The Best Indie Games of 2025

In 2025, independent game development flourished, showcasing incredible creativity and artistry on all platforms. Small teams and individual developers created a wide variety of games that broke the mold of typical genres. These titles offered players fresh gameplay and captivating stories, helping them stand out from the many games available. This selection highlights the best and most impactful indie games of the year.

‘While Waiting’ (2025)

Silly Bird Studio created a unique adventure game, published by Westman Digital on September 18, 2025. The game focuses on waiting through both everyday and unusual scenarios to advance. Players explore and interact with their environment to pass the time, uncovering hidden secrets along the way. It’s a fresh take on the point-and-click style, emphasizing patience and careful observation rather than fast reflexes.

‘Heartworm’ (2025)

Vincent Adinolfi created a psychological horror game that Dread XP will release on October 24, 2025. The game is inspired by the classic survival horror titles of the late 1990s, featuring fixed camera angles and ‘tank’ controls. Players will navigate a constantly changing house that represents the main character’s inner struggles and memories. It focuses on building suspense and solving puzzles, with less emphasis on fighting.

‘Voidwrought’ (2025)

Powershoof created a 2D action platformer that launched on October 14, 2025. The game has a unique hand-drawn look and takes place in a strange world combining cosmic horror and old technology. You play as a being who’s just woken up and must journey through ruins, battling powerful gods to absorb their power. Gameplay focuses on skillful platforming and collecting new abilities to help you get around.

‘The Drifter’ (2025)

Powerhoof created a suspenseful point-and-click thriller released on August 21, 2025. You play as Mick Carter, who unexpectedly sees a murder and gets caught up in a huge conspiracy. The game involves exploring risky environments, solving puzzles, and making choices during conversations. It boasts a fully voiced cast and a moody, dark feel reminiscent of classic pulp novels and film noir.

‘Project Tower’ (2025)

Yummy Games launched their third-person shooter on September 5, 2025. The game puts you in the role of a prisoner attempting to escape an alien tower, using the ability to transform into different creatures. Each transformation gives you unique skills to solve puzzles and fight enemies. The developers prioritized smooth combat and levels built with a strong emphasis on verticality.

‘Glowlight’ (2025)

Cloud M1 created a unique puzzle platformer game released on June 27, 2025. Players solve challenges by changing light to uncover hidden routes and affect the world around them. Each level has a new shadow layout to figure out on the way to the finish. The story unfolds without words, through details in the game’s setting and how characters move.

‘Deathground’ (2025)

Jaw Drop Games launched its cooperative survival horror game on October 31, 2025. In the game, players team up to complete goals within facilities swarming with AI-controlled dinosaurs. To keep each playthrough fresh, the locations of objectives and extraction points change randomly. Players can also select from different character classes, each offering special tools and abilities to help them survive.

‘Aloft’ (2025)

FunGo Studios created this survival game, published by Astrolabe Games on June 10, 2025. Players explore a world of floating islands, using large sails to travel through the sky. Gameplay revolves around collecting materials and crafting tools to withstand dangerous storms and fungal diseases. You can play alone or team up with others to explore the skies.

‘The Midnight Walk’ (2025)

Moonlight Games launched its dark fantasy adventure game on October 10, 2025. The game stands out with its distinctive claymation visuals, creating a world of striking contrasts between light and shadow. Players control a tiny creature on a perilous journey, tasked with shielding a flame that wards off the encroaching darkness. The story delves into the ideas of leadership and self-sacrifice, all set within a world populated by frightening monsters.

‘Hell is Us’ (2025)

Developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon, this third-person action adventure game takes place in a war-torn country haunted by strange creatures unleashed by a supernatural event. Instead of relying on typical maps and quest lists, the game encourages players to discover the world naturally through exploration and careful observation. Players will face tough combat encounters that demand skillful use of diverse and specialized weapons.

‘Baby Steps’ (2025)

Gabe Cuzzillo and Devolver Digital launched a unique game on July 15, 2025, where players literally learn to walk. You control a character named Nate, carefully moving each of his feet. The game uses realistic physics to make walking on tricky surfaces and hills challenging, and it’s all presented with a funny tone and a narrator who jokes about Nate’s struggles.

‘Wanderstop’ (2025)

In this management game developed by Ivy Road and published by Annapurna Interactive on March 12, 2025, players take on the role of a retired warrior who opens a tea shop in a magical forest. You’ll gather ingredients and create teas to serve a diverse group of customers. The game’s story focuses on the challenges of finding peace and adjusting to a quiet life after years of fighting.

‘Possessor(s)’ (2025)

Heart Machine’s action game launched on October 7, 2025. It’s a visually stunning, fast-paced adventure set in a city underwater. Players control two characters linked within one body, battling enemies and exploring treacherous locations. The story unfolds through the game’s atmosphere and conversations with the few people who have survived.

‘Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector’ (2025)

Jump Over the Age released its new game on April 4, 2025. In it, you play as an android on the run, trying to survive in a star system dominated by powerful corporations. The game uses dice rolls to determine the outcome of actions and handle tricky social interactions. You’ll need to build a team and keep your spaceship in working order all while staying one step ahead of the law.

‘The Alters’ (2025)

The survival game, developed by 11 bit studios, launched on March 4, 2025. In the game, you play as Jan Dolski, and to survive on a dangerous planet, you’ll need to create and manage multiple versions of yourself. Each clone of Jan has unique abilities and memories shaped by past decisions. A key part of the game is balancing the relationships between these clones and keeping their large, moving base operational.

‘Sword of the Sea’ (2025)

In this atmospheric adventure game released on May 2, 2025, Giant Squid invites players to explore a vast desert landscape on a hoverboard. You’ll glide across sand dunes and through ancient ruins on a quest to restore life to the ocean. This involves discovering submerged temples and overcoming powerful, age-old protectors. The game is brought to life with a beautiful orchestral soundtrack and a unique visual style.

‘Skate Story’ (2025)

Developed by Sam Eng and published by Devolver Digital on September 19, 2025, this skateboarding game puts players in control of a glass demon. The goal? Skate through the underworld and eat the moon! The game uses realistic physics, meaning crashes can actually shatter your character. It’s visually striking, with bizarre shapes and lighting designed to feel like a dream.

‘Hades II’ (2025)

Supergiant Games officially launched its roguelike sequel on May 20, 2025. In the game, players take on the role of Melinoe, who is trying to overcome the Titan of Time and save her father from the underworld. It features new magical powers and help from a variety of Greek gods. Each attempt at completing the game lets players improve their character and advance the story.

‘Hollow Knight: Silksong’ (2025)

The long-awaited sequel from Team Cherry launched on June 10, 2025. Players step into the role of Hornet and journey through Pharloom, a sprawling kingdom of silk and music. This new installment boasts over 150 unique enemies and a quicker, more agile combat style compared to the first game. Discovering the mysteries of the citadel and fulfilling Hornet’s fate are key parts of the gameplay, with exploration at its heart.

Share your favorite indie gaming moments from the past year in the comments.

2026-01-06 04:16