Best Indie Games: 10 You Should Play at Least Once
If you only played ten indie games, make it these: Hades, Celeste, Hollow Knight, Outer Wilds, Stardew Valley, Undertale, Disco Elysium, Balatro, Return of the Obra Dinn and Inscryption. Small studios, sometimes a single person, and ideas big studios don't dare to try. There's something for everyone, from about 4.5 to 50 hours according to players on IGDB.
Why these ten indie games
Indie games are where the wildest ideas are born. With no huge budget and no shareholders to please, small teams take risks: an RPG with no combat, a card game built on poker hands, an investigation aboard a ghost ship. As a result, many of the most memorable games of recent years come from the indie scene.
We picked ten games that cover very different genres: action, platforming, exploration, simulation, storytelling and puzzles. Each one is a benchmark in its category. The times listed are for the main story, to help you choose based on how much time you have.
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1. Hades
About 38.5 hours for the main story according to IGDB. You play Zagreus, son of Hades, trying to escape the underworld again and again. Every run is different thanks to boons from the Olympian gods, and every death moves the story forward. Combat is slick, the writing is excellent, and it's the perfect first roguelite.
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2. Celeste
About 10.5 hours to climb the mountain with Madeline. It's a precise, demanding platformer that's never unfair: you respawn instantly, and an assist mode lets you tune the difficulty. Behind the jumps lies a touching story about anxiety. For more, see games like Celeste.
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3. Hollow Knight
About 15.5 hours for the story according to IGDB, though most players stay much longer. A huge metroidvania set in a ruined insect kingdom, with tough combat, memorable bosses and exploration that rewards every detour. The full breakdown is in our article on its length.
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4. Outer Wilds
About 12 hours to unravel a solar system trapped in a time loop. No upgrades, no weapons: the only thing that grows is what you know. Play it blind, without reading anything about it, and it will stay with you for a long time. More in games like Outer Wilds.
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5. Stardew Valley
About 50 hours for the story, and often hundreds in total. You take over your grandfather's farm, grow crops, fish, explore the mines and befriend the townsfolk. Made by a single person, ConcernedApe, it's the gold standard for cozy games. See how long it takes.
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6. Undertale
About 4.5 hours for a first run. A child falls into an underground world full of monsters, and you can choose not to kill anyone. Battles mix turn-based combat with bullet dodging, the humor is irresistible, and the game remembers your choices far more than you'd expect.
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7. Disco Elysium
About 19 hours as an amnesiac detective investigating a murder in the city of Revachol. No combat: everything happens through dialogue and your skills, which talk to you like voices in your head. The writing is among the best in gaming. More in games like Disco Elysium.
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8. Balatro
About 4.5 hours to beat it once, then dozens more hours of just one more run. You build poker hands and buy Jokers that bend the rules, chasing more and more absurd combos. Easy to understand and dangerously addictive. Perfect for short sessions.
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9. Return of the Obra Dinn
About 6 hours investigating a merchant ship that returned with no crew. As an insurance investigator, you work out the identity and fate of every sailor using a watch that replays the moment of their death. 1-bit visuals, pure deduction and a rare thrill when it all clicks.
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10. Inscryption
About 10 hours in a sinister card game, somewhere between deckbuilder, escape room and psychological horror. You play against a mysterious opponent in a cabin, and the game hides much more than it shows. The less you know going in, the better. A one-of-a-kind experience.
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Tips for picking your next indie game
Start from what you want to feel. For adrenaline, Hades and Hollow Knight. To unwind, Stardew Valley. To think hard, Outer Wilds and Return of the Obra Dinn. For a story that floors you, Disco Elysium, Undertale or Inscryption. And if you're short on time, Balatro plays in quick runs of a few minutes.
One more tip: avoid spoilers. Outer Wilds, Undertale and Inscryption rely heavily on surprise, so go in blind. And once you find your favorite, dig deeper into the genre with our lists of games like Hades, games like Hollow Knight or games like Balatro.
FAQ
What is the best indie game of all time?
There's no single answer, but Hades, Hollow Knight, Outer Wilds and Stardew Valley show up on almost every list. The best one for you depends on what you enjoy: action, exploration, puzzles or relaxing. Every game here is a benchmark in its genre.
What indie game should I play if I'm short on time?
Undertale and Balatro take about 4.5 hours for a first run, and Return of the Obra Dinn about 6 hours, according to players on IGDB. Balatro is also great for sessions of just a few minutes, since every run stands on its own.
Which indie game on this list is the longest?
Stardew Valley, with about 50 hours for the story according to IGDB, and much more if you keep building your farm. Hades comes next with a few dozen hours to see its whole story, not counting all the extra runs you'll want afterward.
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