11 Indie Games That Give Triple A Studios a Run For Their Money

These days, indie games have continued to prove that a small team of hardworking people with a dream can easily rival the quality of a AAA game studio. It truly is astounding to see the quality of some of these indie games. They all aim to please, whether it’s their visuals, storyline, or overall gameplay.

1. COCOON (2023)

We have COCOON, starting with one of the newer indie titles from Geometric Interactive, with the same game designer of indie hits like LIMBO and INSIDE. This is a puzzle adventure game where you control a beetle that can hop between worlds to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

2. Undertale (2015)

It would be a shame to leave out Toby Fox’s Undertale, a 16-bit pixel role-playing game set in the underground world where monsters live. There is much to love in Undertale, from its quirky characters and visuals to its storyline and fun dialogue—every choice you make in the game matters and affects every playthrough you make.

3. Dredge (2023)

A fishing game by Black Salt Games mixed with creatures of Lovecraftian horror, Dredge may seem tedious at first, but that’s because you’re just getting started. As a fisherman, you go on a sea-faring adventure on your own, where you encounter all sorts of creatures and uncover the secrets of the dark depths.

4. Rocket League (2015)

Think of soccer, but mix it with some high-speed race cars, and you get a semblance of what Rocket League brings. Additionally, Rocket League has been free-to-play since 2020, which has helped to increase its popularity and mindless gameplay. You can thank its developer, Psyonix, for that!

5. Hades (2020)

As one of the best roguelikes available, every gamer has probably tried their hands at Hades. Its addictive gameplay and multi-faceted characters will keep you coming back for more. In Supergiant Games’ Hades, whenever your character, Zagreus, dies, he gets resurrected and has to start from the beginning again. The goal is to escape hell. Good luck.

6. Hollow Knight (2017)

A Metroidvania game from Team Cherry with a vast list of intimidating bosses, profound lore, and hand-drawn animation, Hollow Knight is rightfully one of those indie games that easily rival AAA games. You play as a Knight and traverse through forgotten kingdoms, fighting everyone in your way as they try to stop you from uncovering the truth.

7. Sea of Stars (2023)

A 90s-style game by Sabotage Studio that won several awards after its release in 2023, Sea of Stars is a modernized and balanced indie game that you should consider experiencing. Two characters, Valere and Zale, combine their opposite powers to stop an evil alchemist and his monstrous creations.

8. Stardew Valley (2016)

One of the highly beloved farming simulators of all time, Stardew Valley has grown immensely since its release by ConcernedApe. There are entire fanbases dedicated to this game; there’s even a board game made from it. You can play it however you want – farm, fish, mine, get married, conquer a dungeon, and more.

9. Terraria (2011)

A sandbox game that has been around for over a decade and is one of the building blocks of the indie game genre, we have Terraria. This game by Re-Logic makes the world your oyster; you can do whatever you want with its wide selection of tools and mechanics. You can customize your world through buildings and battle bosses, hone your skills, and more.

10. Shovel Knight (2014)

An 8-bit style platformer by Yacht Club Games with memorable characters and a grand narrative, Shovel Knight has expanded into multiple extra games and spin-offs, appearing as a guest character in other games. Sometimes, all you need is a character with a weird weapon choice to make people fall in love with it.

11. Five Nights At Freddy’s (2014)

Five Nights At Freddy’s, one of the biggest franchises in gaming history, it was started as a simple one-person production by Scott Cawthon, now known as ScotGames. The original first game is a horror game set in a restaurant where you are trapped with animatronics that try to kill you. That is generally the setting for most of its games and media.