As always, we wanted to spotlight the indie games in 2024 that caught our attention and our hearts. To round up our top indie games of 2024, we looked at writers’ personal favorites as provided by their lists and scores across our site to pick our top 25. Whether it’s roguelikes, the occult, or just something more cinematic, we’ve got you covered.
To make our top indie games of the 2024 list, the game had to have had a release in the calendar year of 2024 – this does not include ports, only games having their first outing for general audiences. While the publishers could be from AA publishing studios with indie arms, an independent or small team of developers must have developed each game on this list. If you’re looking for our list that includes AAA studio titles, you can go here.
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As you scroll through this Top Indie Games of 2024 list, we ask that you think about the people behind the video games on it. Remember that people make video games, and as the industry continues to lay off talented creatives, we owe it to them to ensure we celebrate them instead of just the companies. Additionally, we have to remember our peers in games media who have lost their jobs, shuttered their sites or left the industry altogether. All of you matter.
Without further ado, here are our top indie games of 2024.
25. Venture to the Vile
Developer: Studio Cut to Bits
Publisher: Aniplex
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
“Venture To The Vile is clearly a Metroidvania built with a deep knowledge of its genre. More importantly, it’s an indie game that embodies passion, creativity, and a special kind of whimsical weirdness that will stay with you past rolling credits.
Every stage and boss makes you want to revisit them, and every interaction with a townsperson begs you to complete their quirky sidequest. The boss fights to utilize their environments and boss abilities consistently, pushing you to remain engaged. And finally, its expertly crafted story makes Venture To The Vile another must-play indie of the year.” —Kate Sánchez
24. Fear The Spotlight
Developer: Cozy Game Pals
Publisher: Blumhouse Games
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
“More indie games are looking at the past with PS1 graphics, but Fear Spotlight is looking into the past through a very specific cultural lens. Wrapped in nostalgia in the best way, Fear The Spotlight will hit those who loved A24’s I Saw The TV Glow. Similar to the film, the Blumhouse Game embodies a specific time in horror and what it meant for young adults at the time. A little bit of Buffy and a little bit of Are You Afraid of the Dark? but with more danger, Fear The Spotlight reminds me of my past…
I keep thinking about Fear The Spotlight because I keep thinking about how scared I felt when there wasn’t even a known threat. It was just me looking at school portraits, walking around the library bookcases, and just exploring, and I never felt like something wasn’t going to happen. That oppressive environment may be exhausting for some, but for me, I felt like I was on the Hellmouth, just waiting for something to go wrong, and I thrived on that fear.” —Kate Sánchez
23. Steamworld Heist II
Developer: Thunderful Development
Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch
“SteamWorld Heist 2 also features a free-aim mechanic, allowing players to aim shots themselves. This enables shooting the hats off enemies to collect and customize your own bots. Free-aim helps to just barely get a bullet over a piece of cover and to ricocheting bullets around cover for extremely satisfying kills. With the free-aim system and the importance of positioning, combat encounters tend to feel almost like puzzles. It makes for extremely satisfying combat that is as rewarding as it is challenging.
There is something extremely cozy about SteamWorld games. The tight-knit nature of their mechanics and casual fun tone come together to make them an easy blast to play. SteamWorld Heist 2 is no different. Its turn-based combat is as deep as it is thrilling. While its story isn’t anything that will stick with a player after the credits roll, it is enough to garner some chuckles and keep things moving. It is set to be a great new entry for dedicated SteamWorld fans and a great jumping-on-point for newcomers and strategy fans alike.” —Arron Kluz
22. #BLUD
Developer: Exit 73 Studios
Publisher: Humble Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4
“Consistent with every other aspect of #BLUD, the enemy design and variety are chock full of personality… Finding the ins and outs of each new enemy was always fun and not immediately evident. Usually found at the end of each chapter, the bosses can go straight to bullet hell at moments. They’re well-designed and a blast to take down.
Playing across both PC and Steam Deck, I encountered no performance issues at all. This is a fantastic Steam Deck game. It was awesome being able to hop in and explore a new area or knock out a few side quests while on the go.
