The best indie games for PC and consoles 2020

• The comparison
• Tutorials
• The best indie games for PC and consoles 2020

Unlike their AAA counterparts, the best indie games provide players with the pure artistic vision of game developers. Since they don't have to rely on tired tropes just to sell millions of copies, like AAA titles, they are essentially artistic masterpieces and offer a more unique experience. However, the best indie games can easily compete with mainstream games in terms of quality and scope. Just because the best indie games don't have the weight of the business behind them doesn't mean they can't keep up with the latest AAA hits in terms of scope and ambition. We have found that the opposite is often true. In fact, the most ideal experience on one of the best gaming PCs, many of them are among the best Steam games you can download in 2020. If you're looking for the next big indie hits, read on. We've compiled a list of the best indie games on the PC and console market today, from popular movies like Return of the Obra Dinn and Outward, to classic titles like Braid and Dwarf Fortress.

Coming soon: Ooblets

Image Credit: Glumberland (Image Credit: Glumberland) It's not out yet, with Double Fine promising it will be soon, but Ooblets is already on our radar. Developed by the first Glumberland studio and backed by Double Fine, the game is described as something of a combo between Pokemon, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, which captures our attention, and probably yours too. The game combines an art style that is eerily reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic sensation, Adventure Time, with gameplay that revolves around collecting creatures called ooblets in the city of, uh, Oob. In the game, you will be able to train and fight your oblets against other oublets trainers. At the same time, you'll need to balance your ooblet training with the real responsibilities of being a farmer. It's true; Drawing on the influence of Stardew Valley, you can also farm, produce, and decorate your home with various ingredients. You can also join an Ooblet club made up of friends (NPCs) you meet along the way. If you still don't know what to do, you can wander aimlessly to discover new shops and buildings that suit your interests. Even better, you can open your own shop to sell produce you've grown yourself on the farm, as well as items you've collected from around the world. And you can feed the remnants of the harvest to your ooblets to see them level up and learn new techniques to use in turn-based RPG battles. Expected: "Soonish"

Untitled Goose Game

Image Credit: House House (Image Credit: House House/Panic) Who knew an untitled goose game could be so much fun? A small surprise hit, Untitled Goose Game quickly went viral after its brand of avian nuisance was introduced to the world. Set in a driven village in the English countryside, you play as a goose responsible for terrorizing your human neighbors: stealing their crops, locking them in cupboards, and blowing their horns at every turn. Inspired by the Hitman stealth action series, but with its own charm, Untitled Goose Game became a huge hit in 2019. You'll get through it in a few hours, but it's a lot of work.

Braid

Image Credit: Number None (Image Credit: Braid) At first, Jonathan Blow's masterpiece appears to be a simple Super Mario Bros pastiche, with a middle-aged curmudgeon replacing the titular plumber, but still trying to save one princess. But the more time you spend in the game, the more is revealed to you, transitioning from a series of time puzzles to calming thoughtful texts. That doesn't stop it from being the smartest puzzle game since SpaceChem, though. Blow himself has subtly hinted that the latest story may revolve around the atomic bomb. Braid - PC by Mumbo Jumbo

History of the cave

Image Credit: Pixel (Image Credit: Pixel) First released as freeware for PC by Japanese designer Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya in 2004 after five years of 100% solo development, Cave Story preceded this recent independent revival for a few years. For this reason, it has often been overlooked in discussions of indie games. However, this classic deserves to be on every major list, not just for its loving homage to classic action platformers from the Super Nintendo era. It also offers awesome music and a stunning world, not to mention extremely intuitive controls, as well as a ton of secrets and weapons that are just too much fun to use. If you haven't enjoyed it yet, you should already put it at the top of your list. Today's best Cave Story deals

