As always, we wanted to spotlight the indie games in 2025 that caught our attention and our hearts. To round up our top indie games of 2025, 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. From intimate slice-of-life stories, stories about being a steward for the world, to genre-defining powerhouses, and co-op games that pull you closer to the people you care about, 2025 was defined by so many different titles that we had to widen our Top Indie Games of 2025 list to 30 titles this year.
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To make our top indie games of the 2025 list, the game had to have had a release in the calendar year of 2025 – 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, each game on this list must have been developed by an independent team of developers.
To define an independent developer, we mean an individual or development studios that are not owned partially or entirely by AAA game studios/publishers or tech companies. If you’re looking for our list that includes AAA studio titles, you can go here.
As you scroll through this Top Indie Games of 2025 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 2025.
Top Indie Games of 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
30. Tiny Bookshop
Developer: neoludic games
Publisher: Skystone Games
For something so small, Tiny Bookshop holds more than you might expect. It’s cozy and deliberate, offering enough to keep you engaged without ever tipping into overwhelm, letting you run your shop at your own pace. It left me reflecting on the value of physical books, something that feels even more important in a time when many are being challenged or banned.
Tiny Bookshop is a charming space to slow down, savor the moment, and make it your own. Quiet moments give way to meaningful choices, and small actions bloom into the joy of watching a story find its reader. Whether you’re drawn in by the love of books, the pull of a gentle management sim, or simply the pleasure of a world that doesn’t rush you. In Tiny Bookshop, the reward isn’t in the coins you earn, but in the connections you create, one book at a time.
29. Wheel World
Developer: Messhof
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Wheel World rarely forces our hand; instead, we encourage you to move at your own pace. The discovery of new drivetrains, two and three-speed bikes, offers a deeper challenge. Players are never required to use them, but they are offered to masters for those looking to experiment or lean into technical riding that adds a layer of difficulty and immersion.
That choice, to ride how you want, to shape your experience not just through specs but through connection, is the heart of Wheel World. It’s a title that takes you by surprise, offering more than expected through its flexibility and reverence. Whether you’re chasing the perfect build or simply coasting through a sunset, Wheel World meets you where you are and lets you move forward from there.
28. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
Developer: Happy Broccoli Games
Publisher: Happy Broccoli Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Duck Detective is a modern point-and-click adventure, with a zany premise and all. The Ghost of Glamping continues this hilarious series by taking Duck Detective to the great outdoors, where a whole new cast of characters is getting into their own mischief as numerous mysteries unfold.
What makes this one great is it’s for the whole family, well-voiced, and a nice three to four hour experience that will always keep you on your toes.
27. Fellowship
Developer: Chief Rebel
Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing, ARC Games
Platforms: PC
Dungeons have regularly been a highlight of MMOs. Fellowship makes that excellent aspect their whole personality, and it works. It especially takes one of World of Warcraft’s most fun end-game content, Mythic +, and takes the grindiness out of the equation, while keeping fun character expression with unique character builds and highly personable characters to play.
26. Lushfoil Photography Sim
Developer: Matt Newell
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5|4
Exploration and discovery are key aspects of Lushfoil Photography Sim, and it could easily feel tedious with how much roaming players do to find the objective photos. To reduce that noise, every photo taken serves as a fast travel point. It teleports players back to the exact frame and location where it was originally taken. This design choice preserves the calm atmosphere and creative flow while still allowing players to enjoy their experience.
Lushfoil Photography Sim enhances our understanding of how and why we tend to document moments in our lives. On the surface, players wander about stunning locations, taking photos of what catches their eye, but beneath that simplicity is something more profound. It’s a timestamp, preserving appreciation for beautiful moments and the emotions unique to every individual. It engages us with more intention for the world around us, even if it is a digital one. It’s a quiet act of wonder, a personal imprint of fleeting moments suspended in time.
25. Revenge of the Savage Planet
Developer: Raccoon Logic
Publisher: Raccoon Logic
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Revenge of the Savage Planet’s co-op taps into a chaotic joy that works perfectly. The effortless humor and fantastic level and puzzle design make this a game that you can’t put down. The game also adds a bevy of customization options for your character. You can explore and find new suit cosmetic items and unlock color palettes to give your scientist (or Meat copy) a personality. This small detail goes quite a long way when you start interacting with optional challenges or enter the few cutscenes you see in the game.
