06-22-2026, 01:48 PM
Massive studios get all the marketing budget but indie games have been consistently more interesting to me for the last few years. Here are some genuine recommendations that might have flown under your radar:
Caves of Qud - Deep as the ocean roguelike RPG. ASCII graphics (with tile option) and more systems interacting with each other than you can wrap your head around. Not for everyone but if it clicks it really clicks.
Norco - Point and click adventure set in a fictional Louisiana industrial town. Writing is exceptional, weird and specific in a way that big studios would never greenlight.
Void Stranger - Puzzle game that pretends to be simple and then reveals layers over layers. Dark, cryptic, demanding. Might be the most interesting puzzle design I've seen in years.
Ultrakill - FPS with movement mechanics and style rating that makes DOOM feel slow. In Early Access but already feature-complete enough to recommend.
Terra Nil - Reverse city builder where you restore ecosystems and then pack everything up and leave. Very calming, mechanically clever.
Balatro - Already gone somewhat mainstream but if you haven't played it: poker roguelike, deceptively deep, will eat your weekend.
What indie games have genuinely surprised you recently?
Caves of Qud - Deep as the ocean roguelike RPG. ASCII graphics (with tile option) and more systems interacting with each other than you can wrap your head around. Not for everyone but if it clicks it really clicks.
Norco - Point and click adventure set in a fictional Louisiana industrial town. Writing is exceptional, weird and specific in a way that big studios would never greenlight.
Void Stranger - Puzzle game that pretends to be simple and then reveals layers over layers. Dark, cryptic, demanding. Might be the most interesting puzzle design I've seen in years.
Ultrakill - FPS with movement mechanics and style rating that makes DOOM feel slow. In Early Access but already feature-complete enough to recommend.
Terra Nil - Reverse city builder where you restore ecosystems and then pack everything up and leave. Very calming, mechanically clever.
Balatro - Already gone somewhat mainstream but if you haven't played it: poker roguelike, deceptively deep, will eat your weekend.
What indie games have genuinely surprised you recently?