Okay, let’s be real. In a world absolutely overflowing with video games, it can feel like a mission just trying to find your next obsession. You’re scrolling through endless storefronts, wondering which pixelated adventure or sprawling narrative is actually worth your precious time. We get it, the struggle is real, but guess what? The indie game scene is practically bursting with hidden gems and outright masterpieces that often get overshadowed by the big-budget blockbusters. But not today!
Indie games are seriously the best thing to happen to the gaming world. While massive AAA studios often play it safe due to their colossal budgets, small teams fueled by pure passion are out there taking all the wild, experimental, and artistic risks you could ever dream of. And the coolest part? They succeed, big time! People are craving games that aren’t afraid to shake things up, to deliver fresh, innovative ideas directly to curious consumers.
So, if you’re ready to expand your gaming horizons, discover some truly unforgettable experiences, and basically upgrade your cool cred among your friends, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve curated a list of the absolute best indie games that offer everything from heart-pounding action to cozy, chill vibes, and yes, even some existential gut-punches. Get ready to find your next obsession, because this list has got you covered!
1. **Hades** Alright, let’s kick things off with a game that’s not just good, it’s quite simply one of the best games ever made. Hades, from Supergiant Games, is a genre-defining roguelike that took its sweet time in early access – a decision that absolutely paid off. The developers used player feedback to polish its systems and gameplay loops to a fine, shimmering sheen, resulting in an experience that continues to inspire new games.
Alright, let’s kick things off with a game that’s not just good, it’s quite simply one of the best games ever made. Hades, from Supergiant Games, is a genre-defining roguelike that took its sweet time in early access – a decision that absolutely paid off. The developers used player feedback to polish its systems and gameplay loops to a fine, shimmering sheen, resulting in an experience that continues to inspire new games.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to escape Hell. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. You’ll be battling through hordes of fearsome foes, navigating a labyrinth of secrets, and facing off against formidable bosses that will test your limits. Every death isn’t a failure, though; it’s an opportunity.
As you die (and trust us, you will die, a lot!), you earn currency that can be used to unlock permanent upgrades. This genius mechanic allows you to slowly but surely get a feel for the bonuses and abilities that suit your playstyle, letting you craft unique mini-builds over the course of each run. It’s all about learning, adapting, and getting just a little bit stronger each time.
The art style? Absolutely gorgeous and distinctive, pulling you deep into its mythical world. And the story? It doesn’t even stop when the credits roll, offering a deceptively large amount to see and do. Forming uneasy alliances and battling to break the chains that bind you makes Hades a moreish roguelike that demands to be played. Seriously, with the sequel now in early access, you should absolutely check out Hades as soon as you can.
Product on Amazon: Hades – Nintendo Switch
Brand: Nintendo
Binding: Video Game Product Group: Video Games
Price: 49 USD
Rating: 4.8 Total reviews: 3613
Features:
1. Battle out of hell in Hades, recipient of more than 50 Game of the Year awards
2. Includes a download code for the Hades Original Soundtrack, by composer Darren Korb, best known for his work on developer Supergiant’s past titles like Transistor and Bastion.
3. Also includes a full-color 32-page character compendium booklet, featuring beautiful artwork of the game’s colorful cast of gods, ghosts, and monsters, all by Supergiant’s art director Jen Zee.
4. Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion and Transistor.
5. As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself.
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2. **Unpacking** After all that intense action in Hades, maybe you’re looking for something a little… calmer? Enter Unpacking, the perfect antidote for a stressful day and hands down the best way to unwind. If you’re searching for that ideal cozy night activity, this relaxing indie game is your new best friend.
The premise is beautifully simple: you follow a girl’s life as she moves into different spaces, unpacking boxes in each new home. Through the seemingly mundane act of taking items out of boxes and finding a place for them, you witness her grow up, encounter life’s challenges, and eventually settle down. It’s a quiet, intimate narrative told entirely through possessions.
And it’s incredibly satisfying! You get to work on finding a place for every single item you unload, but the beauty is, you can do it in any way you choose. The simple premise, coupled with calming music, allows you to completely lose yourself in the delightful process of rearranging rooms and finding the perfect spot for everything.
While this indie game might not be particularly long, its charm and soothing gameplay make it absolutely worth a look. It’s a meditative experience that highlights the story our belongings tell about us, offering a unique and incredibly rewarding sense of accomplishment with each perfectly organized space. You’ll finish feeling utterly content.
