The gaming industry has come a long way in the past few years. It is growing exponentially, and the work from all the creators, big and small, gets appreciated by the community. There are a lot of high-quality titles developed by the tycoons of the industry, like EAFC 24, GTA V, Starfield, and more.
And then there are indie games that leave a great impact without being from a biggie. In simple terms, indie games are the ones that are produced by a small number of developers.
Most of the time, indie games are free as the resources used to develop these ones are free or created by the small-scale developers themselves. To let you know in a better way, the indie in the indie games stands for independent. It confirms that the game is super safe from any kind of outside interference (creative liberty is not a myth, guys).
If you are someone who is looking for the best free indie games in the market, then you are in the right place. Here in this post, I have listed down the best indie games that you can try out right now, without paying a buck. But before that, let’s have a look at the factors contributing to the rise of Indie games, along with talking about their popularity.
Reasons Behind the Growing Popularity of Indie Games
- The term Indie Game came into common use starting from the 2000s. One of the major factors in the growing popularity of indie games is that these ones explore the genres and sub-genres that are not usually visited by the AA titles producing studios.
- Moreover, these games have given a chance to smaller creators to compete with the bigger ones and show them the potential they carry.
- In addition, these games provide developers with better creative control, which also makes the audiences more inclined towards these games as they get to see new elements.
- They tend to fill the gaps created by the AAA games, and sometimes, they deal with things that are not trending in the current scenario.
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Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is nothing but a lighthearted approach towards battles without missing out on the main thing. The game already has more than 50 legends that you can play with, and every two or three weeks, you get to see a regular update consisting of bug fixes, balance changes, and a lot more. Moreover, it’s quite user-friendly, as you’ll see plenty of Brawlhalla characters for beginners, allowing multiple people access to an already great game!
There are a total number of 20 game modes, out of which you can play in most of them with up to 8 players. The best part about the game is that it also supports cross-platform functionality for platforms like PC, PlayStation, iOS, Xbox, Switch, Nintendo, Android, and Mac. Now, without wasting a moment, get the game and divulge into the world of werewolves, half-bear Vikings, and more.
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Developer: Blue Mammoth Studios
Publisher: Ubisoft
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Century: Age of Ashes
If you are a fan of Dragons, werewolves, and warriors, then trust me, Century: Age of Ashes is for you. March towards the battlefield with dragons and riders and let your enemies know who you are. The game also allows you to customize your dragons by using legendary skins, sturdy and shiny back armor, etc.
It has six different playstyles to choose from – Rimeblood, Nassyan Thornweaver, Stromraiser, Svard Marauder, Neardor Phantom, and Skeldian Windguard. The game also gets regular updates, which makes it more captivating. I’ll definitely say that the game graphics will leave you spellbound, and it deserves to be tried at least once.
Release Date: December 2, 2021
Developer: Playwing LTD
Publisher: Playing LTD
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Doki Doki Literature Club
Doki Doki Literature Club is a unique one that deals with intimacy, romance, drama — you name it. In fact, if you own a Switch, it’s one of the best otome games for Nintendo Switch that you can find today!
You start the game by joining the club as a member and getting yourself involved in all the fun activities with other members without leaving chit-chat behind. You will have a conversation with three different characters in the game, including Sayori, Monika, and Yuri.
Syori is a package of happiness and will make your day for sure, Natsuki is someone who is cute but dominant at the same time, Yuri is someone who is pretty mysterious and is more comfortable in the presence of books, and then there is Monika who is a leader of the club. This game is perfectly suitable for those gamers who love to experiment between genres.
Release Date: September 22, 2017
Developer: Team Salvato
Publisher: Team Salvato
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
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Iron Snout
As the game suggests, it revolves around pigs, and I am dead serious here. In Iron Snout, you will don the role of a pig and have to wage war against the wolves and make them realize that you are not just another meal. You will fall in love with the fighting combos similar to what you get to see in movies.
Moreover, the game has easy-to-use and highly responsive controls. As for the gameplay, you can also use the weapons of the enemy as your own, along with using the enemy parts as weapons. You can enjoy it on any device as it is available for all popular platforms like Steam, iOS, Android, Windows, and more.
