Small studios, big ideas: games made away from the big publishers, often bolder, more personal and more playful than the next sequel.
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How to find games that really suit you:
Select up to 5 games you have played and enjoyed. Playalike compares 50 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A 2D sandbox adventure where you dig, build and craft while ever-tougher bosses unlock new gear tiers and biomes. Its huge item pool and hidden secrets make it a near-endless experience, especially with friends.
A minimalist auto-attacking roguelite where you only steer while your weapons fire on their own, snowballing through clever upgrade synergies into a screen-clearing force against thousands of monsters. Short runs and constant unlocks make it wildly addictive.
A minimalist auto-attacking roguelite where you only steer while your weapons fire on their own, snowballing through clever upgrade synergies into a screen-clearing force against thousands of monsters. Short runs and constant unlocks make it wildly addictive.
A chaotic physics battle sandbox where you place wobbly units from eras ranging from the Stone Age to fantasy and watch them hilariously clash. Figuring out the perfect army on a tight budget meets glorious slapstick absurdity.
A chaotic physics battle sandbox where you place wobbly units from eras ranging from the Stone Age to fantasy and watch them hilariously clash. Figuring out the perfect army on a tight budget meets glorious slapstick absurdity.
A charming indie RPG where every fight can be resolved without violence, blending turn-based menus with bullet-hell dodging. Its quirky humor, memorable monsters and a story that remembers your choices made it a cult classic.
A charming indie RPG where every fight can be resolved without violence, blending turn-based menus with bullet-hell dodging. Its quirky humor, memorable monsters and a story that remembers your choices made it a cult classic.
Stranded on an ocean planet, you dive ever deeper into a gorgeous yet terrifying alien sea. You build bases and submarines while piecing together the planet's mystery, and the dark depths themselves become the real source of dread.
Stranded on an ocean planet, you dive ever deeper into a gorgeous yet terrifying alien sea. You build bases and submarines while piecing together the planet's mystery, and the dark depths themselves become the real source of dread.
A wordless, oppressive puzzle-platformer in which a boy slips through a bleak dystopia, controlling bodies with his mind along the way. Masterful atmosphere and a disturbing finale make it unforgettable.
A wordless, oppressive puzzle-platformer in which a boy slips through a bleak dystopia, controlling bodies with his mind along the way. Masterful atmosphere and a disturbing finale make it unforgettable.
As photography student Max, you discover you can rewind time and dig into a disappearance in a sleepy coastal town, with your choices shaping friendships and fates. It's a heartfelt coming-of-age drama with an unforgettable indie soundtrack.
As photography student Max, you discover you can rewind time and dig into a disappearance in a sleepy coastal town, with your choices shaping friendships and fates. It's a heartfelt coming-of-age drama with an unforgettable indie soundtrack.
You play a stray cat lost in a decaying, robot-inhabited neon city, climbing, sneaking and poking around to uncover what happened to it. Its charming feline interactions and dense cyberpunk atmosphere make this short adventure stand out.
You play a stray cat lost in a decaying, robot-inhabited neon city, climbing, sneaking and poking around to uncover what happened to it. Its charming feline interactions and dense cyberpunk atmosphere make this short adventure stand out.
A fast, fluid 2D roguelite with Metroidvania structure, where tight, punchy combat and a huge arsenal of weapons make every run feel different. Permanent unlocks and new routes give you a real sense of progress even as you die again and again.
A fast, fluid 2D roguelite with Metroidvania structure, where tight, punchy combat and a huge arsenal of weapons make every run feel different. Permanent unlocks and new routes give you a real sense of progress even as you die again and again.
As rancher Beatrix, you vacuum up adorable slimes on a distant planet, feed them and sell their plorts to expand your ranch. It pairs a laid-back farming loop with relaxed exploration of a colorful world full of secrets and new slime species.
As rancher Beatrix, you vacuum up adorable slimes on a distant planet, feed them and sell their plorts to expand your ranch. It pairs a laid-back farming loop with relaxed exploration of a colorful world full of secrets and new slime species.
Toby Fox's follow-up to Undertale mixes menu-based party battles with bullet-hell dodging, and enemies can be spared instead of fought. A charming, funny cast, a standout soundtrack and an unsettling meta-mystery sit beneath its colorful surface.
