The Greatest Independent Games Ever - [Updated 2024]
When we go back through the history of gaming, AAA game studios have mostly been responsible for the majority of the titles. There was no such thing as an independent game back when the majority of games were sold on store shelves and the digital future of gaming was only a distant pipe dream.
There was just no obvious method for brave little studios to break into the market. This frequently results in these developers not making their own projects but rather serving as assets to bigger studios.
Still, a lot has changed with the advent of the digital age, including the proliferation of self-starter development platforms such as Unity and Itch.Io, which highlight emerging projects.
We are fortunate to have access to a vast collection of independent games, which not only offer fresh, cutting-edge plots, gameplay mechanics, and unique features, but also directly rival major motion picture companies. receiving numerous nominations for the prestigious Game of the Year award at different award shows.
Many would contend that independent gaming, which provides some of the most amazing gaming experiences available, is the source of all the best concepts found in mainstream gaming. However, a lot of players are unaware of which independent games are worthwhile. We want to change all of that, though.
Many would contend that independent gaming, which provides some of the most amazing gaming experiences available, is the source of all the best concepts found in mainstream gaming. However, a lot of players are unaware of which independent games are worthwhile. We want to change all of that, though.
We have put together a thorough list of the greatest independent games ever made below. Consequently, you'll spend less time researching and more time getting to know these independent jewels. Now enough babbling; these are our selections for the greatest independent games ever made.
Selection Standards
We would better establish some ground rules before we get started. We must evaluate what constitutes an independent game, why it belongs on the list of the greatest games ever made, and the reasoning behind our selection. So take a look at our selection standards:
The game needed to have at least a 75% Metacritic rating.
The game had to have been created and released by a small group of people or one person without significant funding.
The game needs to have a special set of features that weren't found in AAA games prior to release.
The game needs to have made a respectable amount of money. or at least the status of a cult.
The game needed to have at least a 75% Metacritic rating.
The game had to have been created and released by a small group of people or one person without significant funding.
The game needs to have a special set of features that weren't found in AAA games prior to release.
The game needs to have made a respectable amount of money. or at least the status of a cult.
Stardew Valley
- Genre: Farming Simulator
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, IOS
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer/Publisher: Concerned Ape, Chucklefish
Let's begin with an independent game that defies convention in a lot of ways. This game is much more than just a straightforward Harvest Moon clone, despite what you might believe.
This game is a dungeon crawler, a means of cathartic exploration, a storyteller of unexpectedly dark and moving tales, and—above all—it is eternally replayable thanks to an ingenious, compelling gameplay loop.
The amazing Eric Barone built this game, which has become popular on almost every gaming platform, captured the attention of audiences all over the world, and is still receiving frequent upgrades at no cost to the player base—a rare occurrence in the world of contemporary gaming.
One man made Stardew Valley, which is arguably one of the most calming, interesting, endearing, and satisfying games available. It is truly amazing and definitely worth your time.
One man made Stardew Valley, which is arguably one of the most calming, interesting, endearing, and satisfying games available. It is truly amazing and definitely worth your time.
Undertale
- Genre: RPG
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Playstation Vita, PC
- Metacritic Score: 92%
- Developer/Publisher: Toby Fox
Some games are unique in the sense that they do something entirely different from previous games. But in that sense, we can't think of another game that is quite as bold as Undertale.
Artfully based on titles such as the Earthbound series, Undertale is an RPG that chooses to ridicule the gaming industry while encouraging you to play differently by tossing popular gaming clichés to the wind.
On a meager $40,000 budget, the game will teach you to make friends with your opponents and turn conflict into comradery. In the meantime, you'll get to enjoy an incredible soundtrack and some of the most creative solutions that make it rival the greatest games ever made.
Artfully based on titles such as the Earthbound series, Undertale is an RPG that chooses to ridicule the gaming industry while encouraging you to play differently by tossing popular gaming clichés to the wind.
On a meager $40,000 budget, the game will teach you to make friends with your opponents and turn conflict into comradery. In the meantime, you'll get to enjoy an incredible soundtrack and some of the most creative solutions that make it rival the greatest games ever made.
We just can't do this oddball treasure justice without giving you a controller. So please, do us a favor and play this on a pad.
Celeste
- Genre: Platformer
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 92%
- Developer/Publisher: Matt Makes Games Inc.
Nevertheless, a few games have defied this pattern, with the amazing Celeste being one among them. This game delivers a demanding experience, some of the best platforming concepts, support for speedrunners, and a quick, addicting gameplay loop—all of which are combined with a gorgeous, minimalistic pixelated presentation that will win you over.
Then, just when you start to believe that this game is only about the gameplay, it captures your attention with a beautiful, heartwarming tale that greatly contributes to mental health and depression awareness—something that is not frequently seen in the gaming industry.
Once more, you have to admit that you adore and respect that decision. Celeste is a platformer that combines elements of the past and present, and it's definitely worth playing.
Gone Home
- Genre: Walking Simulator
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 86%
- Developer/Publisher: The Fullbright Company
Because of several titles that paved the way for others, walking simulators have grown to be one of the most well-liked indie game subgenres.
One such game from more than ten years ago is Gone Home. In this game, you go back to your deserted family home and have to hunt for hints throughout Greenbriar Estate that will explain what transpired while you were away.
While there are dark moments in the game, overall it's a pleasant experience with lots of touching moments, happy highs, sad lows, and everything in between.
One such game from more than ten years ago is Gone Home. In this game, you go back to your deserted family home and have to hunt for hints throughout Greenbriar Estate that will explain what transpired while you were away.
While there are dark moments in the game, overall it's a pleasant experience with lots of touching moments, happy highs, sad lows, and everything in between.
Dead Cells
- Genre: Roguelike/Action Platformer
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer/Publisher: Motion Twin
Roguelike games were battling to become the well-known subgenre they are today, even before titles like Returnal and Hades.
Dead Cells was the game that was doing a lot of the hard lifting and giving an addicting and replayable title that indie fans took to like duck to water before the buzz and public acceptance of this gaming sub-genre.
Dead Cells shares many similarities with Rogue Legacy, combining aspects of Metroidvania and Roguelike gameplay. all with the intention of creating a world that is incredibly explorable.
Dead Cells was the game that was doing a lot of the hard lifting and giving an addicting and replayable title that indie fans took to like duck to water before the buzz and public acceptance of this gaming sub-genre.
Dead Cells shares many similarities with Rogue Legacy, combining aspects of Metroidvania and Roguelike gameplay. all with the intention of creating a world that is incredibly explorable.
But because of the considerably improved physics, breathtaking graphics, and a procedural generation technique that provides so much variation in level design, you never get bored or feel like you've seen the same thing twice. We must admit that this is the game that really started the conversation about roguelikes in the gaming industry.
Pathologic
- Genre: RPG/Survival
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Metacritic Score: 69%
- Developer/Publisher: Ice-Pick Lodge, Tiny Build
Alright, so the only game that doesn't meet our requirements is this one. But I've always been a fan of this game, and it appears that we need to continue fighting its battle.
