Summary
Over the past two decades, the video game industry has exploded in popularity, with manyAAA studios responsible for releasing major titles. However, indie games have always played a vital role in reshaping gaming’s creative boundaries. Once considered niche or experimental, indie titles have been shining bright and often stand at the forefront of innovation, bold artistic visions, and mechanics that rival those of major studio releases.
These indie games challenged genre norms and proved that a small team with a strong vision could have a massive impact on the gaming landscape. The following indie games not only captured new fans and critical success, but also provide examples of what artistic vision and persistence can do in a landscape dominated by major publisher titans.
Released in 2011,The Binding of Isaacmarked a turning point for indie games and the roguelike genre. In a time when heavily scripted experiences and live service games offered extended playtimes through a number of means, this game embraced chaos and unpredictability, and wasn’t afraid to be weird.
Combining twin-stick arcade shooting with randomized dungeon layouts, roguelike mechanics, and hundreds of power-up combinations, this game delivers near-infinite replayability without exposition. In a way, this game likely helped relieve the gaming industry’s desire to produce high-tech graphics and epic storylines in favor of simple yet innovative gameplay.The Binding of Isaac,and its successorThe Binding of Isaac: Rebirth,made challenging, procedurally generated games mainstream.
Slay the Spirecreatively merged two genres, creating a great example of what a deckbuilder game could be in a single-player, combat-oriented format. Released in 2019 after a successful early access period, the game became a blueprint for how to blend card-based mechanics with procedurally generated progression.
This game carved out a new subgenre and solidified it in the gaming landscape, as its success has invited a wave of imitators since then.Slay the Spirenot only redefined gaming, but inspired tabletop-inspired digital games, showcasing how far a deck-building game can go.
Shovel Knightbroke onto the scene in 2014 after successful crowdfunding. This 2D platformer experience is ripe with 8-bit nostalgia, and was inspired by other classics likeMega ManandCastlevania.Shovel Knightdidn’t just capture the essence of nostalgia, but welcomed the NES era and its charm into a refined, modernized experience.
This game didn’t just rely on aesthetics, but fun gameplay surrounding the shovel weapon, sprawling levels, and boss fights. In the years since its release, the developers have beenhard at work with expanding this gamethrough a number of DLCs and games featuring new playable characters, online multiplayer, and some new mechanics. Big studios could look to this project as an example of caring for a game over time and building a community around it.
Celesteis a platforming game emphasizing a narrative around overcoming depression and self-doubt, which also becomes intertwined with the game’s mechanics. The gameplay is built around tight, responsive controls with amazing level design. The game grows increasingly complex with every stage, along with new movement mechanics that pair withthe deeply personal narrative.
Outside of making an amazing, refined platformer game from arcade roots, the developers offered alternative ways to play the game to create more accessibility. It’s clear they were passionate about this project and emphasized the introspective moments of the game.
This is a game free of danger and full of emotion, despite lacking any words.Grisis an artistic game that tells a story through the visual medium and game mechanics, following a narrative through stages of grief. This game features some light puzzles and platforming elements, but overall plays more like an experience, akin to gameslikeJourney.
Grisoffers a minimalist game with powerful feelings through silence and symbolism. This game flows seamlessly between each area, merging artistry and interactivity. It creates an unforgettable experience, proving that games don’t have to rely on combat, strategy, or simulation to hold interest.
Strayfollows a stray catnavigating a strange city deep below the surface of the planet that is populated by sentient robots. This game is exceptional at emotional storytelling through dialogue and the environment, and worldbuilding. It thrives without any human protagonists or heavy exposition.
This game broke away from industry norms, offering simple and evolving gameplay accessible to everyone. Game mechanics center around being a cat, like traversing the environment through leaping and climbing, and solving puzzles by knocking things off high places.Straychallenges assumptions about gaming by creating an interactive storytelling device that blends puzzle solving, platforming, and the occasional horror sequence. The end result is a refreshing experience about a lost cat trying to find home, while unraveling an ancient mystery.
Released in 2020 and published by Supergiant Games,Hadesrevived the roguelike genre by blending fast-paced hack-and-slash action with an evolving narrative. Players control Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape from the Underworld to reach the surface. Early roguelikes emphasized game mechanics and genre blending, whereas this game excels at storytelling on top of clean combat mechanics.
What setsHadesapart from other games is how its roguelike repetition does not feel tedious. As a story-driven game, every little interaction paints a larger narrative, with rewards in the form of aesthetic additions to the House of Hades and more abilities for Zagreus.Hadesreestablishes storytelling as appealing in gaming, successfully matching writing, voice acting, and animation on the same level as a major studio game.
Hollow Knightreinvigorated the Metroidvania genrein 2017, through a blend of atmospheric worldbuilding in the underground fallen empire of Hollownest. This game delivers a sprawling interconnected world, featuring some Soulslike elements in combat and exploration. With minimal guidance and a somewhat non-linear structure, the game encourages curiosity, patience, and discovery.
This game emphasizes ambiguity by offering no additional information other than what the player discovers, and features challenges that require intense coordination. It also creates a world where new areas aren’t just explored, but earned through persistence. Not only is this classic game genre revived with modernized mechanics, the hand-drawn animation and fantastical soundtrack create an emotional atmosphere. It shows how artistic vision can be delivered without a massive budget.
Outer Wildsredefined exploration-based gameplay, delivering a handcrafted solar system with a physics system that may come off hard to learn but easy to master. Instead of focusing on combat or a traditional level system, this unique game centers around a time loop where players have to understand the worlds and puzzles around them.
In a time when open-world games were growing larger and more popular,Outer Wildstook the opposite direction. It offered no checklists, no levels, no fast travel; just a small universe that changes over time and an accumulation of puzzles that turn into one ultimate objective. By trusting players to piece together the truth and history of a dying universe,Outer Wildsoffers a non-traditional approach to gaming that leans into the player’s curiosity as a central game mechanic.
Undertaleis a comprehensively unique game that redefined RPG storytelling by challenging long-held genre conventions around combat, morality, and player choice. Inspired by retro classics likeEarthBound, this game presents familiar turn-based combat but with an unexpected twist. Combat offers choices like fighting, talking, using an item, or giving mercy, all of which have the ability to affect the plot and progression of the game. This means that players can potentially defeat enemies through nonviolent means.
Undertaletakes a minimalist approachto visuals, with emotionally resonant dialogue and choices that change the world and characters in noticable ways. The lines between gameplay and narrative blend together to create a deep and meaningful world.Undertaleplaces morality in the hands of the player and redefines what an RPG can be.
