Over the years, independent video games have ceased to be considered minor experimental projects and have become a fundamental part of the industry.
With hundreds of masterpieces under its wing,the indie scene is now a popular space filled with high-quality,dedicated titleswhere millions find many of their favorite experiences.
10 Best Indie Games That Cover Big Issues
These experiences demonstrate how profound and thoughtful the interactive medium can be.
In fact, these types of video games have risen so much thatthey now regularly appear among the top-rated titles on each platform year after year, becoming major global phenomena.
Therefore, to acknowledge these independent creations that have achieved both critical and media success, I bring you this list often of the best indie games with near-flawless Steam User Review scores.
The article only considers indie games that have more than 50.000 user reviews on Steam.
10Papers, Please
User Score: 97% (67.624 reviews)
Papers, Please
During the booming years of the indie market,Lucas Popeamazed us with an astonishing title that demonstrated the thematic and reflective depth the interactive medium could achieve withPapers, Please.
10 Forgotten Indie Game Hits That Need A Sequel
These independent gems have to be brought back into the spotlight.
With exquisite pixel art and wonderful worldbuilding, the fictional nation of Arstotzka astonished us with its ability to reflect the harshness of life in autocratic contextsdespite the simplicity of its gameplay and graphics.
Every day at that customs post felt like an eternity, especially as the plot progressed and you discovered where Pope was going with his spontaneous and immersive experience that made you feel like you were in the agent’s shoes.
It’s a timeless work, andone of the great indie titles that helped pave the way for the monumental space in video games it is today.
9Hotline Miami
User Score: 97% (90.816 reviews)
Hotline Miami
Speaking of indie titles that exhibited the immense communicative and artistic potential of video games, few can match the impactHotline Miamigenerated at the time.
Even having played it years after its release,rarely has an interactive experience so frontally and assertively challenged my way of relating to video games, particularly regarding violence.
With its thought-provoking approach, combined with addictive and adrenaline-pumping gameplay, an unforgettable soundtrack, and dopamine-fueled aesthetics, it’s a game that’s as fun as it is insightfully poignant.
Hotline Miamiis among the greatest exponents of independent gaming, so its presence among the highest-rated indie titles in history should surprise absolutely no one.
User Score: 97% (108.532 reviews)
Not every game on this list is part of the pioneering group that put indies on the map, as evidenced by the magnificentCeleste’s prominence.
I tend to describe it asthe best platformer of all time, a quality I find difficult not to attribute to it thanks to its impressive controls and devilishly fun challenges.
With an unmistakable personality and a story that addresses the topic of mental health very humanely, accompanying Madeleine as she climbs her mountain is one of the last couple of years' most magical experiences.
Add in the Farewell DLC, the B- and C-sides of each chapter, the perfect soundtrack, the creative levels and mechanics…It’s really tough not to fall in love withCelestefrom the first encounter.
User Score: 97% (125.942 reviews)
PlayingBalatroas I write these lines, I’ve rarely seen such exponential growth in the popularity of a video game.
The title went from being unfairly overlooked to a candidate for Game of the Year, becoming a cultural phenomenon that has already spawned hundreds of memes, references, plush toys, t-shirts, and all kinds of merchandise.
8 Indie Games That Outgrew Their Indie Label
Some indies fly a bit too close to the sun, and get consumed.
This, of course, was to be expected, as it’s one of the best roguelikes in history. The game combines so many gameplay systems in such a fluid, progressive, and fun way that leaving it feels practically impossible.
To be honest, I’ve put it down three times in different months and started playing it again three times, as I always come back to play some more.Balatrois an absolute marvel of video game design, and today, a global symbol of gaming.
6Hollow Knight
User Score: 97% (372.850 reviews)
Hollow Knight
Fextralife Wiki
As a clear contender for the best and most popular indie game of all time,Hollow Knightwas a must-have for this list.
Team Cherry’s masterpiece was responsible for elevating the Metroidvania genre’s popularity to the highest level,becoming an international icon of independent development.
