This year has been huge for indie games. From an eclectic mix of genres to a variety of unique and compelling stories, 2025 has been defined by indie games that not only stand out among the crowd but can go toe-to-toe with AAA heavy-hitters. Indie stories have always been an important cornerstone of the gaming industry, and 2025 has been a strong reminder of why that's the case.
Indie games have embraced a fantastic mix of genres and gameplay this year. Whether it's been first-person horror, action-packed roguelikes, or more laid-back story-driven offerings, gamers of all types have had something to enjoy within the indie world this year. It was hard to narrow down which titles should be part of the end-of-year lineup. However, after plenty of deliberation, these are the 15 best indie games of 2025 in alphabetical order.
The Alters
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Developed and published by 11 Bit Studios, The Alters follows protagonist Jan Dolski, a space miner who has to make alternate versions of himself to survive a dangerous and uninhabitable planet. As the lone survivor of an expedition gone wrong, Jan's clones, decisions, and use of Rapidium pave the way for a fascinating look at who Jan is on a deeper level. Each alter's life is shaped by one of Jan's possible decisions in his life. In a game filled with survival and exploration, The Alters' deeper story raises questions about whether people truly have control over their destiny or not. The Alters is a fantastic and morally complex sci-fi adventure that is made even better by its beautiful visuals and fun gameplay.
- Create alternate versions of yourself, each with different skills and personalities, to help you survive and complete survival tasks.
- Manage your base and its resources, assigning Alters to specialized roles like engineering, farming, or research.
- Balance story-driven choices and relationships, as your Alters react to your decisions and can conflict, cooperate, or even turn against you.
The Alters
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- June 13, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Strategy, Management
Ball x Pit
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Ball x Pit is one of the most addicting indie games of the year, thanks to its bright, in-your-face visuals and retro-inspired gameplay. Published by Devolver Digital and developed by Kenny Sun and Friends, Ball x Pit is an action-packed fantasy roguelite that requires players to take down enemies and obstacles with ball projectiles. After the city of Ballbylon falls, the remaining pit left in its wake plays host to a menagerie of creatures. Players use magical projectiles to break through the depths of the pit in order to build New Ballbylon. Not only is this game packed with fast-paced encounters, but it also offers plenty of exploration and customization.
- Launch and bounce elemental balls to defeat waves of enemies in a roguelite, arcade-style arena.
- Collect drops and fuse balls to build stronger, weirder, or more chaotic loadouts as a run progresses.
- Return to town between runs to upgrade buildings, unlock heroes, and expand long-term progression.
- Released
- October 15, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- Kenny Sun
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Blue Prince
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There are plenty of unique and fascinating games on this list, but Blue Prince has been a favorite for many who have played it. Filled with mystery and puzzle-solving, Blue Prince revolves around the fascinating story of the constantly changing Mt. Holly Manor. Every day, the house shifts and changes each room. Players have to be thoughtful about the rooms they draft, as each decision can completely change one's progress as the protagonist works to look for a specific room known only as Room 46. Blue Prince is an incredibly inventive and clever premise that keeps players on their toes, and as the mystery begins to unravel, a compelling story also begins to take shape.
- Explore a mansion that reshapes itself daily, with new room layouts every attempt.
- Choose one of three room plans each time you open a door, deciding how the mansion expands.
- Search for the hidden 46th room, piecing together clues and uncovering the estate’s mysteries.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- April 10, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Alcohol Reference, Simulated Gambling
- Developer(s)
- Dogubomb
- Publisher(s)
- Raw Fury
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Adventure, Exploration, Strategy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been one of the most talked-about games of the year. Ex-Ubisoft developer Guillaume Broche founded developer Sandfall Interactive back in 2020, and Clair Obscur: Expedition is the studio's debut game. The turn-based RPG tells the tale of a world where an entity known as The Paintress paints a number every year, and everyone older than the number in question dies. After painting the number 33, a team is sent out to finally rid the world of her death-inducing work. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn't just offer great gameplay, but it blends beautiful storytelling, music, and atmosphere into one unforgettable experience, which is why it's nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025.
- Fight with a blend of real-time aiming and turn-based decisions, swapping between melee and ranged skills.
- React during enemy turns by dodging or parrying to reduce or avoid incoming damage.
- Explore structured zones to find optional bosses, secrets, and resources that shape your party’s build.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
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Developed by Adglobe and Live Wire and published by Binary Haze Interactive, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist mixes a compelling and dangerous world with 2D side-scrolling. The game is set in a place called the Land of Fumes, and the kingdom has created beings known as Homunculi as a way to speed up the land's development. However, the Land of Fumes' goals don't go according to plan, as the Homunculi are driven mad by toxins in the air, which transform them into the kingdom's most dangerous threat. Players take control of protagonist Lilac, who awakes after the Homunculi have turned into beasts. Throughout the story, Lilac works to save the Homunculi and restore her memories while exploring the desolate, post-apocalyptic setting.