Product on Amazon: Unpacking – Nintendo Switch
Brand: Limited Run
Binding: CD-ROM Product Group: Video Games
Price: 34.99 USD
Rating: 4.6 Total reviews: 303
Features:
1. A zen puzzle game about unpacking a life
2. Explore domestic environments with all their nooks and crannies
3. Discover a character’s story through the items that stay, or leave, with each new home
4. Meditative gameplay with no timers, meters, or scores
5. Soundtrack by BAFTA award-winning composer and audio director Jeff van Dyck
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3. **Vampire Survivors** Prepare yourselves, because this next one comes with a warning: Vampire Survivors, for the price of a coffee to go, can absolutely ruin your life. Yes, this is both a recommendation and a threat, especially if you have a soft spot for idle games or anything that asks you to do stuff repeatedly – because this game is both very good and very, very bad for you.
In this visually minimalistic yet utterly chaotic game, you are relentlessly attacked by hordes of monsters. Your goal? To survive as long as you possibly can, driving them off with an ever-growing array of weapons and buffs. Spoiler alert: you will eventually lose. But that’s where the fun truly begins!
Just like any great roguelike, the real joy in Vampire Survivors is seeing how long you can make it, slowly mastering different weapons, approaches, and strategies with each successive run. Rounds don’t take long, which makes it an absolutely perfect game to pick up and play on the go, say, on your Steam Deck.
But here’s the kicker: it’s also a game you will want to play again. And again. And again. The roguelike perma-death is incredibly exciting and strangely addictive, making it almost impossible to put down. Don’t say we didn’t warn you when you find yourself hours deep, muttering, “just one more run.”
Product on Amazon: Vampire Survivors Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack)
Brand: iam8bit
Binding: Vinyl Product Group: Music
Price: 42.94 USD
Rating: 3.6 Total reviews: 4
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4. **Cobalt Core** Ready for a sci-fi adventure that will truly test your tactical smarts? Then get ready to dive into Cobalt Core, a roguelike deckbuilder that throws you into exhilarating spaceship battles. Your quest? To journey to the enigmatic Cobalt Core and uncover the mystery behind the strange time loops that are plaguing the universe.
The combat system here is where things get really interesting, featuring a unique single-axis design that’s a blast to interact with. You give orders during fights by playing cards, strategically deciding your moves. Will you raise your shields to protect your spaceship from incoming attacks, cleverly dodge oncoming missiles, or go on the offensive to destroy your enemies’ missile launchers before they even get a chance to use them against you?
It’s a thrilling game of cat and mouse, where every decision matters and multiple ways of facing problems means you’ll always feel in control, even in the most intense situations. The depth of strategy is genuinely impressive, ensuring that no two encounters feel quite the same.
Thanks to hundreds of different character and ship combos, you can test your abilities and replay scenarios in countless ways, guaranteeing you’ll never be at a loose end. Cobalt Core offers endless replayability and a fresh challenge with every run, making it a stellar addition to any roguelike fan’s library.
Product on Amazon: Cobalt (Co) 24.26mm Metal Disc 99.95% Pure for Collection or Experiments
Brand: PFS
Binding: Product Group: BISS
Price: 22.99 USD
Rating: 4.7 Total reviews: 23
Features:
1. One Disc, measures 24.26 mm x 1.75 mm
2. Precision machined from high purity metal, ground surfaces, and laser etched labels
3. Size of US Quarter
4. Approximate weight 7.28g
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5. **Dead Cells** If you’re looking for a game that’s as unforgiving as it is incredibly fun, then stop scrolling right now and look no further than Dead Cells. This action-packed indie gem takes inspiration from so many different places – think roguelikes, Metroidvania, and even a hint of Dark Souls – to create a truly unique experience that will relentlessly test your limits and skills.
What makes Dead Cells one of the best indie games out there is the sheer amount of stuff you get to do and the incredible variety of playstyles you can try. Each time you jump into the game, it genuinely feels new, offering fresh challenges and opportunities to discover. The procedural generation ensures that no two runs are identical, keeping you on your toes.
And yes, you will die. A lot. But here’s the cool part: while you’ll lose some progress each time you fall in battle, the game becomes even more rewarding as the complex and fluid combat starts to become second nature. That feeling when you finally master a new weapon or combo, weaving through enemies with effortless grace, is pure gaming bliss.
