Summary
2024 has had a massive number ofindie gamesreleased thus far, with some especially acclaimed ones, such as thegreat deckbuilder rogueliteBalatroand theatmospheric survival horror gameCrow Country.However, fans of the indie genre should not discount the next six months as they’re considering their next gaming pick. Dozens of titles are scheduled to arrive in the coming months, with July seeing a huge influx of amazing titles.
While indie games are oftenovershadowed by their AAA peers, they are typically better at capturing a sense of whimsy and cuteness.The following indie games all center around cozy tones, slice-of-life narratives, or whimsical art stylesthat will leave players feeling warm inside. Note that some titles at the end of the list do not have official release dates set but are expected to be available before the end of the year.
10 Best Indie Games Of 2023
Many great games were released in 2023, making it more difficult for smaller devs, yet numerous incredible indie games won over the gaming community.
10Flock
July 16 - PlayStation, Xbox, & PC
Developed by Hollow Ponds and published by Annapurna Interactive,Flockis amultiplayer co-op gamefocusing on simplicity. The object of the game is to charm several whimsical creatures into joining one’s flock, which follows the player as they fly throughout the game world. The game emphasizes exploration and collection, with some creatures having hidden quirks that players must discover.
The game’s visuals, while somewhat minimalist, are beautiful and expansive, and the lo-fi soundtrack emphasizesFlock’s key selling point:it’s meant to be relaxing. Being multiplayer, this is the perfect game to play for those looking for a quiet evening with friends. A demo is available on Steam beforeFlock’s launch in July.
9Magical Delicacy
July 16 - Xbox, Switch, & PC
Magical Delicacyis a cozy platformer RPG published by Whitethorn Games. Players take on the role of Flora, a witch who spends her time exploring the city, befriending townsfolk, and cooking them meals. As such,much of the game centers around harvesting ingredients throughout the city and bringing them back home to cook, often for recipes with certain stipulations given by NPCs throughout town.
The pixelated art style and hazy soundtrack combine to give the game a Ghibli-esque feel, focusing on quiet, slice-of-life interactions and stakes. A big draw for many will be the ability to customize Flora’s kitchen. In contrast, others might enjoy the exploration component of the game, delving into secret areas of the island to discover hidden knowledge about magical creatures.Magical Delicacyis great for anyone who enjoys kitchen witchery or cozy games, and will belaunching day one on Game Pass.
8Bō: Path Of The Teal Lotus
July 17 - PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, & PC
Navigating through a tale inspired by Japanese folklore,Bō: Path of the Teal Lotusis a side-scrolling 2.5D action platformer from developer Squid Shock Studios and publisher Humble Games. Players take control of Bō, a celestial spirit who’s come from heaven to take part in a prophecy. With Bō’s mighty bo staff, players will battle through beautiful environments and face fantastical foes.
Like other action games, players will spend time collecting special equipment for Bo and leveling up their abilities. However,something unexpected aboutBō: Path of the Teal Lotusis the colossal size of its bosses; many tower over the player character, giving each battle an insurmountable tone, as thoughElden Ringsuddenly became two-dimensional and adorable.
7Broken Lens
July 22 - PC
A more intimate game than others on this list, the gameplay ofBroken Lensis inspired by “spot the difference” puzzles. Developed and published by Flying Oak Games,Broken Lensis a cozy puzzle game that puts players in control of a small robot who, indeed, has a broken lens. The robot slowly navigates through humorous landscapes to spot anomalies between its two eyes while collecting pages from a strange book.
Broken Lensisn’t a game about rushing through or speedrunning. Rather,the intricate maps and ethereal soundtrackencourage players to take their timeand really explore every inch of the beautifully illustrated landscapes.Broken Lensis perfect for players who enjoy simple puzzles and whimsical humor.