Release Date: January 27, 2016
Developer: SnoutUp
Publisher: SnoutUp
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Relic Hunters Zero: Remix
Relic Hunters Zero: Remix is a prime-level remaster of a hit game that takes you on a roller coaster ride of adventure and thrill. The game consists of multiple heroes, out of which the popular ones are Panzer, Red, Raff, Blu, and more. These heroes are trying to get the Duncans away from their asteroids.
The game works on a basic principle of Run, Gun, and Dodge. The fight will be against the evil space turtles and space ducks. It offers super smooth gameplay and keeps getting updated with new characters, weapons, relics, etc. You can also track and unlock achievements for multiple challenges in the game.
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Developer: Rogue Snail
Publisher: Akupara Games
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
RISK: Global Domination
RISK: Global Domination is perfect for gamers who are looking for strategic challenges. You can build an army in the game to battle it out against your foes. Diplomacy is the key to getting allies in the game and making a great impact.
The way battles happen in the game is pretty intriguing, and you will always have to keep your allies safe and your enemies on your toes. The game had more than 70 original maps to offer, and you can climb the ranks up to the grandmaster level with discipline and consistency.
Release Date: February 20, 2020
Developer: SMG Studio
Publisher: SMG Studio
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
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Super Animal Royale
Imagine a battle royale kind of setup topped with animals to make it more wild. That’s what Super Animal Royale does. The game follows a simple principle of survival of the fittest. The game is set up in a safari park where these animals fight with all they’ve got (yes, I am talking about the claws and teeth, too).
You can take part in 64-player online matches and grab the most iconic weapons, armor, and other stuff to emerge as a victor. The game allows you to collect more than 100 breeds of animals and customize them according to your preferences.
What makes this one more gripping is that it gets regular updates with features to definitely look out for. This is a PC battle royale game that’s equal parts serious and whimsical!
Release Date: August 27, 2021
Developer: Pixile
Publisher: Modus Games
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Super Auto Pets
In Super Auto Pets, you can build a team of cute pets that possess unique abilities. The pets can be used to fight it out against other players in the game. The game has two modes, including Arena and Versus. You have to get 10 wins in order to be triumphant in the Arena mode, and for the Versus mode, you have to be the last team standing.
The game also offers three different packs – Standard packs, Custom packs, and Weekly packs. Standard packs are for players who want to start playing quickly, as these packs contain pre-build options for fair competition. Custom packs can be used for deck building, where the pets can be mixed and matched to create new combos.
Release Date: September 24, 2021
Developer: Team Wood Games
Publisher: Team Wood Games
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Totally Accurate Battlegrounds
Totally Accurate Battlegrounds is a freshly-baked take on the Battlegrounds perspective. It offers three different modes – solo, duo, and squad. The game has a fun-sized map where 60 players can play in a single shot.
What’s best about Totally Accurate Battlegrounds is that the game has more than 90 weapons. It will allow you to scale up your game to a great extent. The game has limited system requirements as you can run the same in just 5GB available storage and a broadband internet connection.
Release Date: June 6, 2018
Developer: Landfall
Publisher: Landfall
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
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Warframe
Looking for an indie game that has high-end graphics and a superb fighting mechanism? Your search ends here. Warframe has an interplanetary setup where you are supposed to create an arsenal and submerge into the third-person combat experience.
You will get a bio-metal suit as soon as you start the game and will have to explore its abilities while moving forward in the game. Not only this, but you can also build a squad with your friends and grab decent rewards while completing missions. This is a free Steam game that will beat other AAA games out of the park!
Release Date: March 25, 2013
Developer: Digital Extremes
Publisher: Digital Extremes
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Cry of Fear
If you are into multiplayer horror games, then this indie game is going to claim your heart for sure. Cry of Fear is a psychologically messed-up horror game that will spook you to the core. It is based in a deserted town where you will encounter horrendous creatures coupled with delusions no less than nightmares.
You will be playing as a young man in the game who is searching for answers on a cold Scandinavian night. The game is a treat for people who love cinematic experience and lateral thinking. More than 8 hours of gameplay will keep you hooked to your gaming chair without a doubt.
Release Date: April 25, 2013
Developer: Team Psykskallar
Publisher: Team Psykskallar
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Wrapping Up
The above-mentioned indie games are some of the best ones that you can try. There is something for everyone, like horror games, action-packed titles, and a lot more. And, if you’re a PC gamer who loves the art of storytelling in indie games, you won’t want to miss out on our list of the best story-driven games on PC!