The 2005 classic Pathologic is remade as Pathologic 2. You take on the role of Artemy Burakh in this game, who has returned to his village following the passing of his father. But when he comes back home, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of distrust, rival factions, and a sickness that is ravaging the community.
The 2005 classic Pathologic is remade as Pathologic 2. You take on the role of Artemy Burakh in this game, who has returned to his village following the passing of his father. But when he comes back home, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of distrust, rival factions, and a sickness that is ravaging the community.
The fact that Pathologic isn't enjoyable makes it difficult to suggest to players. This is deliberate, though, as the goal of the game is to force the player to struggle, feel helpless, sacrifice their values in order to survive, and ultimately make some extremely difficult decisions.
We acknowledge that not everyone will enjoy the game, but for those who can appreciate it as both a severe survival experience and a piece of art, it's an amazing, depressing experience. Then you may see exactly what I do.
We acknowledge that not everyone will enjoy the game, but for those who can appreciate it as both a severe survival experience and a piece of art, it's an amazing, depressing experience. Then you may see exactly what I do.
Fez
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 89%
Developer/Publisher: Polytron Corp, BLLT Works
Fez should be recognizable to you if you have seen Indie Game: The Movie. In this game, you take on the role of Gomez, a small man with a fez who has the ability to change the dimensions of reality.
As a result, the player can only view a 2D display. However, you can move the 3D generated environment about to discover new paths, uncover hidden areas, and eventually advance through this exquisitely depicted pixelated universe.
One of the most meticulously crafted puzzle platformers ever created, the game is even more amazing when you consider that Phil Fish, the main developer, created it completely alone. So, you should check out Fez if you're searching for something that masterfully modifies the concepts made popular in Super Paper Mario.
Super Meat Boy
- Genre: Platformer
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 84%
- Developer/Publisher: Team Meat
Another project that received a lot of attention in Indie Game: The Movie was Super Meat Boy, which has been significantly more successful both financially and commercially. In the intense platformer Super Meat Boy, you must go through more challenging levels in the hopes of rescuing "Meat Girl," your one and only true love, from Dr. Fetus's grasp.
Imagine it as a standard setting from a Super Mario game, only instead of Goombas hurting you, there are sawblades, lava pits, scary monsters, and numerous other hazards positioned in your path, all of which are there to prevent you from reaching the stage's finish.
The same incredibly fast, die, and play again loop that makes this game so incredibly addictive also served as the model for Celeste, another inclusion on this list.
For those who enjoy independent gaming and are looking for a challenging game that teaches timing and precision, this is the perfect fit. You should play this if it sounds like your kind of thing.
The same incredibly fast, die, and play again loop that makes this game so incredibly addictive also served as the model for Celeste, another inclusion on this list.
For those who enjoy independent gaming and are looking for a challenging game that teaches timing and precision, this is the perfect fit. You should play this if it sounds like your kind of thing.
The Binding of Issac
- Genre: Dungeon Crawler
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS, Android
- Metacritic Score: 88%
- Developer/Publisher: Nicallis
From the outside looking in, The Binding of Isaac might appear to be a very simple game that lacks the depth and challenge to be something that draws the player in, but you couldn't be more mistaken—the game's accessibility and simplicity are what make it so successful. In The Binding of Isaac, you play as Issac, a young boy raised in a strict religious household and trying to escape the horrible treatment he receives from his mother, who treats him like a demon child. He escapes by exploring the basement and entering increasingly dangerous areas.
In order to survive, the player must learn how to utilize their tears as a weapon, gather advantages and power-ups, and ultimately face their own mother in order to gain their freedom. It's essentially a bullet hell dungeon crawler game, but it's a really good one with tons of charm and sinister themes.
Furthermore, you can play this game repeatedly for hours on end and it will never get boring because it has an arcade-like feel to it. You have to play this independently developed gem of a game yourself.
Furthermore, you can play this game repeatedly for hours on end and it will never get boring because it has an arcade-like feel to it. You have to play this independently developed gem of a game yourself.
Limbo
- Genre: Platformer
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 90%
- Developer/Publisher: PLAYDEAD
This means that in order to survive, you will need to defeat formidable monsters with the help of all the resources at your disposal as well as your cunning. The ambiance and tone of the game are extremely menacing and dark, keeping the player constantly on edge.
Furthermore, the game tells a gripping tale without a single word of conversation. Something that was absolutely unprecedented in the gaming community at the time.
Limbo is an excellent illustration of masterful environmental storytelling, amazing puzzle platform design, and gorgeous minimalist art direction that employs a monochromatic style for a truly effective "less is more" impact. Thus, make sure to check out Limbo if you want to play the game that essentially invented a whole independent sub-genre on its own.
Limbo is an excellent illustration of masterful environmental storytelling, amazing puzzle platform design, and gorgeous minimalist art direction that employs a monochromatic style for a truly effective "less is more" impact. Thus, make sure to check out Limbo if you want to play the game that essentially invented a whole independent sub-genre on its own.
Braid
Genre: Action Platformer
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 93%
Developer/Publisher: Hothead Games, Number None Inc
One of the first "Indie games," if not the first, to break the norm and get praise from critics without major publisher support is definitely Braid. In this game, you take on the role of Tim, a man trying to save a princess from a monster in a cute and fanciful realm.
Look familiar? Don't be deceived, though, as the game's developer deftly combines exposition and subtly revealed details to reveal the player character's true motivations. This leads to a dramatic conclusion that completely subverts the game's theme and, if it's possible, leaves some players with a strangely satisfying and sour aftertaste.
Braid has an intriguing story, excellent graphic direction, puzzle platforming that is difficult but manageable, and enjoyable features like time manipulation that aid in the player's progression through each level.
Released about the same time as Limbo, the game mentioned above, this one is actually the more colorful and imaginative of the two. But both of these are classic puzzle platformers, so you really should play this one if you somehow missed it.
Released about the same time as Limbo, the game mentioned above, this one is actually the more colorful and imaginative of the two. But both of these are classic puzzle platformers, so you really should play this one if you somehow missed it.
Hades
Genre: Roguelike
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 93%
Developer/Publisher: Supergiant Games
Hades is one of those exceptional instances of an independent game with such depth and skill that it defies expectations and wins many publications' Game of the Year awards—a distinction typically given to productions from large studios.But in the world of game creation, amazing things may happen when all the pieces start to turn and everyone pulls in the same direction.That was definitely the case with the roguelike game Hades, where the player assumes the role of Hades' son Zagreus, who must fight his way out of the underworld in order to connect with his family on Mount Olympus. But it's not as simple as just calling for a cab.Some of the most amazing, quick-paced fighting you will probably find in any hack and slash game is available in this one. The language is excellent; drawing on Greek mythology, it tells a clever and frequently amusing tale, reminiscent of Immortals: Fenyx Rising, which was published the same year.Furthermore, long after your first escape, you'll still be fighting your way out of the underworld due to the game's core loop's addictive nature. In addition, this game has a fantastic visual aesthetic that is reminiscent of Supergiant titles like Pyre, Bastion, Transistor, and others. So play this game if you want to see what might be the greatest roguelike ever.