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a testament to building on a solid foundation and letting creativity lead the way. Whether it’s the puzzles, the platforming, the creature design, or the ace comedic dialogue, this game delivers in every single way. Co-op or solo, it’s just pure joy, and it comes from a satirical take on working that hits close to home.
24. Road to Empress
Developer: New One Studio
Publisher: New One Studio
Platforms: PC, Android, iOS
Asian dramas from Korea, China, Japan, and more countries have dominated the pop culture consciousness, and Road to Empress takes full advantage of that. Essentially a visual novel, this Chinese period drama, set in the Tang Dynasty, is a fully acted live-action game that allows the player to chart their path through history. With a story that revolves around one of China’s most powerful women in history, this cinematic FMV title stars Kuan Hung, Evie Huang, Zeawo, Hana Lin, Zi Yu, and Qi Xiaxia.
This is a title for every fan of C-Dramas and does an immense amount of work to bridge the gap between drama watchers who don’t play games and gamers who don’t watch dramas. The production value, set design, and gorgeous costuming make this historical title come to life in a wonderful way. While court intrigue and the need to uphold charm, wisdom, and courage shape your choices, the politics of this dramatic tale make it one of the most unique video games of the year.
23. Fresh Tracks
Developer: Buffalo Buffalo
Publisher: Buffalo Buffalo
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
While the current number of songs feels limiting, the tracks and Mythics create a challenging and encapsulating experience. Fresh Tracks is especially full of tunes that quickly become earworms after one listen. Fun challenges and fantastic narration told through a mix of story-songs and an excellent narration by different Mythics make each run feel unique, leading you to want to do “one more run” over and over again.
Even if roguelites or rhythm games don’t typically grab you, Fresh Tracks expertly mixes both into a form that almost doesn’t feel like either. In other words, Fresh Tracks is such a unique experience and deserves all the recognition coming its way.
22. Cronos: The New Dawn
Developer: Bloober Team
Publisher: Bloober Team
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2
The New Dawn‘s story is a slow burn that accomplishes a great deal with so little. It reveals little to you at the start, and by the end, the Collective is as mysterious as it was in the beginning. It focuses on the human aspect of surviving an extinction-level event. This is best illustrated by its time-travel aspect.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a lot of fun as a survival horror. While not terrifying, it is still stressful and does something unique with the genre. Especially with the enemy aggressiveness and transformations, you’re always kept on your toes. Yet it still has one key flaw. It’s not a scary game. It does, however, deliver a great story that borders on body and psychological horror.
21. Skate Story
Developer: Sam Eng
Publisher: Digital Devolver
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 5
The challenge in Skate Story doesn’t come from skating or performing tricks, but from trying not to wipe out constantly. Every little bump is a setback because The Skater is made of literal glass. The boss fights, all of which are timed, also offer a bit of challenge. They’re intense and will have you perform several tricks in quick succession, like building up combos and then finishing them up with a massive stomp on the boss’s shadow, which more often than not is a moon you’re trying to consume.
Skate Story‘s gameplay is elevated by its impeccable soundtrack. Whether you’re skating casually or frantically towards or away from an enemy, each track matches the energy on screen incredibly well and is all memorable, melodic, and just fun to listen to. It also helps that the soundtrack consists of a variety of songs, from synth tracks to jazzy beats.
Skate Story is a memorable, fun, and engaging game that, even with its odd details, offers an incredibly refreshing experience not seen in the genre.
20. Consume Me
Developer: Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken “coda” Snyder
Publisher: Hexecutable
Platforms: PC, Mac
I have dealt with disordered eating for most of my life, and Consume Me made me confront that in a way that other media simply does not. A slice-of-life RPG that also feels like a body management sim (something I didn’t think possible), this indie game does the most to throw the player into the anxiety, ritualized behavior, and social reactions that come with food restriction.
Simple in many ways, game elements about planning work to set the player in a rhythm of life that makes them both question and react to the tension we see as the character we move through life. The use of the planner, to-do list, and scheduling turns a simple game into a mirror. The marketing longline asks the question, “Did you feel stupid, fat, lazy, and ugly in high school?” and my answer was a resounding “yes!’
19. Despolote
Developer: Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena
Publisher: Panic
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5|4, Nintendo Switch, Mac
Despolote captures the power of sports, of soccer. Athletics is a language that you connect with people through and shape memories with, and that’s the core of this love letter to the most beautiful game and Latin America. It’s hard to capture how much emotional weight this small game packs with its short playtime.
