The best indie games don’t need loot boxes to succeed – here they are.
Don’t underestimate the best indie games. They may not come with the same kind of high-profile launch or level of production as the most popular titles out there, but they can be every bit as entertaining as their big-budget AAA counterparts. Better yet, they can have as much depth as the best AAA games and provide the same level of immersion. The best indie games can also offer something that their big blockbuster games can’t. Because they’re free to experiment the way AAA games cannot, they can offer a different perspective or a unique type of gameplay, which typically earns them high spots among the best Steam games. You don’t have to have a large corporation footing the bill to put out a game with a great story, visuals, and most especially, gameplay. The best indie games are proof of this, and you owe it to yourself to check them out. From classic examples like Braid and Dwarf Fortress to newer titles like Obra Dinn and Outward, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time. If you can, experience them on the best gaming PCs for a truly immersive experience. Who knew Norse purgatory could be so much fun? Whether you want a game where you can explore a procedurally generated world, build your own castles, or just fight monsters, Valheim is the one for you. Throw in some survival elements, like needing to eat a balanced diet, and this game proves to be a deep and multi-faceted one. Not to mention, you can play with up to nine other people on a map. It’s also a gorgeous game. You can expect to get lost in the game as you explore and level up your character. Valheim is all the more impressive for being an Indie game. In fact, it was made with just a team of 5. Considering the game is in early access, we can only expect an already great game to get better. If you’re tired of dystopian post-apocalyptic games piling up in your gaming backlog, take a look at Carto. The game is a charming one that makes heavy use of puzzles to unlock and explore the adventure that the title character goes on. Instead of battling monsters, you use her cartography skills to meet and learn about new characters. Not only is the gameplay unique but its look is as well. The almost hand-drawn look relies more on art than realism, giving it a gorgeous, colorful atmosphere that doesn’t rely heavily on a powerful graphics engine. That’s great for anyone wanting to play Carto on a less-than-powerful machine since you can still boot it up without having the latest and greatest from Nvidia or AMD. Carto is also a relaxing game. If you’re a fan of games that let you chill out instead of stress out, then dig into this game. Ooblets has been on our radar for a long time thanks to its charming art style and intriguing concept and as of July 2020 it’s finally available in early access. Developed by first-time studio Glumberland and published by Double Fine, the game is a kind of mash up of Pokémon, Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley so if you’re a fan of games of that ilk your interest has likely been piqued. In the game, you can train and battle your ooblets against other ooblet trainers. At the same time, you’ll have to balance your ooblet training with the real-world responsibilities of being a farmer, helping to put your old farmhouse and your town back together. It all comes across as very sweet and gentle, a perfect feel-good antidote to a hard day. Ooblets early access is available on Xbox and through the Epic Games Store. Being in early access means the game is not in perfect condition just yet and it’s not known exactly how long Ooblets will be in early access before it gets its final release. Who knew an untitled game about a goose could be so fun? A bit of an unexpected hit, Untitled Goose Game quickly went viral after its brand of avian nuisance-making was unveiled to the world. Set in a dopey village in the English countryside, you play as a goose tasked with terrorizing your human neighbours: stealing their crops, locking them in closets, and honking all the way through. Inspired by the stealth-action series Hitman, but with its own charm, it’s hardly a surprise that the Untitled Goose Game became a huge hit. You’ll zip through the game in a handful of hours, but it’s very much work throughout the journey. Taking adorable design cues from titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this innocent-looking PS5 game delivers family-friendly fun with a snack-filled gameplay twist. Created by the same developers behind the hit game, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, this quirky game is also available on PC and Mac, downloadable via the Epic Store. In Bugsnax, you play as (mostly) bipedal animals and critters that eat food favorites, like fruit and sausages – and oddly become those snacks. Arms will turn into hotdogs, hands will turn into strawberries… that sort of thing. It sounds weird… but entertaining and delicious. From family-owned and operated Studio MDHR, Cuphead has resonated with millions of