Game development and publishing are becoming more and more accessible, letting aspiring indie developers create their projects and put them out there for people to play. The indie games landscape is bursting and full of creative and inspired games made by teams of passionate and hardworking people. Every indie game is a unique experience and there's so much out there for players to try, with titles spanning every genre you can think of, and more.

Whether you play games regularly or are someone who enjoys them occasionally, there's always something new from an independent developer to try. Better yet, there are plenty of free options that are enjoyable and made with the love of skilled developers.

Updated on November 6, 2023, by William Quick: Let's be real for a second and admit that gaming is one of the most expensive hobbies that you can undertake. Forget the fact that it's a struggle just to find time to play all these games that keep coming out, you also need to pay for them with money! With bills, chores, and other financial responsibilities, this is much harder than it seems.

But fear not as there are many indie devs out there who understand this plight and are willing to pour all their time and effort into creating games that will cost you nothing but your time and attention. The ones on this list are those that are most worth it.

14 Deltarune

Toby Fox took the gaming world by storm mixed with a hurricane and a typhoon when he released Undertale. The community surrounding this game continues to grow and thrive despite an official sequel not having been released... but we did get the spin-off Deltarune.

This is the game that Fox is currently working on as an entirely new story with new characters and new mechanics but still taking place in the Undertale universe. As a result, it still has all the charm and quirkiness of the previous game while adding its own flavor to the mix.

This time, it's a third-person party-based RPG that lets you control three characters at once, usually the three heroes of Kris the Human, Susie the Monster, and Ralsei the Darkner. The game is being released episodically with each focusing on a new region with a new villain and a growing darkness on the horizon.

13 Poppy Playtime

Anyone who truly feels comfortable around animatronics and the like is just lying to themselves, and we didn't need Five Nights At Freddy's to drive the point home. As such, more horror titles involving failed artificial companions keep popping up like the disarmingly named Poppy Playtime.

Unlike FNAF, this is a traditional horror affair that has the hero trapped in a defunct toy factory with a useful pair of stretchy hand tools. Lo and behold, it appears that some of the factory's creations became too lifelike and instead developed an insatiable bloodlust that only you can quench. This leads to some very tense and terrifying moments as you flee through tight and dark spaces just to stay alive.

The puzzle and opportunities to use the hand tools are interesting and entertaining almost enough to distract you from the various playful horrors. Keep an eye out for new episodes and new playmates just waiting for you in the dark.

12 The Murder Of Sonic The Hedgehog

Sonic The Hedgehog experienced something of a recovery with a number of content being positively received. However, it can't be denied that the Sonic community has had a huge hand in pumping new life into his adventures with titles like Sonic Mania and inspiring The Murder Of Sonic The Hedgehog.

It's surprising that this game has gotten such popularity because it's easily the slowest title featuring the Blue Blur. It's a narrative point-and-click game that offers its own take on the idea of a murder mystery using the background of Amy Rose's birthday.

Sonic is chosen to be the victim of the game, but as you start playing through, you get the feeling that something is wrong... very wrong. A lot of thought was put into writing and designing the Sonic cast into this experience to the point where you'll start believing that this game is canon. Even though SEGA was behind this, the game was released on April Fool's Day and remains free, courtesy of one of their smaller teams.

11 Meteor 60 Seconds!

It's odd that 60 Seconds actually became a series of games, but it's understandable when you think about it. Being told you have 60 seconds to prepare for the rest of the game is pretty exciting and nerve-wracking, but Meteor 60 Seconds! goes a different route by telling you that you've got 60 seconds to play the game.

In a way, this can be seen as one of the shortest games in existence while having one of the highest replay values. Instead of using the time to prepare for a catastrophe of some kind, you're instead using it to play.

You're told that you have only 60 seconds before a meteor crashes into Earth and destroys all life. This drives you to really think about how best to spend that time with everything that's available. Will you act on all your inhibitions or just peacefully take in the scenery? Will you surround yourself with people or seek peace on your own? When you've only got 60 seconds left, every action makes sense.

10 Helltaker

Released in 2020, a strong year for indie games, Helltaker is a devilishly addictive, short puzzle game where players navigate through various stages to meet demon girls. Players are given a limited number of moves that they can make to reach the goal. The game oozes high quality, and it's clear that the developer was truly passionate about the project.