Papers, Please
- Genre: Puzzle Simulation
- Platforms: PS4, PC, IOS, Playstation Vita
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer/Publisher: Lucas Pope, 3909
Certain games use principles that, at first glance, seem so commonplace that winning is unthinkable. Still, certain games offer experiences that are so authentic, so fulfilling, or so different from the norm that they elevate an ordinary pastime to an immensely enjoyable one.
Excellent instances of this are the video games Lawn Mowing Simulator, Unpacking, and Euro Truck Simulator. None, though, have the complexity of Papers, Please.
As a border control officer in this game, your only responsibility is to stamp passports and personal reports to grant or refuse entry into the nation.
But as the circumstances in the area shift, the game makes things more challenging to handle, the choices you have to make become much more challenging, and all of a sudden, the burden you are carrying feels very heavy. It was surprising how interesting working at a kiosk might be.
Excellent instances of this are the video games Lawn Mowing Simulator, Unpacking, and Euro Truck Simulator. None, though, have the complexity of Papers, Please.
As a border control officer in this game, your only responsibility is to stamp passports and personal reports to grant or refuse entry into the nation.
But as the circumstances in the area shift, the game makes things more challenging to handle, the choices you have to make become much more challenging, and all of a sudden, the burden you are carrying feels very heavy. It was surprising how interesting working at a kiosk might be.
Hotline Miami
- Genre: Action, Top-Down Shooter
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer/Publisher: Dennaton, Devolver Digital
All of these elements can be found in Hotline Miami, a game that heavily draws from the Miami Vice theme. It features a fast-paced mission structure that requires the player to move quickly and eliminate targets in a number of inventive methods.
This is a top-down shooter game with amazing level design, an amazing soundtrack, a ton of various combat options, and play styles. It's also very approachable yet difficult to learn, which is precisely what you want. Thus Hotline Miami is your ideal ticket if you want to enjoy the eighties in the goriest way imaginable.
Minecraft
- Genre: Survival, Building
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS, Android, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, 3DS
- Metacritic Score: 93%
- Developer/Publisher: Mojang
Younger generations might find it difficult to accept that Minecraft was ever anything other than the worldwide sensation it is today. But I do recall the times when Mojang charged users subscription fees to play Minecraft through an add-on for their web browser.
But despite its modest origins, this game developed, and after being acquired by Microsoft, it rose to become one of the most successful video game ventures ever.
This game is much more than just a fantastic sandbox for players that enjoy survival and creativity. In addition, it has developed into a center for imaginative creators to work on games for initiatives like Hypixel.Kids are now taught how to code using this educational tool, and to be honest, we're eager to see where Minecraft will go in the future. However, one thing is certain. We don't see any reason to think that the game's upward trajectory will change very soon.
But despite its modest origins, this game developed, and after being acquired by Microsoft, it rose to become one of the most successful video game ventures ever.
This game is much more than just a fantastic sandbox for players that enjoy survival and creativity. In addition, it has developed into a center for imaginative creators to work on games for initiatives like Hypixel.Kids are now taught how to code using this educational tool, and to be honest, we're eager to see where Minecraft will go in the future. However, one thing is certain. We don't see any reason to think that the game's upward trajectory will change very soon.
The Stanley Parable
- Genre: Adventure
- Platforms: PC
- Metacritic Score: 88%
- Developer/Publisher: Davey Wreden
But this metagame would gain enough traction to warrant a general release on Steam, giving the whole gaming community access to this amazing, peculiar, and distinctive style of narrative and design that is centered on player choice and freedom.
In this game, you take on the role of Stanley, an office drone who longs to escape the boredom of his routine, dull office work. What choices you make, your playstyle, your curiosity, and your capacity for creative problem-solving will all influence how this choice turns out.
Disco Elysium
- Genre: Isometric RPG
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS, Stadia
- Metacritic Score: 91%
- Developer/Publisher: Za/Um
As you may expect, humor abounds, but this game truly opens up and demonstrates the scope of this project once you acquire a sense of the environment and the people in it.
Furthermore, the Final Cut version of this game has unmatched richness in terms of narrative, voice acting, location, and lore. Finally, this game boasts an unparalleled graphic direction reminiscent of Renaissance paintings.To put it briefly, I have no qualms in declaring that this is the greatest classic, contemporary RPG in over ten years; if you haven't played it, you won't be sorry.
Cave Story
- Genre: Action Platformer
- Platforms: PC, 3DS, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 93%
- Developer/Publisher: Studio Pixel
We said that Braid might have been the first independent game to do so. On the other hand, we contend that Cave Story was maybe the first independent game ever made. Or, at the very least, the first game ever to be called an independent title.
Cave Story is a 2004 independent video game from Japan that combined elements of Metroidvania games with a tried-and-true framework to create a novel combat system that lets players switch up their playstyles at any time.
In the perspective of 2023, it might seem archaic. But if this game hadn't blazed a path, we probably wouldn't have games like it. A few examples of such games are Hollow Knight and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Therefore, give Cave Story a look if you want a history lesson on how the first seeds of independent gaming were planted.
FTL: Faster Than Light
- Genre: Action Simulator
- Platforms: PC, IOS
- Metacritic Score: 84%
- Developer/Publisher: Subset Games
The game that comes next allows you to venture beyond the atmosphere of Earth and explore the furthest reaches of space in pursuit of adventure and cosmic riches. In the game FTL: Faster Than Light, you are given a small spacecraft and a motley crew of star explorers to help you along the way. However, every journey you go on will be unique from the last.
In order to upgrade your ship and see as much of the final frontier as you can, the player must manage their crew, plan their route through deep space, deal with threats like space pirates, and manage resources. This is how the game works. The player controls a procedurally generated path through space.I may be exaggerating a little when I say that this pixellated simulator gives the impression of depth and limitless possibilities by design. A player must approach each run differently and adjust their strategy from the previous one because they can never predict how their run will turn out or what obstacles they will face.Some may argue that RNG has a major role in determining your success, but we say set your cynicism aside for this one time only and give this pocket-sized space opera a try.
Journey
- Genre: Walking Simulator, Adventure
- Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS
- Metacritic Score: 92%
- Developer/Publisher: That Game Company
It's uncommon for a developer to let gameplay take a backseat without the game suffering, but in the case of Journey, the entire spectacle of the experience is sufficient to keep players fully captivated throughout the game's brief duration.
Numerous awards have been given to this game for its amazing artwork, captivating soundtrack, and dialogue-free storytelling abilities. It has also received recognition for its understated multiplayer features. You have a finished game that more than deserves its Game of the Year status when you add in amazing set pieces like the intense slide through the ruins against a sun-soaked backdrop, or the dark depths right after with monsters waiting in the shadows.
Playing this game through to the end only takes about two hours. But when the credits roll on this one, you'll feel as though you've just finished a huge adventure, and the experience will be with you for a very long time.
I doubt this game will ever be told to leave my head because it has been there for the better part of a decade. Play this one as soon as you can, and take that as an endorsement.
Playing this game through to the end only takes about two hours. But when the credits roll on this one, you'll feel as though you've just finished a huge adventure, and the experience will be with you for a very long time.