Toby Fox's follow-up to Undertale mixes menu-based party battles with bullet-hell dodging, and enemies can be spared instead of fought. A charming, funny cast, a standout soundtrack and an unsettling meta-mystery sit beneath its colorful surface.
A frantic top-down roguelike shooter where Isaac fires tears through randomly generated basements. Hundreds of items stack into wild combinations, making every run different and grotesquely strange.
A frantic top-down roguelike shooter where Isaac fires tears through randomly generated basements. Hundreds of items stack into wild combinations, making every run different and grotesquely strange.
Play as gruff space dwarves carving through fully destructible procedural caves with up to three friends, mining minerals and holding off massive alien swarms. Complementary classes, dry humor and a famously wholesome community make every dive a blast – Rock and Stone!
Play as gruff space dwarves carving through fully destructible procedural caves with up to three friends, mining minerals and holding off massive alien swarms. Complementary classes, dry humor and a famously wholesome community make every dive a blast – Rock and Stone!
An addictive poker roguelike where Jokers, card upgrades and wild synergies push your scores to absurd heights. Every run plays differently, and the hunt for the perfect build never gets old.
An addictive poker roguelike where Jokers, card upgrades and wild synergies push your scores to absurd heights. Every run plays differently, and the hunt for the perfect build never gets old.
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
As a border inspector in the fictional Eastern Bloc state of Arstotzka, you scrutinize paperwork under time pressure while balancing duty, your family's survival, and the fates of desperate travelers. A bleak, morally gripping game with many endings.
As a border inspector in the fictional Eastern Bloc state of Arstotzka, you scrutinize paperwork under time pressure while balancing duty, your family's survival, and the fates of desperate travelers. A bleak, morally gripping game with many endings.
Play as Claire, a young bird climbing and gliding through a charming park toward its summit, chatting with quirky hikers and stumbling on little secrets everywhere. A short, heartfelt, pressure-free adventure with a lovely pixelated low-poly look.
Play as Claire, a young bird climbing and gliding through a charming park toward its summit, chatting with quirky hikers and stumbling on little secrets everywhere. A short, heartfelt, pressure-free adventure with a lovely pixelated low-poly look.
An episodic superhero workplace comedy from former Telltale developers: as a dispatcher you assign a chaotic crew of reformed villains to city emergencies while making choices that shape relationships and the story. Sharp writing, a strong voice cast and a cartoon-like animated look carry the experience.
An episodic superhero workplace comedy from former Telltale developers: as a dispatcher you assign a chaotic crew of reformed villains to city emergencies while making choices that shape relationships and the story. Sharp writing, a strong voice cast and a cartoon-like animated look carry the experience.
A brutally fast top-down shooter where one hit kills and every floor is mastered through rapid trial, error and instant restarts. Its neon visuals, pulsing synthwave soundtrack and unsettling, surreal story about violence make it unforgettable.
A brutally fast top-down shooter where one hit kills and every floor is mastered through rapid trial, error and instant restarts. Its neon visuals, pulsing synthwave soundtrack and unsettling, surreal story about violence make it unforgettable.
As a defenseless journalist armed only with a night-vision camcorder, you creep through a nightmarish asylum where hiding and running are your only options. Relentless, unfiltered terror with no way to fight back.
As a defenseless journalist armed only with a night-vision camcorder, you creep through a nightmarish asylum where hiding and running are your only options. Relentless, unfiltered terror with no way to fight back.
A blistering neo-noir action platformer where one hit kills and each room plays like a puzzle solved with your katana, slow-motion and deflected bullets. It's wrapped in a twisted, fragmented story with dialogue choices and a superb synthwave soundtrack.
A blistering neo-noir action platformer where one hit kills and each room plays like a puzzle solved with your katana, slow-motion and deflected bullets. It's wrapped in a twisted, fragmented story with dialogue choices and a superb synthwave soundtrack.
After a plane crash you build shelters and traps in a dense forest while tribes of cannibals stalk and attack you. Creepy mutant-filled caves and the mystery of your missing son drive the exploration, and it's best played with friends in co-op.
After a plane crash you build shelters and traps in a dense forest while tribes of cannibals stalk and attack you. Creepy mutant-filled caves and the mystery of your missing son drive the exploration, and it's best played with friends in co-op.