#BLUD is one that can’t be missed. For any cartoon fans, there’s so much to love here. The cutscenes, animations, and writing are pitch perfect and feel ripped straight from Cartoon Network. The combat is fun and constantly presents new challenges. It’s a love letter entirely devoted to the animated medium, from its design to its characters. Pair #BLUD with a Saturday morning, and you will not be disappointed.” —Matt Sowinski
21. Ultros
Developer: Hadoque
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5
“Environmentally, ULTROS is absolutely breathtaking. In fact, breathtaking might be an understatement. The art team is led by industry icon Niklas “El Huervo” Åkerblad, well-known for his iconic cover art for Hotline Miami and its sequel. His unique artistic approach gives ULTROS its psychedelic vibe. Every single second of ULTROS is literally dripping with color and captivating designs. There is so much detail at the fore and background of each scene. It is really environmental storytelling at its best.
This is all further enhanced by a brilliant score composed by Oscar “Ratvader” Rydelius. Ratvader’s music is inspired by his home country of Sweden, but he also takes ideas from classical Peruvian music. The two styles seem different at first, but he combines them seamlessly. Moments of introspection in the story are buoyed by Ratvader’s musical nuance. The boss battles are even more epic with the resonant themes playing in the background. The soundtrack throughout just makes the experience that much better.
ULTROS is a masterclass in environmental storytelling combined with solid Metroidvania mechanics in a truly excellent package. Go into this one slow and ready to enjoy the journey and it will more than pay off.” —Kyle Foley
20. I Am Your Beast
Developer: Strange Scaffold
Publisher: Strange Scaffold, Frosty Pop
Platforms: PC
“The levels have bonus objectives as well, changing each replay to grant a new focus. New laptops may spawn that need to be accessed, or combat may need to be avoided entirely. There are also challenge levels that unlock as you complete the main story as well, adding another layer of difficulty for those looking for it. It also runs really well on Steam Deck, making it the perfect pick up and play experience on the go.
I Am Your Beast is a fantastic action game, one that really hones in on speed, adaptability, and efficiency. Memorizing levels and finding creative ways through them is a necessity for top times. Factoring in methods of murder on top of that adds another intriguing layer, all wrapped in a fantastically voice-acted narrative that keeps the player engaged. It’ll grab you and not let go, bringing you into Harding’s forest and keeping you for one more run.” —Matt Sowinski
19. RKGK / Rakugaki
Developer: Wabisabi Games
Publisher: Wabisabi Games
Platforms: PC
“The game’s core concept embraces art as a tool of resistance. The Mexico-based studio taps into a long tradition of graffiti culture in the country and beyond. A Mexican-American myself, I remember the large murals of Aztec warriors on the sides of buildings in my neighborhood. Often overlooked by people as the “bad part” of town, those murals represented a resiliency in the face of circumstance. Sure, RKGK is an electrically colored dystopian world, but the fact that art is being used to stand against an oppressive force looking to assimilate and rob Cap City of its culture? Well, that’s what street art has always been about.
RKGK is an astounding debut game from Wabisabi Games. It is a platformer that wears its inspirations on its sleeves but never once feels like a derivative. Instead, RKGK shows the power of growing from the media you love and using it to create something special and unique. Kinetic gameplay, a dynamic score, and an absolutely vibrant artistic vision all make RKGK / Rakugaki a game that deserves to be on every single game of the year list.” —Kate Sánchez
18. UFO 50
Developer: Microbird Games
Publisher: Curve Games
Platforms: PC
“UFO 50 is not like any other game out there, indie or not. A collection of fifty distinct game experiences, it is a massive package on the surface. But that doesn’t even scratch the surface. UFO 50 is framed as a collection of classic 80s games made by a fictional video game studio, adding layers to the experience. Each title in the collection is developed to feel as though it could have been released decades ago but with modern design sensibilities and tweaks. It is a trove of types of games that are rare to see now and with a fun meta-narrative of the fictional studio’s story to boot.
But the real standouts of UFO 50 are the games themselves. They range wildly in scope, size, and genre, but each one is a clear love letter to an age of gaming that has long since passed. There’s an arcade take on dodgeball, a Western RPG in the style of Final Fantasy, and even a classic spin on an idle game. The sheer breadth of what is available is staggering. Many of the titles could have stood on their own, but getting all fifty in one package elevates UFO 50 to being a special achievement.” —Arron Kluz
17. Another Crab’s Treasure
Developer: Aggro Crab
Publisher: Aggro Crab
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
“Another Crab’s Treasure is a fantastic soulslike for those looking for an entry into soulslikes. Its storytelling and embracing of an unfamiliar setting make it stand out. Plus, its implementation of fairly extensive accessibility options makes it a more welcoming experience for those who are interested in going on a little crab adventure… Another Crab’s Treasure will draw you in with its fun exploration, beautiful environments, and unique shell mechanics.” —Mick Abrahamson
16. Dungeons of Hinterberg
Developer: Microbird Games
Publisher: Curve Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass
“Dungeons of Hinterberg takes the dungeon design of Zelda and blends it with the social systems of Persona, making it a dream come true. Joining Luisa on her trip to the magical town of Hinterberg is fantastic. Her strong writing and fun gameplay make the adventure worth taking.