- Explore a 2D Metroidvania world, uncovering new paths and abilities as you move through the Land of Fumes.
- Purify corrupted beings to recruit them, then use their skills in combat instead of fighting directly.
- Build customized loadouts, mixing different allies’ abilities and upgrading gear to shape your playstyle.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- January 22, 2025
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Adglobe, Live Wire
- Publisher(s)
- Binary Haze Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades 2
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The long-awaited sequel to 2020's Hades finally got its full-blown launch this year, and it came out swinging. Supergiant Games' Hades 2 takes place years after the first game, this time following Melinoe, Zagreus' younger sister. Hades 2 takes the formula of its predecessor and improves practically every aspect of it, making for an even better roguelite experience. With better combat and progression systems, a fascinating cast of brand-new characters, and a more compelling story, Hades 2 reminds players that sequels are intended to one-up the entries that came before them. Hades 2 excels at going bigger and better without losing sight of the original game's essence, which has made it yet another indie title nominated for a Game of the Year award.
- Battle through shifting underworld regions using weapons, magic, and boons that change each run.
- Die and return stronger, unlocking new abilities, tools, and story progress across repeated attempts.
- Experiment with varied playstyles, mixing god boons, incantations, and weapon forms for different builds.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher(s)
- Supergiant Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Hollow Knight: Silksong
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Hollow Knight: Silksong is this year's game that broke the internet. When it launched on September 4, Hollow Knight: Silksong caused online platforms like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, the PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop to crash. The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong was filled with years of rumors and speculation, and developer Team Cherry surprised everyone by announcing the release date at Gamescom merely two weeks beforehand. Hollow Knight: Silksong is the third indie game to be nominated for Game of the Year at this year's Game Awards, and the highly-anticipated platformer was well worth the wait.
- Play as Hornet, using needle and silk skills to fight and move quickly.
- Explore a huge 2D world, uncovering secrets, hidden paths, and new areas.
- Battle tough enemies and bosses, relying on dodges, combos, and timing.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
WHERE TO PLAY
Keep Driving
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YCJY Games' Keep Driving is one of the most charming indie offerings of the year. Set during a summer in the early 2000s, Keep Driving tasks players with going on a road trip to hopefully make it to a music festival on the other side of the country. Along the way, players will come across hitchhikers, obstacles that slow down one's trip, and a collection of great music brought to life through analog nostalgia. Its pixelated graphics and procedurally generated world keep the game's simple premise exciting, and despite its laid-back nature, it's far from boring. Keep Driving is a beautiful love letter to the early 2000s and reminds players that the journey is often more important than the destination.
- Drive across a pixel-art country, exploring new roads and towns.
- Pick up hitchhikers and handle random events, like breakdowns or hazards.
- Make choices that change your trip, unlocking different outcomes and endings.
Keep Driving
- Developer(s)
- YCJY Games
- Publisher(s)
- YCJY Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Look Outside
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Look Outside is a uniquely disturbing survival horror RPG developed by Francis Coulombe and published by Devolver Digital. In Look Outside, a strange event causes anyone who looks outside to turn into terrifying monsters, requiring any survivors to stay put in their apartments and homes. As the game unfolds, players will take on the role of the protagonist as they work to scavenge their apartment building for any signs of life and also food and supplies. Look Outside's cartoonish art style, blended with its claustrophobic setting, builds a truly unsettling atmosphere that makes it one of the most unique horror titles of the year.
- Survive inside an apartment complex where looking out a window transforms people into monsters.
- Manage turn-based encounters and resources, scavenging for supplies while avoiding dangerous floors.
- Make tense choices that affect other survivors, long-term outcomes, and the building’s overall fate.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- March 21, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Francis Coulombe
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
WHERE TO PLAY
PEAK
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PEAK has been one of this year's biggest co-op hits, gaining traction on Twitch and YouTube. Crafted by Team PEAK and published by Aggro Crab and Landfall, PEAK takes a challenge-focused climbing game and puts a fun twist on what could be a fairly straightforward formula. Players must survive through PEAK's biomes, the next one more grueling than the last. PEAK is a reminder that even a simple premise can hold plenty of difficulty and be a great pastime with friends.
- Climb a dangerous mountain alone or with friends.
- Survive changing terrain and harsh conditions, managing hunger, stamina, and injury.
- Use teamwork and gear to navigate obstacles and reach the summit
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- June 16, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Landcrab
- Publisher(s)
- Aggro Crab, Landfall
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Exploration, First-Person