A creepy card game played against a shadowy figure in a dark cabin, mixing deckbuilding with escape-room puzzles while constantly breaking its own rules. Beneath the surface lies a surprising, fourth-wall-bending mystery.
A creepy card game played against a shadowy figure in a dark cabin, mixing deckbuilding with escape-room puzzles while constantly breaking its own rules. Beneath the surface lies a surprising, fourth-wall-bending mystery.
A relaxed trucking simulator where you haul freight across the American landscape, grow from hired driver to company owner, and simply enjoy the open road.
2016PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified−75 %19.99 € 4.99 € 13 days left97 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 167,972 reviews on Steam
Driving or flying
Cosy, great for unwinding
Open world
A relaxed trucking simulator where you haul freight across the American landscape, grow from hired driver to company owner, and simply enjoy the open road.
A surreal RPG that contrasts bright dreamlike worlds and childhood friendship with psychological horror and heavy themes. Its emotional story and memorable soundtrack stand out, and turn-based battles use emotions as a core mechanic.
A surreal RPG that contrasts bright dreamlike worlds and childhood friendship with psychological horror and heavy themes. Its emotional story and memorable soundtrack stand out, and turn-based battles use emotions as a core mechanic.
A merciless survival game with a gothic, Tim Burton-esque hand-drawn style, where you scavenge, craft and fend off hunger, insanity and monsters in a procedurally generated wilderness. Death is permanent, but every run teaches you something new.
A merciless survival game with a gothic, Tim Burton-esque hand-drawn style, where you scavenge, craft and fend off hunger, insanity and monsters in a procedurally generated wilderness. Death is permanent, but every run teaches you something new.
A chaotic, hilarious cartoon brawler best enjoyed with up to four friends on the couch. Light RPG hooks like leveling, weapons and animal orbs keep you coming back between its absurd boss fights.
A chaotic, hilarious cartoon brawler best enjoyed with up to four friends on the couch. Light RPG hooks like leveling, weapons and animal orbs keep you coming back between its absurd boss fights.
A hilariously irreverent platformer from The Behemoth where you play a prisoner forced through tricky block-based stage levels, solo or in co-op. The sarcastic narrator, cartoon style and chaotic fun with friends define it.
A hilariously irreverent platformer from The Behemoth where you play a prisoner forced through tricky block-based stage levels, solo or in co-op. The sarcastic narrator, cartoon style and chaotic fun with friends define it.
A charming 3D collectathon platformer in the vein of N64 classics, where a tiny girl uses magical hats to bounce through varied, wonderfully weird worlds. Its chapters, from a mafia-run town to dueling bird film studios, overflow with humor and creativity.
A charming 3D collectathon platformer in the vein of N64 classics, where a tiny girl uses magical hats to bounce through varied, wonderfully weird worlds. Its chapters, from a mafia-run town to dueling bird film studios, overflow with humor and creativity.
You climb a Babel-inspired tower and decipher the distinct languages of its peoples by observing symbols and deducing meanings yourself. The striking comic-like art and the satisfying feeling of truly learning to communicate make it special.
You climb a Babel-inspired tower and decipher the distinct languages of its peoples by observing symbols and deducing meanings yourself. The striking comic-like art and the satisfying feeling of truly learning to communicate make it special.
A fast speedrunning first-person shooter where card-based guns double as movement abilities. You optimize routes through short levels, wrapped in anime style, dating-sim-style dialogue and a driving soundtrack.
A fast speedrunning first-person shooter where card-based guns double as movement abilities. You optimize routes through short levels, wrapped in anime style, dating-sim-style dialogue and a driving soundtrack.
Toem is a laid-back photography adventure set in a hand-drawn black-and-white world, where you help quirky locals by snapping pictures and solving small tasks. Charming, friendly and completely stress-free.
Toem is a laid-back photography adventure set in a hand-drawn black-and-white world, where you help quirky locals by snapping pictures and solving small tasks. Charming, friendly and completely stress-free.
A moving narrative game where you wander the sprawling Finch family home and relive each relative's final moments through short vignettes, each with its own inventive gameplay twist. Melancholic, creative, and unforgettable in just a couple of hours.
A moving narrative game where you wander the sprawling Finch family home and relive each relative's final moments through short vignettes, each with its own inventive gameplay twist. Melancholic, creative, and unforgettable in just a couple of hours.
