25+ Best Indie Games in 2025: Top Titles From Independent Developers

The best indie games demonstrate that you don’t need a big budget to make an impact. These games offer a highly curated experience that resonates with so many players for a fraction of the cost.

Techopedia presents the best indie games where every pixel counts; no matter what platform you’re on, there’s an indie adventure waiting for you!

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Indie Games to Play in 2025
3. More of the Best Indie Games to Play in 2025
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Indie Games to Play in 2025
3. More of the Best Indie Games to Play in 2025
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Best Indie Games to Play in 2025

The best indie games have intricate gameplay, memorable stories, and innovative ideas that rival even the biggest AAA games.

25. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley invites you to immerse yourself in the charming life of Pelican Town, where you can grow crops, raise animals, fish, mine, and much more. This game combines farming, crafting, and building, giving players the chance to create their own farms and form relationships with the town’s people.

With its old-school pixel art and relaxing gameplay, Stardew Valley is great for those looking for a calm and enjoyable experience. It is considered one of the best indie games on Switch because of its engaging content, high replay value, and freedom it gives to players.

24. Undertale

Undertale is a unique RPG where you explore an underground world filled with interesting characters and challenges. Unlike most RPGs, in Undertale, you can decide whether to fight or make friends with the monsters you meet, which changes the game’s ending based on your choices.

This game is famous for its clever writing, catchy soundtrack, and emotional storytelling. It’s seen as one of the best indie games of all time because it has stood the test of time thanks to its unique gameplay and the way it lets players decide their own path. It’s one of the biggest and the best indie games of all time.

23. Animal Well

One of the first titles released by gaming publisher Bigmode would turn into a critical success thanks to the mysterious atmosphere of the game world — helping it stand out amongst the rest. The sound design and ambient music build an eerie and contemplative mood, enhancing the game’s immersion.

Players are encouraged to wander the vast, interconnected world, uncovering secrets at their own pace. The game doesn’t hold your hand, which makes discoveries feel more rewarding.

22. Stray

In Stray, you step into the paws of a stray cat navigating a futuristic city filled with robots and strange creatures. As you explore, you solve puzzles, meet different characters, and uncover the secrets of this strange world. The game lets you see the world through the eyes of a cat, using its unique skills to move around and interact with the environment.

With its beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay, Stray is considered one of the best indie games on PS5. It even won the Best Debut Indie Game and Best Indie Game at The Game Awards in 2022, recognizing its impressive introduction to the gaming world. So get ready for an exciting journey filled with exploration, mystery, and heartwarming moments.

21. Hades II (Early Access)

The Greek mythology roguelike is back for another run with Hades II, following the adventure of Melinoë as she seeks to thwart the Titan of time – Chronos. As a roguelike, its perma-death system offers endless hours of replayability as you experiment with both witchcraft and divine boons alongside a selection of weapons.

With the recent Olympic update featuring Olympus as an explorable area and Prometheus as the new Titan to defeat, there’s no better time to hop onto the isometric roguelike.

Check out our guide on everything you need to know about Hades 2.

20. Grimm’s Hollow

Grimm’s Hollow tells the story of Lavender, a girl who finds herself in a spooky afterlife searching for her missing brother in a world full of ghosts and grim reapers. The game has turn-based combat, where you can use different skills and abilities to fight enemies.

With its cute pixel art, charming story, and emotional depth, Grimm’s Hollow is one of the best free indie games. It offers a touching narrative mixed with some lighthearted humor, giving players a fun and memorable experience without any cost.

19. Cuphead

Cuphead is a challenging run-and-gun platformer that stands out for its 1930s cartoon-style graphics and intense difficulty. In the game, you control Cuphead or his brother Mugman as they face a series of tough and creative boss battles, each with its own unique moves, so you need to learn and adapt to beat them. The game requires good timing and skill, making winning each battle feel very rewarding.

With its hand-drawn animations and jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is considered one of the best indie games on PS4. Its unique style, exciting gameplay, and memorable, challenging boss fights make it a must-play.

18. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight invites players to explore the vast underground kingdom of Hallownest in a Metroidvania-style action-adventure. You play as a small knight exploring a vast, interconnected kingdom full of secrets, challenging enemies, and tough bosses. The game focuses on exploration and combat, where you can discover different abilities and upgrades.

