As the years have gone on indie games have been released in higher quantities, with some of them finding plenty of commercial and critical success. These indie developers and publishers rarely have the marketing budget or reach of their AAA counterparts, and often build interest through self-built communities.
Spanning genres, art styles, scopes, and audiences, there are plenty of indie games set to release in 2023 that people should know about and keep their eye on. In the modern era of streaming and digital content things can get lost in the fold, so knowing what's interesting and when it's coming out is of the utmost importance, especially in the indie video game space.
8 Moonstone Island
Deck-building games are nothing new in the world of indie titles. What Moonstone Island from developer Studio Supersoft is looking to contribute to the genre is an open-world experience where players can craft items, explore, and much more.
Merging genres seems to be a trend these days but the mix of Stardew Valley and Slay the Spire painted in an adorable aesthetic that's welcoming and heartwarming. Moonstone Island will initially launch on Nintendo Switch and PC, but the developers have stated ports to other platforms aren't out of the question.
7 Gunbrella
The title of a project can go a long way in communicating to people what it's about. An indie game called Gunbrella is interesting because it clearly states the core gameplay of this self-proclaimed noir-punk action-adventure game from developer Doinksoft.
Don't let their name fool you, Gunbrella is an action-packed thrill ride that has the player using a Gunbrella, an item that can be used as a firearm, but also aids in traversal as it doubles as an umbrella. As with most hit indie games in the modern era it's being published by Devolver Digital and is set to release in 2023.
6 Planet Of Lana
A trailer showcasing a lovely hand-painted art style and a mysterious sci-fi world is what set the stage for the reveal of Wishfully's upcoming game called Planet of Lana. It's said to be a puzzle adventure game that functions as an epic saga taking place across time and space.
It features a main character who's accompanied by a small animal companion and between the music and visuals feels like it is set to take players on an emotional journey when it finally releases. Planet Of Lana seems to present an experience unafraid to play with both scope and perspective during moments of the gameplay.
5 Replaced
The realities of what occurs in the real world often have an effect on game development. One such case has to do with a noir dystopian game called Replaced which fans have been eagerly awaiting. Initially revealed to release in 2022, the game's developers Sad Cat announced that it would be delayed until 2023 due to the current conflict of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The decision was made to ensure the safety of the team and their families. Sure, players will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this visually stunning indie title heavily reminiscent of Blade Runner, but nothing is more important than the safety of innocent civilians.
4 The Last Faith
As the days go by fans are constantly wondering if/when a sequel or port of Bloodborne will be announced. A big part of why audiences fell in love with that FromSoftware title is due to it providing a dark gothic world that was detailed and vibrant in style.
The Last Faith from Kumi Souls Games is trying to capture that same feeling but in a 2D platform package. It's unclear what Konami has planned in regard to the future of the Castlevania series, but The Last Faith might be the closest thing to classic Castlevania titles gamers can get their hands on in the foreseeable future.
3 Another Crab's Treasure
In the modern era of games, it's hard not to find Souls-like titles interesting. A lot of them try to tackle a dark fantasy world that often leads them to feel like knockoffs of the original product, but that's not the path developer Aggro Crab chose.
Their upcoming game called Another Crab's Treasure is like if Dark Souls took place in a colorful ocean and instead of controlling an undead entity players got the chance to take on the role of a curious and capable crab. Its trailer showcases how fulfilling exploration can be in the game, and also has plenty of larger-than-life bosses that feel like overwhelming walls standing in front of any and all progression.
2 The Plucky Squire
Devolver Digital has quickly built a reputation for publishing some of the most unique and fascinating indie games out there, and it looks like they might have another hit with developer All Possible Future's next title. That game is The Plucky Squire, an adventure game that jumps between the 2D pages of a storybook and the 3D world outside of the pages of the book.
Trailers showcase mechanics and level design that feels largely inspired by The Legend of Zelda series with a strong whimsical twist on the formula. The Plucky Squire feels like the type of indie darling that could see critical acclaim if it meets its lofty expectations.
1 Sea of Stars
Gaming is an entertainment medium that's closely attached to nostalgic feelings. Anyone who is yearning for a turn-based role-playing game that feels deeply inspired by retro titles in the same genre should look forward to the release of Sea of Stars.
From developer Sabotage Studio, this game harkens back to classic RPG games and has an art style that feels like the modern interpretation of those classic games. The studio is rather open with its development and regularly uploads short teases of game mechanics, designs, and much more on its Youtube channel.