I love finding the 'best' overlooked stuff.
I'm not kidding. Since I was a child I've loved finding the best art, best music, and best books. I've loved finding the best philosophies, systems, and ideas, and I still do to this day.
Oh, and of course, I love finding the best games.
I believe games are the evolution of art. First we had print, then radio, then cinema... and now have the power of interactive video games taking center stage.
And I've spent years experimenting with so many games, from Triple A commercial ones to smaller, even solo-developed, labors of love.
And it's the latter I'll cover today.
Because there are some insanely brilliant games out there, made by some hyper-talented game developers, that most people haven't heard of.
And I know there's plenty of 'hidden indie gem' articles and videos out there, and I love them all. But I feel that none of them have my ridiculously (elitist?) refined taste. And because of that they end up delivering lots of fluff, or they deliver the same critically acclaimed indie darlings everybody else talks about.
I won't be mentioning Celeste, Stardew, or Slay The Spire. I won't be reviewing Hades, Hotline Miami, or Hollow Knight.
I mean... I adore Hollow Knight but does any gamer not know about it yet? There's thousands of reviews of it. And do I really need to mention Slay The Spire? It basically pioneered indie deck-builders. If you want to know what I think of games like that, check out my other post: 10 Games Worth Playing Even If You Hate Their Genre.
I'll focus on lesser known gems people are likely to have missed. Plus, if you've ever tried to introduce someone to gaming and had them be overwhelmed by all the complex AAA titles, this list doubles as a great way to introduce non-gamers to gaming as well.
So let's get to it.
1. APE OUT
You're a silverback gorilla vs. the world in this jazz-soaked art piece.
GENRE: Top-Down Action Smash 'Em Up
LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/app/447150/APE_OUT/
LENGTH: Short
REPLAYABILITY: Low
MULTIPLAYER: No
I love this game. It's a beautiful masterpiece created by ~3 people, and despite it being short, it's fantastic fun. The controls are simple, and it only takes a couple buttons to grab, throw, smash, and human-shield your way out of whatever military laboratory holds you captive, with every hit corresponding to a cymbal-crash or drum hit. Pure gaming poetry.
"Ape Out is a masterclass in game design. This is a small package, but is bursting with clever design decisions and pure unadulterated addictive action... The artwork is nothing short of brilliant, and is used in many creative ways. From the color palettes to simple-yet-clear textures to that wicked camera angle - it all creates an exhilarating atmosphere. Moving on. This title makes one of most creative uses of music that I've witnessed in ages. Maybe ever. Yes, it's nuanced and small - but also genius. I was sold with just the jazz level, and then it changed! That marching band 3rd Disc is powerful stuff... You truly do feel like a confused and rampaging ape. You only need the edge of your seat for this one." - Ryan Dorkoski, Steam Review
I'm not sure I can explain how fun it is to cosplay a rampaging ape where each of your actions are set perfectly to music. This really has to be played to be understood and felt.
- Can't adjust volume mid-game.
- Windowed-mode may crash.
- Short but oh-so-sweet.
- Masterful art style and music implementation.
- Engaging, jump-in-and-keep-going gameplay.
- More strategy than first appears.
If you don't like short games, avoid this. If you like stylized blends of action & stealth, with every crash and thump set to jazz, play this. (Though I think it's worth playing either way.)
2. NOVA DRIFT
Old-school 'asteroids' on modern-day roguelike steroids.
GENRE: Asteroids-style arcade/roguelike hybrid.
LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/app/858210/Nova_Drift/
LENGTH: Endless
REPLAYABILITY: Medium
MULTIPLAYER: No
Nova Drift is basically what you get if Path Of Exile was streamlined, had the story/map removed, and used a spaceship instead of an exile, and it's criminally under-mentioned, imho. Possibly this is due to it being in 'early access', but it's a full game as far as I'm concerned. Like most of the games on this list, it's aesthetically beautiful.
"Nova Drift distills the mechanical depth and strategy of an ARPG into classic arcade space combat. Control an endlessly evolving bio-mechanical ship, face legions of strange and deadly foes, and ride the wake of a dying star across the void." - Steam Description
There's something magical about the simple, asteroid-style premise taken to ridiculous extremes with each run and every new build as you try to top your high-scores or see just how well you can make that 'vortex' weapon work.
- Fun but lacklustre 'skill expression.'
- Purely arcade, minimal content/story.
- The controls bother about one-in-fifty people.
- Wonderful build diversity, tech-tree, and weapon variety.
- Fast-paced, engaging arcade-style gameplay.
- Great soundtrack.
If you like experimenting with crazy weapons and defense combinations that may 'break the game' Nova Drift may be for you. 'Build diversity' is at the core here as every time you press play you begin your journey of constantly leveling up and spending your points on whatever unique weapon and mods suit you that run. Want to fire bullets that explode into more bullets, then turning them into burning incendiaries too? No problem. Prefer the power of a giant railgun that zips across the entire screen, but noticing it's too narrow? Split it into 3 beams, or 5, or get some satellites around you that fire their own railguns too. Just don't forget to invest in temporal shields, reflective shields, and other forms of defense too. Do all this while racking up arcade-style highs cores and having a total blast.
3. DISTANCE
Racing meets parkour meets suspense-thriller.
GENRE: Atmospheric Racing Platformer
LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/app/233610/Distance/
LENGTH: Medium
REPLAYABILITY: Medium
MULTIPLAYER: Partially
This is a brilliant futuristic arcade racer blended with parkour and wrapped in mysterious, neon-drenched story, and gives tons of value, especially for a game made by three developers. The game is easy to learn but hard to master, and it will challenge you to get better and better as you master each twirl, jump, and trick.