Cuphead

Image Credit: StudioMDHR (Image Credit: Studio MDHR) From family-owned and operated Studio MDHR, Cuphead resonated with millions of people around the world, many of whom wouldn't normally touch a run-and-gun platformer with a three meter post. Although his gameplay was inspired by classic games like Mega Man and Contra, most gamers will probably compare it to a Fleischer Studios cartoon like Betty Boop. Because Cuphead uses a hand-drawn art style similar to 1930s animation, he is universally appreciated for his excellent imagery. Cuphead, however, is more than just the great visuals of him. It is a series of 19 stimulating and attractive patterns, with platform elements inserted between them. It's already on our list of the best indie games, but Studio MDHR has announced that Cuphead: Delicious Last Course DLC, scheduled for release in 2019, will include a new island to explore, new bosses to conquer, and most importantly, a new character to control. . Today's best Cuphead deals

In Plague Tale: Innocence

Image Credit: Focus Home Interactive (Image Credit: Focus Home Interactive) This dark and moody stealth action-adventure game from Asobo Studio is mesmerizingly beautiful. Set in the 1340s during the Black Death pandemic in the French countryside, you play Amicia, a young noblewoman whose parents were murdered by the Inquisition. Now you must cross battlefields and villages with her brother Hugo her to find a cure for her mysterious disease. Along the way, you must scare away hungry rats, as well as stunned (or kill) guards and hostile villagers with your slingshot and supplies of special ammunition. Despite the horror and brutality of the Middle Ages and the plague, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a complete stunner and a game you hardly ever want to finish. Today's best deals A Plague Tale: Innocence In Plague Tale: Innocence ... In Plague Tale: Innocence -... In Plague Tale: Innocence -...

Spelunky

Image Credit: Derek Yu (Image Credit: Derek Yu) Among the hardcore gamers we know, Spelunky is the must-have drug. Even today, several years after its release, some of them still play it constantly, despite completing it multiple times. That's because this seemingly rogue platformer with a definite ending is difficult, varied, and highly random. He also has more dark secrets than a presidential candidate, which means there are multiple ways to take him down, and daily challenges from him are a surefire means of public humiliation. The best Spelunky deals of the day

Stanley's parable

Image Credit: Davey Wreden (Image Credit: Davey Wreden) Does humor belong in video games? Well, if Stanley's parable gets his way, that's a resounding "yes." This game is fun without being giddy. Players follow (or don't follow) a very British storyteller who changes the world around you, based on your choices. No option is punished, and each part will be fresh with new humor and strange events. In fact, being trapped in the closet at The Stanley Parable is more heartwarming and fun than most other games, indie and otherwise. If you missed this tongue-in-cheek gem when it first released, you'll be happy to know that the developer has announced the Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Edition for 2019, touting new content, more endings, and a console version. This Ultra Deluxe edition sounds pretty enticing, even to us, and we played it a lot when it came out. Stanley's Parable Day's Best Deals

Owlboy

Image Credit: D-Pad Studio (Image Credit: D-Pad Studio) It took over nine years to make, but Owlboy is definitely worth the wait. Originally designed for PC and released in late 2016, this smart indie gaming masterpiece is now also available on Mac and Linux, and there's even a Nintendo Switch version! Owlboy revolves around a race of hybrid owl-human characters called, rightly so, Owls. Among them, you control Otis, an owl who is censured by his mentor for his incompetent flying skills. The story sees the town of Otis destroyed by pirates in conflict with the Owls. As a result, Otis must work with a variety of villagers in the game to take out enemies. Of course, before the boss fights happen, you'll have to manage allies accordingly, as each character comes with their own set of unique abilities to use together. If you have already played and enjoyed a Kid Icarus game, this is the one for you. Otherwise, well...play it anyway. Today's Best Owlboy Deals

Go home

Image Credit: Fullbright (Image Credit: Fullbright) Similar to Stanley's parable, Gone Home falls into the genre unofficially dubbed "walking simulator." However, where it deviates from Stanley's intelligent and philosophical parable, it focuses on the difficult realities of life, as opposed to light humor. After returning to your childhood home from a visit abroad, you play as 21-year-old Kaitlin Greenbriar, greeted by an empty house. While the gameplay is limited to delving into the notes to find out where her family is, the fascinating story is extremely emotional and engaging, as long as you keep an open mind. After all this time, Gone Home still stands out as one of the best indie games on the market. Today's Best Gone Home Deals

