Everyone loves a good underdog story; to see a newcomer make it to the top amidst more experienced competition is proof that anyone can make it big with enough dedication and passion. That may very well be why indie games endear players so much. Despite the odds of making it big in the video game industry, small-time developers manage to create something that matches (or even outshines) the expectations set by AAA titles.
Though most only see a modest amount of success, some popular indie games have etched their way into video game history by becoming must-have titles in any player’s library.
Updated September 23, 2024, by Ashely Claudino: The world of indie gaming grows every year. Fans continue to gravitate towards this genre and explore what has started to feel like indie-classics. This article has been improved with two additional entries that deserve to be listed among some of the best indie games of all time. With this update, we’ve added SteamWorld Dig and Night in the Woods to our list.
28 Lethal Company
Hunt Down Scrap While Running Away From Monsters
Cooperative multiplayer horror games have become all the rage in the gaming community. Titles like Lethal Company show just how engaging these video games can be when the execution is sublime.
Players must scavenge for scrap in hostile alien worlds, while avoiding everything from extraterrestrial death traps to unknown monsters. The sheer chaos and hilarity that ensues when players hear one of their teammates screaming for their lives is entertaining every single time.
27 Palworld
The “Pokemon With Guns” Moniker Helped This Game Sell
Some people have rightfully criticized Palworld for emulating Pokemon‘s monster designs to a fault. However, there’s a lot of original work put into this game as well. It helps that the survival gameplay coupled with shooting elements make for a novel experience.
The game has gone on to sell millions of copies, and many people have found this title to be an escape from the mediocrity of the Pokemon series. Only time will tell if Palworld will maintain this level of relevance, but there’s no denying that this game is one of the biggest indie titles of 2024.
26 Crypt of the NecroDancer
A Roguelike That Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
There are tons of roguelike indie games, but Crypt of the NecroDancer is not only due to its adorable graphics but also due to its unique rhythm mechanic. Even though the rhythm feature can be turned off by selecting Bard as a character, it’s crucial to understanding the game.
The original Crypt of the NecroDancer was such great fun that the developers, Brace Yourself Games, teamed up with Nintendo to deliver Cadence of Hyrule, a unique spin-off Zelda game.
25 Inside
Playdead’s Last Game Made A Huge, Lasting Impression
It’s a shame that Playdead’s founders have split up since they are responsible for creating two of the greatest indie platformers ever made. Limbo was their first breakout hit, and this trend of excellence was continued with the release of Inside.
This game is an atmospheric romp through a mysterious world that is rife with dangers. Players assume that they’re just controlling a lone boy and protecting him from the horrors of the world, only for certain revelations later on revealing the truth of what really happened.
24 Braid
This Early Indie Hit Offers Time-Bending Puzzles and an Engaging Narrative
Braid is cited as one of the games that kickstarted the indie game revolution. The game’s unique time manipulation mechanics, ingenious puzzles, unique art style, and thought-provoking narrative captured the attention of gamers worldwide.
The best part of Braid was its ingenious plot twist at the end, questioning the role of gamers always being a hero in their respective titles. Even now, after all these years, Braid is still one of the most important indie video games of all time that has aged like a fine wine.
23 Limbo
An Atmospheric, Monochromatic Platformer
Limbo, developed by Playdead, quickly became a critical and commercial success upon its release. It’s a shame that the co-founders of the company ended up parting ways after some creative differences since it was clear that their collaborations had spawned some of the greatest video games ever made.
The game’s haunting, monochromatic art style, combined with its atmospheric sound design and clever puzzle mechanics, created an unforgettable gaming experience. Limbo was a game that didn’t shy away from showing just how brutal it could really be, and fans still theorize about the title’s story to this day.
22 Super Meat Boy
Everyone Loved Bashing Their Heads Against A Wall
Super Meat Boy is a challenging platformer that has become a beloved indie classic. The game’s precise controls, difficult platforming sections, and charming art style have made it a favorite among gamers.
For how cute the game looked, it was quite hilarious to see the main character be ground into a pulp or chopped to bits over and over again whenever players failed to accomplish a particularly hard platforming challenge. Players who want to test their platforming skills will be more than happy with what Super Meat Boy has to offer.
21 Unpacking
Unpack Items and Decorate a Home in This Cozy Puzzle Game
Releasing in 2021, indie gem Unpacking toogamesgames’ industry by surprise, thanks to its insurgence of popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter. Unpacking was instantly a commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling indie games of all time by selling 100k units in its first ten days across all platforms.
Witch Beam’s dream is a zen puzzle game where players essentially unpack a life as they undergo the familiar process of taking possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Players experience a sense of intimacy with a character they never met and a story never told.
20 SteamWorld Dig
An Ever Expanding Universe of Gaming
The SteamWorld universe started in 2013 with the release of SteamWorld Dig for the 3DS. As the years went by, it eventually made it way to other gaming platforms, and it can now be played on any computer or console.
Gamers fell in love with the world of SteamWorld, and it was so well-received among the gaming community that not only did it lead to a sequel but also several other spin-off games, such as SteamWorld Heist and SteamWorld Build. It will certainly be interesting to see just how much SteamWorld can continue to grow.
19 Night in the Woods
A Great Adventure Among the Inhabitants of Possum Springs
Night in the Woods features a wonderful set of charismatic animal characters with realistic existential problems. It is the player’s job to control Mae and reconnect with the folk of Possum Springs, as they choose which adventures they’d like to go on. This game will easily make anyone laugh but it can also bring tears to the player’s eye when they least expect it.
