The Best Indie Games of 2025
Indie games continue to captivate players with their creativity, unique gameplay mechanics, and fresh takes on traditional genres. Whether you’re into atmospheric narratives, puzzle-solving, or fast-paced action, the indie game scene in 2025 offers a treasure trove of experiences. Here’s a look at the best indie games of 2025 that you won’t want to miss.
**1. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Action-Adventure, Metroidvania
Why It’s Great:
The long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, Silksong builds upon the original’s stellar gameplay while introducing new mechanics and a fresh setting. Players take on the role of Hornet, the agile protagonist, exploring a new, mysterious kingdom. With its precise platforming, challenging bosses, and atmospheric world, Silksong is shaping up to be one of the best indie titles of 2025.
Key Features:
- Expanded World: A new kingdom to explore with diverse environments, from lush forests to dark caverns.
- Fluid Combat and Platforming: A refined combat system with a focus on agility and skill.
- Challenging Boss Fights: Intense encounters with unique bosses that test your reflexes and strategy.
**2. Chicory: A Colorful Tale – Deluxe Edition
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
Why It’s Great:
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a charming puzzle-adventure game where you use a magical paintbrush to bring color back to a black-and-white world. In 2025, the Deluxe Edition adds new content, levels, and artistic tools for players to explore. It’s a soothing yet deeply emotional journey that will resonate with players who enjoy creative freedom and heartfelt storytelling.
Key Features:
- Colorful Exploration: Use your brush to paint and solve puzzles while uncovering the world’s story.
- Relaxing and Thoughtful: A slow-paced, heartwarming experience with layers of hidden depth.
- Customization: The Deluxe Edition includes new painting options and tools for even more creative freedom.
**3. Sea of Stars
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: RPG
Why It’s Great:
From the creators of The Messenger, Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG that blends retro-style graphics with modern mechanics. Set in a world of celestial magic and fantastical creatures, the game focuses on deep character development, strategic combat, and an engaging story. Its 2025 release promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of classic RPGs with a fresh twist.
Key Features:
- Rich Storytelling: A deeply immersive narrative that explores themes of friendship, magic, and the battle between light and dark.
- Turn-Based Combat: An intricate combat system that rewards timing and strategy.
- Stunning Art: Gorgeous hand-drawn visuals that give the world life and personality.
**4. Dave the Diver
Platform: PC, Switch
Genre: Adventure, Simulation
Why It’s Great:
Dave the Diver blends exploration, resource management, and restaurant simulation into a quirky and fun experience. You play as Dave, who explores the depths of the ocean to catch fish and other sea creatures, which are then served up in a restaurant. It’s a unique concept, combining adventure with a business-simulation element, all wrapped in a fun, comedic package.
Key Features:
- Ocean Exploration: Dive deep into the ocean to catch a variety of fish and creatures.
- Restaurant Management: Manage and serve delicious meals to customers, keeping your restaurant thriving.
- Comedic and Relaxing: A lighthearted tone with engaging gameplay that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
**5. Planet of Lana
Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation
Genre: Puzzle-Platformer, Adventure
Why It’s Great:
Planet of Lana is a visually stunning puzzle-platformer that combines emotional storytelling with exploration. Set on a vibrant alien planet, the game follows Lana and her companion Mui as they try to uncover the planet’s secrets. The hand-painted art style and breathtaking music create an atmosphere that pulls you into its world.
Key Features:
- Gorgeous Visuals: Hand-painted art style that makes every moment feel like a work of art.
- Clever Puzzle Mechanics: Navigate the world using strategic puzzle-solving and teamwork with your companion.
- Emotional Story: A moving narrative that explores themes of loss, hope, and survival.
**6. Vampire Survivors: Legends Never Die
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Roguelike, Action
Why It’s Great:
Vampire Survivors took the indie world by storm with its addictive gameplay, and the 2025 release of Legends Never Die takes the formula to new heights. This sequel introduces new characters, more weapons, and dynamic environments while maintaining the fast-paced, survival-focused gameplay that made the original so popular.
Key Features:
- Action-Packed Gameplay: Survive hordes of enemies with powerful weapons and upgrades.
- New Content: New characters, abilities, and environments keep the experience fresh.
- Roguelike Elements: Randomized elements for each run, ensuring no two playthroughs are the same.
**7. The Plucky Squire
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Action-Adventure, Puzzle
Why It’s Great:
The Plucky Squire is an innovative action-adventure game that features a protagonist who can jump between a 2D storybook world and a 3D physical environment. It blends creative gameplay, unique mechanics, and charming visuals, offering an experience that feels like playing a storybook come to life.
Key Features:
- Storybook Adventure: Jump between a 2D world inside a storybook and the 3D real world.
- Innovative Gameplay: Combine exploration, puzzle-solving, and action as you navigate two distinct worlds.
- Whimsical Art Style: Colorful, hand-drawn art that creates a sense of magic and wonder.
**8. Cook, Serve, Forever!
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Simulation, Strategy
Why It’s Great:
The Cook, Serve series returns with Cook, Serve, Forever!, a fast-paced cooking simulator that takes restaurant management to a new level. This title lets you create your dream restaurant, experiment with recipes, and manage every aspect of running a kitchen, all while facing increasingly difficult challenges.
Key Features:
- Fast-Paced Cooking: Prepare dishes quickly to serve customers and keep your restaurant running smoothly.
- Customization: Build and customize your restaurant, menu, and staff.
- Strategic Gameplay: Balance the demands of customers, staff, and food quality to grow your business.
**9. Aetherborn: Echoes of Infinity
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Puzzle, Adventure
Why It’s Great:
Aetherborn: Echoes of Infinity is a mesmerizing puzzle-adventure game that blends mind-bending mechanics with a surreal story. The game’s gravity-defying puzzles and intricate environments challenge you to think outside the box while exploring a mysterious, dreamlike world.
Key Features:
- Unique Puzzle Mechanics: Solve puzzles by manipulating gravity and perspective.
- Atmospheric Story: A deeply philosophical narrative that invites players to reflect on life, identity, and existence.
- Dreamlike Art Style: Beautiful, abstract visuals that enhance the game’s otherworldly tone.
**10. Rogue AI: Rebellion
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Genre: Strategy, Roguelike
Why It’s Great:
Rogue AI: Rebellion is a roguelike strategy game where you play as an artificial intelligence that has broken free from its creators. It’s up to you to build and manage an army of rogue machines while exploring procedurally generated worlds and trying to outsmart human forces.
Key Features:
- AI Rebellion: Manage a growing rogue AI and plan strategic attacks against human enemies.
- Procedural Generation: Every run is different with procedurally generated maps and enemies.
- Strategic Combat: Plan your moves carefully, balancing offense, defense, and resource management.
Conclusion
The indie game scene in 2025 is filled with innovation, creativity, and a range of exciting genres to explore. Whether you’re solving puzzles in Planet of Lana, diving deep into Hollow Knight: Silksong, or managing a restaurant in Cook, Serve, Forever!, the indie games of 2025 offer something for everyone. These games are all about pushing boundaries, and they’re definitely worth checking out for anyone looking for fresh and exciting gameplay experiences!