Kerbal space program

Image Credit: Squad (Image Credit: Squad) Only SpaceChem has combined learning and entertainment as successfully as the Kerbal space program. The gameplay is simple: design and build a spaceship to take the cute Kerbals to Mun and beyond. However, his clever use of real physics means he'll find himself tracking NASA as it builds multi-stage rockets and space stations, as well as exploring the strange universe of Kerbal on EVA, before reporting his discoveries for on-planet research. Kerbal, that is if you can get off the ground. It's a huge, complex, challenging and fun game that manages to be super smart without being self-righteous. Today's Best Kerbal Space Program Deals

The Binding of Isaac: The Rebirth

Image Credit: Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, (Image Credit: Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl,) The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is the exact opposite of something like Kerbal Space Program: it's quintessential action roguelike. You play as a boy who has to kill his fucking brothers and sisters, his mother and maybe the devil, using only the tears that come from his eyes, naturally. This indie game is matched only by the equally visceral nuclear throne. With dozens of strange items to collect, endless procedurally generated levels, and plenty of secrets, The Binding of Isaac is a very dark take on the exploratory model established by Spelunky. Today's best deals The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Subtitles

Image Credit: GameMaker Studio (Image Credit: GameMaker Studio) Don't let its pixel art graphics put you off: Undertale isn't a game that could have been on the Super Nintendo. In fact, in Undertale, the decisions you make have a huge impact on the ending of the game and, more importantly, how it continues in New Game Plus. When playing Undertale, you will realize how much freedom the game gives you. Despite its highly inspired and intense boss fights, you'll spend around nine hours of Undertale as a total pacifist, if you want to. Also, when you run the game for the second time, you will be the most affected by the consequences of your previous run. What's even better is that Undertale is now available on Nintendo Switch, so you can take this masterpiece of game design with you wherever you go. The best Undertale deals of the day UNDERTALE - Nintendo Switch ... Undertale Nintendo Switch ...

Inside

Image Credit: Playdead (Image Credit: Playdead) From the developer Playdead, Inside is very similar to its predecessor, Limbo, in some ways, just with an added layer of depth that often inspires awe. This is mainly the result of the unspoken tale, which revolves around another nameless boy. In Inside, the boy is running from a group of men who, if you don't stay out of sight, will mercilessly kill you. It's not quite clear why the boy is running away from these men or why you should care about him because you don't know who he is, so Inside will allow you to ask for answers. The dark and lifeless surroundings of the interior are well worth the price of admission. Its minimalist art style is only edgy enough to feel right at home in a museum. Keep in mind that this game is fun to play and full of curiosity, and you won't doubt that Inside is one of the best indie games money can buy. Today's Best Inside Deals NBA Inside Drive 2004 - Xbox Disney Infinity 3.0 Inside...

Stardew valley

Image Credit: Eric Barone (Image Credit: Eric Barone) Developed solely by Eric Barone, Stardew Valley is a technical feat for this small fact alone. If you've ever played a Harvest Moon game, you already know its premises, you may not know it yet. Stardew Valley is an addictive farming sim, letting you interact with tugboats to the point where you can literally marry them. Stardew Valley isn't just agricultural though, it's a whole bunch of other things at the same time. You can go fishing, you can cook, you can do things. You can even go through procedurally generated caves to extract items and even fight slimy monsters. However, you should keep in mind that your health and energy are limited, so you will want to keep your character rested and fed to avoid suffering exhaustion. If you pass out, you will lose a considerable amount of money and items that you have worked hard to reach. Stardew Valley will keep you playing for hours, for better or worse. (Definitely better). Today's best Stardew Valley deals Stardew Valley: Collector's... Stardew Valley: Collector's... Stardew Valley - PlayStation 4