The art and writing of Helltaker are excellent, with memorable designs and funny interactions. The game is, of course, free, and the characters and puzzles are fun and challenging enough to keep players entertained for a few hours or longer.

9 Cave Story

Cave Story is a classic indie gem that's left an incredible impact on the indie game development scene. Developed by one person, Cave Story was originally released in 2004 and is a charming Metroidvania action-adventure game.

In Cave Story, players explore subterranean environments in fast-paced, exploration-focused gameplay. The game holds up incredibly well, with simple controls that make it easy for anyone to pick up and play, as well as a charming, pixel art visual style. There is a lot to explore and experiment with in Cave Story, and it's all available for free.

8 Century: Age Of Ashes

Century: Age Of Ashes is a new addition to this list of the best indie games, as it came storming out of early access in late 2021 and catapulted itself to the top of the highest-rated indie games on Steam.

This is a game all about dragon battles, with graphics and mechanics that might as well be from a Triple-A studio. It has a great meta game, and lots of unlockable dragons (although cosmetic purchases and other MTX are a thing in this game), but if you want something akin to World of Tanks but with dragons, then this is the game for you.

7 Brawlhalla

Brawlhalla is a fighting game that is both free to play and available on multiple platforms with cross-platform multiplayer support. This versatility makes it perfect for groups of friends and curious gamers to give it a spin and have some fun together.

This fighting game is hugely popular, with a massive online community and following, so it hardly feels like a small investment. It plays a bit like the Super Smash Bros series, with the goal of knocking opponents off the screen. There's also a local multiplayer mode, so players can fight against friends and family in their home, too.

6 Doki Doki Literature Club

At first glance, Doki Doki Literature Club might not seem like it's a game for everyone, and while it certainly isn't, curious gamers may think that for the wrong reasons. The game presents itself as a cute, anime-style visual novel where the player meets some girls as part of a literature club at school where they discuss writing and become friends.

However, players will note that the game also mysteriously says that it is not suitable for children or for people who are easily disturbed. Plus, the game's Steam tags label it as being more than just a casual game. The less you know about the game going in, the better, but it certainly makes for a creepy, clever, free-to-play indie title. If you've already played this one, there are plenty of mods that change up the experience.

5 Momodora 1 and 2

If platforming games are your jam, then Momodora I and II make for a one-two punch of free and top-quality platforming adventure games. These indie titles precede the incredibly popular Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight as the original two games of the Momodora series.

In the Momodora games, players control heroines who must fight and platform past challenging foes. The art style is pleasing to look at, and the game takes inspiration from other titles such as Cave Story, promising a satisfying gameplay experience, all for free.

4 Grimm's Hollow

A cute game with enticing pixel art graphics and a curious premise, Grimm's Hollow promises fun for the low price of nothing. Fans of RPGs will find themselves instantly enchanted by the game's gorgeous color palette and interesting faces.

In Grimm's Hollow, the playable character, Lavender, wakes up in a strange world filled with ghosts and spooky creatures. Some are hostile, while others are not, and Lavender must work to find her brother and escape this spooky world, exploring and engaging in combat along the way.

3 Super Auto Pets

Another breakout indie hit from 2021, Super Auto Pets is one of the most accessible auto battlers out there. It strips back the mechanics of popular titles like TFT and Hearthstone and presents them in a manner that pretty much anyone can understand, and yet retains its complexity.

The premise is simple: you construct a team of 5 animals that must battle it out with an opponent's five animals. The animals, or pets, all have different abilities and functions. Your aim is to hit 10 wins within a given time frame, i.e., if you lose too many battles, you're out, and have to start again. Be careful with this one, it's extremely addictive.

2 The Supper

The Supper is a short game with a spooky and mysterious premise. It's a game based on exploration, where players will traverse a moody, pixilated world as the curious Ms. Appleton, in search of ingredients to make a special dish for her customers.

This game offers puzzles to solve and secrets to find in its unique setting, and the game is bursting with character. Free, short, sweet, and memorable, The Supper is a game that is sure to be unlike anything players have experienced before.

1 Coloring Pixels

If you're looking for a relaxing game to spend some time with that's also easy on the wallet, Coloring Pixels may be worth your time. The game is exactly what the title says. Each stage consists of pixels that must be colored according to the number they are labeled by, similar to coloring books.

What makes Coloring Pixels truly special is how accessible it is. The game comes with a variety of fonts and a dark mode to make it easy for players to enjoy and unwind however they feel most comfortable.

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