It’s been another great year for the video games calendar, but not everyone has the money to keep up with the big-name releases. If that describes you as closely as it does me, keep reading, as we’ve rounded up some incredible indie games that are better than many of their AAA counterparts.
If you’re looking for something more wallet-friendly to enjoy, then here are our recommendations for the best indie games of 2025.
The Drifter
Point-and-click games have been having a resurgence over the last few years, and I am completely here for it. The Drifter is one of the best modern examples of the genre, with excellent storytelling full of glorious plot twists and interesting puzzles. Playing as a drifter who is drowned in a river after being accused of a murder he didn’t commit, he has to piece things together from the other side to find inner peace.
Blue Prince
At its core, Blue Prince is a roguelike puzzle game where you build a mansion one room at a time from a random selection—every day the house resets. Progress is made by learning more about the house and unlocking new rooms to draft on future runs. Each time you carve your path towards the mysterious room 46 so you can truly inherit the house. However, when you finally enter the room of legend, and the credits roll, you realise that this is just the beginning… if you want it to be.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Based on dice-rolling tabletop RPGs, Citizen Sleeper 2 expands on the themes of the original game by literally expanding out into space rather than being tethered to one land mass, the Eye. You play as a Sleeper, a robot body with a human consciousness created to pay off the original human’s debt, who has gone rogue. No longer a slave, your Sleeper makes choices that define their path, including who to help, leading to individualised playthroughs and plenty of replayability.
And Roger
An incredibly short and sweet experience, And Roger clocks in at around just one hour. While I would also recommend the dreamy Dear Me, I Was… And Roger succeeds in the tightly crafted story-driven genre through how player interaction is weaved into the story. Explaining anything about the story or gameplay would spoil the delight And Roger has to offer, but I urge you to experience it and earn your own empathy and understanding.
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
Ender Lilies was one of the best metroidvanias of 2021 and Ender Magnolia has done the same for 2025. The Ender series features a fairly typical dark atmosphere but separates itself via its combat. Our protagonist Lilac will find Homunculi as she defeats bosses and they will fight for her, offsetting Lilac’s movements and the way she attacks. Ender Magnolia is more challenging than many metroidvanias, but by equipping multiple Homunculi you’ll find multiple ways to synergise your attacks and take on any challenge.
Date Everything
Ever wondered what it would be like to date your washing machine? How about a dust bunny or a sense of existential dread? Well Date Everything, as the name suggests, has you covered. While it takes place completely in your apartment, but with a hundred different things to date within your living quarters you won’t be wanting for entertainment. A romantic and comedic romp through everything you thought you wouldn’t fall in love with.
OFF
I would say that OFF is an indie RPG for fans of Undertale, but it should really be the other way around. Undertale’s creator, Toby Fox, has admitted that OFF was one of his biggest inspirations, and it’s clear to see the similarities between the two. Meta humour and gameplay that goes against your expectations as an RPG player, it’s difficult to not get swept up in the whimsy of OFF’s world. And if you enjoy it, you can enjoy the first four chapters of that Deltarune game I’ve heard so much about.
Promise Mascot Agency
One of the things Japan is best known for is its extensive use of mascots, which, of course, necessitates the existence of an agency to manage all this talent. Running your own company, you soon realise that every mascot has their own hopes, dreams, and personality, and you’ll need to use different techniques if you want to recruit them. Promise Mascot Agency is all about its story and characters, making it perfect for fans of strong narratives.
To a T
If you love the charm and whimsy of games like Katamari, then 2025 has delivered. Creator Keita Takahashi with his spanking new studio has delivered to a T, a charming game about a teenager who can’t stop T-posing. You find ways around your unique position, and with the help of your dog, go about your day-to-day life. Very different from anything else on the list, but utterly endearing. While the controls are confusing, do you think you’d have an easy time if you didn’t have any joints in your arms?
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