What is an indie game?

Indie games hold a special place in the hearts of every gamer. These smaller studios have a passion for creating and connecting with their fans. Their games are experimental, innovative, and push the whole gaming community forward. Without them we wouldn’t have many of the popular favourites we play almost daily- what would life be without Minecraft! There are many indie studios and developers out there but not every indie game is a winner, even if our standards of video games are high. The best indie games have some universal aspects that make them excellent. 

Characteristics of a good indie game: 

Unique artstyle

Innovative gameplay

Different but entertaining story

Passion from the studio and creators

15. Replaced 

Coming Soon, PC, Xbox

REPLACED Trailer 4K (New Retro-Futuristic Action Game

The 80s are back with a vengeance in the 2.5D sci-fi RPG, Replaced. Created by Sad Ct Studios, players follow R.E.A.C.H. an AI trapped in a human body as they explore dystopian Phoenix City. In a world where humanity is hated and treated as currency, explore what it means to be human. The action platformer is full of stunning visuals and an immersive environment, the cyberpunk gritty game is perfect for fans of other classic side-scrolling games like Streets of Rage and One Finger Death Punch. Free-flowing melee combat and cinematic platformer make Replaced a sure-fire winner when it reaches consoles.

I'll fight you all... I don't care that you're all hobos!

14. Retrowave World 

April 2024, PC

Welcome back to the 80s again! Drive your car, challenge players to races, listen to cassettes and relive the 80s in a way you never have before. A perfect blend of 80s nostalgia with futuristic elements, this game is the best light-hearted racing game, with side missions to earn money, invest in real estate, customise your car, and head to the arcade to play minigames. This is the best game coming out for car lovers, with 5 different universes to explore. There is never a dull moment and you can’t run out of things to do and people to challenge. Though the gameplay is super fun, what sells this game is its immense soundtrack, the use of synth wave tracks makes the game so much more immersive and nostalgia-inducing for the players. A must-have for any car and racing game lovers, just don’t forget to pull out the aviators and leather bomber jacket.

Feeling the Miami Vice energy

13. Penny’s Big Breakaway

February 2024, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, PC

https://youtu.be/1hAgpRYM2M8?si=3rwxb0sfdYfmgTwG

If you have missed super colourful, silly 3D adventure games like Sonic Mania or Banjo Kazooie, then Penny’s Big Breakaway is for you. Play as Penny, a street performer on the run from the Emperor after her sentient YoYo steals his clothes! Travel through different worlds and levels in Macaroon, using your YoYo to swing through gaps, attack enemy penguins and ride through areas trying to get to the end without getting caught. The simple storyline blended with fun retro gameplay makes this game a must-have for fans of the GameCube or the Nintendo universe. With beautiful level design and stunning graphics, Penny’s Big Breakaway is more than your traditional platformer, with puzzles to solve and hidden areas to discover Penny and pals will get you nostalgic for simpler times and excited for the Macaroon world!

YoYo-copter, the best way to fly in the modern age

12. Tiny Glade 

Coming Q3 2024, PC only

https://youtu.be/E0pNz9H6aRo?si=VfjvTrS0oEXmByB9

The ultimate cosy game, Tiny Glade fulfils the dream of building majestic castles in hidden meadows and woods. This super relaxing game is perfect for Lego lovers and the casual gamer as there are no goals, challenges, or combat - just you, the cute pettable sheep and the birds. In each area, you can build a castle as big or small as you want, with realistic brick and building sounds. Choose the colours, the tiles, the windows and walls, and make moats or hills to create the ideal fairytale castle where you can live out your Cinderella fantasies. The perfect game to unwind with, I can’t wait to grab a blanket and snuggle up making my perfect fantasy castle.

Ooo, pink bricks to Barbie’s DreamCastle right?

11. Paper Trail 

May 2024 PC, Coming Soon Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox Series X | S, Apple, Android

https://youtu.be/JjPVDgVMdWo?si=KDuxfgf-XEKXjP11

Paper Trail is a beautiful relaxing adventure puzzle game that takes you through colourful pages of the seaside town of SouthFold. Play as Paige, a young enthusiastic student eager to start her life outside of her small village. Bending the space-time continuum, tear and fold the paper-like universe to find a path through the levels to reach university. This top-down puzzle adventure is full of beautiful worlds to explore, with each puzzle opening like a page in your favourite art book. The gameplay is simple initially but as the story progresses, you are introduced to new techniques that allow you to do new actions to help Paige along her way. Inspired by watercolour, printmaking, and origami, the gorgeous graphics and innovative design make this game a delight to unfold. Coming out on so many platforms, Paper Trail is perfect for puzzle heads and fans of ustwo games.

Do you think they would mind if I took a pumpkin?

