Top Upcoming Indie Games You Can't Miss

21 July 2025

Indie games have come a long way. From being those small side projects built in a garage with a shoestring budget, they’ve practically become the soul of the gaming world. With AAA studios chasing photorealism and battle passes, indie devs are over here touching hearts and flipping the genre script on its head.

So, if you're on the lookout for some jaw-dropping, outside-the-box, and straight-up fun experiences, you're in for a treat. Let’s dive into the top upcoming indie games you absolutely can't miss. 🎮

Why Indie Games Are Stealing the Spotlight

Before we jump into the list, let’s address the pixelated elephant in the room—why are indie games so good lately?

Simple answer? They’re passion projects. When you buy an indie game, you're not just getting a product. You're stepping into someone’s dream world. You feel it in the art. You hear it in the soundtrack. You see it in the creativity that AAA titles just don’t risk anymore.

Plus, indie devs are not afraid to experiment. Procedural dungeons? Emotional storytelling? Talking frogs that teach you algebra? Yup, you can find it all.

Alright, now let’s get to the juicy stuff.

1. 🎩 Hollow Knight: Silksong

Developer: Team Cherry
Platform: PC, Switch (and likely more later)
Release Window: TBD, but the hype train has no brakes

Remember Hollow Knight? That nail-swinging, bug-slaying masterpiece? Yeah, its sequel Silksong is still cooking, and fans are hungry. You play as Hornet this time—she’s faster, more agile, and full of surprises.

Expect more of that nail-biting combat, beautifully hand-drawn worlds, and lore so deep you’ll need a wiki to keep up. It’s shaping up to be darker, deeper, and somehow even more polished than the original.

If you're into Metroidvania-style games, this is your holy grail.

2. 🗺️ Little Devil Inside

Developer: Neostream
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox
Release Window: 2024 (allegedly)

This one's a weird cocktail, but the good kind. Think action-adventure meets survival with a sprinkle of Victorian absurdity. You play as a sword-wielding explorer who’s investigating supernatural phenomena for a research institute.

The visuals? Chef’s kiss. The world? Surreal and quirky—like if Tim Burton made a Zelda game. And yes, that sea monster boss fight you saw in the trailer? That’s real.

It balances eerie and humorous tones so well, you’ll probably laugh and scream within the same minute.

3. 🧵 Replaced

Developer: Sad Cat Studios
Platform: PC, Xbox
Release Window: 2024

Now this one? It's got cyberpunk dripping from every pixel. Replaced is a 2.5D action-platformer with jaw-dropping pixel art and an atmospheric vibe strong enough to smack you in the face.

The story follows an AI trapped in a human body—a concept already begging for philosophical rabbit holes. The real hook though? The fluidity of the combat. It’s like watching a fight choreographed by The Matrix, only it’s pixel art and arguably cooler.

Expect a moody soundtrack, deep narrative, and enough neon to light up your whole room.

4. 🏔️ Flock

Developer: Hollow Ponds
Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation
Release Window: 2024

Need something a bit more… relaxing? Flock is about soaring through serene skies and collecting flying creatures with your friends. Think Pokémon meets Journey—but with wings.

The art direction is a warm hug, and the goal is simple: explore, discover, and chill. No stress bars, no intense boss battles—just wholesome fun with some lighthearted co-op sprinkled on top.

If you’ve been looking for the gaming equivalent of herbal tea, Flock is it.

5. 🐙 Harold Halibut

Developer: Slow Bros
Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Release Window: 2024 (fingers crossed)

You ever wonder what a stop-motion movie would feel like as a video game? Enter Harold Halibut. Handmade models. Real-life sets. It’s not just a game—it’s an art project. And yes, it’s all playable.

The story is set on a submerged spaceship. Sounds cool, right? You play as Harold, a lab assistant trying to bring humanity back to the surface of an alien ocean planet. A mix of sci-fi narrative, relationship-building, and a healthy dose of existentialism.

It’s weird (in a good way), emotional, and unlike anything you’ve played before.

6. ⚔️ Nine Sols

Developer: Red Candle Games
Platform: PC, with console ambitions
Release Window: 2024

If Sekiro put on 2D pants and got dipped in East Asian mythology—boom, you’ve got Nine Sols. This action-platformer is being delivered by the devs behind Detention and Devotion, so expect a rich story with haunting undertones.

Combat is parry-heavy, and it feels satisfying as heck. The narrative? Think ancient alien tech, divine warriors, and a revenge-driven protagonist trying to take down, well... nine gods.

It’s part chopping monsters, part unraveling mysterious worlds. Basically, a love letter to both samurai epics and sci-fi madness.

7. 🥽 The Plucky Squire

Developer: All Possible Futures
Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Release Window: Late 2024

Whimsical? Check. Mind-blowing transitions? Double check.

The Plucky Squire starts as a 2D adventure in a storybook and—plot twist—you jump out into the 3D world. Yeah. Think Paper Mario on creative steroids. One moment you’re solving puzzles on a textbook page, the next you’re battling goblins around a coffee mug.

It’s playful, it’s clever, and it’s visually stunning. If you like games that constantly reinvent themselves while reminding you of childhood wonder, this one’s wearing the crown.

8. 👹 Gestalt: Steam & Cinder

Developer: Metamorphosis Games
Platform: PC and Switch
Release Window: Q3 2024

Steampunk and Metroidvania lovers, assemble! Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is oozing with style and crunchy combat mechanics. Its pixel art is straight-up gorgeous, and the world-building is on par with classic SNES-era RPGs.

You play as Aletheia, a tough-as-nails fighter uncovering secrets in a sprawling city ruled by steam-powered tyrants. Expect branching dialogue trees, rich side quests, and enough lore to dive into like it’s your favorite fantasy novel.

This one’s all about polished gameplay and beautifully woven narratives.

9. ⚙️ Clockwork Revolution

Developer: inXile Entertainment
Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Window: TBD

Okay, some may argue this is creeping into AAA territory, but it feels indie thanks to its unique spin on time mechanics and storytelling.

Set in a steampunk world full of political tension, Clockwork Revolution lets you manipulate time to change the course of history. It's like BioShock Infinite and Dishonored had a child who really liked Back to the Future.

We’re talking complex moral choices, richly detailed environments, and time travel puzzles that actually make you stop and think. Mind = blown.

10. 🌌 Animal Well

Developer: Shared Memory
Platform: PS5, PC, Switch
Release Window: Mid 2024

This one’s a slow burn. No combat. No tutorials. Just you, a glow stick, and a dark, mysterious pixel art world filled with cryptic puzzles and creepy creatures.

Think Limbo meets Fez, sprinkled with atmospheric tension. Animal Well is less about jumping in guns blazing and more about observation, experimentation, and absorbing the game’s eerie vibes.

It's minimalist, but man, does it hit hard.

What Makes These Indie Games So Special?

You’ve got pixel art that rivals oil paintings, narratives that punch you in the gut, and gameplay that dares to break conventions.

These games aren’t trying to be everything for everyone—they’re trying to be something unforgettable for you. That’s the difference.

Whether you like sci-fi, fantasy, cozy adventures, or philosophical narratives, there's an indie gem on the way that’s going to speak your language.

Final Thoughts

2024 and beyond is shaping up to be one of the most exciting chapters for indie gaming. The creativity is off the charts, and the variety is mind-blowing. These aren’t just games—they’re digital love letters, designed for those of us who crave something different, something personal.

So keep your wishlists ready and your eyes peeled—because these upcoming indie games are about to blow you away.