A chaotic run-and-gun platformer starring parodies of action movie heroes, where nearly everything is destructible and explosions tear levels apart. With up to four friends in co-op, the mayhem becomes gloriously over-the-top fun.
A chaotic run-and-gun platformer starring parodies of action movie heroes, where nearly everything is destructible and explosions tear levels apart. With up to four friends in co-op, the mayhem becomes gloriously over-the-top fun.
As an insurance investigator, you use a magical pocket watch to relive the final moments of a ghost ship's crew and deduce the identity and fate of every sailor. Its striking 1-bit visuals and brilliant deduction design make it a one-of-a-kind detective game.
As an insurance investigator, you use a magical pocket watch to relive the final moments of a ghost ship's crew and deduce the identity and fate of every sailor. Its striking 1-bit visuals and brilliant deduction design make it a one-of-a-kind detective game.
You and your friends play ghost hunters, using EMF readers, spirit boxes and cameras to work out which kind of ghost haunts a location. Voice recognition and sudden hunts make for genuine panic and plenty of hilarious co-op moments.
2020PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable18.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 686,738 reviews on Steam
Co-op or multiplayer
Playing together in co-op
Dread and tension
You and your friends play ghost hunters, using EMF readers, spirit boxes and cameras to work out which kind of ghost haunts a location. Voice recognition and sudden hunts make for genuine panic and plenty of hilarious co-op moments.
You tend bar in a cyberpunk dystopia, mixing drinks and learning your customers' stories through conversation. Your drink choices shape how things unfold, backed by a moody synth soundtrack and retro pixel art.
You tend bar in a cyberpunk dystopia, mixing drinks and learning your customers' stories through conversation. Your drink choices shape how things unfold, backed by a moody synth soundtrack and retro pixel art.
Palworld mashes creature collecting together with survival crafting and base building. Captured Pals fight beside you, carry you across the islands or toil away in your factory while you explore an open world armed with guns. Its cheeky, slightly macabre humor gives the whole thing a flavor of its own.
2026PCPlayStationXboxSteam Deck verified28.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 417,787 reviews on Steam
Open world
Sandbox with your own goals
Building and crafting
Palworld mashes creature collecting together with survival crafting and base building. Captured Pals fight beside you, carry you across the islands or toil away in your factory while you explore an open world armed with guns. Its cheeky, slightly macabre humor gives the whole thing a flavor of its own.
A harrowing combat-free horror journey through a ruined deep-sea research station that confronts you with unsettling questions about consciousness and identity. Its philosophical story lingers long after the credits roll.
A harrowing combat-free horror journey through a ruined deep-sea research station that confronts you with unsettling questions about consciousness and identity. Its philosophical story lingers long after the credits roll.
Two doctors travel backward through a dying man's memories to fulfill his final wish. It's a short, deeply moving story with warm humor and an unforgettable piano soundtrack.
Two doctors travel backward through a dying man's memories to fulfill his final wish. It's a short, deeply moving story with warm humor and an unforgettable piano soundtrack.
Gorogoa is a short, hand-drawn puzzle game where you stack, zoom and shift illustrated panels to uncover hidden connections. Its wordless tale of longing and a life's journey unfolds entirely through this inventive mechanic.
Gorogoa is a short, hand-drawn puzzle game where you stack, zoom and shift illustrated panels to uncover hidden connections. Its wordless tale of longing and a life's journey unfolds entirely through this inventive mechanic.
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
You work as a mob crime scene cleaner, scrubbing away evidence and dodging the police between jobs. A humorous, laid-back simulator wrapped in a shady criminal premise.
You work as a mob crime scene cleaner, scrubbing away evidence and dodging the police between jobs. A humorous, laid-back simulator wrapped in a shady criminal premise.
As a possessed lamb you found your own cult, managing a village of adorable woodland followers between fast roguelike dungeon runs. Its charm comes from the clash of cute visuals and gleefully macabre humor.
As a possessed lamb you found your own cult, managing a village of adorable woodland followers between fast roguelike dungeon runs. Its charm comes from the clash of cute visuals and gleefully macabre humor.
An isometric action RPG where a gravelly narrator reacts to everything you do as you mix weapons and rebuild a refuge in a gorgeous hand-painted, shattered world. Its soundtrack and poignant ending choices make it unforgettable.