Before its release, Night in the Woods had already built up a fanbase, as its Kickstart campaign greatly surpassed its original goal, so it came as no surprise when it became one of the most adored indies out there.
18 Untitled Goose Game
Unique Goofiness All-Around
Untitled Goose Game is a light-hearted game that incentivizes players to complete silly tasks while messing with humans. When it was first announced, it definitely stood out due to its uniqueness, not only in terms of gameplay but still as well.
Fans immediately fell in love with the game, and when it was released, it became a hit almost instantly. It’s undoubtedly a good time for anyone who decides to play it. There are tons of interactions to figure out and they’ll get a laugh out of just about anyone.
17 Ori And The Blind Forest
An Emotional Metroidvania With A Beautiful Art Style
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Ori and the Blind Forest, released back in 2015, took indie publishers Moon Studios five years to create but only one week to turn a profit.
Winner of several prestigious gaming awards, Ori and the Blind Forest tells the tale of a young spritely orphan destined for greatness through a visually stunning Metroidvania-styled puzzle platformer. With its sequel, Ori and the Will Of The Wisps, also becoming a successful indie game, there is no limit to what Moon Studios can accomplish in the future.
16 Hades
Combines Roguelite Gameplay With Excellent Top-Down Action
Roguelike games are becoming increasingly popular with their endless replayability and diverse gameplay. It comes as no surprise then that Hades has sold over one million copies since its release in 2020.
Hades has received universal acclaim for its art direction, gameplay, and unique cast of characters, and it offers a plot inspired by traditional Greek mythology with a twist. The fact that a sequel to this game is coming out shows just how incredible this indie game really was.
15 Among Us
The Popularity Of This Game Blew Up During The Pandemic
Among Us took quite a while to explode in popularity. Debuting in 2018, it flew under the radar at first, only to become one of the most successful indie games on the market in 2020. Out of nowhere, Among Us was everywhere on YouTube and Twitch.
Stuck on a ship or another setting, depending on the map, Crewmates have to work towards completing tasks. However, some players are Impostors who will seek to sabotage the mission or just eliminate Crewmates. In turn, the good players can try to identify who the Impostors are. Among Us delivers a tense but fun social deduction experience, and the game isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
14 Cave Story
One Of The OG Indie Metroidvania Games
Cave Story is a platforming action-adventure by the one-man team Studio Pixel. Originally a free release on PC in 2004, the game remains fairly relevant, with its latest release being on the Nintendo Switch in 2017.
The game follows an amnesiac robot named Quote as he travels through a mysterious cave system and gathers a variety of weapons to fight the monsters within. Its age, as well as the near-universal praise for its gameplay and story, causes some to see Cave Story as the parent and originator of modern indie games.
13 Fez
This Unique Puzzle Game Uses A Player’s Perspective
Debuting in 2012, Fez is an early example of a huge breakthrough indie hit, and the game’s reputation has remained positive since its original release. A puzzle platformer that plays with perspective by blending 2D gameplay with a 3D world, Fez delivers an innovative and unforgettable campaign that, while not perfect, rarely has any truly underwhelming moments.
Fez received a standing ovation from critics, sold well, and has been ported to modern consoles such as the Nintendo Switch.
12 Shantae
A Fun Platformer With Great Action And A Likable Protagonist
The plucky half-genie made her platforming debut on the Game Boy Color in 2002, and while her first game sold fairly poorly, it still managed to attract critical acclaim. Since then, the developers at WayForward made four sequel games that have totaled over 3 million sales. The most recent title in the series, Shantae and the Seven Sirens was released on consoles back in May 2020.
With a combination of endearing characters, interesting level design, fantastic artwork, and lots of unique animal transformations, fans hope to see much more of this half-genie hero in the future.
11 Five Nights At Freddy’s
Created by Scott Cawthon in 2014, this eerie survival-horror game pits the player against the clock as they attempt to manage their power supply to keep four haunted animatronics at bay and survive the night.
The game rapidly garnered popularity with the help of internet personalities and theory crafters alike. The mysterious lore and jarring jumpscares attracted so much attention, in fact, that it warranted eight other sequel games, a plethora of spin-offs and fan games, a book series, and plenty of real-life collectible merchandise. Truly, this horror game defined the genre for a time and created a brand all of its own.
10 Cuphead
A Beautiful Retro Art Style with Tough-As-Nails Bullet Hell Gameplay
Whether from its run-and-gun gameplay or its use of vintage rubber hose animation, Cuphead has the ability to charm just about anyone who plays it. This carefully-crafted marvel began its run in 2017, selling over six million copies in just three short years.
StudioMDHR, the developer behind this quirky homage to 1930s cartoons, released the DLC entitled “The Delicious Last Course,” in August 2022 to expand on its success. Fans can continue to have a swell time walloping enemies, and can even enjoy the charming animated Netflix series of the same name.
9 The Binding Of Isaac
One Of The First Roguelike Games In The Indie Scene
Not even its own creators expected The Binding of Isaac to be such a significant hit. Released on Steam without much hype, the game eventually blew up through word of mouth (aka YouTube videos), swiftly developing a cult following.
Since its 2011 debut, The Binding of Isaac has been ported to multiple consoles, spawned a number of worthwhile expansions, and even received a spin-off card game. The Binding of Isaac has also received a critically acclaimed sequel, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.
