The Best Indie Games Ever Made: Top Indies & Cult Classics

Regulars here will know that I love a good indie game, and over the years, in my capacity as a games journalist, I have played thousands of indie games across all genres. Does that make me the right person to conjure up an article like this? I hope so. Maybe. At the very least, you can compare my list to yours and feel better about your own taste. How’s that?

For this article, I’m going to keep things short and sweet. I want to get down to the nitty-gritty of why I think these are the best indie games out there, but I also want to be decisive and offer up some definitive suggestions.

Anyway, let’s pin down the criteria for inclusion for this collection of the best indie games.

First and foremost, all of the games in this list are indie. Properly indie. Minecraft is owned by Microsoft, and Notch is off doing Notch things, so I don’t consider it indie, even if Mojang was independent once.

It’s the same thing when it comes to funding. That’s why you won’t find brilliant games like Cuphead and Journey, which might have been made by indie studios, but were paid for by publishers.

I’m also not including as many roguelikes as I personally would like. Otherwise, this list would be full of ’em, but also because I cover them extensively elsewhere on the site. I will include a couple because it’s only right that they get a mention, but I’m also going to try and let games in other genres shine.

Finally, as with all my guides here on Rogueliker, it’s worth noting that I have played all of the games that I recommend. If your favourite game isn’t on the list, that’s probably/possibly/definitely the reason why. That’s not to say that all of the games featured on this list are my own all-time personal favourites, but I have at least tried them at some point in my career, and I recognise their quality.

And with that final caveat in place, here is Rogueliker’s Best Indie Games, starting with one of the titles that inspired me to start this website in the first place…

Hades | Supergiant Games | 2020

Why it’s great: Brilliant gameplay and a well-told yarn, all wrapped up in a highly engaging roguelite wrapper.

The combat is superb, the audio-visuals are lovely, the character designs are out of this world, but Hades really shines thanks to the way the roguelite loop has been integrated into the narrative, which is wonderfully told in a compelling setting. When it comes to story-driven roguelites, there is none better.

Terraria | Re-Logic | 2011

Why it’s great: The ultimate 2D sandbox adventure.

With no Minecraft in sight, there was a space for a deep and involving open-world survival game with action, crafting, and bonkers depth. Terraria is the indie game that keeps giving, and it’s clear why everyone loves this open-ended sandbox so much. Not only that, but the game has been bolstered by an incredible amount of content over the years, resulting in tremendous depth and polish.

Stardew Valley | ConcernedApe | 2016

Why it’s great: The cutest indie farming life simulation.

The fact that Stardew Valley is the work of one developer makes its charm and considerable replayability all the more impressive. You’ll come for the farming, but you’ll stay for the cosy vibes and deeply satisfying gameplay loop. Stardew Valley is the warmest jumper in all of gaming and a great indie alternative to Animal Crossing et al.

Among Us | Innersloth | 2018

Why it’s great: A truly amazing party game.

The indie game that brought social deduction from tabletop groups to the masses, Among Us was a true phenomenon when it first dropped in 2018, and thanks to its timeless core mechanic, the gameplay has aged pretty well since. If you’ve got a big group of friends and nothing to play, Among Us is easy to learn and hugely entertaining.

Project Zomboid | The Indie Stone | 2013

Platforms: PC (Lin, Mac, Win)

Why it’s great: The bleeding edge of survival gaming.

If you’re after a survival game that goes deep and pushes you hard, Project Zomboid is the one I recommend. It has been in development for a long time, but it just keeps getting better and better thanks to the depth of its simulation. It’s also worth noting that it’s still in early access, although it has been that way for more than a decade, and at this stage it feels like a badge the developer wears with pride.

Celeste | Maddy Makes Games | 2018

Platforms: Nintendo Switch | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | PS4 | Xbox One

Why it’s great: A platformer that proves just how powerful gameplay can be.

Not only does Celeste boast top-tier platforming edged with brutal, unflinching challenge, but it also backs that up with a powerful message: never give up. I’m also a big fan of developer Maddy Thorson’s previous game, TowerFall, which is an epic arena platform game with exquisite bow and arrow physics. Top stuff.

N++ | Metanet Software | 2015

Platforms: iOS | Nintendo Switch | PC (Mac, Win) | PS4 | Xbox One

Why it’s great: Momentum-based platforming that’s minimalist but utterly brilliant.

Metanet has been working on N since the first iteration dropped all the way back in 2004. N++ stands as the most refined version of their vision, with its minimalist platforming and momentum-based physics, and there’s oodles of content to work through. I also love the way your mistakes are compounded by the game’s ragdoll physics, which adds a funny punchline to the otherwise brutal platforming action.

Inside | Playdead | 2016

Platforms: iOS | Nintendo Switch | PC (Mac, Win) | PS4 | Xbox One

Why it’s great: Short, elegantly simple, and impactful like no other.

Playdead followed up the incredible atmosphere of its monochromatic platform adventure Limbo with something I thought impossible: something even better. Inside is one of those games that you’re better off playing with no knowledge beforehand, so I’m keeping it light on detail on purpose. What I will say is that Playdead makes game design look easy, but the fact that so many games have tried and failed to replicate the formula proves the studio is a cut above.

