After reviewing indie games for a few years, I wanted to put together a list of my favorite indie games I’ve played so far. This is limited to the games I’ve played for my YouTube Channel and blog.
This list won’t be limited to a specific genre, but I will only be looking at smaller development teams. This will eliminate the few games I’ve played from larger publishers. I’ll be including the early access games that might not have received a full release yet.
I’ll do my best to keep this list between 15 and 20 games. Now that I’ve listed a bunch of selection criteria and padded my word count, I’ll get into the list.
Road 96
Developer: Digixart
Genre: Adventure
Review Score: 4/5 (Steam)
This is one of the best games I’ve played in 2025. Road 96 has a fantastic story and setting, which carried me through the whole game. The game reminded me a lot of a job I used to have, but not in a bad way.
In this story, you play as several nameless kids who are trying to escape a totalitarian country. There is also an election going on, and propaganda is everywhere in the game. Road 96 has a bunch of storylines that intertwine as the game goes on, and your actions have an impact on how the story goes.
It isn’t all great, but I was more than willing to overlook the flaws in the graphics and gameplay. The music is something that stood out to me. The game takes place in the 1990s, but the soundtrack sounds more like vaporwave. It works very well for a game like this.
Camp Sunshine
Developer: Fossil Games
Genre: Adventure
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Camp Sunshine is one of the games I’ve played recently, and it will probably end up on my list of best games I’ve played in 2025. It is a fun adventure horror game where you explore a summer camp. The game also has two very fun stories going on.
You play as a troubled teen who is sent off to a summer camp. Your parents are going through a divorce, and your mom thinks this experience will be good for you. On your first night, you wake up to find most of the people dead and a killer wandering around. You explore the camp, solve puzzles, and complete fetch quests.
Eventually, the backstory for the killer and the camp is explained to you. It turns out there is a cult in the camp, and you need to stop them from taking over the world, or something like that. As you solve the problems going on at Camp Sunshine, your parents seem to work things out.
Tavern Talk
Developer: Gentle Troll Entertainment
Genre: Visual Novel
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Tavern Talk is a visual novel where you play as an Innkeeper. The game has a very large cast of characters, and most of the game involves your character creating quests and making drinks for them. There is an overarching narrative in the game, which gets into your character’s past.
In Tavern Talk’s main storyline, you’re trying to help a group of adventurers as they attempt to stop the end of the world. This is where the game dives into the Innkeeper’s past, which was very interesting since we are just dropped into the character’s shoes without much information.
The graphics and gameplay are very good. If there is one thing I could say about this game that’s negative, it would be its length. Taven Talk takes a long time to beat when compared to the other visual novels I’ve played. Despite this, the colorful characters helped me to get through the game.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center
Developer: Hakababunko
Genre: Visual Novel
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Urban Myth Dissolution Center has a fantastic story, and it is one of the games that made me want to get back into writing. The game has the main character investigating several seemingly unconnected urban myths. There is also a terrorist organization that is trying to get justice for an unsolved murder.
Seeing how the different parts of this game tie together is really cool! Near the end of the game, I had a good idea of what was going to happen, but I didn’t see the twist ending coming. This game has an excellent story.
The graphics and gameplay are excellent, but the story is amazing! This is going to be one of my favorite games of 2025. I don’t see anything beating it.
Banner of the Maid
Developer: Azure Flame Studio
Genre: Tactical RPG
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
This is a very good Tactical RPG that is set in an alternate history. Banner of the Maid takes place during the French Revolution. The point of divergence is the existence of magical women who can impact the outcome of battles and change the course of world history.
You play as Pauline Napoleon, and you have to navigate the politics of The Terror period of the French Revolution. It is a very cool time period, and the way the game changes how this period historically unfolded is very interesting. I like the story much more than the gameplay.
The gameplay, graphics, and story are all very good. I like the graphics and story more, but that has more to do with my personal preferences when it comes to Tactical RPGs. While I like the setting, I would rather play Tactics Ogre or a similar game.
Grizzly Man
Developer: LCB Game Studio
Genre: Visual Novel
Review Score: 4/5 (Steam)
I really like creepy stories, and when those stories involve a place I used to work, like Grizzly Man does, then I get a big smile on my face. This is a visual novel about an Alaskan tour guide who used to work for the Men in Black. He seems to have gotten amnesia.
That’s only part of our story. The rest of it has to do with a CIA experiment that created a crazed killer who thinks he is a grizzly bear. You can even find the lab where he was created!
Grizzly Man is a fun and stylish game. It is from the same developer who bought us Mothmen 1966 and Varny Lake. I love the graphics in this game, and the story is very good.
Dungeon Inn
Developer: Cat Society
Genre: Casual
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Dungeon Inn is still in early access, but what is here is very good! The story revolves around the player trying to earn money to pay a dragon who acts as the player’s landlord. You run an inn that caters to two rival guilds.
