As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, indie developers have been crafting some of the most innovative and captivating experiences for players worldwide. In 2023, the indie game scene promises to be as vibrant as ever, offering a plethora of unique titles that are sure to leave a lasting impression on gamers of all kinds.
Join us as we delve into the realm of creativity, exploring the top 5 indie games that should be on your must-play list this year. From breathtaking visuals to thought-provoking narratives, these gems are poised to redefine what it means to be an indie game in the modern gaming era.
Number 1. Hades
Hades is a roguelike dungeon crawler developed and published by Supergiant Games. It was released for macOS, Nintendo Switch, and Windows in September 2020, which followed an early access release in December 2018. It was later released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in August 2021.
In Hades, players control Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape from the Underworld to reach Mount Olympus. Each run challenges the player through a random series of rooms populated with enemies and rewards. Players can collect Boons from the Olympian gods, which grant them powerful abilities. They can also upgrade their weapons and abilities, and unlock new items and features.
Hades is a critically acclaimed game, having won over 50 awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2020. It has been praised for its gameplay, art style, music, and story. The game is also known for its high level of replayability, as players can unlock new content and challenges with each run.
Here are some of the things that make Hades a great game:
- The gameplay is challenging but fair. Each run is a new challenge, and players will need to learn and adapt to the enemy’s attacks. However, the game is also fair, and players will always have a chance to succeed if they play their cards right.
- The art style is stunning. The game is beautifully rendered, with a unique art style that blends Greek mythology with modern design. The characters are expressive and well-animated, and the environments are lush and detailed.
- The music is incredible. The game’s soundtrack is composed by Darren Korb, who has also worked on other Supergiant Games titles. The music is atmospheric and engaging, and it really helps to set the mood for the game.
- The story is compelling. Hades is a character-driven game, and the story revolves around Zagreus’s quest to escape from the Underworld. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is full of twists and turns.
If you’re looking for a challenging, rewarding, and visually stunning game, then Hades is definitely worth checking out.
Number 2. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a single-player open-ended country-life role-playing video game developed by Eric Barone. The player inherits their grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley, armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins. The player must learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home.
The game features a variety of activities, including farming, mining, fishing, crafting, and socializing. Players can also participate in seasonal festivals and explore a vast, mysterious cave.
Stardew Valley has been praised for its relaxing gameplay, charming characters, and addictive gameplay loop. The game has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and has been nominated for numerous awards, including Game of the Year.
Here are some of the things you can do in Stardew Valley:
- Farm crops and raise animals.
- Mine for ores and gems.
- Fish in the rivers and lakes.
- Craft items from materials you gather.
- Explore the caves and dungeons.
- Meet the townspeople and befriend them.
- Date and marry one of the townspeople.
- Have children and raise a family.
- Complete the Community Center.
- Defeat the Mines boss.
- And much more!
Stardew Valley is a great game for people who enjoy relaxing, open-ended games with a lot of content. If you’re looking for a game to sink your teeth into, Stardew Valley is definitely worth checking out.
Number 3. Celeste
Celeste is a 2018 platform game developed and published by indie studio Maddy Makes Games. The player controls Madeline, a young woman with anxiety and depression who aims to climb Celeste Mountain. During her climb, she encounters several characters, including a personification of her self-doubt known as Badeline, who attempts to stop her from climbing the mountain.
The gameplay of Celeste is a mix of 2D platforming and puzzle-solving. The player must use Madeline’s abilities to jump, climb, and dash through a series of levels. The levels are challenging but fair, and the game features a built-in assist mode that allows players to customize the difficulty.
Celeste is also notable for its story and themes. The game deals with themes of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt in a way that is both personal and relatable. The story is told through a series of environmental storytelling and dialogue, and it is one of the most well-written and emotionally resonant stories in any video game.
Celeste was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its gameplay, story, and emotional impact. The game has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year from several publications.
If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding platformer with a powerful story, Celeste is definitely worth checking out.
Here are some of the features of Celeste:
- Challenging but fair platforming.
- A variety of levels to explore.
- A personal and relatable story.
- A built-in assist mode for players who need it.
Celeste is a great game for people who enjoy challenging platformers with a good story. If you are looking for a game that will challenge you both mentally and emotionally, Celeste is definitely worth checking out.
Number 4. Undertale
Undertale is a 2015 role-playing video game developed by Toby Fox. The player controls a human child who falls into the Underground, a realm inhabited by monsters. The player can choose to fight or spare the monsters they encounter, and the game’s story and ending will vary depending on the player’s choices.
Undertale is a critically acclaimed game that has been praised for its humor, its unique battle system, and its subversion of traditional role-playing game tropes. The game has won numerous awards, including Game of the Year from several publications.
Here are some of the features of Undertale:
- A unique battle system that allows the player to spare or fight enemies.
- A large cast of memorable characters.
- A story that is both funny and heartwarming.
- Multiple endings that depend on the player’s choices.
Undertale is a great game for people who enjoy role-playing games with a twist. If you are looking for a game that will challenge your expectations and make you think, Undertale is definitely worth checking out.
Here are some of the things you can do in Undertale:
- Explore the Underground, a vast and mysterious world.
- Meet a variety of friendly and hostile monsters.
- Battle your way through the Underground, or spare your enemies and make friends.
- Learn about the history of the Underground and the monsters who live there.
- Discover the secrets of the Underground and its inhabitants.
- And much more!
Undertale is a great game for people who enjoy role-playing games, adventure games, and games with a good story. If you are looking for a game that will challenge you, make you laugh, and make you think, Undertale is definitely worth checking out.
Number 5. Cuphead
Cuphead is a run-and-gun action game developed and published by Studio MDHR. The game is heavily focused on boss battles, and is inspired by the rubber hose animation style of the 1930s.
The player controls Cuphead, a small, anthropomorphized cup who, in a deal with the Devil after losing a game at the Devil’s casino, is sent on a quest to repossess the souls of runaway debtors as payment for Cuphead’s loss. The game is played from a 2D side-scrolling perspective, and the player must use Cuphead’s abilities to jump, shoot, and dodge through a series of levels and boss fights.
Cuphead was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One in September 2017, and was later ported to macOS, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. The game was a critical and commercial success, and was praised for its art style, gameplay, and music.
Here are some of the features of Cuphead:
- Classic run-and-gun gameplay with a twist.
- Boss battles that are both challenging and rewarding.
- Hand-drawn art style that is inspired by 1930s cartoons.
- Original jazz soundtrack.
Cuphead is a great game for people who enjoy run-and-gun games, boss battles, and games with a unique art style. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding game that is also visually stunning, Cuphead is definitely worth checking out.