10. Dead Static Drive 

Coming Soon, PC and Xbox

https://youtu.be/eTfZzwydEWQ?si=FOlUbHMT5-JuEPvQ

What happens when you are on that road trip of your dreams across 1980s America, enjoying the scenery and peace after leaving your crazy paranoid father? Well in Dead Static Drive what happens is the end of the world. In this survival-horror game, you are trapped on this trip as the world ends and eldritch horror monsters are attacking you and any other humans around. Players have to scavenge, fight, explore, build and use friendships to survive and try to get back to their father. Referred to as Grand Theft Cthulhu, the gameplay is inspired by the GTA series, using similar tactics like stealing a car or robbing a store to stay alive and evade monsters for as long as possible. The eerie music and pastel colours make this game creepy in a whole new way as you traverse through the highways and ghost towns. A spooky game perfect for GTA and A Quiet Place fans, this will keep you on the edge of your seat.

There is no way to win, just have to not lose.

*standoff music playing*

9. Nirvana Noir 

Coming Soon PC and Xbox

https://youtu.be/kV29mwZ09p8?si=295H-q4XdxazikBM

Expanding the Genesis Noir universe, you play as NoMan once again but now in two realities investigating suspicious people, mysterious fires and the dangerous new drug. This enticing puzzle adventure game has you splitting your time between Black Rapture and Constant Testament as two versions of NoMan with two very different lives but with one goal, save your city from Bigger Bang. The seamless blend of animation and interaction coupled with the jazzy soundtrack make this game a delight to play. The juxtaposition of the bright colourful world of Constant Testament and the monochrome mystery of Black Rapture keep you constantly working and investigating, trying to make sure that you reach the happy ending but with so many twists and turns this might not be as simple as you think. The perfect followup to Genesis Noir, Nirvana Noir has all the best aspects of a mystery with the most unique and innovative gameplay I have seen in a long time.

So… do you wanna go Dutch?

8. Little Kitty Big City 

Coming Soon, PC and Nintendo Switch

Everyone has wanted to live like a cat, lie about in the sunshine, push glasses off tables, and wander through the world as its leader and superior in every way right? Well, Double Dagger Studios have fulfilled that wish - at least a little bit - with this super adorable, cosy game where you play as a little kitty wandering through the big city. A curious little cat, you’re technically on a simple adventure to get home but we all know cats and they do not do straightforward. Explore the city, make friends, complete quests and leave chaos wherever you go! This game is so much fun for fans of slow paced games like Animal Crossing or The Sims series, especially if you like dressing up your cats in the most adorable hats! A sweet game for all, enjoy being a silly cat doing silly cat things.

Possession is nine-tenths of the law my dude, the phone is mine now

7. Loco Motive 

Q2 2024, PC, Mac and Nintendo Switch

https://youtu.be/85hvVsHZws8?si=UhJB1fQV_kJH80mc

Join us on this 1930s Agatha Christie-inspired adventure on the Reuss Express! A slapstick puzzle adventure, play along when during her landmark speech Lady Unterwald, wealthy heiress and owner of the Reuss Express is murdered on stage! Playing as Diana the super secret spy, Arthur the wannabe detective, and Herman the straight-laced lawyer, solve the crime or take the fall for the mysterious murder. Travel through the train solving puzzles and questioning guests and staff to find the true criminal mastermind. The uncomplicated and fun point and click gameplay, brings you back to your childhood while the fun art and 30s-themed animation makes this game a delight for all to play. If you like a good mystery this is the game for you!

Yeah, grab me a whiskey sour?

6. Hyper Light Breaker 

Coming Soon PC

From the creators of Remnant and the Torchlight series comes another beautiful game in the Hyper Light Universe. Hyper Light Breaker is a 3D co-op game built into an infinite open world. Play alone or lead a team of Breakers to fight monsters, explore worlds, create new builds, and unlock gear with each battle and mission completed. Travel the world and complete missions to upgrade your hub, expand your population and work to overthrow the ominous Abyss King. This game is full of interesting lore and cooperative actions that allow players to understand the beautifully layered history of the Overgrowth and the numerous characters in the Hyper Light universe. A gorgeous game, Hyper Light Breaker is an amazing follow-on to Hyper Light Drifter and worth every second of waiting.

I wonder if she has to go to a Were-nail salon or are the dog groomers the same thing?

5. Summerhouse  

March 2024, PC and Mac

https://youtu.be/X9hVySSu3jU?si=QcrqRtjGklIwS7XQ

Another cosy game - 2024 is the year of cosy games - Summerhouse is the perfect building game for relaxed mystery lovers. A tiny building game, craft a beautiful neighbourhood of lived in homes and buildings. Build in multiple settings, the seaside, the mountains, or downtown, there are no rules so no stress, just total relaxation. With every building and house, uncover secrets about the people who lived there and the stories they hold. A fully solo project by one of the founders of Grizzly Games, this is a game with no challenges or goals perfect for everyone. Summerhouse is the ultimate relaxation game for lovers of creation and architecture.