You have to keep the two guilds apart so they don’t start fighting and realize what you’re doing. You’ll get some tricks to try and keep the two guilds apart, and there will be some missions for you to complete. You can also improve your inn to let in more patrons and offer better services.
The story is pretty great. There is always something for you to do, and there are some fun scenarios you’ll have to navigate. The developers are adding more content and finishing the story, which will be fun to play once the game is finished.
Scarlet Hollow
Developer: Black Tabby Games
Genre: Visual Novel
Review Score: 5/5 (Steam)
Scarlet Hollow is an episodic visual novel that is still being worked on. There are currently four episodes, with a few more planned. I really like the story so far, and the graphics are awesome!
The story follows the player’s character as they return to a town for their aunt’s funeral. This is a company town where your family owns everything, including the coal mine. From here, you explore the town and meet the people who call it home.
Each episode revolves around a cryptid or ghost. The game even addresses why your character hasn’t simply left to get away from all the nonsense that keeps happening. The story changes based on your choices, and I’m looking forward to what happens next.
Faster Than Light
Developer: Subset Games
Genre: Rougelike
Review Score: 5/5 (Steam)
This is a fun roguelike strategy game where you control a spaceship that is fighting against a rebellion. You have a lot of options to choose from in this game. It makes experimenting with the different ships and loadouts quite a bit of fun.
The story is very simple. You have to move your ship across a series of maps until you get to the rebel fleet. Once there, you have to destroy the rebels’ flagship. It sounds simple, but it will take a lot of luck and strategy for you to beat the game.
FTL isn’t the most impressive looking game, but it doesn’t have to be. The gameplay carries this game. It is a very challenging game, and the game’s randomness adds significantly to its replayability.
Dream Warrior
Developer: High Tower Games
Genre: Roguelike
Review Score: 8/10 (My Score)
Dream Warrior is a very cool game that manages to combine Dragon Quest with FLT. It is a rogue-like RPG. The game’s graphics are similar to the first Dragon Quest game, and the way you move in the game is the same as FTL.
The developer has been adding more to this game. There are now several endings, and while I love the original ending, it’s nice to have more options. It is a simple RPG, but there is quite a bit of replayability as you can try to unlock all the classes.
You only have one party member, and you pick your character’s class based on the alcohol they consume. It is a very fun idea for a game like this. I wish the game were longer, but it is still very fun to mess around with.
Arcadian Atlas
Developer: Twin Otter Studios
Genre: Tactical RPG
Review Score: 3/5 (Steam)
Arcadian Atlas is a fascinating game! The story gets overly complicated, and many of the characters’ stories end in a depressing way, even if it is how their character arcs were going to end. The gameplay is very good, and the graphics are beautiful!
This is a Tactical RPG where a civil war has broken out between the queen and the princess. The story switches between two main characters as they try to end the conflict and restore peace to the kingdom. There is also some strange stuff about how magic had been banned, and how it is too dangerous.
Aside from my issues with the story, the gameplay and graphics are great! The ending is awesome! It starts off as a serious downer, but in the after-credits sequence, it ends on a happy note.
Note: Despite the odd behavior from the developers, I still like this game. It has its problems, but they aren’t too severe.
Mothmen 1966
Developer: LCB Game Studios
Genre: Visual Novel
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Mothmen 1966 is the first game in a trilogy. It begins with two characters going to a gas station to watch a comet. From there, the game takes you on a wild ride that sees the gas station being attacked by mutant animals, including the Mothman.
Most of the characters are good in this game. I wouldn’t say that they’re all likable, but they get expanded on in the sequels. It has good mini-games and puzzles that are challenging, but not impossible to solve.
The more I think about this game, the more I like it. At this point, I like the game a little more than Varny Lake. It has a fun story, good characters, and beautiful graphics.
Firewatch
Developer: Campo Santo
Genre: Adventure
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Firewatch has one of the best stories I’ve ever seen in a video game. There are three characters who are all dealing with their problems in different ways. They all want to escape to the woods, but they’re handling things differently.
You play as a volunteer forest ranger, and your only interaction is over the radio with your boss. You explore the section of the part that you’re assigned to, and eventually solve a mystery. There is also a forest fire which plays a role in the end of the game.
The opening scene is rough, especially if you haven’t played it before. It is a simple selection of dialogue choices that sets up why your character is heading out to the woods. It is very well done, and it leads into a wonderful story about dealing with your problems and coming to terms with loss.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Developer: Zeboyd Games
Genre: RPG
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Cosmic Star Heroine reminds me of the Phantasy Star series. This is a shorter RPG, but it takes the player on a fun trip around an alien solar system. It has everything that I would’ve wanted from a Phantasy Star 5.
The story and graphics are awesome! It looks like it could’ve been on the PS1, Sega Saturn, or N64. It also has a fairly unique combat system. I wasn’t too sure about it at first, but it grew on me by the end of the game.