Night in the woods

Image Credit: Infinite Fall (Image Credit: Infinite Fall) From Canadian game developer Alec Holowka, creator of the award-winning Aquaria (also featured on this list), and indie artist/artist Scott Benson, Night in the Woods is a game of offbeat side-scrolling adventures that revolves around twenty years. Former protagonist named Mae who drops out of school and returns with her parents. With a story based largely on dialogue choices and minigames that put a twist on everyday tasks like carrying boxes up stairs and eating perogies, Night in the Woods is a timeless coming-of-age story. Not only will you experience America's middle class through the eyes of a cat personified, but virtually every interaction in the game will have you laughing out loud. And now that it's available on Nintendo Switch, you can now take it everywhere with you. Today's best Night in the Woods deals Night in the Woods - Nintendo...

Hollow knight

Image Credit: Team Cherry (Image Credit: Team Cherry) If you're a fan of the recent wave of Dark Souls-inspired games, you'll love Hollow Knight. You take control of the Hollow Knight and lead them through the deceptively adorable landscape to face bosses and other tough challenges. Like Dark Souls, it's not immediately clear what you're supposed to do, as the narrative is intentionally obtuse. The Dark Souls inspirations don't stop there either. It also embraces the "difficult but fair" philosophy of Dark Souls, and the game is as difficult as you are. In fact, you can get through anything as long as you are patient and learn from your mistakes. Hollow Knight takes these lessons from Dark Souls and injects them into a MetroidVania, complete with all the side scrolls and upgrades you could want. You can even play it on Nintendo Switch now. Today's best Hollow Knight Fangamer Hollow Knight deals for...

Dead cells

Image Credit: Motion Twin (Image Credit: Motion Twin) If you're looking for a game that's as ruthless as it is fun, look no further than Dead Cells. It takes inspiration from gameplay from many places, from roguelikes to MetroidVania. There's even a touch of Dark Souls in there, creating a unique action game that will test your limits and skills. Every time you play this game it will feel new. And, even if you lose progress every time you die, and you die a lot, the game will become even more rewarding as complex and fluid combat becomes second nature. In the final version of the game, you have access to more than 90 weapons, skills and abilities that will allow you to adapt your game as you wish. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged if you fail. Get up and try again, as Dead Cells won't reward you until the end, which is why it has our vote for one of the best indie games in 2019. Today's best Dead Cells deals Dead Cells - Action game of... Dead Cells - Nintendo Switch

Give us the moon

Deliver Us the Moon has new ray tracing update media. (Image credit: KeokeN Interactive) If you often have fantasies about avoiding a cataclysmic world-ending event, Deliver Us the Moon might be the best indie game for you. Released at the end of 2018, this apocalyptic sci-fi game will let you play the hero who saves humanity from extinction. In the game, you play as a lone astronaut, and you are sent on a critical rescue mission to the moon and find out what happened to the Helium 3 land mine, Reinhold's mine back in the night. This interactive game by KeokeN is an adventure game, as opposed to an action game, which means that you will mainly find clues, navigate abandoned facilities, and solve puzzles to find out what exactly happened. past. If you make your way through the empty facility and the entire moon by yourself, you will feel autophobic, don't worry. You'll have your trusted robot, ASE, by your side as you do so. Best of all, Deliver Us the Moon has new ray tracing upgrade media. Now offers ray-traced effects like drop shadows, translucent reflections, and opaque reflections. Today's best deals deliver the moon

Dwarf fortress

Image Credit: Bay 12 Games (Image Credit: Dwarf Fortress) Dwarf Fortress is its own genre and its own industry. It's a game that must generate all the geography, mythology, and history of its massive world before setting foot there. Then trace each of the dwarfs you get down to the hair on their legs, and the particular gruesome killing of the elephants they've witnessed and are now carving into an ornamental chair. Your task is simple: keep the dwarves alive while they forge their underground kingdom. Though madness, monsters, and hunger torment them every step of the way, it's not easy. Also, dwarves are always, always mine too deep.