I doubt this game will ever be told to leave my head because it has been there for the better part of a decade. Play this one as soon as you can, and take that as an endorsement.
Rocket League
- Genre: Sports, Action
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 86%
- Developer/Publisher: Psyonix
It's amazing to think that Rocket League's makers, Psyonix, were formerly struggling independent game developers.
Particularly considering that Rocket League, which debuted in 2015 and has since drawn millions of players, has grown to become a mainstay of the Esports community; that being said, prior to Rocket League, there was something called "Super Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars," which sounds awful and probably had a hand in the game's initial lackluster commercial performance.
But when the question was asked again, Rocket League was created, and it has since persisted in offering gamers one of the wildest and most inventive sports games available. Who would have guessed that RC cars and soccer would go together so well?
Particularly considering that Rocket League, which debuted in 2015 and has since drawn millions of players, has grown to become a mainstay of the Esports community; that being said, prior to Rocket League, there was something called "Super Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars," which sounds awful and probably had a hand in the game's initial lackluster commercial performance.
With the RLCS competition series giving enormous prizes and eternal glory for the teams that compete and win, this game has only grown in popularity over time. In addition, the game is always getting updates with new material, maps, modes, and cosmetic things for the casual gamer.
At a time when Madden, FIFA, PES, NBA 2K, and other companies were running out of ideas, Rocket League, a fantastic multiplayer game, was the one that brought the sports game genre back to life. Now that Rocket League is available for free, you ought to take advantage of the opportunity that Psyonix brought forth.
The Forest
- Genre: Survival
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Metacritic Score: 83%
- Developer/Publisher: SKS Games
To be honest, this one might seem a little out of place among the indie gaming giants on this list, but prejudice be damned, I'm including it nonetheless because, in my opinion—and yes, I do include Valheim in that statement—this is the best independent survival game ever created.
In the video game The Forest, the player and their son Timmy crash land on an enigmatic island. Against all chances, you survive the crash and wake up to see your son being abducted by a guy covered in blood.
In the video game The Forest, the player and their son Timmy crash land on an enigmatic island. Against all chances, you survive the crash and wake up to see your son being abducted by a guy covered in blood.
Getting your son back and leaving the island is your main objective here. But before you can accomplish that, you'll need to gather yourself, learn the lay of the land, and attempt to live against the island's ferocious, cannibal residents.
The geography of The Forest is crammed with interesting features, points of interest, entertaining weaponry, crafting materials, and hints that make it easier for you to grasp your surroundings.
The geography of The Forest is crammed with interesting features, points of interest, entertaining weaponry, crafting materials, and hints that make it easier for you to grasp your surroundings.
To the extent that you might be forgetting you have a youngster to save while you construct an opulent base, find crash victims scattered all over the area, and fully immerse yourself in cannibal society.
Feel better; we all ignored tiny Timmy in order to construct an amazing headquarters on the island. Sons of the Forest, the direct sequel, is scheduled to release in 2023, so this is a wonderful moment to dive in. Thus, do yourself a favor and look into this treasure of independent survival.
You might recall this game from 2020, when it was released and kept everyone amused and sane during that dreadful worldwide lockdown. Many people are unaware, though, that Among Us had been around for about two years at that point.
After its release, the social deduction game was well-received with mixed reviews. However, this game had an average of 300 players every day until the middle of 2020. Then this game turned into a bright spot in an otherwise depressing and hopeless day-to-day routine once we were all assigned to our dwellings.
This game hasn't looked back since and is still among the most played multiplayer games available.
In order to mend the spaceship, you must perform a number of simple and routine chores in this game. If you succeed, the game is yours. But certain gamers in your team will be tasked with playing an imposter who is methodically eliminating your crew members one by one.
Among Us
- Genre: Social Deduction
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS, Android
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer/Publisher: Innersloth
After its release, the social deduction game was well-received with mixed reviews. However, this game had an average of 300 players every day until the middle of 2020. Then this game turned into a bright spot in an otherwise depressing and hopeless day-to-day routine once we were all assigned to our dwellings.
In order to mend the spaceship, you must perform a number of simple and routine chores in this game. If you succeed, the game is yours. But certain gamers in your team will be tasked with playing an imposter who is methodically eliminating your crew members one by one.
Likewise, it is your responsibility to apprehend the assassin and force them from the spacecraft before they reduce you to nothing. Playing this game with friends really brings out the detectives and compulsive liars in the group. It's a lot of fun. The next time you have a social game night scheduled, make sure to check this one out.
In addition, it's one of those games that you can show off to your non-gaming friends and family and they'll be able to join in on the action right away. The whole experience is brief but delicious, so give this one some thought if you're looking for a quick and quirky independent film that's well worth the entry price.
And finally, we have What Remains of Edith Finch, which is possibly the most peculiar and cherished walking simulator in the entire game world. In this game, you go back to the Finch home to learn more about the sad pasts of each family member and to determine whether or not the family has truly been cursed.
Every segment of this title seems like a new game within a game, giving you a comprehensive glimpse into the lives and ultimate fate of each family member as you explore this architectural wonder. These in-depth looks are provided through amazing stories with distinctive gameplay mechanics. ception of a game.
As one might anticipate from a contemporary walking sim, the art style and environmental storytelling are excellent, and the writing in this title is excellent as well. Furthermore, even though there are a few, to put it mildly, odd mechanisms, the variation these mechanics offer throughout the game keeps the player fully involved and prevents the game from ever feeling monotonous.
It has a great pace, doesn't drag on, and delivers some of the most hilarious and depressing gaming moments in equal measure. Although it's high praise, it's completely justified. So please, give this amazing game a try.
A number of games have attempted to place the player in the role of a detective, with differing degrees of success. Some excellent examples are Heavy Rain, L.A. Noire, and the previously mentioned Disco Elysium. None, though, completely succeeded in my opinion like Return of the Obra Dinn, in which the player attempts to piece together the tragic events of the Obra Dinn crew in order to obtain insurance.
With a visual style that is grainy and monochromatic, a reel of tableaus from 1920s movies that display each set of clues, and no handholding at all, this game requires you to do all the legwork, use reason and logic, and even make some educated guesses to figure out what happened to this unhappy group.
Next up is a game that uses two different strategies to give players a ton of enjoyment.
In the delightful and lighthearted adventure Dave the Diver, you will explore the underwater world during the day and catch fish for your sushi restaurant. At night, you will manage a successful sushi dinner service and must scurry around like a headless chicken to ensure that every customer leaves happy and full.
If you were alive during the tragic Dreamcast era, you are aware that although the system didn't achieve the kind of success Sega had hoped for, some really great games were launched on it.
Among them was Jet Set Radio, a parkour and extreme sports game with an urban setting unlike any other. Up until now, that is, since Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is the long-awaited spiritual successor.
Well, what more can I say about Sea of Stars than what I have wrote in my review, which is quite a bit? To put myself out of my misery, Sea of Stars is a JRPG with a throwback aesthetic that plays and looks like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG. Sea of Stars is by no means a remastered masterpiece, though. It is a masterwork.
