Let’s be real for a second: the AAA gaming space is kind of a mess right now. Between the $70 price tags, the broken launches, and the endless sea of soulless battle passes, I’m burned out. If you’re feeling the same way, stop looking at the blockbusters and look at the indie scene. This is where the actual creativity lives. Small teams are taking massive risks and putting out games that have more heart in a single level than most massive franchises have in their entire runtime.
If you’ve got a backlog of open-world bloatware you’re dreading, delete it. Seriously. Here are 10 indie masterpieces that are dominating the conversation right now.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Let’s start with the heavy hitter. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just a “good indie game”; it is a visual masterpiece that puts most big-budget graphics to shame. Visually, it looks stunning—like a classic oil painting came to life and decided to fight you. The art direction is so distinct and beautiful that I found myself stopping just to stare at the environments.
It is a turn-based RPG, but it completely changes the rules. It mixes in real-time mechanics like dodging, parrying, and jumping over attacks. You can’t just press “Attack” and scroll through TikTok; you have to pay attention to every single move. The story is intense, the music is incredible, and the sheer amount of polish here is insane. If you are a Final Fantasy fan who feels let down by modern games, this is the one for you.
2. Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games | Platforms: PC (Early Access), PS5, Xbox Series X/S (Coming Soon)
The Prince of the Underworld is out, and the Princess is in. Hades II is finally here. You play as Melinoë, the sister of Zagreus, engaging in witchcraft and fighting your way to slay Chronos, the Titan of Time. It takes everything that was addictive about the first game and dials it up to eleven.
The combat is sharper, faster, and more magical. You aren’t just hacking and slashing; you’re casting spells, managing mana, and using ranged attacks that feel satisfyingly crunchy. The visual style is still that gorgeous, neon-soaked Greek aesthetic we love, but everything feels deeper and darker. Even though it started on PC, Supergiant always brings the heat to consoles, so keep this on your radar if you play on TV. It is the gold standard for roguelites.
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developer: Team Cherry | Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC (Game Pass)
It is real, and it is spectacular. Silksong is finally in our hands, and it was worth every single second of the wait. You play as Hornet, who is much faster and more acrobatic than the Knight from the first game. She moves like a needle threading through fabric—precise, deadly, and incredibly fast.
If you thought Hollow Knight was hard, get ready to struggle. Silksong is brutal and demands perfection, but that’s why we love it. The map is massive, filled with secrets, and the bosses are designed like deadly dances. What blows my mind is that this was made by such a tiny team. You are getting hundreds of hours of content that rivals any $70 game on the market. It runs perfectly on Switch, by the way.
4. Dispatch
Developer: AdHoc Studio | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Okay, put down the swords and magic for a second. Dispatch is something different. It is a narrative game where you play as Robert, a retired superhero who is now… a middle manager. Yeah, you read that right. You have to manage a dysfunctional team of “heroes” who have massive egos and zero common sense.
It mixes office drama with superhero theatrics in a way that is genuinely funny and surprisingly emotional. You’re dealing with HR complaints one minute and trying to coordinate a city-saving mission the next. The writing is sharp, and the voice acting sells the whole “tired ex-hero” vibe perfectly. It plays great on a controller because it’s more about the story and choices than fast reflexes.
5. Blue Prince
Developer: Dogubomb | Platforms: PC (Steam) – Consoles TBD
I have never played anything like Blue Prince. It is a “roguelite puzzle game,” which sounds like a headache, but it’s actually genius. Usually, puzzle games have one solution. Once you solve it, you’re done. But here? The puzzles are generated by RNG (Random Number Generation).
You are exploring a mysterious mansion where the rooms change every time you enter. You have to draft a floor plan as you go, and the puzzles scale with your intelligence. It makes you feel like the smartest person in the room… until you get stuck on a riddle for 45 minutes. Right now it’s shining on Steam, but this kind of game is perfect for a chill console session, so fingers crossed for a port soon.
6. Schedule I
Developer: TVGS | Platforms: PC (Steam)
This game came out of nowhere. A solo developer made a drug-dealing simulator, and suddenly everyone is talking about it. In Schedule I, you start from nothing and build a criminal empire. Think Breaking Bad, but in first-person and way more chaotic.
You aren’t just looking at menus; you are on the ground. You have to recruit dealers, cook product, avoid the police, and fight rival gangs for territory. The world feels alive—if you mess up, the police presence increases. If you sell bad stuff, your reputation tanks. But honestly? The best part is just riding your skateboard around the city while your empire runs in the background. It’s chaotic, immoral, and incredibly fun.
7. Megabonk
Developer: Vedinad | Platforms: PC (Steam)
The roguelite genre was getting a little stale, and then Megabonk crashed through the wall to fix it. It’s a 3D action game where movement is everything. You can climb, slide, jump, and practically fly through the levels. It feels like a playground where physics are just a suggestion.
The characters are unhinged. You can play as a skeleton on roller skates. You can play as a monkey throwing bananas. You can play as a character literally called “Chad” who defeats enemies with his aura. It doesn’t take itself seriously at all, and that’s why it works. The physics are bouncy and fun, and the combat feels satisfying without being overly stressful.
8. Peak
Developer: Team PEAK | Platforms: PC (Steam)
Do you want to lose your best friends? Play Peak. This is a 4-player co-op game about hiking and exploration. You and your buddies have to traverse difficult terrain using ropes, trampolines, and teamwork. It sounds chill, but it is absolute chaos.
The problem is, the physics are hilarious. You will try to pull your friend up a cliff, slip, and send everyone falling to their doom. I spent hours screaming at my screen because my teammate didn’t tie the rope properly. But when you actually coordinate and reach the summit? It feels amazing. It’s a great bonding experience (if you don’t kill each other first).
9. RV There Yet?
Developer: Nuggets Entertainment | Platforms: PC (Steam)
If Peak is about hiking, RV There Yet? is about the road trip from hell. You and your friends are stuck in the wilderness, and you have to drive a massive, clunky RV back to civilization. It sounds simple, but everything that can go wrong will.
The twist is that the RV falls apart if you touch anything. Hit a tree branch? The door falls off. Hit a rock? The tire pops. Oh, and there are hostile animals trying to attack you. One player drives, while the others have to run around repairing the engine, fending off bears, and navigating the map. It is pure stress and pure comedy rolled into one package.
10. Ball x Pit
Developer: Kenny Sun and Friends | Platforms: PC (Steam)
Just when I thought I had seen every type of roguelite, Ball x Pit comes along. Imagine mixing Pong, Tetris, and a dungeon crawler into one game. It sounds messy, but it works so well.
You shoot balls to break blocks (like Breakout), but the blocks move down like in Tetris. As you progress, you get upgrades that make your balls explode, split, or catch fire. It’s satisfying in a primal way. Watching a screen full of blocks shatter into dust because you lined up the perfect shot is incredibly rewarding. It is the perfect “podcast game”—something to play while you listen to something else.
