
• 2D pixel-art characters that pop against the rich environments, blending nostalgia with contemporary style.
• Disguises that come with powers — like making people break into spontaneous dance, reading their minds, or sneaking into guarded zones unnoticed.
• Dogs you can pet. Multiple dogs. A feature we consider essential.
• Street food vendors where you can buy snacks and haggle over the price, because, of course, you can.

There’s a real joy in how this game embraces its cultural identity without pandering. Every design choice — from the soundtrack to the storytelling — feels intentional, proud, and playful. You’re not just solving mysteries here; you’re immersing yourself in a joyful, chaotic, and heartfelt slice of Indian life.

Think: Carmen Sandiego meets The Big Sick with a dash of “Monkey Island” charm. And yes — there’s Bollywood dancing, and yes — you’ll want to keep playing just to see what’s next.

“Expelled!”³

• Release: 12TH MARCH 2025.
• System: Windows, macOS via Steam, Nintendo Switch, iPhone, iPad.

“Expelled!” takes a darker, more intense narrative route at LudoNarraCon this year, pulling players into a high-stakes whodunit framed through a next-gen visual novel lens.

You’ve been accused of pushing a class prefect out a window — and the clock is ticking. You have just one school day to clear your name, dodge suspicion, and navigate the tangled web of secrets surrounding you.

The game introduces a simulated story-world, where characters move independently, remember everything they see and hear, and react dynamically to your choices. You can sneak around, strike up conversations, trade intel, or throw others under the bus. Every action matters — and every minute counts.

What elevates “Expelled!” is its Dynamic Narrative Clockwork and unique morality system: the more evil your actions, the more ruthless — and revealing — your dialogue options become. Will you play the misunderstood victim or embrace your inner manipulator?

Highlights include:

• Freedom to explore: Go where you want, when you want. This isn’t a static novel; it’s a living, breathing school day.
• Secrets around every corner: Students and teachers all have something to hide. Who you trust might be your downfall.
• True consequence tracking: Your choices ripple through the story in subtle (and sometimes devastating) ways.
• Replayability: Multiple endings, divergent paths, and shifting alliances make each playthrough feel distinct.

Despite its short runtime, “Expelled!” is gripping, unpredictable, and refreshingly complex. It’s ideal for fans of moral ambiguity, branching storylines, and the thrill of watching your actions spiral beyond your control.

This isn’t just about proving your innocence — it’s about deciding who you want to be when the pressure’s on.

“Tiny Bookshop”⁴

• Release: 2025.
• System: PC (Windows, Linux, Mac), TBA.

For those looking to step away from moral quandaries and narrative chaos, “Tiny Bookshop” offers a tender, soul-soothing reprieve. This ambient narrative management game invites you to live out the daydream of running your own bookstall by the sea — no deadlines, no disasters, just the calming rhythm of community and commerce.

You’ll spend your days collecting second-hand books and decorations, stocking your shelves with everything from romance novels to historical nonfiction, and learning what your customers love most. As you adjust your inventory to suit their tastes, you’ll see your regulars return, their stories gently unfolding alongside your own.

What makes “Tiny Bookshop” stand out isn’t just its gorgeous pastel visuals or charming art direction — it’s how deeply it reimagines the small business sim. Your shop isn’t just a place to sell books; it’s a character in the story. Every item you collect and every customization you make affects your sales and introduces new mechanics, offering light strategic depth without ever breaking the calm.

Key features include:

• Genre-based book curation: Learn the community’s preferences and adapt your shop’s stock accordingly.
• Decorating and customizing your space: Not just for aesthetics — your choices affect gameplay.
• Customer stories that evolve with time, encouraging connection over transaction.
• A subtle narrative of rebuilding, belonging, and slow living in a digital world that rarely stops to breathe.

More than just a cozy game, Tiny Bookshop is a love letter to storytelling, curation, and the quiet joy of creating something meaningful for, and with, a community.

LudoNarraCon 2025 — A Genre For Every Storyteller

LudoNarraCon 2025 proves once again that narrative games are far from a niche — they’re a thriving, evolving medium that brings people together through empathy, imagination, and play. Whether you’re a mystery buff, a moral philosopher, or just someone who dreams of selling novels in a town with ocean breezes, there’s a story for you here.

And the best part? You can explore it all without ever having to stand in a convention line. Just fire up Steam, grab your favorite snack, and dive into worlds built not just to entertain, but to move you.

Footnotes

1. LudoNarraCon, 2025. ↩︎
2. Masala Games Private Limited. Detective Dotson. Steam, 24 Apr. 2025.​ ↩︎
3. inkle Ltd. Expelled!. Steam, 2025.​ ↩︎
4. neoludic games. Tiny Bookshop. Skystone Games, 2025. Steam. ↩︎