It’s been a stellar year for gaming, whether you’re talking about AAA titles from big studios or indie titles from lesser-known studios. With Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Diablo IV all vying for your money and attention, there’s a good chance you missed out on a few hidden gems. It’s easy to forget you don’t always have to spend upwards of R1,000 to have a good time playing a video game.
Sometimes it’s possible to find something special in unexpected places, you just have to do a little digging. We’ve gone and done some for you with this list of indie games that exceeded our expectations all while coming from smaller studios. That usually means they’re a little cheaper, too, so if your wallet is looking a little empty after the holidays, we’d recommend trying one of these.
Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is special. Sure, it first grabbed our attention as a PS Plus launch day title, but it was that SNES-era art style that was just too difficult to ignore that did the trick and got us playing. Imagine our surprise when the game was actually good. So good that Sabotage Studios snagged its second Indie Game of the Year nomination in as many releases.
That all has to do with the superb story that not only stood out amongst the other Indie titles in the running but also against the year’s selection of games. It’s all helped along by the most expressive and capable 32-bit characters we’ve seen and exquisite turn-based combat mechanics that do away with plenty of modern tropes. Seriously, if you’re a fan of RPGs (or any of that other stuff we mentioned), pick this one up. Now. We’ll wait.
Avalaible on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox one, Switch, PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass
Cocoon
If videogamedunkey is dropping some fresh rhymes over your video game, you know you’ve got a winner on your hands. And that’s exactly what Cocoon is; a winner. At first glance, it’s a 3D puzzler with a hint of adventure –but it’s so much more than that, depending on how you choose to look at it. How could it not be, coming from Geometric Interactive, the folks that brought us indie classics such as Inside and Limbo?
Players take on the role of a little orb-carrying bug (hence Cocoon) who can travel between worlds. Those worlds? Yeah, those are the orbs on the little fella’s back. Like some infinitely more colourfully pleasing Russian nesting doll, players are tasked to travel between those worlds and solve the puzzles that await them — with the occasional pause to drool at the excellent visuals. It’s a title we found difficult to put down before the 5-6 hour runtime was over.
Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Xbox Game Pass
Lethal Company
Considering the fact that Lethal Company is still in early access, it’s a real testament to its quality to be included on this list. But when there’s a 98% “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, it becomes all the more difficult to ignore. Lethal Company – part co-op survival horror, part mining simulator – was quite literally designed to be tackled by a group of four friends. Sure, you’ll need to find three friends first, but once you do, you won’t regret it.
To put it simply, Lethal Company involves your group of four collecting scrap metal for ‘The Company’ on various moons while fending off any horrors that might come your way. Reach ‘The Company’s’ quota, and you’ll be tasked with moving on to the next location with grander goals in mind. Don’t reach the quota? You’ll be chucked out into the void quicker than the annoying kid in your Among Us lobby.
Available on: PC
Viewfinder
Another newcomer onto the indie scene was Viewfinder, a product of Sad Owl Studios, and one of our favourite games of the year. It’s a puzzler that, like Cocoon, manages to take the genre to new heights with some truly exceptional mechanics that quite literally changed the way we saw the world around us. We have the core of Viewfinder to thank for that: the Viewfinder itself.
The Viewfinder is a camera. One that’ll let players snap pictures of the many gorgeous and colourful worlds that surround them as they progress through the game. It’ll print that picture out too, and allow players to start bending the laws of physics and perspective around them. Just point the image in any direction, hit the button and watch the world morph around you.
Available on: PS5, PC
Dredge
Dredge might say “fishing adventure game” on the tin, but that description couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, Dredge kicks things off that way, but it isn’t long until you’re treated to the game’s true nature: horror. It’s difficult to ignore the game’s Lovecraftian inspirations, nor the “sanity” metre that makes traversing the already terrifying waters that much more so.
That adventure fishing moniker is still an apt description. You’re still controlling a ship through treacherous waters, fishing and catching the fish that dare to swim near your fishing line. Reach a harbour and sell the loot to earn money and upgrade your ship. Come nighttime, you’ll be reeling in monsters and taking on a couple of hallucinations if you’re brave enough. Tack on the beautiful visuals and somewhat addictive gameplay loop, and you’ll find yourself sinking hours into this indie maritime adventure.
Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch
Jusant
There’s a good chance you’ve yet to hear of this new indie title from Don’t Nod – the minds behind Life is Strange (and a bunch of other stuff). Jusant is about as indie as it gets. It’s… a climbing game. And a rather good one at that.
With a little water-based dude by your side, players are given a simple task: scale the vast tower presented before them. Where games like Assassin’s Creed include climbing and parkour as a means to an end, Jusant’s focus is its climbing. It gives way to a more versatile and challenging experience – one that can even put you in a pensive state. On the journey, you’ll encounter new biomes, each with different challenges to overcome. There is a story to be had if you’re paying attention, involving the mysterious disappearance of the people around you.
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S