Indie games can help bridge the gap between big releases each year. Without them, the gaming industry would have almost ceased to function, and it has been that way for over a decade. The problem is that some of these indie games are so good that they can compete with some of the best AAA games of all time, from the NES to the Switch 2.
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From word puzzles to ball shooting games, these indie ideas are quirky and completely unique even in the indie game market.
They're so good that they could even dominate awards season. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 In 2025. Another thing that stands out is: baby stepsIt won a major award in the audio design category at the 2026 Independent Game Festival. What else makes these two games so incredible, and what other indie games are worth highlighting? Let’s dig in and find out.
|
indie masterpiece |
It Beats in the AAA genre |
what is so good |
|---|---|---|
|
Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 |
Turn-based RPG |
Active combat, unparalleled world, and deep, dramatic story. |
|
Mullet Mad Jack |
first person shooting game |
Powerful gameplay loop, solid controls, impressive animated visuals |
|
shovel knight |
Old school 2D platform game |
Killer music, great visuals, challenging but fair platforming |
Rearranges covers into correct US release order.
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Rearranges covers into correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Difficult (10)
baby steps
step by step, day by day
baby steps The control scheme makes it one of the most difficult games to come out in 2025. Players were transported to a fantasy world and had to take individual action with Nate, an awkward character who now moves like a tank on the verge of collapse. Even if players get into a rhythm, one wrong move can ruin the game, but the gameplay loops and challenges that break that pattern are exactly what many players love.
That and the game's humor, including subverting expectations when Nate mutters to himself or when an NPC asks for help. this is a big reason baby steps Beyond the amazing sound effects, it won an award for audio design at the Independent Games Festival. It's a harder game than AAA games like: dark soulAnd it has a very rich world for a small game that was basically Isekai for all anime lovers.
Claire Obsker: Expedition 33
Final Fantasy with a French Twist
Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 is a borderline indie game, but that's important because the studio, Sandfall Interactive, is independent and this was their first game. This game did something that giant Japanese RPG companies like Square Enix never thought they could do again. That means capturing year-round media coverage through turn-based games.
The dramatic, moving world-building story, and active turn-based gameplay allowed us to create something truly amazing. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33 Stick out. Hopefully, the big developers will learn the right lessons from this and not focus solely on making turn-based RPGs without working hard in other areas as well.
cuphead
Hand drawn gifts for the eyes
cuphead
9/10
- released
-
September 29, 2017
cuphead It looks 1000% better than most big AAA games today, including: Ghost of Yotei It's reliance on style rather than graphics has helped it stand the test of time. There are other hand-drawn games as well, cuphead It's really started a revival and it's still the coolest game ever.
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If there's one thing that almost all gamers agree on, it's that this is a high-quality title with very few flaws.
This run-and-gun platformer is so carefully designed around bosses that it's truly like playing a cartoon, and it's just as challenging. That is another area. cuphead AAA companies are also excellent because they require you to pay attention to how these bosses evolve, and some even have different forms depending on how the player fought them.
hades 2
best storytelling
hades 2
- released
-
September 25, 2025
hades 2 It's a top-down roguelike with action that's fast and fluid enough for players to think. Devil May Cry Developed by Capcom or PlatinumGames team. Supergiant Games is one of those rare indie developers that rarely misses a beat with their own games. hades 2 It's everything the first game was, but so much more.
There was a better progression system, more areas to explore, and greater combat output between weapons and temporary upgrades to help players feel a sense of reward between deaths. The story is well written, the score is expertly composed, and the look of the game oozes style. The only question now is whether Supergiant Games can make a third installment that surpasses it.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Challenging but fair
When Konami and Nintendo stopped making Metroidvania entries castlevania and metroid Each franchise has been strengthened by indie games. Even between modern 3D and 2D metroid Along with other Metroidvania games from AAA and indie studios Hollow Knight: Silksong It stands tall.
Hand-drawn art that looks perfect, action that's so fluid you'll think the player is made of water, and it's so good that you can't even Elden Ring Shamefully. Not only that, it was incredibly challenging and at times even unfair, which broke some players. But it was so good to look at and play that it motivated other, more determined people to keep watching the final cutscene right before the credits.
Mullet Mad Jack
cyberpunk shooter
Mullet Mad Jack It is a roguelike first-person shooting game set in a cyberpunk world. The animation aesthetic is trying to evoke nostalgia for fans of 80s and 90s animation in shows like: AD police file and Mad Bull 34. in other words, Mullet Mad Jack It's incredibly violent and over the top in the best way.
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Underrated doesn't even begin to describe this amazing, rarely reviewed indie game.
To get the heart rate up, players must kill enemies in elaborate ways to earn points to advance. From kicking vending machines to slashing enemies with a katana, the gameplay was incredibly creative for a shooter and, more than just mentioned, a lot of fun. cyberpunk 2077 I also like shooting games that aren't cyberpunk. call of duty. Plus the gun itself fired pretty well.
shovel knight
Return to the 8-bit platform
shovel knight It's been over 10 years now, but fans haven't forgotten it. Thanks to developer Yacht Club Games, they've been pumping out DLC for quite some time now. With these updates, fans never forgot how great the platforming and level design was, even surpassing some of the great games of the NES era, such as: mega man 2 and super mario bros 3.
Animated sprites make the world feel more alive, upgrades give players a greater sense of progression, and the difficulty is perfectly balanced. Best of all, this music, which has been officially remixed and resold by several other artists, is incredibly durable and will get fans excited whether they're gaming or working out at the gym.
Undertale
A new way to role play
Undertale Technically it's like a turn-based RPG. Claire Obsker: Expedition 33But instead final fantasyThis game mother series. Incredibly strange and unlike any other RPG, Undertale challenged the player's morale when they booted up the game.
Should we kill monsters like we've been taught for decades, or should we try to talk to them? Avoiding attacks and creating dialogue really worked, and the same goes for all bosses. Even the best dialogue system and branching storyline. Fallout: New Vegas to mass effect 2 Pale in comparison to the dynamic approach. Undertale It will be played. also, baby stepsIt's really fun.
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Blow things up, plan and execute massive heists, or just drive around causing chaos in this miniature indie adventure that's strikingly similar to GTA.