You've just discovered COCOON, a contemporary puzzle game of such high caliber that it is truly comparable to games like Portal, The Talos Principle, and Baba Is You.
The reason for all the capital letters in the game's title is that COCOON is a highly styled and intelligent puzzle game created by some of the main characters of PLAYDEAD. The good news is that the team managed to create a fantastic puzzle experience despite making the drastic change from a 2D side-scrolling platformer to a puzzle game.
In this game, you'll have to jump through portals and use orbs to switch between realities, influencing each one as you go. To be honest, this is definitely different, but oddly familiar if you enjoy Portal.
COCOON is a great choice, therefore, if you need something fresh to demonstrate your intelligence.
Venba, a narrative-driven South Asian story that will surely tug at your heartstrings, is a great option if you're searching for a game that you can finish in one sitting but also want a game that will stick with you long after the credits roll.Venba narrates the tale of a family that leaves India for Canada in an effort to provide a better life for their kids. But this story also highlights a side of immigration that many of us do not often see: the challenges of assimilating, the biases against outsiders, and the necessity of sacrificing your own customs and culture in order to "fit in."Even if you can't relate to the narrative directly, you will still find it to be a really touching and personal tale. Not to add, a lot of the narrative is conveyed through mini-games that include cooking and delicious-looking Indian food. It's amazing in a different manner than Cooking Mama, but not quite as crazy.
So, Venba is everything and more for those seeking an impactful game!
If you enjoy Metroidvania games and miss the old flash games when you had to ride a motorcycle from point A to point B, then I have a game for you.
Just
Untitled Goose Game
- Genre: Puzzle Adventure
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 81%
- Developer/Publisher: House House, Panic Inc
Some would think that this is the same as including Goat Simulator in a list of the greatest independent games ever released. Nonetheless, we contend that not many games can compare to the unbridled joy and hilarity included in Untitled Goose Game when it comes to pure, unadulterated fun that is available to everyone.
In this game, you take on the part of the titular goose and dash through a charming small village while yelling at the top of your lungs and generally causing havoc. Every zone offers a fresh challenge and a fresh set of chores you must finish in order to wreak chaos and agitate the locals in this peaceful little English village.
Both the mechanics and the problems in the game are really basic. But what makes Untitled Goose Game so appealing are the humor, the unrestrained joy, and the flexibility to play the game how you like.In this game, you take on the part of the titular goose and dash through a charming small village while yelling at the top of your lungs and generally causing havoc. Every zone offers a fresh challenge and a fresh set of chores you must finish in order to wreak chaos and agitate the locals in this peaceful little English village.
In addition, it's one of those games that you can show off to your non-gaming friends and family and they'll be able to join in on the action right away. The whole experience is brief but delicious, so give this one some thought if you're looking for a quick and quirky independent film that's well worth the entry price.
What Remains of Edith Finch
- Genre: Walking Simulator
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS
- Metacritic Score: 92%
- Developer/Publisher: Giant Sparrow
Every segment of this title seems like a new game within a game, giving you a comprehensive glimpse into the lives and ultimate fate of each family member as you explore this architectural wonder. These in-depth looks are provided through amazing stories with distinctive gameplay mechanics. ception of a game.
As one might anticipate from a contemporary walking sim, the art style and environmental storytelling are excellent, and the writing in this title is excellent as well. Furthermore, even though there are a few, to put it mildly, odd mechanisms, the variation these mechanics offer throughout the game keeps the player fully involved and prevents the game from ever feeling monotonous.
It has a great pace, doesn't drag on, and delivers some of the most hilarious and depressing gaming moments in equal measure. Although it's high praise, it's completely justified. So please, give this amazing game a try.
Norco
- Genre: Text-Based
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer/Publisher: Geography For Robots
I've always had a thing for point-and-click adventures and text-based adventures. I still adore games like Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle, even if newer games have excellent mechanics and graphics.
For this reason, whenever an event like Norco arises, I use the opportunity to read a ton of material and lose myself in an amazing fictional universe. The science fiction world of Norco is modeled somewhat on the actual town of Norco, Louisiana, in the United States.
For this reason, whenever an event like Norco arises, I use the opportunity to read a ton of material and lose myself in an amazing fictional universe. The science fiction world of Norco is modeled somewhat on the actual town of Norco, Louisiana, in the United States.
Retracing her mother's footsteps in the days prior to her death, you play Kay, a character returning home to a town where they no longer belong. This task leads to encounters with incredibly colorful characters and wonderfully thought-provoking conversations about religion, socio-economic structures, and the existence of giant sewer birds that shoot lasers from their eyes.
Well, kooky? That pretty much sums up this game the best. If text-based, high-quality storyline and writing aren't enough of an incentive to play, I don't know what is! It's as near to Disco Elysium as it gets!
Neno White
- Genre: FPS/Platformer
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer/Publisher: Ben Esposito
In relation to bizarre games, Ben Esposito has a history of creating peculiar independent ventures. Donut County is still, in fact, one of the funniest bite-sized independent games I have ever played. But I would have laughed you out of the room if you had told me that he was going to follow that up with a speedrunning platformer set in paradise that was reminiscent of anime.
Ben manages to pull off what sounds like an odd and ambitious mash-up of genres and styles, though, and creates one of the most captivating, addicting, and fulfilling modern platforming experiences.
Ben manages to pull off what sounds like an odd and ambitious mash-up of genres and styles, though, and creates one of the most captivating, addicting, and fulfilling modern platforming experiences.
I try to pitch this game to people all the time by saying that it's a speedrunning game. It makes short courses that require you to locate the quickest route from point A to point B, learn both speed-based and first-person shooter principles, and maximize movement in order to complete each level.
To top it all off, it has an extremely replayable online leaderboard feature and is written in a humorous, sarcastic style. Go out there and battle some demons because no words I could use could give the sheer poetry in motion that is Neon White's main gameplay loop justice!
To top it all off, it has an extremely replayable online leaderboard feature and is written in a humorous, sarcastic style. Go out there and battle some demons because no words I could use could give the sheer poetry in motion that is Neon White's main gameplay loop justice!
Inscryption
- Genre: Deck-Builder Roguelike
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 87%
- Developer/Publisher: Daniel Mullin Games
Next, we have a creepy deck builder that will make you squirm with its gritty, dark overtones and have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Inscryption is a card-builder that drops you into the center of a pitch-black, surreal cabin in the woods. Your only way out of this nightmare is to play a DND-style board game that is similar to Slay The Spire but is randomly produced.
You will need to eliminate your captor's several masked identities with only a few basic cards, all the while trying to figure out how to get away between turns.
This is a game that looks like a straightforward card game, but it's actually an escape room puzzle game, a mystery epic in the vein of FMV, and in its later stages, a top-down RPG reminiscent of Zelda. This pseudo-horror game never lets you settle in, keeps you guessing, and is jam-packed with shocks. So if you're looking for a slightly unfair card game. The game for you then is Inscryption.