Still, the unique artistic hand and earnest approach to depicting a slice of life create one of the most honest and intimate stories of the year. Beyond that, Despolote is a nostalgic game for a life I never led, thanks to how wonderfully the title captures and explores youth. It’s all heart, no filler, and one of the most rivetting character studies that games has to offer in 2025.
18. The Midnight Walk
Developer: MoonHood
Publisher: Fast Travel Games
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5
The musical score both soothes and weighs the long walks. It perfectly captures the bittersweet beauty of its world. The music, along with the souls I met, lingers into each new chapter. Quietly, it anchors you in a somber tone, echoing the emotional ebb and flow of life: quiet lulls, aching lows, and crescendoed highs. Every note burns with emotional intensity, a slow ember longing to ignite fully, much like the stories being told by those on the midnight walk.
Conclusively, what makes The Midnight Walk stand out isn’t just its emotional weight, but its striking visual textures. Sculpted in clay and animated through stop motion, the world breathes with an eerie nostalgia and haunting rhythm. Each imperfect frame flickers like a memory retold. It’s unsteady, beautiful, and deeply human. The result is a living storybook that blends melancholy, surreal atmosphere, and emotional resonance into something unforgettable. A walk to remember in every sense.
17. Powerwash Simulator 2
Developer: FuturLab
Publisher: FuturLab
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2
What is especially nice is how the dirt gets cleaned. The detail in the dirt, grime, and muck is impressive and is fitting for each job. For example, there is an emphasis on wet fallen leaves on roofs or more rust on metallic objects. The cleaning itself makes having more detail pay off. Some of the grime sticks, or takes longer to clean off with wider-angle, less powerful nozzles…
Powerwash Simulator 2 really has hit at the perfect time once again. Its stress-free gameplay feels so much better to use, especially in ways where you wouldn’t expect improvement. Its new tools fit very well into any playstyle. Just about every level is well designed with enough differences never to feel repetitive. And the dings still hit as strongly as ever. While the home base and story were lacking, they didn’t bring down an excellent product. Now that the over thirty levels are completed, the next question we should all be asking is, “When can we get more?”
16. Abolsum
Developer: Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks
Publisher: Dotemu
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5|4, Nintendo Switch
All of this frenetic action and world exploration is brought to life by a charming art style. Harkening back to classic fantasy animation, the developers give the world of Talamh a look that is equal parts welcoming and harrowing. The true villains of the story are designed wonderfully, with dark, faceless visages that deliver an intimidating presence. While others range from wild goblins to spooky specters.
The visual design also does a great job of keeping the on-screen action as well-managed as one could ask for. Clear indicators stand out when special attacks are coming or a clash has occurred, keeping the player in the know as to what is going on…
Absolum delivers a truly special roguelite experience. By reining in some of the random elements, it’s able to create a smooth-running story that allows those with less than infinite time an experience they can enjoy. Its generous power-up system promises tons of fun, with plenty to explore and test out, long after the world of Talamh has been saved.
15. Is This Seat Taken?
Developer: Poti Poti Studio
Publisher: Wholesome Games Presents
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Is This Seat Taken? is a solid, wholesome, low-stress logic puzzle game. Its minimalist design is gentle and inviting, which emphasizes the quiet satisfaction of finding solutions. The progression and flow are gradual, layering new requests and chain reactions that never become a point of overwhelm. With picky characters and tasks, it never felt dreadfully tedious. I quickly found myself wanting to fulfill every request and unlock all achievements as each new level and challenge presented itself.
The act of seating subtly mirrors Nat’s journey of finding her place in the world: chasing a dream and carving out a space in the industry they want to be a part of. While this theme is very subtle, it resonates because it reflects a universal human desire. Each puzzle becomes a small glimpse into belonging, choice, and creating spaces that feel meaningful. Is This Seat Taken? is a wholesome, bite-sized title that is a cozy fit for any gaming library.
14. Promise Mascot Agency
Developer: Kaizen Game Works
Publisher: Kaizen Game Works
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Unhinged in all of the best ways, Promise Mascot Agency is an RPG that embraces all of the weirdness in life you can find while driving around, and uses humor to build out one of the zaniest mystery-solving titles I have ever played. Taking place in a cursed town, your job is to solve problems, manage the mascots (yes, this is a mascot management sim), and play your exiled role perfectly.
By putting you in the literal driver’s seat, your exploration is dependent on how you travel, but it doesn’t limit curiosity in the slightest. Artistically, this title does so much with a little, embracing the open world vibe and never getting bogged down in hyperrealism.
