15 Must-Play Indie Games

    Indie gaming is always an interesting space to watch as it is often where the real innovation lies. Since indie games are not as restricted by guidelines and profit margins as their bigger industry leaders, indie games are often allowed to push the medium further in risky and interesting ways. Here are some of my favourite indie games, many of which feature gameplay or experiences you would never see in the triple-A space. 

Bugsnax 

    Bugsnax is, unironically, my favourite PS5 game so far. It came out right when the console launched and I had such a fantastic time with it; the characters are all fantastic, they're flawed, distinct, likable, and despite them looking like sock puppets they all deal with real, compelling issues. I did not expect to get as invested in the story of Bugsnax as I did, but it is one of the better-written games out there and no this isn't some elaborate joke. 

    The gameplay isn't exceptional or anything but it carries the story forwards and figuring out how to catch the many different bugsnax remained fun throughout. The last act of this game turns into something I never expected and it finishes on a very strong note. Genuinely love this game and if you're one of those people that looked at the premise and went "this looks dumb" please reconsider. This is also, like Night in the Woods later, very much not for children despite its art style. In fact, I don't see a child getting much out of this game beyond the creatures running around as the story touches on many adult topics and issues. 

Return of the Obra Dinn (+ Papers, Please)

    I'm lumping both of these into the same category because they're made by the same guy and I don't have much to say about Papers, Please but it deserved a mention regardless. Lucas Pope has created two games that are unlike anything ever created. In Papers, Please you play as an immigration inspector at a border checkpoint of a fictionalized, dystopian parody of Russia. Each day you are given a new set of instructions and you have to identify whether or not people are allowed to pass through the checkpoint based on the documents they give you. It is a strangely compelling gameplay loop that is really unique but it did not hold my attention long enough to finish it which is why I don't have much to say about it other than that it's unique and you should give it a shot. 

    Return of the Obra Dinn, on the other hand, is one of the best games I have ever played. It is a tough-as-nails puzzle game in which you are an insurance inspector (no, really) and you have to investigate how everyone on a ship ended up dead. You piece together a remarkable story through watching flashbacks and using the powers of deduction to fill out a ledger in which you must identify every victim's name, cause of death, and the killer. What makes it difficult is the amount of choice you are given for each blank spot in the ledger but once it starts coming together it allows for some of the most satisfying, mind-blowing moments I've ever experienced in anything. It's probably the best puzzle game ever created and I cannot recommend it enough. I can't describe it in more detail because I will end up writing an essay by the time I'm done talking about even one of the discoveries I made while playing. 

Disco Elysium

    Here is my controversial take for the day: I don't think Disco Elysium is all it is bigged up to be. I don't think it's the most well-written game of all time or that the main plot is even that great. What I do think is that it is a very solid game with well-written characters and a fascinating skill system that is most definitely worth your time and attention. Essentially, the entire game is built around dialogue and skill-checks; instead of increasing a strength or endurance stat you spec into various aspects of your personality. Each skill is also represented with macabre artworks and the general look of the game is one of the best things about it. The small open world is beautifully detailed and each character's portrait represents them perfectly, too. 

    You can't directly shape the game's story or the world in any major way; instead, the game allows you to shape the player's character with an unprecedented amount of flexibility and choice. For example, if you invest in the "empathy" stat, your empathetic side will often speak up in the middle of conversations and offer input. There is an impressive amount of these skills and they all offer unique and interesting outlooks on the events unfolding. I did really enjoy Disco Elysium and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of good writing in video games, but I do not think it quite lived up to the hype that is built up around it. 

Night in the Woods

    A deceptively simple game, Night in the Woods is essentially Life is Strange if Life is Strange wasn't awful. The main character, Mae, is a college dropout with no real goals in life and she is forced to come to terms with her life just not being the same as it was when she was a kid; her town is dying, her friends are growing up and moving on, etc. It's all very heavy stuff but it is delivered in a very simplistic, digestible manner with short text bubbles and a clean art style. 