This is a game that looks like a straightforward card game, but it's actually an escape room puzzle game, a mystery epic in the vein of FMV, and in its later stages, a top-down RPG reminiscent of Zelda. This pseudo-horror game never lets you settle in, keeps you guessing, and is jam-packed with shocks. So if you're looking for a slightly unfair card game. The game for you then is Inscryption.
Tinykin
- Genre: Platformer
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 86%
- Developer/Publisher: Splashteam
I miss the days when there were a ton of excellent mascot platformers available. These were and probably still are my go-to comfort game, but good current platformers are really hard to come by.
There are, however, a few outliers, one of which being Tinykin, a vibrant little adventure from 1991 in which Milo goes to a suburban home in search of Tinykin, small extraterrestrial fellas with peculiar powers that can aid you in your quest. Tinykin resemble Pikmin.
There are, however, a few outliers, one of which being Tinykin, a vibrant little adventure from 1991 in which Milo goes to a suburban home in search of Tinykin, small extraterrestrial fellas with peculiar powers that can aid you in your quest. Tinykin resemble Pikmin.
It truly took me back to the wonderful times when everyone was talking about Toy Story: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue. Because of Milo's small stature, these everyday home settings have the vibe of vibrant cities that want to be explored.
The nicest part is that the game knows when to wrap things up before they become monotonous and repetitive. The movement is fluid, the artwork is creative, the puzzles and objectives are enjoyable and different. It is without a doubt the greatest modern take on a classic platformer, and it is definitely worth playing if you're in the mood for some serious nostalgia.
The Outer Wilds
- Genre: Open World Puzzler
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer/Publisher: Mobius Digital
The Outer Wilds is the perfect example of a game that should only be played once, as we recently discussed on the Indie Game Culture Podcast. Nothing can ever match that initial experience.
Your objective is straightforward in the Outer Wilds, where you are trapped in an endless circle of time. Determine a way to end the cycle. Theoretically, it's easy, and if you know the answer, you can complete it in roughly fifteen minutes with a little effort. To find the mysteries of each planet, you must traverse a whole mini-solar system, which would take tens of hours for most gamers.
Your objective is straightforward in the Outer Wilds, where you are trapped in an endless circle of time. Determine a way to end the cycle. Theoretically, it's easy, and if you know the answer, you can complete it in roughly fifteen minutes with a little effort. To find the mysteries of each planet, you must traverse a whole mini-solar system, which would take tens of hours for most gamers.
There are no quest signs or hints throughout the game. It merely gives you a spacecraft and lets you go on your way. After then, you have to find old records, figure out how each biome behaves, and record every occurrence that happens repeatedly throughout the time loop. The loop restarts when you go over 21 minutes.
One of the best Indie games ever is The Outer Wilds; I only wish I could erase my memory and play it again with a clear head because of the flexibility to explore at your own pace and the abundance of natural "Aha" moments it offers. I guess I'll simply have to experience life via all of you.
One of the best Indie games ever is The Outer Wilds; I only wish I could erase my memory and play it again with a clear head because of the flexibility to explore at your own pace and the abundance of natural "Aha" moments it offers. I guess I'll simply have to experience life via all of you.
Return of the Obra Dinn
- Genre: Puzzle
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer/Publisher: Lucas Pope
With a visual style that is grainy and monochromatic, a reel of tableaus from 1920s movies that display each set of clues, and no handholding at all, this game requires you to do all the legwork, use reason and logic, and even make some educated guesses to figure out what happened to this unhappy group.
The storyline of this game is so well-written and captivating that, despite the fact that you may quickly skim the text, you can still get the main idea of the story. This is what makes it so beautiful. It is my strong belief that the majority of gamers will not leave the ship until they have comprehended the conclusion of every single minute thread within each story beat.
I wholeheartedly endorse this game to anyone seeking an intellectually stimulating experience; it's another brilliant bureaucratic work transformed into an epic adventure from Lucas Pope.
I wholeheartedly endorse this game to anyone seeking an intellectually stimulating experience; it's another brilliant bureaucratic work transformed into an epic adventure from Lucas Pope.
Citizen Sleeper
- Genre: Text-Based
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer/Publisher: Jump Over The Age
We have another text-based adventure scheduled for 2022. Although I believe Norco to be the most compelling of the two, it's actually much closer than one may imagine. You take on the role of a Sleeper in the science fiction epic Citizen Sleeper, which appears to have been taken directly from Isaac Asimov's head.
An android in a stolen body that must struggle mightily to exist in a body that is always trying to reject them—and that's not even taking into account the struggle against hunger, exploring the expansive Space Station known as The Eye, and earning enough money to cover the necessities.
An android in a stolen body that must struggle mightily to exist in a body that is always trying to reject them—and that's not even taking into account the struggle against hunger, exploring the expansive Space Station known as The Eye, and earning enough money to cover the necessities.
It's a fantastic twist on the classic survival game formula, combining it with a dice-based mechanic a la DND to require careful preparation and difficult choices. In the end, you'll be wondering all the time if it's the best thing to stay put or to dodge and leave everyone you've met behind.
Granted, Citizen Sleeper is a bit of a slow burn, and some of the mechanisms take some time to understand, but if you give it a shot, it might just end up becoming your new favorite science fiction experience.
Granted, Citizen Sleeper is a bit of a slow burn, and some of the mechanisms take some time to understand, but if you give it a shot, it might just end up becoming your new favorite science fiction experience.
Sifu
- Genre: Beat-em-up
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Metacritic Score: 86%
- Developer/Publisher: Sloclap
I've seen several classic game genres resurrect themselves as contemporary independent products, but beat-em-up games always appeared to remain with the tried-and-true formula. When you place contemporary games like TMNT Shredder's Revenge next to classic titles like Streets of Rage, they appear to be from the same era.
Sloclap, however, saw an opportunity to throw a curveball and created a beat-em-up that featured all the features of a classic beat-em-up along with the added advantage of sophisticated combat mechanics and contemporary graphics.
Sloclap, however, saw an opportunity to throw a curveball and created a beat-em-up that featured all the features of a classic beat-em-up along with the added advantage of sophisticated combat mechanics and contemporary graphics.
In the roguelike game Sifu, your goal is to become a master of kung-fu and find the five attackers who killed your father. I realize it's a basic, somewhat corny notion. Nonetheless, the game's playability alone makes it successful despite its painstakingly designed combat.
The way the game requires players to become experts of their trade in order to advance through each level is almost exactly like Souls, and while though Student mode has made the game considerably easier, it's still an extremely challenging but rewarding fighter that's well worth checking out.
The way the game requires players to become experts of their trade in order to advance through each level is almost exactly like Souls, and while though Student mode has made the game considerably easier, it's still an extremely challenging but rewarding fighter that's well worth checking out.
Dredge
- Genre: Adventure/Resource Management Sim
- Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Game Developer/Publisher: Black Salt Games
I'd always been undecided about Team 17 as a publisher/studio until very recently. It's your job as a publisher to set expectations for players by creating a cohesive portfolio that lets them know almost exactly what to expect before the game is even revealed.