6The Star Named EOS
July 23 - PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, & PC
Another game focused on visuals,The Star Named EOSwas developed by Silver Lining Studio and published by PLAYISM. The game combines several playstyles, from exploration to puzzles and photography, to create an eclectic experience. Players take control of Dei, a photographer, on a journey to follow after his estranged mother.
The Star Named EOScombines beautiful 2D and 3D visuals that give the world an artisanal feel, whilethe uplifting musicgoads players further into the world, hungry to chase after Dei’s mother. A demo forThe Star Named EOSis available on Steam before its July 23 release. Players who enjoy the puzzles ofResident Evilbut want a break from zombies will love this game.
5Thank Goodness You’re Here!
August 1 - PlayStation, Switch, & PC
Thank Goodness You’re Here!,developed by Coal Supper and published by Panic, is a comedy platformer in which players take control of a traveling salesman. Through the game,players will explore the town of Barnsworth, an odd village in Northern England, and complete a series of increasingly odd tasksfor the citizenry. It’s full of slapstick humor and quirky content that will keep players entertained for hours.
The highlight ofThank Goodness You’re Here!is obviously the humor, which is made richer by the art style and voice cast, including thetalented Matt Berry, star of the hilariousWhat We Do In The Shadows.A demo for the game is available on Steam, and any player looking for crisp art and hysterical gags should look no further than this title.
4Fowl Damage
September 13 - PC
Fowl Damageis a puzzle platformer developed in collaboration with Red Nexus Games. The schtick of this platformer is, though, thatthe fall damage from a single jump can kill the player.Fowl Damagehas players take control of an egg and navigate through a slightly macabre factory while attempting to avoid breaking into a million pieces.
The game mixes a cutesy pixelated art style with a dark purple color palette and somewhat ominous surroundings to create a unique gaming experience that keeps players slightly off-kilter while they attempt to stay whole. Those who enjoy slightly stressful gaming experiences will loveFowl Damage, which has a demo available on Steam.
3Afterlove EP
Q3 2024 - PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, & PC
From the creator of thevisual novelCoffee Talk, Afterlove EPis an eclectic, slightly morose game that puts players in the character of Rama, a struggling musician dealing with his girlfriend’s recent death. The game combines aspects of visual novel, platformer, and rhythm games to take players through Rama’s emotional journey. Further,Afterlove EPplaces a high-stakes endgame clock right from the beginning, forcing players to consider each choice they make— similar to the calendar system ofPersona 5.
The art style and upbeat indie soundtrack ofAfterlove EPfit the complexity of its story well, and players will find themselves engrossed in Rama’s aloof persona quickly after starting. The game has no set release date, though it is supposed to be sometime in Q3 2024, a demo already available on Steam.
2The Plucky Squire
TBA - PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, & PC
Originally announced for a 2023 release,The Plucky Squireis officially coming sometime before the end of the year, with several previews of the game already coming in. The game centers around Jot,a storybook character who gains the ability to leave his printed world and hop between 2D and 3D environments.Jot and his friends must stop the evil Humgrump before the villain destroys Jot’s happy ending.
The seamless visuals between the 2D and 3D environments are the stars of this game. Developed by All Possible Futures,The Plucky Squirehas a similar tone and style toIt Takes Twobut with a storybook twist. No official release date has been announced, but based on the preivews pouring in, its release cycle appears to be winding up.
1Neva
Developed by Nomada Studio and published by Devolver Digital,Nevais a unique, artistic platformer centered around a young girl, Alba, and her incredible bond with a white wolf. Alba and her companion traverse beautiful landscapes as they confront a decaying world and search for a home.Nevaemphasizes themes of environmentalism and natural beautyby making the player character proportionally small to the drawn environments.
Nomada Studio also developedGris,which currently holds a 10/10 on Steam.
Further, the stunning animations of rather dark subject matter, such as animals decaying, will leave players transfixed throughout an epic story.Nevahas no scheduled release date at this time, but it has been announced to come out sometime in 2024. Players who enjoy high emotional stakes and beautiful art should pick thisindie gameup.