Instead, the aesthetic is all camp, all the time, and the narrative winds up better for it. Chaos is the best way to describe the personalities of many of the characters you meet in this cursed town, but the embrace of camp and spectacle all pay off for one of the most absurd takes on life you can play this year.
13. Wildgate
Developer: Moonshot
Publisher: Moonshot
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
Wildgate isn’t trying to be the next anything. It’s carving out space in a growing field of cooperative, extraction-style shooters with a ver
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switchy specific energy: chaotic, team-driven, and confident in its systems. It doesn’t shy away from being complicated. It doesn’t apologize for its learning curve. But it rewards players who engage with it, especially those who bring a crew along for the ride.
Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow. Some parts will frustrate. Systems that could be tuned better. Onboarding might be too steep for casual players. But none of that overshadows what works. And what works here works well.
Wildgate is the kind of chaos that only comes from tight design. It’s messy in all the right ways, and if you’ve got the crew, the headset, and the time to learn its rhythm, there’s nothing quite like it.
12. Hell is Us
Developer: Rogue Facto
Publisher: Nacon
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
In the end, Hell is Us strangely struck me. It reminded me of my earliest gaming experiences: alone in a room, no internet walkthroughs, no friend to call, just trying to figure out what a blinking light meant or why a boss behaved a certain way. Hell is Us captures that again. Only now, the stakes aren’t just mechanical, they’re emotional.
Because this isn’t a game about how strong you are, it’s about what you choose to carry. It’s about how you navigate uncertainty. And it’s about how easily we become Hollow Walkers ourselves when we ignore what we feel. Hell is Us isn’t just about monsters. It’s about what we become when we refuse to deal with the very things that make us human.
No maps. No markers. No mercy. Hell is Us trusts you to listen, to feel, and to get lost. And in doing so, it offers something truly rare: a soul.
11. Lego Voyagers
Developer: Light Brick Studio
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Simplicity in LEGO Voyagers speaks volumes. And by that same token, I can easily see the game’s simple systems and open creative building allow someone of a younger age, especially littles, playing with their parents or siblings an equally rewarding and fun experience.
LEGO Voyagers’ success comes from a simple philosophy that is key in puzzle games, but shines uniquely in this title: Complexity doesn’t mean difficulty, and challenge doesn’t mean frustration. The game is ultimately a thoughtful and loving experience.
From concept to execution, Light Brick Studio has crafted a unique and inspiring video game that pulls its players closer and offers them time to just take a breath. LEGO Voyagers is whimsical, charming, and honestly, the perfect game to play when you need to relax and connect with someone else. We can’t all get away from our daily life or our anxieties, but we can play. LEGO Voyagers lets us do just that.
10. Blue Prince
Developer: Dogubomb
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
It’s hard not to jump right back in after a failure, and even when you fail to accomplish your goal, it’s possible to progress in some other way. Blue Prince succeeds because it somehow knows to drop you a breadcrumb when you’re on the verge of collapse, turning your potential breakdown into a breakthrough. To its credit, it is possible to complete the game without pursuing every single thread to its conclusion. However, it certainly makes it easier to get there when you’ve unlocked every permanent advantage…
Despite frustrations with the random elements of gameplay, Blue Prince presents an experience that is unique, memorable, and as ever-shifting as the rooms of Mt. Holly. It throws you into a mystery full of mysteries and will ask you to take enough notes to create your own conspiracy board. Thankfully, these stories are worth the effort and solving any of them will leave you feeling like a genius.
9. Peak
Developer: Landfall Games, Aggro Crab, Team PEAK
Publisher: Landfall Games, Aggro Crab, Team PEAK
Platform: PC
When a handful of kids crash land on an island, they’ve got to brave nature and all its dangers to reach the peak of the island in one of the year’s hottest indie games, Peak. A basic premise elevated by its simplistic design, proximity chat, and a daily-rearranged island, Peak is a chaotic and hilarious time with friends.
Thanks to the game’s many interacting systems, your group will find yourselves creating your own iconic moments and inside jokes on your way up the mountain. Watching a friend careen down the cliffside only to return as a ghost, hearing the echo of your friends’ chatter ring through a canyon, or pulling off a last-second rescue for a friend covered in thorns make it easy to see how special Peak really is.
For all the potential for laughter, though, all the hilarity falls to the wayside when you successfully reach the summit for the first time, providing one of the best feelings in gaming this year.
