With regards to indie video games launched in 2024—nicely—we actually ate this yr. Small studios and one-man builders are holding their very own when crafting significant, entertaining, and thought-provoking experiences that will probably be onerous to high in 2025. It’s tough to choose the very best of the very best as every entry presents an immersive world with strengths, variations, and few weaknesses.
However right here it’s, our 10 greatest indie video games that launched in 2024.
Honorable mentions
Earlier than we get into our record, listed below are our honorable mentions:
Funeralopolis: A brief free-to-play retro horror expertise with glorious worldbuilding, cinematics, narrative, and environment. INDIKA: There may be nothing fairly like INDIKA. Pacific Drive: A singular tackle survival horror mixing the comfy and anxiety-inducing gameplay for a surreal expertise. Tiny Glade: The prettiest constructing recreation you’ll ever play. Shadows of Doubt: A randomly generated detective recreation with survival components and the liberty to go and do no matter you need, everytime you need. Worry the Highlight: Nice LGBTQIA+ illustration that doesn’t drive the narrative. A retro-style horror with a darkish story behind its lovely look. The Plucky Squire: The right mix of 2D and 3D puzzle platforming. Abiotic Issue: A enjoyable survival horror expertise that resembles Half-Life with the liberty to do no matter you need.
Now, let’s dive into our high 10.
Greatest indie titles of 2024
NEVA
Launch date: Oct. 15, 2024 Platform: Home windows / macOS / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox Sequence X/S / Nintendo Change Value: $19.99
Hit by a loss from the onset, NEVA is an exquisite story that delivered each in its fashion and story. Spanning throughout 4 seasons, every quarter homes its personal magnificence and challenges to admire and study from. NEVA demonstrates the circle of life via the combo of fine and evil vitality. Alba and Neva develop stronger as you progress via the story, displaying the power and resilience these characters have, whereas concurrently exhibiting us the inevitability of time and getting old.
Hades II
Launch date: Might 6, 2024 Platform: Home windows / macOS / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Sequence X/S Value: $29.99
Perfecting the Roguelike style, Hades II switches the narrative on its head. Quite than ascending Hell within the determined try to flee it, our protagonist’s aim is to descend to its very depths—giving us new maps, enemies, and managers to face. It’s flawless in its design and fight, holding onto its roguelike polish that gives experimentation, thus strengthening its replayability. Similar to the primary recreation, beating this recreation rapidly received’t come straightforward, however the additional you get the extra rewarding it feels.
Thank Goodness You’re Right here!
Launch date: Aug. 1, 2024 Platform: Home windows / macOS / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Nintendo Change Value: $13.99
Like a scene out of Interdimensional cable, Thank Goodness You’re Right here packs joke after joke, delivered by its simplistic cartoonish characters and glorious voice appearing. Quintessentially British, Thank Goodness You’re Here’s a breath of recent air and a throwback to what appears like less complicated occasions. The unusual city of Barnsworth options an abundance of quirky characters and a ridiculous quantity of content material to whack and get distracted by—making time spent finishing this recreation an extended endeavor than others. However the fact is… we by no means needed our journey to Barnsworth to finish.
Till Then
Launch date: Might 23, 2024 Platform: Home windows / Linux / PlayStation 5 Value: $19.99
There’s one thing actually particular about side-scrollers after they cowl actual themes all of us inevitably cope with in our lifetime. It’s video games like these that reveal the ability of a narrative and that each one media is able to leaving an affect. We’ve all handled Till Then‘s themes: friendship, loss, and rising up. Hopefully we’re lucky sufficient to not expertise these in the identical order. What’s outstanding about Till Then is how studying phrases on a display, paired with attractive, pixelated animation and calming, but sentimental music can garner such weight and tremendously affect us the way in which this recreation did.
Mouthwashing
Launch date: Sept. 26, 2024 Platform: Home windows Value: $12.99
Horror strolling simulations take notice, that is the way you craft a superb narrative with out giving something away till the climax. Maintaining you in your toes all through, Mouthwashing is a wonderfully crafted psychological horror, and one that can stick with me for a few years to return. Curiously, 2024’s indie horror has been far darker than earlier years, with extra psychological ideas detailing trauma and the wickedness of others. A sickening story, Mouthwashing tips us right into a fall sense of safety, and betrays us on the closing hurdle.
Crow Nation
Launch date: Might 9, 2024 Platform: Home windows / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox Sequence X/S / Nintendo Change Value: $19.99
There’s been many improbable retro-style horror video games that got here out 2024, however Crow Nation takes the highest spot as a love letter to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The setting is compact as you navigate round an deserted theme park the place monsters begin spilling out onto the exits, trapping you inside. Crow Nation shines with its elaborate puzzles and an atmosphere that subtly modifications, supplying you with cause to back-track with out ever feeling repetitive. Quirky characters and monsters resembling that of Silent Hill 3 makes Crow Nation an absolute pleasure to play via.
Animal Nicely
Launch date: Might 9, 2024 Platform: Home windows / PlayStation 5 / Xbox Sequence X/S / Nintendo Change Value: $24.99
Created by a single developer, Animal Nicely is a Metroidvania with out the fight. Centered on puzzle-platforming, Animal Nicely sees you play as a harmless, fragile character whose aim is to enterprise into 4 corners of the advanced labyrinth laid out earlier than them. The puzzles completely mix into the labyrinth as if it was made for it with the liberty to discover and work out get to a brand new space with none hand-holding. The final word puzzle-platformer, each block is completely and purposely positioned to problem your curiosity.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Launch date: Might 16, 2024 Platform: Home windows / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Nintendo Change Value: $24.99
Invited to an deserted lodge crammed with puzzles that mess with time and our sense of actuality, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes calls for your consideration the second you enter. The true which means behind utilizing your mind at 100%, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes traps you inside its field and places you thru gruelling exams. A setting harking back to Resident Evil (1996), no two puzzles are alike, making it unimaginable to get acquainted with. The labyrinth that entraps Lorelei captures your creativeness too, the place its advanced puzzles stick with you as you grow to be hellbent on discovering the answer lengthy after exiting the sport.
Balatro
Launch date: Feb. 20, 2024 Platform: Home windows / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Sequence X/S / Nintendo Change Value: $19.99
Meant to be in work tomorrow? Name in sick. Oh, you could have youngsters? Neglect about them. All that issues is Balatro. Extraordinarily addictive from launch, Balatro calls for your full consideration because the extra you play, the extra decks you unlock. Combining poker with roguelike components, Balatro‘s easy design makes it straightforward to digest and onerous to place down. Lose your self on the planet of moral playing the place you aren’t enjoying for actual cash, saving your ego and dignity within the course of. So should you’re in search of a brand new technique to escape actuality and to avoid wasting coin within the course of, then welcome to Balatro. However watch out, it’s possible you’ll discover it’s the top of 2025 by the point you sign off.
9 Sols
Launch date: Might 28, 2024 Platform: Home windows / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Sequence X/S / Nintendo Change Value: $29.99
Created by the developer of Detention and Devotion, 9 Sols is a masterful Metroidvania with gorgeous visuals and fluid, easy fight that resembles Sekiro. Addictive, its Soulslike gameplay and lovely aesthetic makes it onerous to place 9 Sols down when you get began. Whereas 9 Sols fortunately punishes those that aren’t used to the timing window of every enemy, the fight is a delight to grasp and feels rewarding each time you defeat one of many awe-inspiring bosses.
