Despite the negativity surrounding the gaming industry’s uncertain future, indie games offer a welcome respite and bright spot to retreat to. There is a sense when playing a title developed by an unknown or smaller studio that a spark of inspiration led to a coherent vision, that you are playing the game the developer wanted to make, one that they couldn’t satisfactorily find in the gaming landscape itself.
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The hidden indie games on this list are ones I feel deserve to be shared and played by more people, offering fun experiences that are often underdelivered in the more well-known titles that they take inspiration from. In a sort of paradox, it might be the aspects that have caused them to remain unnoticed that make them the most enjoyable.
5. Astral Throne
I was shocked that this Fire Emblem-inspired roguelite indie title didn’t get more attention than it ultimately did when it launched at the beginning of the year. Its unique graphical style, combined with addictive tactical RPG gameplay, feels incredibly undervalued. It plays like a Fire Emblem game, but with the twist of the story changing each run based on the characters you select and the choices you make throughout the game, allowing several unique endings.
I do think the length of runs, which can last several hours, may be what turned some potential tactical RPG fans off, but at the same time, it is something I enjoy about it. Instead of playing endless, quick runs, you focus on a few that you hone in on, understanding their mechanics and learning which upgrades best synergize with your predominantly random crew.
4. Öoo
Before Hollow Knight: Silksong came the Metroidvania Öoo, a relatively stripped-down take on the genre that impressed former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida. While light on gameplay hours, the game also cuts out the fluff and unfun parts of backtracking that have come to define the genre. It goes all in on the puzzle-solving aspect, creating a focused experience complemented by the game’s charming atmosphere and music.
You play as a caterpillar who can lay bombs, relying instead on your wits rather than accumulating countless power-ups to dredge through the game’s numerous rooms. You really get the feeling that you are getting smarter when playing the game, as you figure out new ways to utilize your seemingly simplistic power.
3. Spells and Secrets
Released in the wake of the enchanting hit known as Hogwarts Legacy, Spells and Secrets unleashes roguelite elements into the setting. You run around a magic school that comes under attack from dark forces as you attempt to learn spells and rescue classmates and teachers.
The game features local co-op, a rarity among both roguelite games and modern games in general, and offers numerous fun ways to play by combining different spells. It somewhat reminds me of the Magicka series, with a dash of Harry Potter-inspired charm.
2. Boomerang Fu
Boomerang Fu is a deceptively fun yet straightforward party game featuring various foods throwing boomerangs at one another. There are so many attempts at the indie party game that have been tried, but I find myself always coming back to this one for its charm and physics-based chaos. You start with a standard boomerang, but can mix power-ups to create deadly combinations and surprisingly intense battles.
I also enjoy the slow-motion deaths and the fact that you unlock cosmetics as you play, giving you and your friends a fun incentive to keep going for that extra game. Boomerang Fu also features different game modes, rule modifiers, and a map selection feature that make it easy to play as competitively or as silly as you want to.
1. Our Adventurer Guild
Rounding out the top of this list is perhaps the most unknown, but also the game I have spent the most time playing this year: Our Adventurer Guild. While it has the trappings of a game you might instantly scroll past in the Steam store, it offers probably the best take on an indie fantasy adventurer management game I’ve played, though admittedly, there aren’t too many contenders.
You manage a roster of adventurers in an experience that feels like a mixture of DnD, Baldur’s Gate 3, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy Tactics. Despite its small scope, the story is decently interesting, and the way it handles upgrades and items does well to scratch a tactical gameplay itch.
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