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Indie games are a symbol, a symbol of what makes video games and gaming special; it is the fact that they are surreal experiences that can be enjoyed from the comfort of our confined enclosures.
They represent the best parts of our childhood and try to bring them to the forefront again, for whatever fleeting moments that they stay with us.
Keeping that in mind, let us take a look at 24 of the best indie games that were released in the past 10 years.
Gear up and strap on, this is going to be a nostalgic ride.
Best Indie Games
1. The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
The cartoonishly gory visuals and the surprisingly somber music depict a tale of an extremely traumatized child making their way through dungeons with unimaginable amounts of monsters, and a new challenge every step of the way.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth deals with the unconventional in a variety of ways, such as the only weapon you have is the tears you produce yourself, and that contributes heavily to the charm of this oddly fascinating game.
Even if you don’t enjoy difficult games, we have a feeling you will like this one.
Find it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Nicalis
- Release Date: 4 November 2014
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
2. Braid
The story of Braid isn’t clear anywhere during its runtime, and that is purposefully made so. You don’t play this to be wowed by the nuanced story or all the different elements that developers could have packed into it; the gameplay is enough to achieve that purpose.
What is so awe-inspiring about Braid is obviously the time manipulation, but also the freedom that you get from this mechanic.
Braid is one of those groundbreaking puzzle platformers that laid the foundation for future games and is always a treat to behold, even after a decade of its release.
Get Braid on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Number None
- Release Date: 11 April 2009
- Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, MacOS, Linux, PC
3. Celeste
Each level of Celeste is a sight to behold, and no matter what your runtime is, or what number playthrough you are on, the game finds numerous ways to keep you absolutely hooked.
Not only that, but Celeste has a groundbreaking story hiding behind the fascinating art, and the dialogue is as nuanced as the movement system in the game.
Often, video games ask you to be perfect with your input to beat the challenges that they present, but Celeste is also unique in that department; it invites you to stop and look at the progress you have made, failing the numerous times that you eventually will have.
A journey of a video game, and one of the best steam indie games.
Find Celeste on Amazon!
- Developer/Publisher: Extremely OK Games/Matt Makes Games
- Release Date: 25 January 2018
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
4. Cuphead
Decidedly fooling you with the Disney art style, you’ll be far into the game when you realize what Cuphead is all about.
This is another Souls-like that transcends barriers and forces you to not judge it by its jazzy, cartoonish exterior.
Cuphead is a creepy, eerily jovial ride through the Devil’s town as you find a way to save your soul from his cavalcade of cutthroat companions, figuratively and quite literally.
The fantastic original soundtrack lends itself to the minimalist story in the most amazing way possible, and the difficulty keeps ramping up to the point where you see yourself battling just to stay alive. Keep your wits about you.
Grab Cuphead on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Studio MDHR
- Release Date: 29 September 2017
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, MacOS
5. Crypt of the Necrodancer
For any rhythm game to successfully keep you dancing on its tunes, it has to have a good base of mechanics and a superb soundtrack. Lucky for us, Crypt of the Necrodancer is exactly that game.
The rhythm-action roguelike has every action of yours tied to the beat of its inspired soundtrack, from the menus to the swinging of your sword, to the movement of your enemies.
Crypt is a very unique concept, and the execution of the concept is done sufficiently well.
Get it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Brace Yourself Games
- Release Date: 23 April 2015
- Platforms: PC, Android, iOS, PS4, Nintendo Switch, MacOS, Xbox One
6. Dead Cells
Starting off with a banger, we have Dead Cells. The rise of Souls-like games is something that we have documented for a long, and fans of that genre will surely notice the striking similarities head-on.
Your character starts out as a corpse lying in a dungeon somewhere until a greenish goo plops to the floor and gives you life. Your motivation is simple, you are required to find a way out of the dungeon by any means necessary.
This kind of unfatigued simplification is what gives Dead Cells its charm. Death is only the beginning, and inconsequential too. So go on.
Get Dead Cells on Amazon right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Motion Twin
- Release Date: 10 May 2017
- Platforms: Android, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, iOS
7. Devil Daggers
Devil Daggers is the answer to the question that no one asked – what if Doom was just a constant battle with little to no respite and all of the monsters?
And if it was indeed that way, then Devil Daggers can march on with the fact that it was pulled off flawlessly and with style.
A fascinating and exhilarating sequence of events that never stops, Devil Daggers puts you in a corner of hell and relentlessly throws demons at you, with little rhyme or reason about it.
Combined with the dim lighting, macabre atmosphere, and graphics belonging to a 20-year-old computer, this is a strangely satisfying experience to have.
Grab it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Sorath
- Release Date: 18 February 2016
- Platforms: PC, Linux, MacOS
8. Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is one of the finest isometric games to have graced the PC indie games scene in recent years, and for good reason.
You wake up as an amnesiac detective and now must piece together the cause of the peculiarities of the land that you now inhabit. But the premise runs much deeper than that.
