Awaria is a free game from the creator of Helltaker, an intense indie video game by vanripper with music by Mittsies.
The style and music are immediately recognizable and memorable. Unlike Helltaker’s puzzle-based gameplay, Awaria starts simple, focusing on managing your inventory and repairing machines that need specific items. But past the halfway point, it shifts into a SMUP-like action game mixed with frantic time and inventory management. Later levels make you feel like you need two brains to keep up with everything.
The visuals are charming, the soundtrack absolutely slaps, and the controls feel fluid and satisfying. There were only a few moments where I felt stuck on a wall while dodging, but most deaths felt like my fault 100%. The only major problem is the visual clutter in later levels, where I often zoned out and acted on instinct. Still, some strategy and planning can simplify things. It’s half inventory and time management, half bullet-hell chaos.
The story is light and mostly an excuse for flirting with ghost girls, but that’s part of the charm. It’s very PG and very humorous.
The game can get very challenging in the later stages, but completing all levels on hard mode rewards you with a digital artbook and a pudding pie recipe.
Despite its short runtime (2–3 hours), Awaria delivers intense, stressful fun and feels surprisingly polished for a free game. Honestly, it’s the kind of experience that makes you wish for more.