AAA titles might receive the most exposure, but the indie market is alive and well within the world of video games.
We continue our “Best of the Decade” coverage with TheGamer News Team’s Indie Games of the Decade!
Sam Watanuki - Rocket League
Remember when Rocket League was an up-and-coming indie title? The fast-paced Psyonix-developed title quickly became a staple within the world of competitive esports. Its ambition for being one of the first crossplay titles also paved the way for other games to do just that. I own the title on three different platforms, and it is still my go-to title whenever I have a few minutes (or multiple hours) to spare.
Patrick Kobek - FTL: Faster Than Light
Cruel, unpredictable, and always challenging, the infinite replay value of FTL: Faster Than Light is unmatched.
Scott Baird - Undertale
There are a lot of video games that are fun and can make passing the time enjoyable, but Undertale goes far deeper than that. Undertale holds a special meaning to those who have seen it through to the end and who continually talk about it online to this day. The stellar writing and unforgettable soundtrack of Undertale are just part of what makes this game so important to so many people, as there really is nothing else like it. The journey through Undertale is one that people will still be talking about in the decade to come.
Bella Blondeau - The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories
To say that The Missing changed my life would be an understatement. It finally gave me the courage to begin my transition journey in earnest, and also managed to make me adult-sob along the way. Also, cutting your limbs off to solve puzzles? Neat!
Helen Ashcroft - Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is the perfect chill-out game. It’s engaging, relaxing, and addictive. It feels almost impossible to be sad when you’re playing. There are romances to chase, farms to tend, and tasks to do. The RPG elements add to the simulation, especially the seasons which bring ongoing changes to your farm. It’s challenging ad rewarding as well as being cute and quirky. All around, it’s a great title you’d be mad to pass up.
Jon Bitner - Stardew Valley
Not only is Stardew Valley a labor of love, but it’s also a game that only gets better with age. The developer has released dozens of updates during the life of the game, each one bringing new content to the world of Stardew. No other indie game has been able to capture my imagination, or my emotions, the way that Stardew Valley has.
Eric Switzer - Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is an incredible accomplishment for a developer team of two. The sprawling scope of the game is accentuated by the rich world-building, exceptionally satisfying progression, and a razor-thin balance that makes the game perfectly brutally-hard-but-fair. Hollow Knight is a better Metroidvania than Super Metroid.
Jamie Latour - Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is the closest thing to an adorable Dark Souls that we’ll likely ever get. It’s just as haunting, desolate, and dark, but everyone is a cute bug with little specks for eyes. Unless of course, they’re horrible monsters for you slay. Its world is endlessly fascinating, with so many hidden areas to discover and so much lore to learn. I’ve never been as invested in a Metroidvania as I was with Hollow Knight, and Team Cherry has taken the mantle as the best world-building developer on the independent scene. Bring on Silksong!
Ethan Anderson - Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
“But what about Minecraft,” you may ask. And I will choose to tactfully ignore that question at the moment. Hellblade does things that make me want to recommend it to any and everyone I know who plays video games. Its combat, sound design, story, and message all had me fully immersed in a journey that I wished would never end. It offers a beautiful experience that’s difficult to fully explain with words. There are some games that I feel simply need to be played, and this is one of them.
Sean Murray - Warframe
Believe it or not, Warframe is technically an indie game. They were totally self-published way back in 2013, and they remain so to this day. There hasn’t been a single indie game now or since to enjoy the kind of success and notoriety that Warframe has attained completely without the assistance of a publisher. That speaks to the quality of this game more than anything else.
Andrew Penney - Cuphead
While many indie games rely on minimalism and clever tricks to cover up the unavoidable corner-cutting that goes into indie game development, Cuphead is a game that boldly decides not to compromise. StudioMDHR’s relentless pursuit of quality is impossible to ignore. Incredible watercolored visuals, exciting live-recorded music, and boss-battle-centric gameplay amalgamate brilliantly to form a contemporary take on arcade run-and-guns.
Patrick Sklar - Stardew Valley
I just can’t get people to love me. In the game, I mean. In Stardew Valley. I gave the blacksmith a piece of copper ore the other day - he said, “This depresses me.” Well. I’ll earn his respect someday - maybe the next time I reboot my farm, when the 1.4 update comes to the Switch. Oh yeah - the game has been out for years and still receives free, game-changing updates. It’s a real gem. You can even feed it to Abigail.
