Being independent has become a key trend in the games industry that gives the audience unforgettable and creative experiences. Indie, unlike high-price tag triple-A games, concern innovation, narratives, and unique aesthetics. If you’re searching for something out of the ordinary and exciting, read what some of the best indie games you must play right now are.
1. Hades
Hades is a roguevike game which allows players to enter the underworld of Greek mythology. It was created by Supergiant Games and together with active combat it features a strong narrative focus on Zagreus, who wants to escape the Underworld and is the son of Hades. This way the game serves a new mechanics of interacting, which means that every escape attempt is a different dialogue and advances the story. Despite its hand-drawn style, incredible music and high level of re-playability it is an unmissable game.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Why You Should Play: That is why it has an excellent combination of difficulty, plot, and truly remarkable graphics.
2. Celeste
Maddy had to climb a mountain a Celeste is a critically acclaimed platformer that gives the player a glimpse of the protagonist’s horrible journey. There are no other games that I know of with a pixel-art aesthetic and a powerful, true story about the main character’s fight against mental disorders inside his head. It is fun and has tough controls that make each great jump enjoyable. In addition, the LP fits the drama as a soundtrack completely since it mirrors its sentiments.
Platforms: These consoles include PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox one, Nintendo Switch.
Why You Should Play: It gives a warm-natured and inspiring narrative about overcoming the adversity and finding oneself while providing both engaging and complex gameplay.
3. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is an action adventure game that takes place in the fantasy very beautiful doodle style world of Hallownest populated with bugs. They depict a small knight to explore an interconnected world with many secrets, difficult enemies, bosses included. The game follows the Metroidvania style and since it allows players to search or fight as they wish, it will be a fulfilling experience for those who enjoy the game type.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Switch
Why You Should Play: The beauty of the art, the well developed and thought out lore, and challenging but not frustrating gameplay all make this indie game great.
4. Stardew Valley
If you are a farming simulator fan, here is an indie darling that you should definitely not overlook. It is a casual game somewhat based on the games of the Harvest Moon series, which delivers a number of possibilities: planting and selling crops, breeding and selling animals, fishing mining and even beginning to raise a family. Pixelated graphics and soothing clicker gameplay make this indie game one of the most popular indie games in the entire genre. The game also includes a multiplayer so that the fun3 can be shared with friends.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android.
Why You Should Play: It is ideal for all those gamers who want to play a game which is enjoyable and yet not very challenging which gives users an opportunity to develop their farm.
5. Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a 2D roguelike Metroidvania video game in which the player takes control of a protagonist simply as the Prisoner. Gamers are able to employ weapons and abilities in fast gameplay with procedria levels’ creation. Its die and retry mechanics are very enjoyable and engrossing because after dying the player can try again and try to avoid the lapses again.
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple, Android
Why You Should Play: Offence is smooth allowing the players to enjoy various battles with an innovation progression mode.
6. The Witness
In Ebert’s opinion, the game is a recommended purchase to fans of logical puzzles. The main title of this game is available in the first-person perspective and is based on a tropical island inhabited by complex riddles that become gradually more challenging. As players do not have a guide or having tutored them, the game plays on observation and logics to pass levels and get to the secret of this island. Because of its features and look, it has a different gameplay unlike any other games developed so far.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, iOS
Why You Should Play: Its gameplay is based on open world, which has always been fun, as well as on complex nontrivial tasks that require from the player curiosity and thoroughness.
7. Undertale
In Ebert’s opinion, the game is a recommended purchase to fans of logical puzzles. The main title of this game is available in the first-person perspective and is based on a tropical island inhabited by complex riddles that become gradually more challenging. As players do not have a guide or having tutored them, the game plays on observation and logics to pass levels and get to the secret of this island. Because of its features and look, it has a different gameplay unlike any other games developed so far.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, iOS
Why You Should Play: Its gameplay is based on open world, which has always been fun, as well as on complex nontrivial tasks that require from the player curiosity and thoroughness.
8. Cuphead
With this bizarre cartoon art design set in 1930s, Cuphead is an action video game that emphasizes on shoot and run as well as boss fight and is characterized by hand made animation. Players guide Cuphead and his brother Mugman through each level and fight specific foes in order to pay the due amount to the devil. Despite the general level of challenge, it is incredibly enjoyable to defeat each boss of the game.
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Why You Should Play: This game could provide the players with a unique kind of game play that young gamers would love because of the art used for the game since it is similar with the games we played in childhood, also, the kind of game play they have is somehow challenging but can be very rewarding.
9. Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is an excellent example of deck-building roguelike, that will let a player control a card with RPG-elements and dive into dungeons with card game mechanics. Players have to construct the party which must fight enemies on their way up the spire: every decision made can be a difference between victory and failure. It is based on many repetitive plays because the main gameplay loop is always engaging and after every level, there are so many card combinations possible.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOs, Android
Why You Should Play: Combining card game mechanics into the experience mixed with Roguelite has hours of content as each playthrough is a unique run.
10. Gris
The game Gris is an indie, more specifically a very colourful, narrative-driven, wordless video game about grief, loss, anguish, and sorrow. It present awesome watercolor graphics and calming tunes as the player controls the journey of a girl named Gris in a kingdom of grief and optimism. It’s more of an art piece than it is a conventional game – there are no real obstacles to overcome and there isn’t a strong emphasis on somehow winning it.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Apple iOS
Why You Should Play: Its aesthetics and invokes a certain dramatic narrative that will appeal to the masses and comfortable to carry on the mantle of Yu Gi Oh.
Why Indie Games Are Worth Your Time
Independent games are produced with propositions that rarely conform to mainstream industry production metrics as the goal here is to deliver innovative points of view, engaging gameplay and nonlinear thought-out narratives. These games may not receive the kind of budget which AAA games garner, but they are full of ideas, enthusiasm, and hard work put into making them special.
How to Find More Indie Gems
Follow Indie Game Communities: I couldn’t list down all the sources out there to get your hands on those unique indie games but two notable sites include Itch.io as well as Game Jolt.
Keep an Eye on Game Jams: Despite this, the Global Game Jam tends to create indie games that receive downloads whenever they release post-ward.
Use Streaming Platforms: A lot of gamers on the streaming platforms watch indie games, which draw awareness to such games.
Conclusion
Whether you ‘re craving for a brutal roguelike, a deep narrative experience or an aesthetically pleasing platformer- indie games cover it all. These are only few unnoticed titles of indie gaming and every single game among these has something different to offer to the gamers. Therefore, take this chance and play some of those incredible indie games you have never heard of before – you might be surprised.