Top Picks from 2 itch.io Bundles for Reproductive Rights and Abortion Funds

“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” – Mary Wollstonecraft

Introduction

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, threatening the removal of access to abortions, itch.io currently has two different game bundles on offer – The Indie Bundle for Abortion Funds and the Worthy of Better, Stronger Together Bundle for Reproductive Rights.

Both bundles are raising money for reproductive rights and abortion charities with creators from all across the platform contributing to these projects in the hope of increasing awareness and raising much-needed funds.

Indie Bundle for Abortion Funds

Overview

The Indie Bundle for Abortion Funds currently consists of nearly 800 titles from over 600 creators. It’s value sits at over $3000.00 and it is available on a pay-what-you-want basis for a minimum of $10.00. 100% of the proceeds from this bundle will go to the National Network for Abortion Fund’s Collective Power Fund, which moves money directly to abortion funds across 20+ U.S. states.

Get the bundle HERE!

Top Picks

Lonely People’s Potion Shop

The Lonely People Potion Shop is as much about emotions and interactions as it is alchemy! A visual novel about mental health, well-being and potions, it puts the player in the role of a local witch, selling their magical wares from a quaint shop, tucked away in a remote part of the forest! Without shying away from difficult subject matter, the game manages to be a positive and uplifting experience and playing it feels akin to self-care!

Full review available here.

Curse of the Crescent Isle

The Curse of the Crescent Isle DX is a platformer by Taraxippus Games, where you must save your daughter and spouse from a vengeful warlock! The game takes heavy inspiration from retro games such as Super Mario Bros 2 (USA), Duck Tales, and Metal Storm.

If you’re looking for a very cheap yet excellent retro experience, you can’t go wrong with The Curse of the Crescent Isle. At its low price tag, you get a great indie platformer that can be completed quickly. It ticks off the right boxes, from the style to the quirky gameplay to the mood.

Full review by David Ingrusee available here.

Catlateral Damage

Catlateral Damage is a first-person mischievous cat simulator. Players take on the role of a destructive house cat, rampaging through every room in the house, swiping objects to the floor with its paws in either objective or litterbox mode.

It is a silly and strangely relaxing game better suited to short play sessions, but its variety of rooms in procedurally generated houses, objectives, collectables and unlockable items mean that it can be revisited a multitude of times and still provide something new.

Full review available here.

Morticians Tale

A Mortician’s Tale is a story-driven death-positive experience in which the player takes on the role of a recent funeral direction graduate Charlie as she learns the ropes of the business and industry. Tasks include preparing the bodies of the deceased (via embalming or cremation), attending their funerals and listening to their loved ones’ stories, as well as interacting with her coworkers, clients, and bosses.

It will take about an hour to play and is, overall, a fantastic example of interactive fiction that encourages players to take a closer look at an uncomfortable yet inevitable aspect of life in a clever and entertaining way without ever feeling tactless.

Full review available here.

Worthy of Better, Stronger Together Bundle for Reproductive Rights

Overview

The Worthy of Better, Stronger Together Bundle for Reproductive Rights currently consists of 169 game titles from 120 creators. The regular price for all these games would be close to $1000.00 but the bundle is available on a pay-what-you-want basis with a minimum cost of $10.00. this bundle was created to aid the fight for basic human rights.  All proceeds will be donated 50/50 to National Organization for Women and Center for Reproductive Rights.

Get the bundle HERE.

Top Picks

Lydia

Lydia is a short, point-and-click adventure that addresses some dark themes from a child’s perspective. You play as the protagonist at various stages of her adolescence, observing the long-term effects of the monster for which she searches. It is a story-driven, emotional experience about a little girl in a world of adults. The exploration of adult problems from a child’s perspective provides a different take on an increasingly popular genre, adding interest and accentuating the heavy themes of the game.

Lydia is short at around 2 hours long, it is pretty linear and has little to no replayability. Nevertheless, if you’re after a short, melancholy experience this will meet those caveats and I’d happily recommend the game.

Homunculus Hotel

Homunculus Hotel is a visual novel set in a mysterious hotel that shows its guests surreal but poignant dreams. It is comprised of six stories, as told by different guests to the protagonist Isabelle who spends her days listening to their experiences.

This is a short game, reflected in its price, and can easily be played within an hour. It is a great example of a stand-alone visual novel and is perfect to enjoy in one sitting. The narrative and audio are stand-out features of the game but all aspects, especially the artwork, tie together seamlessly for a very cohesive and emotional experience. Overall, this is another beautiful visual novel from Team SoleTude.

Full review available here.

The Search

The Search is a surreal walking simulator and puzzle game set in a mysterious world where art comes to life to create doorways to new places. Players must overcome obstacles to their creativity by searching for clues in an unfamiliar world, guided only by notes left by an ominous stranger.

It will take around 1-2 hours to play and is certainly an interesting and relaxing little experience. There are some questionable lines of dialogue but the overall experience is fun, engaging and thought-provoking. This won’t be a title that everyone will enjoy but I’d absolutely recommend it to fans of walking simulators and narrative-focused puzzle games.

Full review available here.

A Winding Path

A Winding Path is a delightfully relaxing adventure game about finding beauty in the world and appreciating the little things. Players can explore the hand-drawn environments, converse with the locals and complete small quests and puzzles in order to achieve the main goal of restoring balance to the whimsical, fantasy world.

It is a charming and original experience, offering chilled-out gameplay that provides just enough of a challenge. It’ll take 2-3 hours to complete but there is plenty of scope to spend longer in the game for those who want to explore in detail or become a master at the Artemis Archery Club! The beautiful combination of gameplay and styling give this title a unique and wholesome feel, it has the potential to appeal to a range of player preferences and I highly recommend it!

Full review available here.

Summary

There are heaps of fantastic titles on offer in these two bundles, both digital and physical games as well as tools, assets, books and more. They are offering a great deal whilst raising money for excellent and worthwhile causes so be sure to get them while you can! At the time of writing, the current goals sit at $200,000 and $150,000 but let’s hope these are surpassed in the same way we have seen with the previous amazing charity bundles available on itch.io.

Interested in past itch.io charity bundles? Take a look at these articles:
10 of the Best from 900+ Games in Charity Bundle for Ukraine! – Last chance to buy Racial Justice and Equality Bundle from itch! – GDC Relief Fund Bundle on itch.io – Top Picks