I used to believe that they were just throwing a lot of ideas against the wall to see what would stick, which resulted in some hits and some busts in 2022. However, 2023 has been the studio's true coming-of-age year, and Dredge is the game that really sparked that transformation.
I used to believe that they were just throwing a lot of ideas against the wall to see what would stick, which resulted in some hits and some busts in 2022. However, 2023 has been the studio's true coming-of-age year, and Dredge is the game that really sparked that transformation.
In the nautical adventure game Dredge, you take on the role of a fisherman who has to sell fish to upgrade their vessel, which allows them to sail farther, catch larger fish, and make more advancements.
This is a nice feature, but what really sets the game apart from other fishing games are the mind-bending eldritch horror, the strange happenings, the engaging day-night cycle-based risk and reward system, and the abundance of extra content available if you search for it. Although it does, in my opinion, wane near the conclusion, Dredge is still an incredible find that is well worth the voyage.
This is a nice feature, but what really sets the game apart from other fishing games are the mind-bending eldritch horror, the strange happenings, the engaging day-night cycle-based risk and reward system, and the abundance of extra content available if you search for it. Although it does, in my opinion, wane near the conclusion, Dredge is still an incredible find that is well worth the voyage.
Rollerdrome
- Genre: Arcade Shooter/Sports
- Platforms: PS4/5, PC
- Metacritic Score: 81%
- Game Developer/Publisher: Roll7
Last but not least is Rollerdrome, an arcade shooter in the vein of a battle royale that is developed by the same team that brought you the OlliOlli series and shares many similarities with the highly regarded THPS series. In order to advance through the ranks and win the title of Rollerdrome champion, you must use your skill at both killing and rollerblading to defeat a number of skilled assassins and mechs. The game puts you in the role of Kara Hassan, a new combatant.
It's an easy game to take up, but it can be challenging to master because you have to chain combos and multipliers, earn absurd amounts of points, combine kills and tricks in a smooth manner, and finish a number of challenging extra objectives in order to advance to new levels.
It's a brutal game, but that's part of its appeal, in my opinion. It's arcade perfection, and I can only think how many quarters this machine would have consumed if it had been available as an arcade machine back in the 1980s.
It's an easy game to take up, but it can be challenging to master because you have to chain combos and multipliers, earn absurd amounts of points, combine kills and tricks in a smooth manner, and finish a number of challenging extra objectives in order to advance to new levels.
It's a brutal game, but that's part of its appeal, in my opinion. It's arcade perfection, and I can only think how many quarters this machine would have consumed if it had been available as an arcade machine back in the 1980s.
Dave The Diver
- Genre: Casual/Resource Management
- Platform: PC/Switch
- Metacritic Score: 90%
- Developer: MINTROCKET
In the delightful and lighthearted adventure Dave the Diver, you will explore the underwater world during the day and catch fish for your sushi restaurant. At night, you will manage a successful sushi dinner service and must scurry around like a headless chicken to ensure that every customer leaves happy and full.
One of the most captivating and addicting gameplay loops in any video game is this one. In addition, the game features absurd mini-games and plots, adorable pixel graphics, and a ton of goodies to keep you occupied after the credits roll.
For people who enjoy sushi and want to go swimming, this is the ideal comfortable game. So go right into Dave The Diver!
For people who enjoy sushi and want to go swimming, this is the ideal comfortable game. So go right into Dave The Diver!
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
- Genre: Sports/Platforming
- Platform: PS4/5, PC, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch
- Metacritic Score: 75%
- Developer: Reptile Studios
If you were alive during the tragic Dreamcast era, you are aware that although the system didn't achieve the kind of success Sega had hoped for, some really great games were launched on it.
Among them was Jet Set Radio, a parkour and extreme sports game with an urban setting unlike any other. Up until now, that is, since Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is the long-awaited spiritual successor.
In this game, you will BMX, rollerblade, and skate throughout the futuristic metropolis of New Amsterdam. Your goal is to join forces with your group of outcasts to become the city's most well-known street gang, defeat the wicked DJ Cyber, and discover what happened to Faux, the owner of your severed head.
It's crazy as heck, and you can do insane combinations and lines as soon as you start playing because the game seems so fluid. Dreamcast lovers should definitely play Bomb Rush since, despite some annoying combat, it's an incredible game!
It's crazy as heck, and you can do insane combinations and lines as soon as you start playing because the game seems so fluid. Dreamcast lovers should definitely play Bomb Rush since, despite some annoying combat, it's an incredible game!
Sea of Stars
- Genre: JRPG
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 87%
- Developer: Sabotage Studios
There are several times in Sea of Stars' distinctive JRPG plot that will make you smile broadly. Its cutting-edge graphics deftly strike a mix between the high fidelity demanded of this gaming generation and retro nostalgia. Furthermore, the game goes to great lengths to ensure that every facet of the gameplay—platforming, combat, exploration, and minigames like Wheels—is engaging and interactive.
I don't often declare that a game has almost no problems, but Sea of Stars definitely qualifies in that regard. So take that as the strongest recommendation possible and play this ode to the heyday of JRPGS right now!COCOON
- Genre: Puzzle
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 88%
- Developer: Geometric Interactive
The reason for all the capital letters in the game's title is that COCOON is a highly styled and intelligent puzzle game created by some of the main characters of PLAYDEAD. The good news is that the team managed to create a fantastic puzzle experience despite making the drastic change from a 2D side-scrolling platformer to a puzzle game.
In this game, you'll have to jump through portals and use orbs to switch between realities, influencing each one as you go. To be honest, this is definitely different, but oddly familiar if you enjoy Portal.
COCOON is a great choice, therefore, if you need something fresh to demonstrate your intelligence.
Venba
- Genre: Narrative-Driven
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 79%
- Developer: Visai Games
So, Venba is everything and more for those seeking an impactful game!
Lies of P
- Genre: Soulsborne
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, PC
- Metacritic Score: 80%
- Developer: Round8
For a very long time, Souls games developed outside of From Software have struggled to capture the essence of what makes a challenging and rewarding Souls game.
That was until Lies of P, a Souls game inspired by Pinnochio of all things, broke through the sea of Souls clones to present what could be the closest thing to a Bloodborne remaster that we will ever see. The action in the game is fluid and dynamic, unlike previous Souls games where you had to hide behind a shield, and the game features some of the most cruel and interesting boss battles I have ever encountered in a game of this kind. The city of Krat is also stunningly desolate.
By no means is it a flawless Souls game, but given that FromSoft had no involvement in its creation, it's incredibly amazing and highly recommended!
Laika: Aged Through Blood
- Genre: Soulsborne
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, PC
- Metacritic Score: 80%
- Developer: Round8
That was until Lies of P, a Souls game inspired by Pinnochio of all things, broke through the sea of Souls clones to present what could be the closest thing to a
By no means is it a flawless Souls game, but given that FromSoft had no involvement in its creation, it's incredibly amazing and highly recommended!
- Genre: Metroidvania
- Platform: PS4/5/Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 83%
- Developer: Brainwash Gang
If you enjoy Metroidvania games and miss the old flash games when you had to ride a motorcycle from point A to point B, then I have a game for you.
