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20 more indie game picks
These are games from small studios that are easy to miss under big publishers' marketing. We picked them so no two share a genre, and filled all ten slots. · Updated 2026-10-15
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Katana ZERO
One-hit-kill samurai action, where you die in one hit too, layered with time manipulation and a neo-noir story. The presentation and music are superb, and it's fairly short, so you can binge it in a single weekend day.
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Papers, Please
You inspect entry papers at the border checkpoint of a fictional communist state, with new rules every day and choices between feeding your family and following your conscience. An indie classic that tells a heavy story through simple controls.
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Baba Is You
A puzzle game where you push word blocks like 'BABA IS YOU' around the screen to rewrite the rules of the game itself. Many puzzles only click when you flip your thinking, so if you love brain-burning puzzles it will keep you hooked for a long time.
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Darkest Dungeon
A gothic horror turn-based RPG where you delve into the dungeons beneath a manor, managing not only your heroes' health but also their stress. The tension of permanent hero death and its distinctive narration leave a lasting impression.
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Inscryption
A deckbuilding roguelike where you play cards against a mysterious figure in a dark cabin, mixed with escape-room puzzles and psychological horror. It's best played knowing as little as possible, so skip the spoilers and dive straight in.
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Into the Breach
A turn-based strategy game from the makers of FTL in which you defend cities with giant mechs on an 8x8 map where enemies' next attacks are shown in advance. Each short, clean, puzzle-like battle is a joy, and the mobile version is available through Netflix Games.
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Outer Wilds
You explore a solar system that resets every 22 minutes when the sun goes supernova, and work out why. With no levels or items, only knowledge carries over, giving you the purest possible thrill of discovery.
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Return of the Obra Dinn
A merchant ship drifts back with all 60 of its crew gone, and you use a pocket watch that replays moments of death to uncover each person's name and fate. You have to piece the clues together yourself, so it truly makes you feel like a detective.
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Enter the Gungeon
A bullet hell roguelike shooter in which you descend a dungeon full of bullet-shaped enemies in search of a gun that can kill the past. Hundreds of quirky guns and satisfying dodge rolls make every replay a pleasure.
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Cult of the Lamb
Play as an adorable lamb who builds a cult of woodland creatures, combining action roguelite dungeon runs against heretics with village management. The contrast between cute art and dark humor makes it one of a kind.
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps
A Metroidvania in which the forest spirit Ori explores a new land, with far more combat and abilities than the first game. Its painterly backdrops and music are among the most beautiful around, making it a great follow-up to Hollow Knight.
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Disco Elysium
An RPG where you play an amnesiac detective investigating a murder, solving things through dialogue and the inner voices of your skills instead of combat. Its writing and choices are incredibly dense, so it's the top pick if you love RPGs you experience through text.
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Death's Door
A top-down action adventure about a reaper crow setting out to recover a stolen soul. Zelda-like dungeon exploration and short, punchy boss fights are tightly designed, so it's easy to enjoy all the way to the end.
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ANIMAL WELL
A 2D puzzle platformer where you explore a mysterious well to uncover hidden tools and secrets, crafted over many years by what is essentially a solo developer. Layers of deep secrets lie beyond the apparent ending, so the more you dig, the better it gets.
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The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
A top-down roguelike where Isaac flees his mother into the basement, collecting items and fighting his way down. With hundreds of item combinations, almost no two runs are alike, and it's widely seen as a classic that led the roguelike boom.