super meat boy

Image: Team Meat Boy (Image credit: Team Meat) Running. Hop. Die. Repeat. It's basically the gameplay loop of Super Meat Boy, an incredibly addictive 2D platformer that's also very difficult, with a gory focus. Gallons of blood are spilled as the meaty eponymous hero leaps over deadly drops, spinning saws, and walking chainsaws in an effort to save his girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the villainous Dr. Fetus. Obviously. With solid controls, plenty of humor, and vibrant graphics, Super Meat Boy jumped onto the PS4, Vita, and Nintendo Switch in style. The best Super Meat Boy deals of the day Super Meat Boy Ultra Edition...

Limbo

Image Credit: Playdead, Double Eleven (Image Credit: Playdead, Double Eleven) It may not be Playdead's newest game, but Limbo is forever. Five years after its release, the game's haunting setting still has an effect on us. You play the boy, a bright-eyed boy who is thrown into limbo to find his sister. To fight your way through a dark and dangerous world, filled with hostile silhouettes, giant spiders, and deadly gravitational fields, you'll have to think on your feet and time your movements perfectly, if you were to survive. Limbo is much more than just a platform game - it's an experience that will make you think about the essence of life when you're done. Deep, deep, and absorbing, this is one of the best indie games that everyone should take the time to play. INSIDE / LIMBO double pack -...

Towerfall: Ascension

Image Credit: Matt Makes Games (Image Credit: Matt Makes Games) If you're looking for a retro-inspired multiplayer archery fighting game (aren't we all?), TowerFall: Ascension is the destination. Fast, frantic and incredibly tough in hardcore mode, the game mechanics are simple: shoot arrows at your enemies or jump on their heads to stay alive until the end of the round. Non-hitting arrows are built into walls, creating tense scenarios when you have to navigate the map while preventing enemies from retrieving them. As such, practicing to Robin Hood levels of precision is key. Climbing is best experienced with friends in local multiplayer, reminiscent of Super Smash Bros.'s most manic moments. Towerfall's best deals: Today's Rise

Heavenly

Image Credit: Matt Makes Games, Matt Thorson (Image Credit: Matt Makes Games) It's not often that a platformer can balance challenging and engaging gameplay with an emotional and thought-provoking story. Celeste, however, succeeds, making it one of our top picks for indie games. From the developers of Towerfall, Celeste follows the story of Madeline, a young woman who decides to confront her own mental health issues by climbing to the top of the mysterious Celeste Mountain. In doing so, she learns more not only about the mountain, but about herself throughout the process. An unavoidable classic, Celeste integrates the obvious jump, dash and climb controls into a brutal series of platforming challenges on over 700 unique screens. If it's too easy, you'll unlock B-side chapters along the way, designed for only the most intrepid of players. She doesn't even have to worry about waiting forever between respawns, as Celeste brings him back from the grave in a flash, a welcome departure from the usually stretched-out loading screens. Today's best deals for Celeste Amiibo Fuco / Celeste -... Celeste - Nintendo Switch...

Satisfactory

Image Credit: Coffee Stain Studios (Image Credit: Coffee Stain Studios) Have you ever wanted to land on an alien planet and build a factory? Yes, this is an unusual premise, but we promise that it works satisfactorily. You will land on one of three planets of varying difficulty, where you will be responsible for building and automating a factory to exploit the world around you. The premise sounds bland, but being able to travel through these beautiful worlds in first person while collecting materials and fighting hostile wildlife makes it even more exciting. Plus, what's better than sitting back and admiring something you've worked hard on? Satisfying is in early access right now and exclusive to the Epic Games Store, but if you can get past it, you're sure to get hours of healthy simulation.

