The indie game scene began to truly catch stream after the launch of Steam and the Xbox 360. Thanks to the creation of online stores for consoles like Xbox Live, this created a new platform for smaller developers to market their games. Some early hits included Braid and Castle Crashers.

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It may have started last decade, but we would argue the indie scene was stronger than ever in this past one. Not only were more digital stores available, but Kickstarter also helped pave the way for new possibilities. There were so many great titles. Some of them made big splashes while others have yet to rise up. Let’s see how things turned out.

10 Exploded: Minecraft

Cover Art Image for Minecraft with Steve and a friend alongside animals and enemies coming out from below.

Technically Minecraft released in 2009, but that was only a test version. The full launch wouldn’t be until 2011, which is why we are counting it as a hit this decade. It was so big Microsoft bought out the company, Mojang, in 2014.

On top of that, it has tons of merchandise and a Pokemon Go-like spinoff, Minecraft Earth, which entered early access in February. Next year a Diablo clone will also launch, Minecraft Dungeons. Is there a possible bigger indie game on this list? It was ported to nearly every console, handheld, and mobile device known to man.

9 Waiting: Axiom Verge

Axiom Verge was the first game developed by Thomas Happ and his company aptly named Thomas Happ Games. It released in 2015 for PS4 and has been ported to every major console since, the latest of which was Switch in 2017.

Since he hasn’t made a new game in four years, besides the ports, one could theorize his next project’s announcement is right around the corner.

8 Exploded: Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight launched on PC, Wii U, and 3DS in 2014. It has since been ported to every console since. As of this December, it will have also released four different DLC expansions. There is also a new game, Shovel Knight Dig, which was announced earlier this year.

And let’s not forget Shovel Knight himself appearing in multiple other indie games including Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Blaster Master Zero, Yooka-Laylee, and more. Minecraft may be bigger, but Shovel Knight himself is more like THE indie mascot for the past decade.

7 Waiting: Mercenary Kings

Mercenary Kings entered early access in 2013 for PC while the full launch wouldn’t happen until 2014 for both PC and PS4 as a console exclusive. In 2018 it finally hit other consoles including PS Vita, Switch, and Xbox One via the rebranded name of Mercenary Kings: Reloaded.

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Established in 2011, Tribute Games has never made a sequel among its five original games. In 2020 they are set to release Panzer Paladin. After that, it would be nice to see a sequel to Mercenary Kings, or, as a runner up, Flinthook.

6 Exploded: SteamWorld

SteamWorld Tower Defense was the first game in the series, which released in 2010 as a downloadable game on DSi. Since then there have been four sequels.

The latest of which, SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, launched just this year. Image & Form is a small but mighty company with a devout following thanks to its games rarely disappointing.

5 Waiting: Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest is a curious case that just barely makes the list because, unlike other games waiting on here, there has been an announced sequel. The first game launched in 2015 with the sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, being announced at E3 2017.

It is set to launch in February of next year. Still, as it has been four years already, it is hard to wait so we’ll count it anyway.

4 Exploded: Guacamelee

Guacamelee character punching the foreground

Guacamelee hit the scene in 2013 for PS3, PS Vita, and PC in 2013. After a few more ports, the sequel launched in 2018. Two games may not count as an explosion akin to some of the others on here, but Juan, the game’s protagonist, has made cameos like Shovel Knight in other indie games like Runbow, Hex Heroes, and Brawlout.

This decade sure was a good year for Metroidvanias.

3 Waiting: Hollow Knight

Art of the Knight holding his nail surrounded by void

Hollow Knight falls into the same category as Ori and the Blind Forestas a sequel has been announced but isn’t out yet.

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The first game released in 2017 for PC and had several expansions until it hit consoles in 2018. Hollow Knight: Silksong is set to debut in 2020. Let’s cross our fingers that that date doesn’t slip.

2 Exploded: Undertale

Undertale launched in 2015 for PC and consoles at a later point, including the Switch as the latest port in 2018. Deltarune also released in 2018 as sort of a proof of concept for a related sequel. The sequel isn’t what we are counting as making this series explode though, because the fandom and merchandising are what really matters here.

The internet fell in love with Undertale for having relatable characters, good music, and being an RPG that subverted the genre’s norms. Pretty good for primarily one developer, Toby Fox.

1 Waiting: Fez

Fez is the saddest entry on this list. The game released in 2012 for the Xbox 360. A sequel was announced by the creator, Phil Fish, just a year later in 2013. However, just a month after this June announcement around E3, he canceled the project because of a Twitter argument of all things. He also claimed he wanted to resign from the gaming public.

The story is a lot more elaborate than that if one wants to read more. The latest version of Fez released in 2017 for iOS. Fish has also popped up in some capacity for helping design games like SuperHyperCube. So will Fez 2 ever happen? Hard to say, but we remain wishful.

NEXT: 5 PlayStation Franchises That Began This Past Decade (& 5 That Died)