people around the world, many of whom normally wouldn’t touch a run-and-gun platformer with a ten-foot pole. While its gameplay was inspired by classic games such as Mega Man and Contra, most gamers will likely compare it to a Fleischer Studios cartoon like Betty Boop. Because Cuphead uses a hand-drawn art style similar to a 1930s animation, it’s been universally praised for its gorgeous visuals. Cuphead is more than just its stunning visuals, however. It’s a series of 19 challenging and engaging bosses, with platforming bits interspersed between them. To make matters even better, there’s a DLC expected in 2020. Gris is a beautiful game in so many senses, offering arresting hand-drawn visuals, a stirring soundtrack and a subtle story that manages to engage and resonate without the need for dialogue. For all that, it’s also a fun, side-scrolling platformer with clever and creative puzzles, therefore making it a prime example of how indie games can refresh and invigorate long-standing genres. Unsurprisingly, Gris has been a big success for developer Nomada Studio and publisher Devolver Digital. You can find it on a host of platforms, including Nintendo Switch, macOS, PC and PS4. This dark and moody action-adventure stealth game by Asobo Studio is hauntingly beautiful. Set in the 1340s during the Black Death pandemic in the French countryside, you’re Amicia, a young noble girl whose parents were killed by the Inquisition. You must now traverse battlefields and villages with her brother Hugo to find a cure for his mysterious ailment. Along the way, you must scare away ravenous rats as well as stun (or kill) guards and hostile villagers with your sling and special ammunition supplies. Despite the ghastliness and rawness of the Middle Ages and the Plague, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a complete stunner and a game who almost never want to end. Among the hardcore gamers we know, Spelunky is the go-to drug. Even today, several years after its release, some of them still play it consistently, despite having completed it many times over. That’s because this ostensibly rogue-like platformer with a definite end is tough, varied and highly randomized. It also has more dark secrets than a presidential candidate, which means that there are a number of ways to finish it, and its daily challenges are a sure-fire way to public humiliation. Does humor belong in video games? Well, if the Stanley Parable has its way, it’s a resounding ‘yes’. This game is hilarious without being dumbed down. Players follow (or don’t) a very British narrator who changes the world around you, based on your choices. No choice is punished, and every playthrough will be fresh with new humor and weird goings-on. In fact, being trapped in the closet in The Stanley Parable is more moving and funny than the majority of other games, indie and otherwise. If you missed out on this ironic gem back when it first launched, you’ll be happy to know that the developer announced the Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe edition for 2020, touting fresh content, more endings and a console release. This Ultra Deluxe edition actually sounds pretty tempting, even for us – and we played it a whole lot when it first came out. It’s no surprise that co-op games have made their way to the indie scene – who wouldn’t want to beat up hordes of enemies alongside friends? One of the best indie co-op games out there is newcomer Deep Rock Galactic, which only officially hit the streets in May 2020. Although it is an infant next to these classics on our list, it’s already built quite a fanbase. That’s how good this game is. In the game, you’re playing with three others (or you can also play on your own, if you’re a loner) to dig and shoot your way through a procedurally-generated cave network. But, you’re not only battling alien swarms here – there are also resources to collect and a goal to finish. The best part, however, is that there’s no set path so you can complete your mission as creatively as you want, so long as you work together. Well, that and those awesome weapons you can have in your arsenal. Deep Rock Galactic is simply the coolest co-op FPS game to hit Steam in 2020, and definitely among the best indie games we’ve played this year. It took more than nine years to make, but Owlboy is certainly worth the wait. Originally designed for PCs and released in late 2016, this clever indie game masterpiece is now available to experience on Mac and Linux as well – and there’s even a Nintendo Switch version! Owlboy revolves around a race of owl-human hybrid characters called, aptly enough, Owls. Of them, you control Otis, an Owl who is censured by his mentor for his inept flying skills. The story sees Otis’ village destroyed by pirates who have conflict with the Owls. As a result, Otis has to work with an assortment of villagers in-game to take out enemies. Of course, before the boss battles arise, you’ll need to manage allies accordingly, as each character comes with their own set of unique skill sets to use in conjunction with one another.