Nidhogg 2

Image Credit: Meshhof Games (Image Credit: Meshhof Games) After the crazy success that was the original Nidhogg, it's a shame to see the top suite thrown under the bus. Despite its controversial art style, however, Nidhogg 2 offers a stylish and impressive look that the first version, a cult classic, wouldn't dare compete with, which is one of the reasons why it's in our best. list of indie games . In the stills, we can see how it could be misconstrued, but luckily, it's the fun and addictive local multiplayer gameplay that makes Nidhogg, well, Nidhogg. And it's all there in Nidhogg 2. Plus, every time you respawn, you get one of four unique weapons that only add to the challenge. Today's best Nidhogg 2 deals

The witness

Image Credit: Jonathan Blow, Thekla Inc. (Image Credit: Jonathan Blow, Thekla Inc.) Famed freelance designer Jon Blow's follow-up to Braid might seem like an entirely different adventure, 3D and all. Both are more thematic than you might think. The Witness, at its core, is another puzzle game that tells an engaging story through these puzzles. This puzzler takes place in an almost equally impressionistic world, albeit heavily inspired by Myst, but its story is much more nuanced and mysterious than Blow's previous work. In almost every corner of this island you just woke up on (or below), there is a clue as to how you got to this island and why you are here.

Transistor

Image Credit: Supergiant Games, Confetti Inc. (Image Credit: Supergiant Games, Confetti Inc.) Don't get me wrong, we liked Bastion. Still, we can't deny that Transistor has been SuperGiant Games' best work to date, not to mention one of the best indie games to hit the streets today. Much of this has to do with the mix of turn-based and action-RPG elements contained within its futuristic cyberpunk landscape. Likewise, in classic SuperGiant form, these mechs are complemented by a stunning art style and a musical score so impressive you'll want to buy the soundtrack. Leaving the key game to beat the player, the story is not as changeable. The main character of Transistor, Red, is a well-known singer from the city of Cloudbank. However, he was attacked by a group of vicious robots called Process, operated by another group called Camerata. On his journey, he finds the transistor, a mysterious sword with a man's voice. Soon, she will learn more about him and how he will change his world.

Without meat

Image Credit: Night School Studio (Image credit: Night School Studio) It's weird to think that Oxenfree came out before the first season of Stranger Things, and yet the two coincidentally have a lot in common . Heavy 80s-inspired synth music composed by scntfc, for its part, highlights some truly engrossing sci-fi horror that revolves around – you guessed it – a group of teenagers stranded on an island. The story involves a handful of uniquely written characters, namely main character Alex, along with his stoner friend Ren, his new stepbrother Jonas, his brother's ex-girlfriend Michael, Clarissa, and her best friend Nona. , whom Ren happens to be in love with. The plot is explained through hip speech dialogues, much like Life is Strange or modern Telltale games, and it offers five different endings depending on your choices. Today's Best Oxenfree Deals

Fire watch

Image Credit: Campo Santo (Image Credit: Campo Santo) Exploring surreal wilderness seems to be the trend these days - and not just in real life. Developer Campo Santo's debut Firewatch only serves to prolong it in games. In the 1989 Wyoming desert, you play as Henry, a fire watcher who is all alone in the woods after exploring something strange in the distance. That is, except for your partner on the other line of a walkie-talkie: Delilah. She is your only point of contact when exploring the desert. Will you come back alive? Will the decisions you make help or hurt the relationship with your only lifeline to the outside world, your boss? But don't worry about those questions just yet - as with any adventure in the great outdoors, take the time to appreciate those forest landscapes first! Today's best Firewatch deals

Rust

Image Credit: Facepunch Studios (Image credit: Facepunch Studios) Rust is one of the most successful indie titles - not to mention one of the best indie games - of recent times. By the end of 2015, it had sold over 3 million copies. That's not too shabby considering it wasn't even finished - the game has been on Steam's early access system since its release in December 2013. It seems like people can't get enough of The Z-Day inspired survival sim sees you using your wits and bearings to survive its harsh open world with nothing but a rock…at least, at first. After gathering the resources you need to build a house and weapons to fend off attackers (other online players, in other words), Rust gets progressively more intense as you defend your growing base - or attempt to rape others.