8. Sword of the Sea
Developer: Giant Squid
Publisher: Giant Squid
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
The sand moves, the water moves, there isn’t a single part of this world that doesn’t feel alive. And when you realize that everything around you, including the sand, holds beauty and life, you know you aren’t alone. Sword of the Sea captures the beauty of nature, but more importantly, that we are responsible for it. The investment that the game builds with you each time you see new animals join the world in all their whimsy keeps you playing.
Whether it’s the game’s not-too-subtle commentary about climate change or Nava’s explanation of the Wraith, Sword of the Sea is trying and succeeding at making an impact. No singular thing can change the world, but it can plant a seed, and with this title, I hope everyone feels hopeful for a time to rebuild.
7. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch | 2, PlayStation 4 | 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Hollow Knight: Silksong proved why letting devs take their ideas and run with them works. Hornet is just as fun to play and even more complex than imagined. While challenging, every area, fight, and side quest made you prove that you could get to the end of this arduous journey. Every secret and hidden upgrade makes you earn it. At the core, that’s truly what a 2-d action adventure platformer is all about.
6. Lumines Arise
Developer: Enhance
Publisher: Enhance
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
An incredible soundtrack runs throughout the entirety of Lumines Arise. Music from a variety of genres and styles plays out as the game’s various modes challenge players. Always in line with the visual elements on screen, the music adds another layer to the game’s overall presentation. Sometimes upbeat, other times chill, the music always brings a sense of cool to whatever is happening on screen.
Lumines Arise brings a classic puzzle game into the modern era. It combines great gameplay that is easy to learn but challenging to master, with visuals that look great and music that always nails the tone.
5. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Developer: Jump Over The Age
Publisher: Fellow Traveler
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Like the pieces that make up the whole, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector’s story feels made up of the threads you gather through your campaign. By the end, the threads are drawn tight, coalescing in a single powerful story that, combined with a soft, thought-provoking soundtrack, will leave you ruminating long after the credits roll.
4. Wanderstop
Developer: Ivy Road
Publisher: Ivy Road
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Wanderstop isn’t perfect, with some rough edges around the gathering system. But if there is anything to take away from the game, you don’t need to be perfect to matter. Ivy Road has made a game that has impact and one that doesn’t change its protagonist, but you, the player, too.
There isn’t a game like this that takes the cozy genre and explores what can be done with it. Wanderstop is monumental because it provides comfort by simply giving us all permission to stop running and care for ourselves.
3. Dispatch
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Publisher: AdHoc Studio
Platforms: PC
Dispatch absolutely rules. From a stellar cast to incredible animation to fantastic writing, it hits on all accounts. The story, focusing on a down-on-his-luck hero working in a superhero dispatch company, is engaging and hilarious, while also wearing its heart on its sleeve. The supporting cast is as important, filled with massive and memorable personalities.
The episodic structure actually works here, each cliffhanger making you hungry for what comes next. The animation is gorgeous, looking like the best parts of an animated show, with incredible lighting and action choreography. AdHoc Studios made something truly special and one of this year’s best.
2. Hades 2
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | 2, PC Mac
Hades 2 is the perfect sequel, doubling down on everything that worked, while expanding on the world of the original. The combat is tight, fast, and frenetic, ebbing and flowing with each new encounter. It’s absolutely packed with things to do, delivering something new every run to keep the player engaged in its ecosystem.
Hades 2 is a standout experience in a year full of highlights, keeping the player coming back run after run for just one more go. The art style and graphics are as impressive as ever, a visual feast at every turn.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a generational experience. A masterclass of narrative, character, and combat all blending together to create not only the best RPG this year, but one of the best of all time. The narrative is dark, but tinged with hope, with plenty of fantastic twists and an ending that is still being talked about. The characters, with a stellar voice cast, are incredible and profound, each one instantly memorable.
Expedition 33 takes turn-based combat and makes it more engaging and accessible, intelligently weaving in dodge and parry mechanics that make each fight a dance with death. Some of those boss encounters still sit in my brain months later, not just for the encounter itself, but for the graphical wrapping. Expedition 33 is stunningly beautiful, with incredible music that perfectly accompanies every scene. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 deserves every accolade and so much more.
So that’s it for our top indie games of 2025! It’s been a long, cozy, adventurous, action-packed, and so much more kind of year for the top indie games of 2025.
Picking our top indie games of 2025 wasn’t easy, so if we missed one of your favorites this year, let us know on social media: @butwhytho.net on Bluesky.