Laika: Aged Through Blood, a game that bills itself as a "Motorvania," is a technically challenging and artistically stunning game in which you ride a motorcycle over the landscape and use bullet time skills to dispatch adversaries along the way.
while maintaining a gripping and sophisticated narrative that captures the player's attention from the beginning.
Fair warning: the game is difficult and requires a lot of getting used to the mechanics. But once you get the hang of it, there aren't many things more satisfying than speeding through a bunch of opponents in this fantastic Metroidvania epic.
Even though I personally don't enjoy metroidvanias, this one is an exception that you should definitely play!
Fair warning: the game is difficult and requires a lot of getting used to the mechanics. But once you get the hang of it, there aren't many things more satisfying than speeding through a bunch of opponents in this fantastic Metroidvania epic.
Even though I personally don't enjoy metroidvanias, this one is an exception that you should definitely play!
Just
- Genre: Adventure/Platformer
- Platform: PS4/5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Metacritic Score: 80%
- Developer: Dont Nod
A few titles have come to represent the climbing mechanics in video games.
Whether it's Celeste encouraging players to just climb to the top of the mountain through challenging platforming, Horizon's yellow chalk on cliff walls saying "You can climb here," or Uncharted and its set pieces that see you climbing to safety.
We believe Jusant has them all beat, and the game achieves this through amazing, authentic mountaineering features that let users utilize carabiners to hook on and then ascend the sheer face of the cliff.
If you want to reach the summit, you must utilize the surroundings and the elements in addition to controlling each limb and making thoughtful, precise path choices.
It's a fantastic game with visually striking graphics and an intriguing silent story. Jusant is therefore a fantastic choice if you're looking for a strenuous, protracted climb up a mountain.
Pizza Tower
So, Pizza Tower is a must-play if you're looking for a little throwback fun that has been updated to reflect modern standards.
Q1: What is a beloved indie game?
Q4: What is the average profit of indie games?
Whether it's Celeste encouraging players to just climb to the top of the mountain through challenging platforming, Horizon's yellow chalk on cliff walls saying "You can climb here," or Uncharted and its set pieces that see you climbing to safety.
We believe Jusant has them all beat, and the game achieves this through amazing, authentic mountaineering features that let users utilize carabiners to hook on and then ascend the sheer face of the cliff.
If you want to reach the summit, you must utilize the surroundings and the elements in addition to controlling each limb and making thoughtful, precise path choices.
It's a fantastic game with visually striking graphics and an intriguing silent story. Jusant is therefore a fantastic choice if you're looking for a strenuous, protracted climb up a mountain.
In Stars and Time
- Genre: RPG, Adventure
- Platform: PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox X/S
- Metacritic Score: 85%
- Developer: Insert Disc 5
This game was launched after the Game Awards were concluded, and everyone had come to terms that there wouldn't be any more major releases, so I'd excuse you if you missed it as the year came to an end in 2023. However, In Stars and Time was one game that was definitely worth playing at that time.
Players are thrust into a time loop in this game, and to escape it with the aid of your four friends, Bonnie, Odile, Isabeau, and Mirabelle, you must explore The Castle, learn the mysteries of the time loop, and figure out how to unfree Vaugarde from her frozen form.
It's a highly meta game with superb writing, narrative loops that alter the story almost constantly, engaging fighting, and a cast of truly amazing characters.
Similar to Outer Wilds, a different time loop game, In Stars and Time entices players to loop repeatedly, with the ultimate prize being the excitement of discovery. Thus, this is the game for you if you're looking for one that possibly offers the most interesting time loop format ever.Players are thrust into a time loop in this game, and to escape it with the aid of your four friends, Bonnie, Odile, Isabeau, and Mirabelle, you must explore The Castle, learn the mysteries of the time loop, and figure out how to unfree Vaugarde from her frozen form.
It's a highly meta game with superb writing, narrative loops that alter the story almost constantly, engaging fighting, and a cast of truly amazing characters.
Pizza Tower
- Genre: Platformer
- Platform: PC
- Metacritic Score: 89%
- Developer: Tour De Pizza
Pizza Tower seeks to bring the enchantment of these classic games into the new world of gaming, and we must say, it does this with great skill. If you grew up playing Warioland games, then it will look and feel very familiar to you.
In order to preserve the history and viability of his own authentic Italian restaurant, you play as Peppino Spaggetti, an Italian restaurant owner who must scale the Pizza Tower and demolish everything in his path.
To put it succinctly, Pizza Tower is optimizing chaos through platforming. It's extremely addictive and high-energy from beginning to end, just like the Warioland games were in their prime.
In order to preserve the history and viability of his own authentic Italian restaurant, you play as Peppino Spaggetti, an Italian restaurant owner who must scale the Pizza Tower and demolish everything in his path.
So, Pizza Tower is a must-play if you're looking for a little throwback fun that has been updated to reflect modern standards.
Distinguished Remarks
There is so much great indie gaming available that creating this list was difficult. It's a wonderful problem to have, though, so don't take this as a criticism. But it did mean that I was left out of certain exclusive releases. Permit me to at least discuss them briefly below:
- The Witness
- Cuphead
- Spelunky
- Shovel Knight
- Hollow Knight
- Kerbal Space Program
- Carrion
- Firewatch
- Oxenfree
- Nidhogg
- Night in the Woods
- Don’t Starve
- Furi
- Superhot
- DUSK
- Unpacking
- Tunic
- Minit
- Don’t Starve
- Stray
- Toem
- Death’s Door
- Cult of the Lamb
- INSIDE
- Weird West
- Tchia
- Tacoma
- Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Axiom Verge
- OlliOlli World
- Salt and Sanctuary
- Viewfinder
- The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
- Mineko’s Night Market
- Coral Island
- The Talos Principle 2
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Killer Frequency
- Bramble: The Mountain King
- Season: A Letter To The Future
- The Pale Beyond
An Indie Invasion!
Q/A
Q1: What is a beloved indie game?Ans: The Touhou Project series, Cave Story, Braid, Super Meat Boy, Minecraft, Fez, Shovel Knight, Undertale, and Cuphead are a few examples of popular independent games.
Q2: Who is the most successful indie game developer?
Ans: Markus Persson, aka "Notch," is one of the most successful one-man independent game developers in history. The well-known sandbox game "Minecraft," which was published in 2011 and has since grown to be one of the best-selling video games of all time, was created by Persson.
Q3: Can indie games make money?
Ans: Subscription services and bundles. Websites such as Xbox Game Pass and Humble Bundle are great places to monetize your independent game and get it in front of a large audience. Particularly Humble Bundle does a fantastic job of highlighting independent titles.
Ans: According to your definition of "earn," an independent game on Steam typically sells between 2000 and 5000 copies. After deducting Steam's 30% share and assuming a $10 sale price, the gross revenue ranges from $14,000 to $35,000. In terms of net profit, the majority of independent games are not profitable.
Q5: Why do indie games cost money to make?
Ans: While some independent developers make substantial financial gains, others make less money. It's crucial to remember that success in the independent game sector frequently calls for commitment, tenacity, and a firm grasp of the business and game production components.
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gaming