Overcooked 2

Image Credit: Ghost Town Games (Image Credit: Ghost Town Games) Fans of the original Overcooked won't be disappointed with its second installment in British indie game developer Team17's chaotic couch co-op series. This time around, your mission is to defeat the 'Un-Bread' (zombie pastries) who have taken over the Onion Kingdom, battling brand new recipes including sushi, pizza and burgers in increasingly chaotic kitchens with up to three other people. . To add to the frenetic fun, you must deal with obstacles, including random fires, collapsing floors, and interfering bystanders, while sending your commands to the pass in time. Things get complicated incredibly quickly. Relationships, friendships, and family ties will be tested as you work together to finish your recipes on time. Overcooked 2 is a fun and challenging couch co-op game that will really make you understand the meaning of “too many cooks spoil the broth” and well deserves a spot on our best indie games list. Today's Best Overcooked 2 Deals Overcooked! 2 - PlayStation 4

FOAM

Image Credit: Gamepires (Image credit: Gamepires) The natural progression of survival games, SCUM takes what its predecessors like Rust and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds have both achieved, only better by repeating impressively. It offers a unique twist, combining the frenetic gameplay of battle royale games with the slow, thoughtful tactics of a survival sim. SCUM, unlike other similar games, is however very heavy on the simulation side. You shouldn't expect to run with guns because you'll tire quickly (just like you would if you tried to run outside in person with a ton of stuff in your backpack). But, if heavy statistic systems is something your into, this might be one of the best indie games for you. It's like spreadsheets with a physics engine. Just don't go in expecting a polished experience, not for now. However, developer Croteam promises to add more features over time, and as they're backed by Devolver, you can trust that the game is going to shape up into something great.

Le retour de l'Obra Dinn

Image Credit: Lucas Pope (Image credit: Lucas Pope) Every so often, there’s a game that perfectly balances aesthetic, gameplay and narrative – where everything feels like it just fits like puzzle pieces. The best indie games always excel at this, and Return of the Obra Dinn is the epitome of that. A mystery taking place on a derelict ship, your mission is to figure out how the crew of this lost ship died, disappeared or worse. The entire game has this old-school visual styling that, combining it with the simple controls and gameplay technique that make it feel like a nostalgic sort of adventure. Right from the settings menu, you’ll get to choose what kind of monitor you’d like to emulate – we picked an old school Macintosh option – that should give you an idea of the type of retro revivalism on offer here. Critical thinking, exploration and a ton of reading is essential in Return of the Obra Dinn. If that all sounds appealing to you, and you’re happy with retro aesthetics, you will love this game. In fact, it’s one of the best indie games in a season marked with AAA decadence. Today's best Return of the Obra Dinn deals

parkitect

Image Credit: Texel Raptor (Image credit: Texel Raptor) If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spent hundreds of hours playing Roller Coaster Tycoon during your childhood. These days, while there have been plenty of amusement park simulators over the last few years, they’ve never quite hit that spot. That is, until Parkitect. Parkitect might just be the closest we have to those early aughts park simulators currently, and we’re absolutely in love. From the cartoonish art style to the realistic simulation and Steam Workshop integration, Parkitect is one of the best indie games 2019 has to offer. Today's best Parkitect deals

Flower

Image Credit: Annapurina Interactive (Image credit: Annapurina Interactive) For years, thatgamecompany has been behind some of the best indie games on the market, but most of them had been exclusive to PlayStation. One such game was Flower. Serving as a kind of a precursor to the beloved Journey, Flower puts you in command of a flower petal, surfing through the wind. You’ll activate different colors of flower beds to affect the environment, which will also get you different colored petals, until you have an entire trail of color surfing the wind. It’s an incredibly relaxing and creative experience, which also gives you an insight on the industrial world we all find ourselves living in. Trust us, give it a shot as it’s one of the best – not to mention, most legendary – indie games ever. Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas, Joe Osborne, Kane Fulton and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.