There’s something serene about the town and its inhabitants, even with trouble bubbling underneath. It touches on burnout and finding oneself in beautiful ways. Deciding who to spend time with is genuinely challenging, as I felt torn in multiple directions. The combat and dungeon designs are similarly excellent, with each area having unique power-ups. Dungeons of Hinterberg is a fantastic and heartfelt adventure about finding yourself.” —Matt Sowinski
15. Pacific Drive
Developer: Ironwood Studios
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5
“Pacific Drive feels isolating in a reflective and oddly comforting way despite its sci-fi undertone. It’s just you and your car creating a personal journey about life’s unpredictabilities and how you choose to navigate them. It’s perseverance and survival. It’s finding beauty and comfort in the mundane, all while cleverly crafted under the eerie veil of the unknown.
Personally, long drives of any caliber serve as moments of contemplation. It is a space held by a time that is liberating, comforting, providing, and just about whatever the individual wields their four-wheel champion to be. Pacific Drive thoughtfully translates simple yet overlooked human aspects through an experience that is truly unique and unforgettable.” —Katherine Kong
14. Cat Quest III
Developer: The Gentlebros
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4|5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S.
“A really standout feature of Cat Quest 3, and one that has been a welcome trademark of the series, is its full support of couch co-op. Having another player jump into your adventure is absolutely seamless and serves to only elevate the fun you were having on your own. It is mercifully easy to do and makes it a perfect game to play with a non-gamer friend, someone younger, or anyone looking for a more casual fun experience.
Cat Quest 3 pulls off a balancing act that few games manage to. It is accessible enough for nearly anyone to jump in while being fun and engaging enough for players who prefer more mechanically dense RPGs to still have a ton of fun. It is oversaturated with personality and charm, making every minute of playing it filled with something funny, interesting, or unique.” —Arron Kluz
13. INDIKA
Developer: Odd Meter
Publisher: 11Bit Studios
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
“Each puzzle is intricately woven into the narrative. Notably, one of my favorite puzzles transforms the entire environment into a hellish red. Indika must steel herself by praying and in doing so, it shifts a ruptured terrain into solid paths she can cross.
INDIKA grounds intrigue with its arthouse cinematic flair and satire. It engages curiosity and entertainment. Its world is shrouded in emptiness and questions that mirror Indika’s internal struggles. While it uses religion as a foundation, INDIKA differs in its choice of music and artistic direction. It hits you hard at first with peculiarities but begins to slowly untangle to a philosophical resolution. It parallels how believing and wanting something so intently can result in hard truths.” —Katherine Kong
12. Nine Sols
Developer: RedCandleGames
Publisher: RedCandleGames
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
“The skyrocketing popularity of Soulslikes has given rise to loads of worthy successors and genre additions. But one of the most unique and beautiful is this year’s Nine Sols. Nine Sols is a side-scrolling platformer with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice pumping through its veins. With beautiful hand-drawn art, it labels “to punk,” Nine Sols challenges players with lightning-quick deflection-based combat mechanics that are as tough as they are satisfying.
Nine Sols also offers a peek at an effortlessly gripping world and narrative. It puts players in the shoes of Yi, a warrior travelling through the layers of an abandoned city to track down and kill nine ancient rulers. It leaves a lot to interpretation and implication, allowing the player to fill in the gaps themselves while they explore and learn about a truly alien world. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful original world, tight responsive gameplay, or a lesson in exquisite game direction, Nine Sols has something for you.” —Arron Kluz
11. Arco
Developer: Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki,Fáyer
Publisher: Panic
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
“A tactical RPG, Arco uses Mesoamerican and Latin American culture to create a rich and beautiful world for you to explore. Arco’s pixel art style is nostalgic, but who it’s representing and how it does it is absolutely gorgeous. The different landscapes and our trio of heroes are wonderfully realized. The game also takes RPG decision-making to the max, with every decision you make through exploration and combat impacting the course of your game.