Hollow Knight | Team Cherry | 2017

Platforms: Nintendo Switch | PC, (Lin, Mac, Win) | PS4 | Xbox One

Why it’s great: The perfect modern metroidvania.

There’s an argument for Hollow Knight: Silksong to have a place here instead, but when it comes to impact, the power and precise brilliance of the first game must not be underestimated. To their immense credit, Team Cherry has never once compromised on their vision (across both games), and their pursuit of true excellence has resulted in one of the greatest platform games ever made. It even gives Mario a run for his money; Hollow Knight is that good.

Balatro | LocalThunk | 2024

Why it’s great: A fusion of deckbuilding, poker, and solitaire.

Another game with a roguelike core, but this time it’s a deckbuilder about playing poker hands, charging them up with weird and wonderful Jokers, and chasing ever-rising scores until the wheels come off and your run splutters to an end. I fell head over heels in love with Balatro when I first discovered it – I can’t remember a purely mechanical game that has engaged me so completely. I love it even more than Slay the Spire, and that’s saying something.

Disco Elysium | ZA/UM | 2019

Why it’s great: A masterpiece that elevated digital storytelling.

This oddball RPG delivered a stunningly cohesive artistic vision, with great audio-visuals and some of the finest writing ever to appear in a video game. From the first scene to the last, this quirky and loquacious role-playing game delivers one of the most intriguing narrative experiences I’ve ever encountered. It’s just so good, and I’m still in awe of how ZA/UM managed to pull everything together.

Subnautica | Unknown Worlds | 2018

Why it’s great: A brilliant adventure on an alien world.

Subnautica presents players with a chance to explore one of the most inviting and exciting worlds in all of gaming. After waking up, stranded on an alien world, you must survive, craft, and dive deep underwater in this epic sci-fi adventure. But beware, you’re neither armed nor dangerous, and your best hope – fabricator aside – is your wits.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | Nicalis / Edmund McMillen | 2014

Why it’s great: Unparalleled gameplay variation and replayability.

If you’re after pure systems-driven roguelike chaos, look no further than The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, which edges out Nuclear Throne thanks to its unparalleled build variety. Rebirth landed three years after the first edition of The Binding of Isaac in 2011. Ever since then, Isaac has been regularly updated with new items and mechanics, and now there are almost countless ways to synergise your gear during a run.

Papers, Please | Lucas Pope | 2013

Platforms: Android | iOS | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | PS Vita

Why it’s great: A memorable dystopian document thriller.

Developer Lucas Pope collects IGF Grand Prizes for fun, with his second for Return of the Obra Dinn (which I confess I’ve not played). His first Seumas McNally Grand Prize was for Papers, Please, which he released in 2013 and was a brilliant, thought-provoking point-and-click thriller about processing paperwork at a border crossing in a fictional dystopian country. Glory to Arstotzka!

RimWorld | Ludeon Studios | 2018

Platforms: PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | PS4 | Xbox One

Why it’s great: The best, most polished colony sim I’ve ever played.

So many games stand on the shoulders of giants, and there would be no RimWorld without Dwarf Fortress. I’m including RimWorld because there’s so much personality in this off-world colony sim: it’s a story generator like no other, and the connection you’ll form to your colonists creates a tension that I’ve simply never found elsewhere.

Dwarf Fortress | Bay 12 Games | 2006

Platforms: PC (Lin, Win)

Why it’s great: The deepest video game simulation ever made.

There are two sides to Dwarf Fortress. On the one hand, it’s a stunningly deep colony sim set in a complex fantasy world, and you can play both for free and via the more recent Steam edition, which has a new tileset and much more polish. Then there’s the roguelike adventure mode, which lets you experience things from a completely different perspective. Neither is for the faint of heart, though.

Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine | Pocketwatch Games | 2013

Platforms: Nintendo Switch | PC (Lin, Mac, Win) | Xbox 360

Why it’s great: Brilliant arcade fun with three friends.

If you’re after a great local co-op game, my pick is always going to be Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine, a peerless top-down heist ’em up where Thief meets Pac-Man. Not only does it play like a dream, but the audio-visual experience is utterly wonderful thanks to the lovely visual style and Austin Wintory’s stellar piano compositions.

The Stanley Parable | Galactic Cafe / Crows Crows Crows | 2013/2022

Why it’s great: Clever, funny, and full of absurd irony.

Few games have affected me or entertained me as much as The Stanley Parable, which, for my money, is the most interesting and thought-provoking indie game ever made. This first-person adventure will send you on a brain-melting journey, with nothing but an increasingly unhinged narrator for company. This is nothing short of a masterpiece; whether you play the original or the more recent Ultra Deluxe edition, which expands the game, you’re in for a treat.

There you have it; my list of the best indie games ever made. I hope you found something new to play!

Would you like to know more?

Still with me? Of course you are! If you want to keep reading about great hand-picked roguelikes, this website is absolutely chock-full of them. Head over to the Guides Page for a concentrated hit of roguish games, organised via sub-genre and platform.

What’s more, there are always going to be new lists for emerging trends as well as fresh titles to highlight. This is because my backlog is embarrassingly long, and so I’m always trying to balance the new games that arrive in my inbox with playing the stuff I already have.

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