Indie game developers have produced countless beloved, highly-praised games over the past few years. This list contains 15 of the best indie games any PC player can enjoy.
Best Indie PC Games in 2024
I've spent nearly a decade playing games across multiple platforms, and throughout the years, I have always held a special love for indie games. I have great admiration for their creativity and the indie developer's freedom to bring life to worlds unrestricted by problems that generally plague larger studios.
That said, these 15 games are the best PC indie games players can enjoy in 2024.
Lethal Company
Lethal Company has been a smash hit since its release in 2023. The game has you play as a worker striving to be a great asset for their scrap-loving company. Work alone or with a team to visit planets teeming with monsters, collect lots of loot, and give it to the Company to complete your quotas before time runs out. It's a wonderful combination of comedy and horror that anyone can enjoy. If you need a new game to play with friends or just love a funny horror game, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Lethal Company a try.
Grimm's Hollow
Grimm's Hollow is one of my all-time favorite indie games and one that I believe is criminally underrated. It's a shorter RPG with a pixelated art style and a tear-jerking story. You play as Lavender, a girl who has died and become a Reaper. While coming to terms with this, she will find her little brother Timmy, who is undergoing struggles of his own. You'll uncover more about Timmy and Lavender's history as you make your way through the game's story. However, the way that it ends will be entirely up to you.
Grimm's Hollow is the perfect choice for those wanting a cozy gaming experience and a sad story. To sweeten the deal, the game is available on Steam for free!
Stray
We've seen the popularity of the Cyberpunk aesthetic in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and the related anime series Cyberpunk Edgerunners. Stray puts a feline twist on the Cyberpunk trend by having players control a cat that has fallen into a broken-down cyber city. You'll need to use your superior reflexes and acrobatic skills to cross cluttered environments, solve puzzles, and avoid anyone who would harm you.
Of course, make sure to enjoy life as a cat while making your way home! Experience gorgeous views, meet different NPCs, and knock stuff over just because you can. If a cat's life sounds right for you, Stray just might be your next video game love.
Poppy Playtime
Indie developers have swarmed to the horror genre in droves. Poppy Playtime is the result of Mob Entertainment's arrival to the horror scene. It takes place in an abandoned toy factory filled with cute toys turned into aggressive monsters. There are currently three games in the series, each telling a new story behind what happened to those working in the factory and how the toys became the way they are. If you're a fan of games like Garten of Banban and Five Nights at Freddy's, chances are you'll enjoy Poppy Playtime as well.
Phasmophobia
Ghost hunting is the name of the game in Phasmophobia. In fact, the name "Phasmophobia" actually translates to "a fear of ghosts". Players will find themselves using EMF, thermometers, Spirit Boxes, and more to interact with a ghost and discover what type of ghost it is. While gathering this ghostly evidence, players must survive being chased, hunted, and generally spooked by ghosts. Correctly identifying ghosts and completing specified side objectives will give players cash for unlocking new tools and experiences that give them access to more areas to explore.
Phasmophobia is enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer gamers. It is still in early access, but that has not stopped hundreds of thousands of players from loving and enjoying it. If you're a fan of ghosts, a horror enthusiast, or a spooky co-op game player, I recommend checking Phasmophobia out.
Balatro
Most roguelikes feature dungeons, stories of heroic characters, and lots of monsters. Balatro takes a different approach by converting a poker game into a roguelike! Instead of gathering different powers or weapons, you'll unlock and use different Joker Cards to help your hands gain more points. Players will unlock new ways to play in the form of decks with different abilities and restrictions. Each deck can be played at varying levels of difficulty, but the way you can beat each changes depending on the Joker Cards you pick up. It's an extremely unique roguelike experience that card lovers and roguelike fans alike can enjoy.
Hades
With the recent release of the Hades 2 Early Access, I've been seeing a lot of people hop back onto the original Hades in preparation for playing the sequel. It's a Roguelike dungeon crawler starring Zagreus, the son of Hades, and his attempts to break free from the Underworld. You'll meet many Olympic Gods and Goddesses as they provide Zagreus with powers called Boons to help him face the enemies in his path.
If you're a player who loves story-telling, you can follow along the story of Zagreus to see how his journey progresses and if he finds what he is looking for at the end of his path. Those who are more into combat and exploring the areas of the Underworld will find plenty of ways to do so through new boons, weapons, and more.