    This game might not be for everyone as the story is very slow-paced and the game is more focused on exploring character dynamics and the mundanities of life, but if you're up for a quietly moving, meaningful exploration of the human condition Night in the Woods is a fantastic experience that has stayed with me long after I finished it. It may look like it's for kids but it's very much not, the game touches on many issues that would only be relevant to adults and those reaching adulthood especially.

What Remains of Edith Finch

    Edith Finch, at a glance, is one of those infamous "walking simulators". Those games where the player is funneled through a series of environments as they piece together a story from audio recordings and the environment itself. However, this game sets itself apart from that genre by incorporating clever gameplay design into each of its vastly different chapters that show how games can be a powerful tool for storytelling and empathy. 

    Each chapter is about a different member of the Finch family's last moments. Each character has their own perception of the world and the gameplay reflects that. For example, my favourite chapter involves a man who was very into role-playing fantasy scenarios which helped him block out his mundane real life and the game has you both playing out the exciting fantasy and the mundane day job at the same time, settling you into a predictable rhythm for the job and conveying excitement for the fantasy aspects. It's all very clever, powerful stuff and this is one of those games I would suggest looking up nothing about. It is also only around 2 hours long so it's not a commitment. 

Oxenfree

    If you're at all into indie games, you've probably heard of Oxenfree so I will keep this short. It is another narrative-focused game about a bunch of teenagers who are stranded on a mystical island where something weird is boiling under the surface. This is another one where the twists and reveals keep it interesting throughout so do not look up anything about it; just know that it is a wonderful time with some genuinely likable, deep characters. 

Coffee Talk

    Very much what you would expect from the title, Coffee Talk is about making coffee for people and talking to them. It is set in a light-fantasy modern setting and is mostly a visual novel in which various people come into your coffee shop and talk about their problems. This game has such an amazing chilled-out atmosphere to it with lo-fi music and warm, dim lighting, and it was a very relaxing experience. 

    I really enjoyed the characters and their stories and I want to specifically highlight how much the limited sprites made me like them; for example, characters would have this animation where they are laughing and their upper body bobs up and down and it was so human-like that I couldn't help but smile whenever they did it. Good vibes all around.

Spiritfarer

    I have a lot of issues with Spiritfarer; it is way too long (around 30 hours), the actual gameplay is not in any way compelling, the characters could have had more depth. But I would lie if I said this game didn't make me incredibly emotional when it needed to. You play as Stella who is tasked with faring spirits to their final resting places after taking care of their personal issues. Every single time one of the spirits' questlines were done and I had to take them to the gate to the afterlife and they would disappear from the game forever. It was incredibly powerful and moving. 

Hotline Miami

    Time to switch gears from all these emotional, narrative-focused indie games and talk about the very popular Hotline Miami. This is simply one of the most fun games ever made. The gameplay is ridiculously tight and focused, something many games in the higher-budget space can learn from. The gist of it is, you are funneled through a series of rooms and must dispatch every enemy in said room, rinse and repeat. What makes it so compelling though is the fact that you and the enemies all die in one hit and everything happens at lightning-fast speeds. 

    Of course, this also makes the game ludicrously hard. This is, without a doubt, the most difficult game I have ever finished and I still have certain levels burned into my brain because of how tough they were. The soundtrack is awesome but every time I listen to it I instinctively start gritting my teeth because of the association I have with it. The difficulty does not ever stop it from being a super fun game, however, so if you're up for a challenge Hotline Miami is essential. 

A Plague Tale: Innocence

    I'm not even sure if this counts as an indie game; it is made by a small studio who mainly worked on licensed games prior to this one (and Microsoft Flight SImulator of all things) but it is definitely a budget title. However, you would not be able to tell by looking at it. A Plague Tale: Innocence looks more like a triple-A game than most triple-A games do. The visuals and presentation are simply outstanding, some of the best I've ever seen. It is a linear, narrative-focused, Last of Us-inspired game with some light stealth elements. The gameplay is solid but definitely not what anyone is there for; the world the developer has created and the story they crafted are the standouts. 