Building in replayability, the game doesn’t allow you to escape guilt or the weight of your choices. And I’m not saying that as a turn of phrase. The guilt stacks on your conscience repeatedly as you make bad choices worldwide. Arco’s approach to storytelling is fantastic, and the team’s dedication to making the main heroes you can choose from, such as Tizo, Itzae, Afur, and Chio, dynamic characters stands out. Exploration and combat are what the game revolves around, and it’s made better through the game’s score.
Still, its truly unforgiving combat system is what takes the prize. I am not tactical, and that showed when I played Arco. However, the combat depth kept me coming back repeatedly.” —Kate Sánchez
10. Thank Goodness You’re Here
Developer: Coal Supper
Publisher: Panic
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch
“The art style and graphics are similarly on point, with fantastic hand-drawn cartoon-like animation. The environments are packed with details and jokes, and the characters each have memorable and unique designs and the occasional cut scene is packed with personality. It’s a joy to watch.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is one of the most creative and zany gaming experiences out there. It grabs at you constantly, surprising the player with every narrative beat and new character. Everything lends itself to pushing the humor in new ways, from the art style to the voice acting to the background to the main story—it all coalesces into an absurd adventure that is entirely worth the ride.” —Matt Sowinski
9. Cryptmaster
Developer: Paul Hart, Lee Williams, Akupara Games
Publisher: Akupara Games
Platforms: PC
“Words are hard, and Cryptmaster is here to remind you of that. As a motley crew of four, slowly recovering your memories with guidance from a mysterious necromancer proves to be a bantering adventure. It is a unique blend of dungeon crawling meets typing adventure that finds a balance between challenging and intrinsically motivating.
Whether you’re typing or speaking, using your words controls how players engage in combat, solve riddles, capture collectibles, and even occasionally have witty exchanges with NPCs. Find yourself at a loss for words or have a flood of potential adjectives and nouns to carry you through.” —Katherine Kong
8. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Developer: Simogo
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platforms: PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch, PC
“Overall, the level of detail throughout Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is applaudable. The game feels like it’s made by a team that had ideas, and they ran with it. Where this feeling really shines through is with the shortcuts and collectibles. There are twenty doors that are numbered and locked. They are completely optional to open, but unlocking them gives you an easier time navigating the hotel. You solve them through a puzzle book without ties to the rest of the game’s solutions except for these doors. Solving one of these puzzles is just as satisfying as solving a puzzle for progression…
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is magnificently crafted, oozing with detail, love, and care. What it does amazingly is give you all the tools you need to figure out this mystery within the hotel. The only limitation to you figuring out a puzzle and reaching the ending is you. Only minor gripes, like its overtly simplistic controls, keep it from being a perfect game. Even then, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a can’t-miss, especially if you love a good puzzle game built in a beautifully crafted world with an even better story.” —Mick Abrahamson
7. Rise of the Golden Idol
Developer: Color Gray Games
Publisher: Playstack
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
“To its credit, the hint system is fantastic, reminding players to reexamine their assumptions and double-check the answers they’ve input. After a few seconds on the hint screen and a suggested breathing exercise, they can access more explicit hints, which start as vague leading questions before giving a more direct hint. These guiding questions are appreciated since they give you a hint about how to solve the puzzle instead of just giving you the answer.
Ultimately, The Rise of the Golden Idol scratches a very specific puzzle-solving itch and provides plenty of “Eureka!” moments. When the plot starts to unfold, it becomes an exhilarating race to the end to uncover the final truth, provided you don’t lose focus and make too many mistakes.” —Eddie De Santiago
6. Tactical Breach Wizards
Developer: Suspicious Developments
Publisher: Suspicious Developments
Platforms: PC
“The setup for the RPG Tactical Breach Wizards is deceptively simple: what if SWAT was wizards? Taking that and running with it on a global adventure, out to stop an ex-colleague gone sideways, Tactical Breach Wizards is a blast. The cast is fantastic, with some of my favorite writing of the entire year. Each character has a unique voice that fits as a piece of the puzzle, with Jen being a standout.