Neo Scavenger
Neo Scavenger is a wonderfully horrific roguelite first released back in 2014. In Neo Scavenger, you don't know who you are or where you are; all you know is that you must survive the horrors of the wasteland around you. Throughout this game, the player will have to make difficult decisions to ensure their survival in a harsh world. You must scavenge for supplies amidst ruins and battle dehydration, hunger, and countless other deadly dangers.
It's a fun and challenging post-apocalyptic game that stands apart from the crowd. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique blend of text adventures and games like Dayz.
Stoneshard
The next fascinating indie game on our list is one called Stoneshard. It is a unique blend of turn-based roguelike games and Diablo ARPGs. The result is a very intriguing concept that is highly addicting in practice. In Stoneshard, you are a medieval mercenary in a cold and unforgiving world. Your goal is to make money while trying not to get killed by one of the game's many traps or monsters.
You will traverse a war-torn land accepting and completing contracts on the various enemy types found in the game, including bandits, undead, abominable cults, and more. You will also delve deep into countless dungeons in search of bandit bosses and valuable items and treasure.
Deep Rock Galactic
If you like dwarves and enjoy games such as Left 4 Dead 2, you will love Deep Rock Galactic. In Deep Rock Galactic, players play as one of 4 dwarf classes and battle bugs for mineable minerals across several randomly generated game mode maps. You also can upgrade weapons, get drunk, and kick barrels in this fantastic beard enthusiast simulator. The game also has some decent endgame features and a wonderful community to interact with. If you want to live out your space-Hobbit fantasy or just be a dwarf who likes to dig holes, Deep Rock Galactic will provide you with plenty of good times.
Stardew Valley
Probably one of the best indie games of all time, Stardew Valley is a highly enjoyable, fantastical farming simulator. You start the game by inheriting your very own farm from a deceased relative. On arrival at the farm, you'll discover that the inherited farm is a total dump! Work hard to rebuild the once-thriving farm and turn it into a spectacular homestead.
There is a lot to do in Stardew Valley. You can spend your time growing crops, raising animals, battling monsters, mining, and even befriending (and marrying!) the various townspeople in this game. It's truly the perfect game to play and relax after a stressful day. If you love games like Harvest Moon and Rune Factory 4, you will enjoy Stardew Valley.
Brigador
Brigador is a criminally underrated action isometric roguelite that was released back in 2016. You play as mercenary mech pilots hired to hunt down and destroy the Colony of Solo Nobre's oppressive cyberpunk government. To do this, players take on missions that usually revolve around destroying various buildings and gun emplacements.
Players earn money for better mechs, guns, and upgrades by completing contracts. You can also make money from just wrecking everything on the map. That said, if you want a game similar to Hotline Miami but in space, I'd recommend giving Brigador a go. Just remember—Solo Nobre Must Fall.
Curious Expedition
Curious Expedition is another excellent indie game that has been around since 2015. In the game, you play as various 19th-century explorers to earn fame and fortune by exploring uncharted lands. Travel to vast jungles, deserts, and arctic wastelands and encounter all matters of oddity and nameless horrors. Battle everything from giant crabs to huge spiders while incurring the wrath of supernatural forces. You can also cause natural disasters if you loot temples (don't do it). Overall, Curious Expedition is a fantastic game that I love and highly recommend for your next indie game.
Fall Guys
Fall Guys is a silly and colorful game that is highly enjoyable to play. If you haven't heard of it, you play as a jelly bean-shaped creature making your way through an obstacle course level while trying not to fall off the map. You're also trying to do this with other players running past you with the same goal. In the end, It's a fun and wacky game that is perfect for playing with friends. If this sounds like something that is up your alley, give Fall Guys a shot.
Starsector
The last game on our list is my personal favorite because it is fantastic. Starsector is a 2d space game sandbox that is basically the Mount and Blade of the genre. The premise is that you are an independent space pilot in a closed-off section of a galaxy trying to recover from an event known as The Great Collapse.
You start with barely anything but are given the keys to build a future in this dying sector of space. Earn money by hunting down pirates, selling and smuggling drugs and weapons, and scavaging derelict ships. You can even build massive fleets, engage in bombastic space battles, and customize your ships with hundreds of weapon options. There are even more things to do beyond what we've listed, so do yourself a favor and check out this fantastic space game.
If you want more options than we provided on this list, check out our Best 10 Indie Games of 2023 on Pro Game Guides to find more great games for your collection.
Published: May 12, 2024 08:58 pm