An isometric action RPG where a gravelly narrator reacts to everything you do as you mix weapons and rebuild a refuge in a gorgeous hand-painted, shattered world. Its soundtrack and poignant ending choices make it unforgettable.
The classic idle game where you click a giant cookie and spend the proceeds on ever more absurd bakeries, portals and upgrades. There is no true ending, just ballooning numbers and quirky humor.
The classic idle game where you click a giant cookie and spend the proceeds on ever more absurd bakeries, portals and upgrades. There is no true ending, just ballooning numbers and quirky humor.
You assemble rockets and spacecraft from parts and send the endearing Kerbals to moons and planets under realistic orbital physics. Failure is part of the fun and often as entertaining as success.
You assemble rockets and spacecraft from parts and send the endearing Kerbals to moons and planets under realistic orbital physics. Failure is part of the fun and often as entertaining as success.
A chaotic 2D arena shooter where ducks duel in short, frantic rounds with absurd weapons. It shines brightest as a couch multiplayer game with friends.
A chaotic 2D arena shooter where ducks duel in short, frantic rounds with absurd weapons. It shines brightest as a couch multiplayer game with friends.
A dark point-and-click adventure in which you play a young girl with a mental illness who shifts between a brutal reality and a disturbing alternate world. Nightmarish hand-drawn art and inventory puzzles carry a bleak, emotional story.
A dark point-and-click adventure in which you play a young girl with a mental illness who shifts between a brutal reality and a disturbing alternate world. Nightmarish hand-drawn art and inventory puzzles carry a bleak, emotional story.
Dusk is a fast, 90s-style boomer shooter with eerie atmosphere and maze-like levels full of secrets. It focuses on fluid movement and punchy weapons against hordes of cultists and worse horrors.
Dusk is a fast, 90s-style boomer shooter with eerie atmosphere and maze-like levels full of secrets. It focuses on fluid movement and punchy weapons against hordes of cultists and worse horrors.
A lightning-fast kung-fu brawler played with just two buttons: you click left or right to hit enemies at exactly the right moment. The result is fluid, movie-like fight choreography that feels like a rhythm and reflex test.
A lightning-fast kung-fu brawler played with just two buttons: you click left or right to hit enemies at exactly the right moment. The result is fluid, movie-like fight choreography that feels like a rhythm and reflex test.
As Melinoë you fight through the Underworld and the surface world of Greek myth in fast, fluid runs, growing stronger with witchcraft, divine boons and weapons. The story unfolds with every attempt, backed by striking art and a great soundtrack.
As Melinoë you fight through the Underworld and the surface world of Greek myth in fast, fluid runs, growing stronger with witchcraft, divine boons and weapons. The story unfolds with every attempt, backed by striking art and a great soundtrack.
Indie games tend to commit to one strong idea and build everything around it. That is why the genres here range from cozy farming to punishing platforming to card-based strategy. The first thing to decide is what kind of experience you want: relaxed, challenging, or just silly.
If you want a calm pace, Stardew Valley is a pixel-art farming sim with co-op and a relaxing tone. Subnautica suits players who like exploring an atmospheric open world, though its tags include horror, so expect some tension. If difficulty appeals to you, Hollow Knight is a hand-drawn Metroidvania tagged as difficult, and Celeste is a precision platformer that also has a story-rich side. Both are tagged difficult, so they reward patience.
For short, repeatable sessions, look at the roguelikes. Hades combines fast action with a story-rich mythology setting, while Slay the Spire and Balatro are deckbuilders built on strategy and turn-based decisions. If you prefer to laugh, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator is tagged comedy and strategy. Check platforms too: almost everything here is on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but Garry's Mod is listed for PC only.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good indie game for relaxing?
Stardew Valley is the most obvious choice, with its cozy farming, pixel art and co-op option. Subnautica is also an option if you prefer exploring, but note its horror tag.
Which indie games are the most difficult?
Hollow Knight, Celeste and Slay the Spire are all tagged as difficult. Hollow Knight tests exploration and combat, Celeste tests platforming precision, and Slay the Spire tests deckbuilding strategy.
Which indie games can I play with friends?
Stardew Valley, Vampire Survivors and Garry's Mod all carry co-op tags. Garry's Mod is listed for PC only, while the other two are also on consoles.
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