What results is a deeply disturbing tale of violence, distrust, and a collapsed society that will stay with you for a long time.
Disco is a collaboration between masterful storytelling and a D&D influence that borrows the best elements of the top-down classic.
Get it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: ZA/UM
- Release Date: 15 October 2019
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
9. Fez
Fez is a reminder of simpler times, of simpler motivations to play video games, and simply fun, and that’s what makes it one of the best indie games on Steam.
The 2d platformer that exists in a 3d space is chock full of content and knows not to take itself too seriously.
Perhaps what drew me in further when I started with this simple masterpiece was that there was no mad design and extravagant budget, but just a simple white cloudy blob of a character, interactive puzzles, a straightforward way to fix whatever’s wrong with the world, and an invitation to explore the vast world at my own pace and liking.
Released in 2012, this game is still a peach to look at and play and is one of the classics of our time.
Get Fez on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Polytron Corporation/Trapdoor
- Release Date: April 13, 2012
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PC, Linux, MacOS, PS3, PS4, iOS
10. Hades
One thing that I found brilliant about Hades was the seamless and flawless integration of the story that has been done with the visuals and the gameplay.
Tempering expectations is something that we as fans are asked to do a lot, but if this is the quality that games have come to, then this is going to be very difficult going forward.
Zagreus is most certainly one of the most well-rounded protagonists in video games, and his search for answers makes up a very simple but very compelling premise for the game.
Along with great combat and the roguelike structure, this is one that you do not want to miss out on. This is one of the best indie games on Steam.
Find Hades on sale on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Supergiant Games
- Release Date: 17 September 2018
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
11. Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight has what most indie games sacrifice in the name of premise simplification – purpose.
The sheer amount of lore, world-building, and secrets is baffling, and what is more baffling is the consistency of all of these things present throughout the game.
Undoubtedly, Hollow Knight’s strength is its depth, and the more depth a game has, the better your overall experience is going to be.
The 2D MetroidVania-esque classic draws you into its world and refuses to let go throughout the long campaign.
Exploring is one of the more rewarding aspects of this game, as anywhere you see and travel, there are new things to do and monsters to fight. Check it out as soon as you can.
Check it out on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Team Cherry
- Release Date: 24 February 2017
- Platforms: PC, Linux, MacOS, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
12. Hotline Miami
Now, whenever we talk about the top indie games, Hotline Miami is sure to make it to that list.
This colorful, bloody, top-down 80s action romp takes you through a surreal world wherein you must answer a malevolent caller whose specific instructions take you through various locations to murder the inhabitants of said location.
The visuals are astonishing, the soundtrack is glorious, and you are going to have a hell of a time butchering people, all the while wondering what the point of the game really is.
Hotline Miami is available on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital
- Release Date: 23 October 2012
- Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
13. Hyper Light Drifter
The recurring theme that we will come across in many of these games is their sheer simplicity. Hyper Light Drifter is no different.
This 8-bit action platformer comes from a line of greatly acclaimed video games and is the spiritual successor to many old favorites.
Much of the story is inferred by the player, which is just a slight hindrance to immersion but not necessarily a bad thing.
Other than that, Hyper Light Drifter is filled with sights and sounds from an era gone by and is a great nostalgic trip filled with visually appealing locations and combat.
Find Hyper Light Drifter on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Heart Machine
- Release Date: 31 March 2016
- Platforms: PC, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
14. Outlast
Outlast is terrifying. It looks to explore the depths of the human mind, and what it can truly conjure once put under enough duress.
This smash-hit title takes you through the dimly lit, bloody corridors of Mount Massive, an asylum where the doors are only closed and the only way to get out is to internalize what’s happening in there.
But much like any other sane human being, your character is a cynic, and a journalist too so that’s the perfect combination.
Survival is the name of the game here, but while you can keep your body intact, who’s to say your mind will stay the same?
This best-selling indie game is a must-play.
Find Outlast and the Whistleblower DLC on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Red Barrels Entertainment
- Release Date: 4 September 2013
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
15. Papers, Please
Ever thought you would have fun deciding the fate of hundreds of potential immigrants? Well now you can, being a border checkpoint employee.
Papers Please is a fantastic game about socio-political tension, peoples’ lives being bogged down under documents, and the struggle of the average man to feed and look out for his family.
Be careful though, overlook a tiny detail while visitors are pouring in, and you might lose the only job that you can get. Papers, please.
Get it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: 3909 LLC
- Release Date: 8 August 2013
- Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux, PSVIta
16. Pyre
Pyre is gripping, and not in the sense that you might think. No, it is anything but conventional. Let me explain. You are a Reader in Pyre, an omniscient creature that is in the midst of all the events that unfold in the game.
It is your job to manage a band of misfits, prisoners that are to be set upon a gladiatorial stage and make sure that they win the Trials.
Pyre is an RTS chock full of story, and a jaw-dropping music arrangement to go with shiny, Lovecraftian visuals, and it must be played to be believed.
