Indie games are a 21st-century phenomenon for the most part, with the term picking up usage around the time that big publishers like EA and Activision employed massive development teams and dedicated million-dollar budgets toward “AAA” game development. That’s when the distinction between them and a ragtag group of passionate game developers was prominent enough for the latter to earn the “indie” label.
Indie game developers are not afraid to deviate from safe bets and proven formulas that bean counters at big publishers use to churn out identical games year after year. As a result, some indie games often provide a welcome breath of fresh air, if not outright change the course of gaming overnight. Today, the availability and affordability of user-friendly development tools means almost anyone with a bright idea could potentially make a genre-defining, blockbuster of a game.
In this article, we look at five such indie games that had a profound impact on the status quo.
5 indie games that justify the existence and growth of indie game development
1) Sifu (2022)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows
While we all love iconic beat-em-ups like games like Street Fighter or Streets of Rage, indie developer Sloclap’s Sifu takes fast beat-em-up combat to the next level. In Sifu, you either master the art, or die trying. To keep the gameplay fresh and add an element of tension, an aging mechanism helps the game stand out, making each new playthrough more interesting than the last. With each loss, your age goes up – and with it the damage that you can dish out, but also, the damage that you take and your stats go down.
Sifu sold over a million copies and bagged numerous awards, including a trifecta at the 2022 Game Awards (Best Independent Game, Best Action Game, and Best Fighting Game). It innovated handily in a popular but somewhat stale genre, and we cannot wait to see what indie games the developer comes up with next.
2) Kerbal Space Program (2015)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, OS X
Kerbal Space Program is widely regarded as one of the most fun and realistic space simulation games till date. Conceived in the mind of a little-known developer by the name of Felipe Falanghe, the 2015 title went on to receive seals of approval from the who’s who of the space industry, including NASA, ESA, and SpaceX.
While the game may seem lighthearted at first due to the cute little green Kerbin characters that you control, it’s surprisingly complex and rewarding, as you build various space vehicles and deal with highly plausible cosmic scenarios.
The game has no doubt helped spark growing interest in space and astronomy, and as further validation of its success, the indie developer was signed on by publishing behemoth Take-Two Interactive in 2017, which helped the erstwhile PC-only game grace consoles, and there’s a sequel on the way too.
3) Stardew Valley (2016)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
American game developer Eric Barone aka ConcernedApe began working on farming simulation Stardew Valley so he could have something to add to his resume. However, it ended up becoming so successful at launch that his reputation now precedes him.
With strong RPG elements, the game offers a rich experience of building your farm from the weeds, working with NPCs, and eventually generating revenue, turning a profit, and expanding the business.
Due to its low system requirements, the game was easily playable on most handheld devices, leading to Nintendo Switch and Android/iOS ports that commuters could while away hours with. Stardew Valley remains one of the most popular indie games to date.
4) Disco Elysium (2019)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that indie developer ZA/UM’s Disco Elysium dominated the headlines in 2019. Featuring a fresh and innovative take on the RPG and detective game genre, Disco Elysium makes brilliant use of skill checks and dialogue trees to help you solve a murder case while finding out more about your character and the rich and complex Soviet-inspired world you’re in. Each character is as memorable as the last, thanks to some fantastic writing.
The game scored full marks in countless reviews before racking up just as many Game of the Year awards. The subsequent “Final Cut” edition included well-realized audio dialogues to supplement the previous text-only conversation system.
5) Hades (2020)
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS
While the roguelike genre dates back to the 1980s, it saw a renewed interest in the 2000s, with titles such as 2008’s Spelunky and 2011’s The Binding of Isaac being very well-received. In recent years, however, few other indie games have done as much for the genre as Supergiant Games’ Hades, released in 2020.
Made up of ex-Command & Conquer personnel, the indie game development team had already honed their skills on three other worthwhile games, but Hades was an action roguelike like no other. It features highly memorable characters, a beautiful art style befitting mythology as grand as the Greeks,’ and all of it is held together beautifully by solid combat and RPG mechanics.
The game racked up a pile of awards and nominations between 2020-2021, including Best Indie Game at both the Golden Joystick Awards and the Game Awards.