Thankfully, Dead Cells hasn’t just grown in content over the years; it’s also become more accessible. This means you can now attempt to play it at a less punishing difficulty if you’re still getting your bearings, ensuring everyone can experience its thrilling challenge. It’s a dynamic, ever-evolving game that will keep you hooked for hundreds of hours.
Product on Amazon: Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition Nintendo Switch
Brand: Nintendo
Binding: Video Game Product Group: Video Games
Price: 26.89 USD
Rating: 4.8 Total reviews: 491
Features:
1. 17 Levels – Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
2. 5 Bosses – Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
3. 150 or so weapons and skills – Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
4. Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
5. Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
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6. **Night in the Woods** Ever felt that post-college aimlessness? Night in the Woods captures that vibe perfectly in an unconventional side-scrolling adventure game that’s as brilliant as it is quirky. You play as Mae, a 20-year-old protagonist who drops out of college and moves back in with her parents, right into the heart of middle-class America.
This indie game stands out for its fantastic story and protagonist, drawing you in from the very first moment. The narrative is primarily driven by your dialogue choices and a series of brilliant mini-games that somehow manage to put a fun spin on mundane tasks, like carrying boxes up the stairs or eating perogies. It’s all about the small, relatable moments that build into something much larger.
Night in the Woods is a timeless coming-of-age tale, exploring themes of friendship, mental health, and the struggles of small-town life through the eyes of a personified cat and her animal friends. It effortlessly makes its way onto lists like “best PC games with Queer characters,” thanks to its inclusive and diverse storytelling.
Virtually every interaction in the game will have you laughing aloud, thanks to its witty writing and charming characters. The subject matter, combined with how much Mae and her friends genuinely grow on you, solidifies its place as one of the best indie games – a genuine pearl of the narrative genre.
Product on Amazon: Night in the Woods (Limited Run #171) – for Nintendo Switch
Brand: Limited Run
Binding: CD-ROM Product Group: Video Games
Price: 79.99 USD
Rating: 4.4 Total reviews: 15
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7. **Stardew Valley** Now, for something completely different, let’s talk about Stardew Valley. If you’re a fan of sitting back, relaxing, and quietly sinking hundreds of hours into a single game, then this is an absolute must-play. If you’ve ever played a Harvest Moon game, you’re likely already familiar with the premise: a charming farming simulator where you need to become both a successful farmer and a valued local community member.
Sole developer Eric Barone embarked on a mission to create a Harvest Moon experience that was as good, if not better, than the games he remembered from his youth. And let’s be honest, as one of the most famous games on our best indie games list, you could easily argue that he succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
There is an incredible amount to do in Stardew Valley. You’ll spend your days farming, tending to livestock, fishing in serene rivers, and even making your way through the local abandoned mine to gather resources. The game’s farming mechanics are incredibly easy to pick up and immensely fun, providing a fantastic way to unwind after a long day.
Beyond the farm, there are tons of secrets to uncover, vibrant events happening in the local town, a whole bunch of unique characters to romance and befriend, and so much more. If you’re playing on PC, you should absolutely explore its brilliant modding community, which has tirelessly worked to make even more features and content available in this beloved simulation RPG. It’s a game that keeps on giving!”
Alright, so if you thought we were done showering you with amazing indie recommendations, think again! We’re only halfway through our epic journey, and the indie game world is still bursting with more genre-bending, emotionally resonant, and downright addictive experiences that you absolutely, positively need to check out. Get ready to have your mind blown (and your free time possibly devoured) by these next seven gems that truly push the boundaries of what games can be. Your cool cred is about to go through the roof!
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8. **Cult of the Lamb** Ever wondered what it would be like to lead your own adorable (and slightly sinister) cult? Well, wonder no more, because Cult of the Lamb is here to make all your cute, cartoon lamb-cult-leader dreams come true! This game is an artistic marvel and a blast, providing a unique premise and an art style that genuinely sticks with you long after you’ve put it down. It’s available on practically everything: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, so there’s really no excuse not to dive in.
Seriously, where else can you find a game that mixes several different genres and throws in a theme as unusual as it is perfectly fitting? As a loyal follower of a mysterious demon, your main gig is to grow your cult. This means you’ll be busy satisfying your followers’ needs, battling monsters and clearing dungeons to boost your power, and, yeah, sometimes making a little sacrifice here and there. It’s all in a day’s work when you’re building a thriving, adorable, and slightly terrifying flock!