    The game is set in Middle Age France right during the bubonic plague and you play as a noble-born girl Amicia. Amicia's family is killed at the beginning of the game and she must escape and escort her little brother Hugo to safety as he possesses special powers that the evil Inquisition wants to acquire. The premise is very Last of Us but the game manages to carve out a unique identity by constructing absolutely gorgeous environments to traverse through and the way the central mechanic, the giant swarms of rats, are incorporated into the levels. 

    One of my favourite levels is halfway through the game where you have to essentially crawl through a mass grave full of plague victims and it is grotesque and weirdly beautiful at the same time, which is a running theme throughout the game. This game blew me away when I played it and it is now one of my all-time favourites; the story was so well-paced and compelling and the characters are also very likable. As I mentioned before, the graphics are just ridiculous for such a small studio and if I didn't know it was an indie game I would never be able to tell. And there's a sequel coming out in 2022 that I am very much looking forward to!

Mark of the Ninja

    I don't like the stealth genre, I always find it really boring to just crouch around an environment and press a button behind an enemy. Mark of the Ninja, however, I adore. It is a rare 2D stealth game and the way the levels are laid out make it almost more of a puzzle game than a straight-up stealth one. It is very short, only at around 4 hours or so, but those 4 hours are consistently fun as the gameplay and level design are just superb. This is a pretty easy game too so if you're put off by the stealth genre for its difficulty, this one might be for you. 

    One of my favourite aspects of the game is also the Cartoon Network-esque art style, except with blood and it just works really well. I'm a sucker for hand-drawn video games and this is one of the better-looking ones out there. The animated cutscenes are also excellent albeit short. 

Observation

    The quick elevator pitch for this game: you're playing through a space horror movie like Alien but as the spaceship A.I. That's it. That's all you need to know. This game has an awesome atmosphere to it and really high production values. The story is consistently engaging and the game never outstays its welcome at only around 3-4 hours. Some of the puzzles can be a bit obtuse but it is a creepy, memorable experience that deserves more attention. This one is quite terrifying too so watch out for that. 

Hades

    I feel like everyone's at least heard of Hades at this point and for good reason. I've only played around 4 hours of it on my computer and stopped because I wanted it to come to consoles so I can really delve into it. Now that that's happening, I can't wait to dive into Hades as I really loved what I played of it so far. It is a narrative-driven (in case it wasn't obvious with the rest of the list, narratives are very important to me) rouge-lite and what makes it so much more enjoyable than other games in the genre is the sheer amount of meta-progression carried over from run to run. 

    Hades tells a cohesive, well-told story despite the format of starting the entire game over again after death not being inherently narrative-friendly. I really loved what I saw of the characters and their dynamics and the gameplay is very solid with excellent music accompanying it. Can't wait to have more full thoughts on this game as it hits Game Pass in August!

Ashen

    I don't have a ton to say about Ashen other than that I really enjoyed it. It is a Souls-like but it is very different from Dark Souls. Ashen is a beautifully serene, almost relaxing experience and is mostly set in vast, outdoor landscapes. The progression of this game is my favourite aspect of it as throughout the world you save and help different NPCs who then come back to your village and start settling in. Throughout the course of the game, as you do the different NPC side quests, they will start building houses and your town will go from an abandoned hut to a thriving square, all accompanied by beautiful music and appealing texture-less visuals. I really enjoyed the progression of my town and it was the highlight of the game for me, but don't expect incredibly tight or deep gameplay. 

Last Stop

    This is a very recent game that I've been playing on Xbox Game Pass and it's a great time. It is a Telltale-style drama about three different characters whose stories all eventually intersect towards the end. The first chapter is really weak and I was put off from playing the rest. However, I am glad I stuck with it as I was treated to a very entertaining story with wonderful characters that was expertly paced and well-thought-out. I don't want to say much more as the story hinges on a lot of surprises and reveals but if you're a fan of watching what is essentially a semi-interactable television show, you will probably enjoy Last Stop. Just don't expect any of your choices to amount to much. 

    This game also has this really great, warm look to it with some great lighting and shows how good a 3D budget title can look with proper visual direction. The game also makes up for the visibly low animation budget with some seriously great camera angles and a great eye for cinematic flair. Again, a great example of how one could make a cinematic, narrative-driven game on a tight budget.