Cosmic Star Heroine’s story revolves around a conspiracy in which a corrupt government agency attempts to seize control of the solar system. As you go through the game, it turns out that everything is being manipulated by a bigger threat. It is a very cool story that has a number of parallels with the Phantasy Star series, but with a greater focus on technology.
Killer Frequency
Developer: Team17
Genre: Adventure
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Killer Frequency feels like it used the plot of a lost 1980s slasher movie. It takes place in a small town, where the locals talk about a creepy legend about a serial killer, and the residents have a dark secret. The way the story is told is very cool.
The entire game takes place in a radio station. For some stupid reason, the town’s 911 calls are all routed to the radio station, and you have to help people who call in. Over the course of the night, more of the story is given to the player.
It is a very fun way to tell a story. Everyone that you help is in some way involved with an incident that caused the events of the game. It’s a unique way of telling a story, and I think the game is one of the better horror adventure games available.
Sea of Stars
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Genre: RPG
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Sea of Stars was my game of the year a few years ago. I loved the story, graphics, and the characters. This game reminded me of the RPGs I played when I was a kid.
It takes a little while for this game to get going. The main characters were born to be warriors, fighting against an evil entity. There is a little twist when you get betrayed by two of the people who train you, but this makes the game more fun as it gives your characters a reason to explore the game’s world.
It felt like there was a lot of lore and history in this game that I was missing. This story could’ve been much bigger as you get tossed into a conflict between two supremely powerful characters. The ending was a bit of a letdown for me, but it does open the door for sequels.
Oxenfree
Developer: Night School Studio
Genre: Adventure
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
Oxenfree is a great story about a group of friends having a party on a remote island after graduating from high school. The story is like a ghost story I would’ve heard on a camping trip when I was younger. This was one of the first indie games I ever played, and I’ve kept coming back to it over the years.
The story, graphics, and music are all excellent. The puzzles in the game are alright. You get rewarded for exploring everything, and several puzzles get easier if you do, and it helps if you have a good memory. You can also get different endings based on how you interact with the characters.
I picked this game over the sequel because of how many times I’ve played it. The first game also has a better story and characters, and it felt like a fresh idea when I first played it. Oxenfree is a fun mystery adventure game. I don’t want to call it a horror game, but I can understand if others do.
Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation
Developer: Suncrash
Genre: Strategy
Review Score: 4.5/5 (Steam)
This is a strategy/simulation game that I keep coming back to from time to time. In Judgement, you control a group of survivors in the aftermath of a demonic invasion. Most of the game has you developing a city while you try to scavenge for resources and fight demons.
At the start of the game, you pick three characters who are camping in the woods. Then the apocalypse occurs, and you must try to survive. You’ll get missions throughout the game, and these will lead you to investigate the origins of the apocalypse. There are two paths you can take to solving the problem: you can use magic or science.
Judgment is one of those overlooked games that I find extremely fun. The gameplay is wonderful, and it has a fun story. You can also play the game like a sandbox and completely ignore the plot.
Spiritfarer
Developer: Thunder Lotus Games
Genre: Adventure Game
Review Score: 5/5 (Steam)
Spiritfarer is a wonderful and heartfelt game about helping people deal with dying. Your character sails around on a boat and talks with various people. You’re trying to help these people cross over, and at times, that requires you to solve their problems.
Your boat acts like a little city or a hotel. You need to build homes and places for the various characters to entertain themselves. You can also fish in the game, which is very relaxing.
This is one of the cozy games that has a very strong message in it. I like that some of these indie games try to tackle serious questions in their games. Spiritfarer is a very fun game that looks wonderful.
Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe
Genre: RPG
Review Score: 5/5 (Steam)
Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games of all time. It took everything I liked about the farming/life simulation games and vastly improved on them. Everything about this game is great, and I find it extremely relaxing.
Normally, I focus on a game’s story, but that isn’t the case with Stardew Valley. I couldn’t care less about the story in this game. It’s nice that it’s here, but what I really like is the freedom to do as I please in this game. Simply wandering around and talking with the townsfolk can be one of the more satisfying experiences.
This game just looks happy. Even when it is trying to be a little spooky, I still feel happy just looking at it. Stardew Valley is one of the games that has brought me immense joy over the past few years. It is one of the indie games that helped to advance a genre.
Conclusion
This is just a small number of the indie games I’ve played since starting this blog and my YouTube channel. I’ve found these games to be way more interesting than the AAA games from larger studios. These developers take chances and often come up with amazing takes on genres that larger studios don’t think are profitable.
Since I started playing more indie games, I’ve found a new appreciation for a few genres that I normally would’ve avoided. While I’ve always liked RPGs, I’ve started playing more adventure games and visual novels. They offer something that I don’t get from more popular games.
I’ll update this list as I keep playing more games. There are a few I want to revisit that were still in development when I first played them. Some are on this list, and others didn’t make it. I do have to get to some of the RPGs that I’ve been wanting to play for a while.
If you liked this list, please check out my list on indie horror games or my best games from 2024.