What makes Cult of the Lamb truly special is its clever blend of mechanics. It’s got the base-building and community management vibes that fans of Stardew Valley will adore, mixed with the fast-paced, challenging combat of a roguelike like Hades. You can even do wild things like marry, eat, or resurrect your spouse – because, cult life, right? This unique combination makes it incredibly tough to put down, a hallmark of the very best indie games out there.
If you’re ready to fully immerse yourself in this roguelike adventure, prepare for a game that constantly surprises you with its depth and dark humor. It’s an experience that’s equal parts charming, challenging, and just a little bit messed up in the best possible way.
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9. **Sea of Stars** Prepare for a truly delightful gem that’s absolutely brimming with exciting adventures, wholesome laughs, and some genuinely thrilling threats! Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG that will instantly suck you into its vibrant world, following the incredible journey of two children of the Solstice. Their quest? To combine their unique powers of the sun and the moon, harnessing the ancient magic of the Eclipse, all to take down the nefarious alchemist known only as The Fleshmancer. Talk about high stakes!
Beyond its super engaging story, you’ll absolutely fall head over heels for Sea of Stars’ fantastic soundtrack and absolutely stunning visuals. These elements work together seamlessly, tying the entire experience into one beautiful package that makes you cherish every single second you spend exploring its fantastical lands. It’s a feast for both your eyes and your ears!
This game is a true classic RPG in spirit, boasting a combat system that’s deceptively easy to pick up but oh-so-hard to master. This brilliant design encourages players to truly sink their teeth (and hours) into Sea of Stars, aiming to conquer its high skill ceiling. The rewarding feeling of finally nailing a complex combat sequence is just *chef’s kiss*.
Whether you’re a seasoned RPG veteran or just looking for a new adventure to lose yourself in, Sea of Stars delivers on all fronts. It’s a beautifully crafted experience that’s available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, making it super accessible for everyone to enjoy its magic.
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10. **Dredge** Okay, imagine a single-player fishing game that’s equal parts beautiful and unsettlingly ominous – that’s Dredge! Its unique setting and gripping story immediately make it stand out from the crowd, promising you a truly great time as you navigate its mysterious waters. Available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, Switch, and PS4, this is one deep sea adventure you won’t want to miss.
In Dredge, you’ll take the helm of a small fishing trawler, venturing out into the deep, dark ocean. But you’re not just looking for any old fish; you’re on a quest to uncover more than 125 deep sea critters, valuable treasures, and hidden secrets lurking beneath the waves. It’s a fishing game with a seriously dark and ominous undercurrent that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
As you explore, you’ll travel from island to island, discovering new places and tackling quests for the quirky citizens you meet along your journey. Each island is packed with its own unique opportunities, strange inhabitants, and, most importantly, secrets waiting to be unearthed. The possibilities in this addition to our best indie games list truly feel endless!
While Dredge might look all cute and cuddly with its beautiful art style and charming landscapes, trust us, there’s much more than meets the eye beneath the water’s surface. In the depths, you’ll find a Lovecraftian adventure that’s both beautiful and genuinely spooky, making it one of our top picks, especially if you’re looking for a stellar game on the Steam Deck.
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11. **Tunic** Calling all adventurers who miss that classic old-school Zelda experience! Tunic burst onto the scene in 2022, absolutely wowing critics and players alike with its adorable protagonist and a timeless approach to dungeon design. On the surface, it’s a perfect fit for anyone craving that nostalgic feeling, but peel back a layer, and you’ll discover so much more.
This game is packed with hundreds of secrets just waiting to be uncovered. Many of these require you to channel your inner detective, meticulously studying the game’s map and poring over the pages you collect to painstakingly rebuild the game’s instruction manual. It’s a genius meta approach that makes Tunic truly stand out against its modern competitors, offering a level of player discovery that feels incredibly fresh and rewarding.
Tunic is more than just a throwback; it’s a heartfelt love-letter to a bygone era of gaming, infused with a smart, modern twist that new gamers will absolutely adore. The dungeon crawling is exciting, and the slow, deliberate unraveling of the world’s mysteries creates a sense of wonder that’s hard to beat.
Whether you’re navigating treacherous dungeons or piecing together ancient lore, Tunic offers an incredibly engaging experience. It’s available for PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, Nintendo Switch, and PC, so everyone can get lost in its charming, secret-filled world.