Hollow Knight is well-loved for its beautiful hand-drawn art, atmospheric music, and deep lore. It offers hours of challenging gameplay and discovery, making it one of the best indie games on Steam – perfect for players who enjoy exploring immersive worlds and uncovering mysteries.

17. Balatro

Balatro is a unique roguelike deckbuilder that combines poker mechanics with traditional roguelike elements, offering a fresh take on the genre.

By integrating poker hands and values into gameplay, Balatro creates a distinctive strategic experience. Players must balance traditional card game skills with tactical decision-making, which adds depth and variety.

Like most roguelikes, Balatro is highly replayable, with randomly generated encounters, loot, and events. Each run offers different hands, card effects, and challenges, which keeps gameplay engaging over multiple playthroughs.

16. Terraria

Terraria lets players dive into a 2D pixelated world full of exploration, building, and combat. You begin with simple tools and resources, but as you dig deeper and explore more, you can find rare materials, fight different monsters, and gain new abilities. The game combines crafting, combat, and exploration, making each playthrough different and exciting.

With its endless possibilities and engaging gameplay, Terraria has become one of the best-selling indie games, attracting millions of players around the world who enjoy creating their own unique adventures.

15. Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a new strategy game where you build and protect a floating city in a magical world. As you grow your city, you need to manage resources, strengthen your defenses, and explore the skies for new opportunities.

Released in 2024, the game has received positive reviews for its distinctive setting and unique gameplay, making it one of the best indie games of 2024. In fact, it was also a nominee for the Most Anticipated Game at the 2023 Indie Game Awards.

14. Limbo

Limbo takes players on a journey through a dark, eerie world filled with traps and puzzles. This atmospheric puzzle platformer is known for its shadowy black-and-white graphics and haunting sound design, creating a tense experience as you work through the tricky levels. You must use your wits and solve puzzles to avoid deadly obstacles, making every move count.

With its simple controls and gripping atmosphere, Limbo is great for mobile devices. It’s often considered one of the best indie mobile games because of its simple mechanics and immersive art style that pulls players into its dark and eerie world.

13. Palworld (Early Access)

Palworld shakes up the monster-catching genre by throwing in elements of open world exploration, survival, and base building characterized by armed weapons. Exploring the world to catch different Poke- I mean, Pals, whilst steadily growing more powerful as you progress.

While not the best-looking game, and at times not the smoothest running, the Early Access build of Palworld is constantly getting updated with new mechanics, Pals, and areas to explore. It is one of the best indie games available on Xbox Games Pass.

12. Dead Cells

The Metroidvania-inspired roguelike sets the bar for the genre, bringing the best of 2D side-scrollers with intense hack-and-slash gameplay. With its extensive range of upgrades, weapons, and skills, you can quickly become a force of nature in this game – if you manage to survive.

There has been an abundance of DLC content for the game since its original launch back in 2018, including Fatal Falls, The Queen and Sea, and a Castlevania crossover. Dead Cells was also ranked as one of the best Netflix games available.

11. Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds lets you explore a small solar system that’s stuck in a time loop. As a new astronaut, your goal is to uncover the secrets of an ancient civilization and understand the strange events happening in space.

The game stands out for its unique storytelling, beautiful visuals, and a deep sense of discovery – plus, you won’t get much guidance, so you have to rely on your curiosity to explore the universe. As one of the best indie adventure games, Outer Wilds offers a thrilling experience full of surprises and revelations.

10. Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is a role-playing game where you take on the role of a detective trying to solve a murder in a city full of secrets. Unlike other games, there is no combat; instead, you talk to people and make choices that affect the story.

The game is known for its deep storytelling, complex characters, and rich world-building, making it one of the best indie story games out there. Every choice you make changes what happens next, letting you explore different paths in its dark and mysterious world.

9. Rivals of Aether

Rivals of Aether delivers fast-paced fighting action that combines the style of classic platform fighters with unique animal-themed characters. Each character is linked to an element, like fire, water, air, or earth, and has special moves and abilities. The game focuses on precise movement, strategic attacks, and mind games, making it great for both casual players and those who enjoy competitive tournaments.

With its retro-style graphics and simple controls, Rivals of Aether is one of the best indie fighting games. It offers a fun and exciting experience for anyone who enjoys action-packed battles.