"Distance delivers an unparalleled blend of arcade-racer and environmental experience. Brimming with content, both pre-packaged and fan-made, it's bound to satisfy anyone interested enough to pick it up. 9 out of 10." - We Got This Covered
I'm not usually a racing-game fan, but this game brings something fresh, new, and compelling to the genre. The story content is fairly short but there's plenty of fan-made tracks available that extend the games replayability, as well the fact that you can compete against other players for stats, scores, and speedruns on their online leaderboard.
- Game's pretty clean overall, but can occasionally get a bit intense visually.
- Only 5 cars to choose from.
- Can get repetitive unless you get some fan-made tracks.
- Stunning atmosphere and narrative.
- Fantastic soundtrack and you can import your own music too.
- Far more freedom and mobility than most racers let you be as flashy as you want.
One of the slickest, coolest racers I've seen, even if you're not a fan of racing games.
4. SHAPEZ.IO
A relaxing automation game to produce geometric shapes on an infinitely growing map.
GENRE: Automation Builder
LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1318690/shapezio/
LENGTH: Endless
REPLAYABILITY: High
MULTIPLAYER: No
This is a slick, minimal, and zen-like approach to automation games and a great way to gently engage your mind as you pass the time. It's extraordinarily simple at first, but it's complexity grows beautifully as you do.
"I began playing this game on a lazy Sunday afternoon, after me and my wife had managed to put our newborn son to sleep and had some quiet time for myself. After what felt like a few hours I quit the game and rubbed my eyes, ready to make dinner. To my horror, though, I discovered that my son was 18 years old and was lugging a suitcase towards the door, getting ready to go to college... I opened my mouth to speak to him, but he stopped me with a gesture. With tears in his eyes, but also with a composure I could not help but be proud of, he said "No, father. The shapes must flow." Then he left home without looking back. My wife, carrying her own suitcase, followed him, sparing me a look full of tears and reproach. I sat back down, stunned. I took a deep sigh, sat back down and reopened the game. I haven't seen any of them ever since. It's better this way." - carles.llacer, Steam Review
Witty, tongue-in-cheek review above aside, it does kind of nail the vibe of this game. The game seems innocently simple, almost 'boring' at first glance, but from the very first click placing your first conveyor belt it becomes immensely satisfying and engaging.
- The early game runs smooth on most PCs, but as automations grow more complex, performance can stutter.
- No 'story' mode.
- Hotkeys help so much but take some time to learn.
- Soothing yet somehow energizing music.
- Clean, minimal aesthetic (complete with 'dark mode.)
- The 'Factorio' automation experience streamlined and amped up.
The review above really does cover it. I never knew a simple game about setting up conveyors belts to produce shapes and colors could be so riveting. It's calming, with no competition or hurry, but just the right amount of small objectives compelling you to create bigger and better automations. This game makes you a more efficient person.
5. DESPOT'S GAME: A DYSTOPIAN ARMY BUILDER
Mutate and arm your human-army with swords & shields... or paddles & pretzels in this tactical auto-battler.
GENRE: Strategic Roguelike Auto-Battler
LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1227280/Despots_Game_Dystopian_Army_Builder/
LENGTH: Medium
REPLAYABILITY: Medium
MULTIPLAYER: Partially
This game is what you get if you mix Teamfight Tactics with Faster Than Light and a roguelike dungeon-crawler. It's quirky and darkly comical, with fairly deep and satisfying strategy... without over-complexity that can become intimidating.
"It's addictive. While I'm not much of a fan of auto-battlers, I'm in love with Despot's Game. In fact, I think it's so addictive, this deserves to be on the list for the best Strategy Games of '21. It's just so fun to plan ahead and watch your little humans fight. It's tactically demanding. There is a lot of strategies involved to win a run and be placed on the leaderboard. From placing your humans on the battlefield to asking yourself what I really need to buy right now or should I spare some tokens for later, or even new mutations?" - Straight_Miz, Steam Review
Whether you're garbing your team in tutus or plague masks, this game's full of engaging choices. Do you buy another puny, naked human and try to level them up into mutated gladiators? Do you have a giant horde of units and want to throw some into the pit to become food for the rest? Do stack up tricksters and healers only, or do you spread your army across to tanks and throwers as well? And if you do beat Despot's Game, will your remaining army fair well against other players in King Of The Hill? A fun game that deserves way more attention than it's gotten.
- Not much lasting-progression post-run.
- May be too challenging/punishing for some.
- Some balance issues (but these are likely to be fixed.)
- Addictive (and humorous) tactical runs for your puny humans.
- Great soundtrack and writing (despite typos & limited amount of songs.)
- 10 unique classes w/ 5 weapons each, plus mutations, leveling, & combos = diverse builds.
Despot's Game is currently "early access," (still in development) but it's totally playable, already has a significant community springing up around it, and the potential is incredible. Give the game a fleshed-out plot, better balance, and elevated skill-expression, and this game could turn into a long-lived franchise.
In conclusion...
There you have it, my top 5 superb-yet-overlooked indie games (that you should totally play.)
I went through a crazy amount of games over the years to come up with this list, so I thought I'd give some honorable mentions to games I considered but did not include for one reason or another.
Shout-outs to:
Thanks so much for reading, commenting, sharing, following, or even skimming. I appreciate you.
Want more from me on gaming? Check these out:
- 10 Games Worth Playing (Even If You Hate Their Genre)
- From Pacman To Hades: I Never Finish Games
- A Fun Guide To Playing (& Winning) Splinterlands (Even Though I Haven’t Played It)
P.S. I should point out I rarely 'finish' games, so I can't comment on the ending of any game mentioned.