Although AAA games still take up a large amount of space in the gaming sphere, the appreciation and audience for indie games have been rapidly increasing in recent years. Part of this is due to the booming success of best-selling indie games like Hades, Stardew Valley, and Celeste, which managed to reach a huge amount of players worldwide. This success has inspired many other independent developers to make titles of their own, and while some may not reach the heights of popularity that other creators have achieved, more and more small studios are releasing praise-worthy projects with each ing year.
It can be easy for even the best indie games to fall under the radar - smaller budgets mean it's easy to be overshadowed by AAA titles when it comes to marketing and press opportunities. Some titles simply fall victim to circumstance, perhaps releasing during a busy month of game premieres, or having an initially buggy launch that is rectified at a later date. Whatever the reason, each year there are many excellent indie games that garner only a small following despite their unique qualities, with many of 2021's best indie games being no exception.
Part of the beauty of indie games is the unique visions of the creators behind them. While large developers may be beholden to concepts meant to appeal to a massive audience, independent developers are free to explore any concept they'd like. Spanning a myriad of genres and subjects, there's a slew of indie titles that deserve more recognition.
Co-open Is A Great But Overlooked Indie Game
Co-open is a wholesome indie game about community and the wonder of childhood. Players assume the role of a young bird going to the supermarket alone for the first time. After being dropped off by the protagonist's grandmother, players are free to explore the store and select the items they want to bring home with them. While at the market, players will meet other delightful of the bird community - some who offer advice, and some who send the protagonist on errands - as they shop, explore, and discover secret areas. Developed by lowpolis, co-open offers a cozy indie game experience that perfectly captures a child experimenting with independence for the first time, and is available on PC, Mac, and Linux.
Death Road To Canada Is An Underrated Indie Game Roguelike
Made by three-person indie team Rocketcat Games, Death Road to Canada is a game about a road trip during a zombie apocalypse. Players must defend themselves, manage resources, and make decisions about random events as they drive and fight their way through this absurd and violent version of Oregon Trail. Multiplayer is also available in this unique take on the popular roguelike game genre, allowing friends to customize their characters' looks and personality traits - which determine how they react to events - and fight alongside each other. Death Road to Canada is a great indie co-op game to play with friends and is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and mobile.
Best Indie Games You've Never Played - Cloud Gardens
Cloud Gardens is a relaxing, sandbox puzzle game about covering a dystopian environment with overgrown plants, with nature having reclaimed manmade environments. Players will begin with a blank slate of urban decay and work to reach enough plant coverage to complete the level using a combination of plant starters and objects. The items - which vary from things like old bottles to broken down cars - encourage plants to grow, forming a cycle of planting seeds, placing items, and harvesting seeds from the grown plants as players do their own environmental storytelling through landscapes. Cloud Gardens was developed by one-man indie studio noio and is available on Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac.
The Artful Escape Is An Indie Game That Shouldn't Be Missed
Despite indie-darling publisher Annapurna Interactive being on board alongside voice actors like Carl Weathers, Jason Schwartzman, and Lena Headey, The Artful Escape has largely fallen under the radar when it comes to popularity. The psychedelic platforming game from developer Beethoven & Dinosaur is inspired by creatives like David Bowie and Wes Anderson, creating a rich in-game aesthetic that's deeply engaging to explore.
The title follows protagonist Francis as he goes on an intergalactic musical journey to get out of the shadow of his famous uncle and find his own stage persona. Along the way, players can use their guitar to interact with the game's environment as well as during boss battles. The Artful Escape is available for Xbox consoles, Playstation consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, and iOS, as well as Xbox Game .
Cattails Is An Indie Game Where You Play As A Cat
Cattails is a delightful and relaxing indie simulation game where the player assumes the role of a feral cat. Players will choose a cat colony to align with when they begin the game, and help to secure and expand the colony's range as they play. Other popular life simulation elements include mining, holidays, resource collecting, relationship building, and even marriage. The husband and wife team behind Cattails even included a hunting system where - in true cat fashion - players can stalk and pounce on their prey. Cattails can be purchased for Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and Linux.
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure Is An Indie Game That Can't Be Missed
Made by small, multiplayer-focused indie studio Game Swing, Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure is an absurdly chaotic dodgeball experience inspired by classic fast-paced arcade games and 70s disco. Players can do things like throw beehives at their opponents and push them in front of moving cars as they play fast-paced dodgeball games in interactive environments, and can help their team even after being knocked out by placing hazards around the arena. Stikbold! offers both local multiplayer brawls and a hilarious story mode that can be played solo or co-op, and is available for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac.
Chinatown Detective Agency Is An Indie Game You Shouldn't Ignore
A point-and-click adventure game inspired by Carmen Sandiego, Chinatown Detective Agency is a brilliant noir detective game set in 2037 Singapore where players take on the role of private investigator Amira Darma. In classic Sandiego-style, players will need to conduct outside research to solve puzzles as they travel around the world unraveling a global mystery, learning about everything from Egyptian theology to World War II code-breaking. Featuring branching storylines, charming characters, and a compelling story, this innovative detective indie game from General Interactive Co. asks what it really means to be a hero. Chinatown Detective Agency is available on Xbox Consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac, as well as Xbox Game .