She’s endlessly charming and self-deprecating and an absolute powerhouse in combat. The level design is incredible as you infiltrate buildings, move trains, and more with your mage squad. The battles are fantastic, especially as more powers and abilities unlock. Want to defenestrate a multitude of enemies, sending them you the window with magic and guns? Tactical Breach Wizards delivers in spades; it’s one of the year’s best games besides being a top RPG.” —Matt Sowinski
5. Neva
Developer: Nomada Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
“Neva is a beautiful, heartfelt telling that showcases how grief takes many forms. From environmental decay to the bonds we form over time, grief is ever much a part of our lives. Within that, there is sadness in what once was, while beauty is simultaneously held for whatever is next. Neva carries players through its four seasons, much like the seasons of our lives. Each perfectly captures what is felt through its landscape and what cannot be spoken.” —Katherine Kong
4. 1000xResist
Developer: Sunset Visitor
Publisher: Fellow Traveller Games
Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch
“1000xRESIST starts with a bang as The Watcher runs a blade through the All-Mother. Even without any context, it hooks and draws the player in. While the action may slow down as the game flashes back, the level of tension never leaves you. What led The Watcher, a sister in an enclave at the end of the world, to kill the very leader of their home?
1000xRESIST manages to delve into a number of heavy and difficult topics, handling each with a level of grace and emotional maturity far beyond most games. Whether it’s racism, mental health, the Hong Kong riots, or anything else 1000xRESIST brings in, the story it tells is one that will stay with you. From the incredible graphics to the emotional and gripping story, 1000xRESIST is a constant reminder that games are art.” —Matt Sowinski
3. Mouthwashing
Developer: Wrong Organ
Publisher: Critical Reflex
Platform: PC
“So yes, Mouthwashing is brutal to play. It is gory, chilling, and even scary (though, thankfully, it doesn’t lean into the jump-scares all too often). The use of lo-fi graphics helps build some of the unease, as well as the uncanny and surreal nature of some story moments. On sound design alone, Wrong Organ deserves some awards for this.
Mouthwashing is a must-play horror experience and has cemented Wrong Organ as a team to continue to watch moving forward. Beautiful, crushing, harrowing, resonant – Mouthwashing will sting in a way that sticks with you for some time.” —Eric Van Allen
2. Animal Well
Developer: Shared Memory (Billy Basso)
Publisher: Bigmode
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
“There is no narrative opening explaining why the player is setting off on the journey that Animal Well challenges them to. This was initially a problem for me, as narrative purpose is a big motivator for me. Looking back on my experience with the game, it feels like the perfect way to establish the game’s greatest strength: that it is what it is. There is not a single moment in Animal Well that feels like it’s there because it’s expected of the game. As the vision of a single developer, the game feels like a passion project in the truest form…
Animal Well delivers a gorgeous art style paired with unique gameplay and an uncompromising vision. While this vision enables something striking and memorable, it also causes its greatest failings. These failings will make it a pass for some players, but those looking for what the game excels at will revel in their time with everything Animal Well has to offer.” —Charles Hartford
1. Balatro
Developer: LocalThunk
Publisher: Playstack
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, PC, macOS, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android, iOS
“Balatro is a roguelite poker game. By the description alone, it was nothing to write home about. I didn’t love poker enough to play it in video game form, but a single glance at the gameplay was enough to make me a believer. It starts simple, but a fortuitous run can turn your standard deck of cards into a mishmash of strategies that creates a high score so monstrous it deserves its own section in the Necronomicon.
It lacks the massive fire-breathing dragons or pulse-pounding soundtracks that other games this year provided, but at its core, it pushes and bends the rules of game design just enough that it’s fun, fair, and challenging. It reminds us that a game doesn’t have to be a 50+ hour epic to be memorable, and it scratches our brains in just the right way to see the multipliers ticking up explosively because we found just the right combination of Jokers.
Yet, in spite of its inspiration, Balatro refuses to nickel-and-dime players, eschewing the piecemeal monetization of other games and certainly the gambling that comes with its real-world counterpart. Balatro is a game that makes us rethink what game design is, and it’s such a basic concept that we can’t help but chant, “Money! Money! Money!” when the big number gets bigger.” —Eddie De Santiago
So that’s it for our top indie games of 2024! It’s been a long, cozy, adventurous, action-packed, and so much more kind of year for the top indie games of 2024. Picking our top indie games of 2024 wasn’t easy, so if we missed one of your favorites this year, let us know on social media: @butwhytho.net on Bluesky.