Get Pyre on Amazon right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Supergiant Games
- Release Date: 25 July 2017
- Platforms: PC, Linux, MacOS, PS4
17. Salt and Sanctuary
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and nobody takes it more to heart than ska studios.
Their offering, Salt and Sanctuary, is heavily derivative of Dark Souls and does not shy away from that comparison, instead, taking it to heart and building upon that laurel.
The visceral action, confusing story, and mind-bending difficulty are all elements carried over from FromSoftware’s three-parter epic, and that is what gives Salt and Sanctuary its charm.
This is not the most popular indie game around, but it should be, a must-try if you are trying to take a break from the 3D adventures of the predecessor and want a more casual version of it.
Get it on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Ska Studios
- Release Date: 15 March 2016
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, MacOS, PSVita, Nintendo Switch
18. Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight reminds me of the NES era in all the good ways. The 8-bit soundtrack, amazing side-scrolling action, and minimal story are all elements I miss from my Megaman playing days, and the urge to dust off my old set was somewhat sated by this indie classic.
Along with that, the colorful visual layout and the simple but challenging boss battles are great round-off points for a brilliantly presented game.
Shovel Knight is truly a shining gem in an otherwise overcrowded indie market, making sure that it does not forget the roots that it borrows from, one of the top indie games around if you ask me.
Get Shovel Knight on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Yacht Club Games
- Release Date: 26 June 2014
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Linux
19. Slay the Spire
Combining turn-based deck building and roguelikes into one game?
Why did nobody else ever think of that? Slay the Spire is a game like no other.
This genre-bender combines the aforementioned elements seamlessly, and while the visuals are nothing to write home about, StS makes up for it and then some with the combat, general cartoony aesthetic, and an overarching sense of achievement whenever the cards are stacked in your favor.
What’s more interesting is the innumerable combinations that give you more synergy unexpectedly.
Out of nowhere, you might find yourself slaying the biggest bosses because of two cards working together, and that is where you will find the charm of this game.
Grab Slay the Spire from Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: MegaCrit/HumbleBundle
- Release Date: 23 January 2019
- Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
20. Slime Rancher
Farming is a tedious mechanic in any game that you will come across, and it certainly is a mechanic not enjoyed by the majority of gamers.
But when it is done right, like in the case of Slime Rancher, what’s tedious can become hours upon hours of steady fun.
As the eponymous Rancher, you harvest and look after creatures that are made out of slime, and well, not much more.
The visuals are cute and the slime themselves don’t execute any unwanted behavior, so what carries this game is really the hope that you enjoy ranching enough to make it a digital pastime.
But hey, how many years did you spend on Farmville yet?
One of the top indie games around for popularity and critical acclaim.
Get this on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Monomi Park
- Release Date: 1 August 2017
- Platforms: PC, MacOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
21. Spelunky
Spelunky is yet another indie classic that harkens back to the golden age of NES simplicity.
The challenge of Spelunky does not lie in the difficulty that it offers, but the sheer number of times that it can catch you off guard.
An exhausting number of traps, pitfalls, creatures, and even allies that can turn on you and kill you, and the various ways they can do so provides the majority of the challenge in this game, which makes it one of the best dungeon crawlers of all time.
With a sequel already released, you can see why people love this game.
Get it on Steam right now!
- Developer/Publisher: Derek Yu
- Release Date: 31 December 2008
- Platforms: PC, ChromeOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
22. Stardew Valley
There is a sense of returning to your roots in Stardew valley that will have you coming back to it after a busy day at work or school every time.
The calm and charm of the countryside is something that can never be replaced by the hustle and bustle of city life, and Stardew Valley is an excellent example of the ethics behind video game design as well.
The mellow, almost lazy farming simulator reminds you of the simpler things in life and why it is important to sometimes sit back, relax, and watch things grow around you.
Also Read: Games Like Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is available on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: ConcernedApe
- Release Date: 25 February 2016
- Platforms: PC, Linux, MacOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
23. Subnautica
Adding to the other truly horrifying game on this list, Subnautica aims to fill you with wonder and the fear of the unknown at the same time.
As the sole survivor of an ill-fated journey through space, landing in an alien sea on an alien planet, it is your job to venture into the deep below and piece together what happened to the rest of the cast and crew.
With predatory creatures lurking everywhere, Subnautica manages to keep you alarmingly alert for the entirety of the time that you will spend on it, and encourages you to carefully pick apart the secrets of the waters that you are now in.
One of the best indie games on PC right now.
Get Subnautica on Steam!
- Developer/Publisher: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Release Date: 23 January 2018
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Conclusion
While they might not offer photorealism or big-budget cinematics, indie games always capture the heart and soul of why we play video games; at the end of the day, the purpose is to have a little bit of fun, a little bit of respite from our busy daily lives.
Video games are an escape, and the indie genre continues to provide the same with a variable library of games that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