Ah… dinner with a view, just what the doctor ordered.

4. Hauntii 

Q2 2024, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation

https://youtu.be/_zQlc_tp2QQ?si=QTOOnbqrperOF8kC

Travel through different levels in this hand-crafted expansive world to uncover secrets and complete puzzles. Play as Hauntii, a naive ghost on the hunt for answers. Meet with ethereal characters and interact with your environment to command objects or creatures to complete your quests, build constellations and solve puzzles. This quirky twin-stick game mixes classic shooter with slower paced puzzle games, creating a beautiful haunting experience for all players. In the perfect open world, there are a multitude of paths to discover new stories and characters at every turn. With stunning two-tone artwork and a relaxing soundtrack, this is a perfect quiet ghost story for fans of the mythical world.

Wow, when they said it was a maze down here they sure weren’t kidding!

3. Palworld

 January 2024 (early access) PC, Xbox

The most highly anticipated game of 2024, Palworld is the action-adventure monster taming game of my dreams. Becoming known as “Pokemon with guns'”  Palworld lets you play as a customizable avatar in an open world, where you battle or capture ‘Pals’ for base building, combat or travel. In the game you can choose to live out a cosy game, using your Pals to farm or work in your factories, or live life on the edge as a poacher and adventurer. Choose to be a hero or villain, fighting the Rayne Syndicate criminal organisation or evading the Palpagos Islands Defense Force. The option of multiplayer in this co-op game means you can go on quests, trade, or battle with up to 3 friends. A totally immersive experience, this game has fun poking a little fun at its inspiration and creates a world that allows players to play out their fantasy of battling their pets. A definite must-play, Palworld is the game for people who always wonder what it would be like to adventure with their pets.

Eagle Airlines: 4/5 stars

2. Demonschool 

Coming Q2 2024, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 | 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PC

https://youtu.be/_BvAGiWQyVg?si=37rEVT3nFWLs-7eV

We all thought school was hell but at least it wasn’t this bad! This new-style tactic RPG will keep you invested in the mysterious story and the unique gameplay that hasn’t been seen for decades. The story takes you to a mysterious island where you play as one of 15 students balancing university life and battling demons. Deal with portals to the demon world infecting your school, possessed students, mean girls and gruff yakuza who want you and your friends to get out of their business. I’m glad this isn’t my university!
Necrosoft has created a battle system that I can’t remember seeing before dividing the combat into planning and action phases. Similar to chess you plan out the moves of your characters, using their individual abilities to take down enemies or heal friends. The planning phase allows you to rewind and restrategize moves when they don’t work the way you want them to initially. Acquire new characters by building friendships and schedule your day to level up and build skills. Definitely a game to watch for this year, Demonschool will satisfy your Nancy Drew, Riverdale school mystery bug.

Taking island school to a whole new meaning!

1. Harold Halibut 

Coming Soon, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation

Nominated for Most Anticipated Game ‘23, Harold Halibut is one of the most interesting games coming out this year. A fully handmade narrative game, you play as Harold, a young lab assistant as he explores the city-sized ship submerged in an alien ocean on his journey to find the true meaning of “home”. What makes the game so interesting is not the story but the amazing animation style, the studio uses stop motion to create the game, a never before seen tactic for such an interactive model. The use of real metal, wood and textiles immerses the player further in Harold’s tactile world. As you explore you can see the different textures as they interact with the game universe and you are totally enthralled in this sweet game about friendship. Full of interesting puzzles and storylines to follow, you will fall in love with Harold Halibut and the amazing world that the Slow Bros have created.

https://youtu.be/Ua_qqaAQsBk?si=Gb6V-K5itK8cB6Xc

Nominated for Most Anticipated Game ‘23, Harold Halibut is one of the most interesting games coming out this year. A fully handmade narrative game, you play as Harold, a young lab assistant as he explores the city-sized ship submerged in an alien ocean on his journey to find the true meaning of “home”. What makes the game so interesting is not the story but the amazing animation style, the studio uses stop motion to create the game, a never before seen tactic for such an interactive model. The use of real metal, wood and textiles immerses the player further in Harold’s tactile world. As you explore you can see the different textures as they interact with the game universe and you are totally enthralled in this sweet game about friendship. Full of interesting puzzles and storylines to follow, you will fall in love with Harold Halibut and the amazing world that the Slow Bros have created.

Whatcha looking at?

You may also be interested in:

• [Top 5] Best Indie Tabletop RPGs
• [Top 10] Indie Game Developers and their Best Games
• 10 Best Indie Survival Horror Games For PC