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12. **Balatro** Who knew you could take a classic like Poker and crank up the fun factor to eleven? Well, LocalThunk, a brilliant single developer, did exactly that with Balatro! This game is easily one of the most addictive indie gems to hit the scene in recent years. At its heart, Balatro is a deck-building roguelite that ingeniously wraps a whole new game around the familiar rules of Poker, meaning even if your card game knowledge is just “go fish,” you can still dive in and have an absolute blast.
Here’s the deal: you start with a standard 52-card deck and get dealt cards to play a scoring poker hand. It could be a simple pair, a five-card flush, or a straight – you know, the usual. Playing these hands scales up the amount of chips you earn and boosts your multiplier (or ‘mult,’ as the game calls it). Your score for each hand is chips multiplied by mult, and you’ve got a limited number of hands per round to hit that score threshold and move on to the next one. Easy, right? It’s all about making those numbers go *zoom*!
But wait, there’s more! The real magic happens with passive abilities, added via Jokers, which let you seriously pump up your score into stratospheric levels. You can even unlock totally new decks over time, transforming Balatro into a delightful time-sink for anyone eager to learn a fresh and endlessly rewarding game. It’s truly one of the freshest roguelites to drop in a while, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a clever twist on something familiar to create pure gold.
Balatro’s impeccable UI design and the sheer variety that each run brings ensures you’re always engaged, even if the high level of randomness occasionally throws a curveball. It’s available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, so get ready to experience poker like never before!
13. **Inscryption** Okay, buckle up, because Inscryption is one of those games that’s genuinely tricky to describe – in the best way possible! It’s a mind-bending mix of several different genres, creating something that feels both utterly unique and strangely familiar all at once. If you’re even remotely interested in card games, spooky atmospheres, or just a good old mystery, you absolutely have to give this a try.
The core of Inscryption revolves around a roguelike deck-building system. You’ll be collecting cards, strategically sacrificing others, and facing off against a mysterious stranger in their own twisted game. But here’s the kicker: you’re not confined to the game board! You can actually get up and explore the ominous cabin around you, uncovering secrets and opening doors that might just give you the edge you need when you return to the table.
This game is packed with twists and turns, featuring a set of rules that are as wacky as they are incredibly detailed. It’s a narrative masterpiece disguised as a card game, constantly peeling back new layers of its world and offering opportunities for deception and, ultimately, escape. Plus, there’s a fantastic horror-twist woven throughout, complete with spooky atmospherics and a crunchy, lo-fi soundtrack that will satisfy any genre fan.
Inscryption isn’t just a game; it’s an experience that genuinely feels new, blending genres and storytelling in a way that is truly one-of-a-kind. It’s a must-play for those who love to be surprised and challenged by a game that dares to be different.
14. **Outer Wilds** Get ready for an adventure that will pull at your existential heartstrings and completely redefine what you think an exploration game can be. Outer Wilds holds a deceptively simple, yet utterly brilliant premise: every 22 minutes, the sun explodes, resetting you and the entire universe around you. Yes, it’s a time loop game, but it’s so much more! You start each loop with only the knowledge you’ve learned before, turning every “failure” into a step towards solving the grand mystery.
This simple concept allows Outer Wilds to stand out as one of the best adventure games ever made, thanks to its lovingly and meticulously designed universe. Prepare for a truly impressive sense of wonder that’s expertly peppered throughout its compelling story. The game perfectly balances player discovery with real-time physics, creating a wholly unique, living, breathing puzzle box of a universe that’s begging to be explored.
Your journey begins on the humble planet of Timber Hearth, but soon you’ll be soaring through space, exploring moons, comets, and other planets, each with their own unique orbit around a rapidly collapsing star. Along the way, you’ll solve ancient mysteries, document forgotten civilizations, and meet a cast of friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) faces. There’s horror and beauty to be found in equal measure, making every discovery a breathtaking moment.
Seriously, to reveal too much about Outer Wilds would be a massive disservice to the incredible journey of discovery it offers. Just trust us on this one: if you love space, exploration, and indie games that genuinely make you *think* and *feel*, then you absolutely need to give this one a go. It’s available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, so there’s nothing stopping you from embarking on this unforgettable, cosmic adventure.
So there you have it, fellow gamers! From charming cults to cosmic mysteries, and from tactical space battles to meditative packing simulations, the indie game scene is a boundless treasure trove of creativity and pure fun. We’ve only scratched the surface with these 14 absolute must-plays, but trust us, each one offers an experience so unique and engaging, you’ll wonder how you ever gamed without them. Dive in, explore, and let these incredible indie titles upgrade your gaming life (and your cool cred) forever!