8. Satisfactory

A base builder released in the latter half of 2024, Satisfactory is a first-person open world exploration game where you create the factory of your dreams through resource management.

Players gather resources, build factories, and continually refine production chains, which keeps gameplay fresh and rewarding. On top of that, the game features an open-world alien planet with stunning landscapes and biomes. This environment not only looks beautiful but adds a sense of scale and discovery, making it more than just a pure factory sim.

7. Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars is a beautifully made RPG that takes ideas from classic turn-based games. Set in a colorful, hand-drawn world, you go on an epic journey with two young heroes who have the powers of the sun and moon. The game features strategic battles, puzzles, and a story with memorable characters and stunning visuals.

Bringing back the feel of classic RPGs, Sea of Stars adds modern touches to create something fresh and exciting. Thanks to its engaging story and beautiful pixel art, Sea of Stars is seen as one of the best new indie games, blending old-school charm with new designs that will appeal to both long-time fans and new players.

6. Inscryption

Inscryption stands out as a dark and twisted card game that mixes deck-building, escape-room puzzles, and horror. As you play, you face mysterious creatures and challenging scenarios where every decision can mean life or death. The game keeps evolving, revealing new layers and unsettling secrets as you move through its story.

Thanks to its creepy atmosphere, unique mechanics, and gripping narrative, Inscryption is considered one of the best indie horror games. It offers a one-of-a-kind experience that keeps players on edge, making it a must-play for horror fans.

5. Spiritfarer

In Spiritfarer, you play Stella, a ferry master who helps spirits pass on to the afterlife. This heartwarming management game lets you build and customize your boat, gather resources, and form deep connections with the spirits you meet. The game combines exploration, crafting, and emotional storytelling, offering a thoughtful experience about life and saying goodbye.

Celebrated for its touching story and beautiful hand-drawn visuals, Spiritfarer is seen as one of the best indie adventure games. It offers a unique, gentle adventure that explores themes of compassion and letting go.

4. Sifu

Enter the intense world of martial arts with Sifu, a hard-hitting action game where you play as a young martial artist seeking revenge. The game has an innovative aging system: each time you lose in battle, your character ages, gaining experience but losing health. It challenges you to master its intense combat system, requiring precision and timing to defeat enemies.

With its dynamic fighting style and visually striking environments, Sifu is considered one of the best indie fighting games. Its challenging gameplay and aging mechanic offer a new take on the beat ’em up genre, making each fight feel intense and personal.

3. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Chaos, fun, and laughter await in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, a party game where you compete in a series of chaotic mini-games with up to 60 players. The goal is to survive different obstacle courses and challenges to be the last one standing. The game’s colorful visuals, simple controls, and unpredictable gameplay make it enjoyable for players of all ages.

Known for its laugh-out-loud moments and competitive yet friendly nature, Fall Guys is one of the best multiplayer indie games. It brings joy and chaos to parties and online play.

2. Untitled Goose Game

Experience the delightful mischief of Untitled Goose Game, where you play as a goose causing trouble in a small village. Your mission is simple: complete a list of tasks by sneaking around, stealing items, and being a nuisance to the villagers. The game’s charming art style, quirky humor, and easy gameplay make it a joy to play.

With its unique concept and lighthearted approach, Untitled Goose Game is often considered one of the best Switch indie games. Its playful nature and silly antics make it a great choice for anyone looking for some fun.

1. Celeste

Celeste is a challenging platformer in which you help Madeline climb the mysterious Celeste Mountain. The game features hundreds of carefully designed levels filled with obstacles and tight platforming challenges that require quick reflexes and precise timing to complete. Along the way, Celeste tells a touching story about self-discovery and mental health, with rich characters and emotional depth.

With its beautiful pixel art, emotional music, and tight controls, Celeste is known as one of the best indie platformers. Players love its mix of difficult gameplay and storytelling.

More of the Best Indie Games to Play in 2025

The Bottom Line

The 25 best indie games in 2025 stand toe-to-toe with gaming’s biggest blockbusters by offering originality and quality for a cheaper price. You’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth by playing this lineup of fantastic games, sometimes created by as few as one developer.

Whether you’re looking for fast-paced roguelikes or a heartwarming story to follow, there’s something for everyone in the indie space. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newcomer, these gems prove that sometimes the best adventures come from the most unexpected places.

FAQs