When people think of indie game greatness, they inevitably think ofHollow Knight, whose superb bosses, level design, iconic characters, wonderful setting, and extraordinary expansions have always made it stand out.
As someone who has completed it in a thousand different ways, has a King’s Brand tattoo, and fell in love with indie games thanks to it,it was the most obvious pick for this list.
User Score: 97% (1.125.782 reviews)
Terrariais by far the title with the most reviews on the list, which makes its 97% average even more commendable.
This eternal cosmos of content is among the last decade’s most praised indie games, precisely for its ability to offertons of entertainment without ever losing an ounce of novelty.
From the first hour to the hundredth or even thousandth, the game never ceases to surprise you with new items,biomes, bosses, combinations, mechanics, and more that truly make you feel like an explorer within a vast, limitless universe.
Despite being the kind of experience that terrifies me, as I’m overwhelmed by so many things to do, I must admit the few hours I’ve dedicated toTerrariahave been enough to understand the greatness of its quantity and quality.
4Katana ZERO
User Score: 98% (62.314 reviews)
Katana ZERO
Katana ZEROis one of those journeys that leaves you completely speechless once you finish it, reflecting deeply on everything you’ve just witnessed.
Despite its short length,the game is so intense both in gameplay and narrative that it’s hard to put down until the credits roll, as you always want to find out what’s next.
From surpassing every gameplay challenge to discovering more about the protagonist’s past and the antagonists' identities, it creates a rather engaging loop where you increasingly want to fight and learn more.
Considering its wonderful art direction and soundtrack, as well as its cryptic story and gloriousworldbuilding,Katana ZEROis amongDevolver Digital’s best games, always leaving you with the need to start a new playthrough and finish it again.
3Vampire Survivors
User Score: 98% (238.008 reviews)
Vampire Survivors
I understand why many people may findVampire Survivorsto beoverrated, but believe me when I tell you that this game is absolutely incredible.
And I say incredible in the word’s fullest sense, because even its free version on itch.io is more than capable of keeping you spellbound for hours with its inexplicably addictive gameplay.
Although you only move and dodge while searching for upgrades and making decisions about which new powers or levels to acquire, the simple act of massacring everything in your path generatesa dopamine rush that’s impossible to match.
It lacks mechanical, gameplay, or even audiovisual complexity, but what it has is so perfectly calculated that it’s an extremely useful marvel for happily wasting hours of your life without even realizing it.
User Score: 98% (258.797 reviews)
Being among the reasons why I love roguelikes, as it’s anexcellent title for beginners to the genre,Hadesis a complete marvel.
Thanks to its ability to evolve the gameplay as much as the narrative, something unusual in this kind of game,it’sa constant delight that never ceases to surprise you through both its mechanics and its characters.
Losing is one of the game’s best parts because it gives you the opportunity to continue improving your character and getting to know the incredible cast of NPCs that accompany you on the adventure, creating a magnificent cycle in which everything is a reason to want to keep playing.
With incredible bosses, a tremendous soundtrack, and an artistic design that simply takes your breath away,Hadesis a game that borders on perfection and deserves every ounce of praise it can receive.
1Stardew Valley
User Score: 98% (760.791 reviews)
Stardew Valley
To the surprise of a few,Stardew Valleyis the indie game with the highest player rating in Steam history, and to say it’s well-deserved is an understatement.
ConcernedApe’s creation is living video game history, whose ability to break barriers and unite millions of people, veterans and novices alike, is worthy of a standing ovation.
With endless content, a relaxing atmosphere that invites you to de-stress through itsaddictivemanagement mechanics, and an overall experience that feels like a hug to the heart,we’re talking about one of the century’s greatest experiences.
Beyond the debate about whether it’s the best game on the list,Stardew Valleyleads this article because of the ease with which it connects with all types of players, regardless of their background and love for the industry, reaching a level of transcendence few can achieve.
Just for the peace it generates and for the memories I’m sure many of us have experienced on its farms, thatStardew Valleyhas this award is something that makes me more than pleased.
10 Minor Issues That Ruin Near-Perfect Indie Games
While they remain classics of independent development, these gems are just one step away from being fully rounded.
