I am not making this list because indie games are “lesser” than AAA games, so they need to be segregated into their own category.
I am making this list because indie games are often more remarkable than their AAA counterparts, and they deserve to be highlighted for that.
Almost all of the most unique experiences that I have each and every year from video games come from the indie scene. And these are all games done with small teams and small budgets. While layoffs are far too common in the AAA space, it’s indie developers that often put themselves out there even more. They are the ones that truly risk it all for a dream. And that deserves to be commended in an extra way.
Despite the fact that I am posting my top 10 indie games of the year, this is not the end of my end of year indie coverage. Indies will be in my top 10 games of 2024 and will also be prominent in my awards as well. Because simply, they have earned those honors in every single case.
With that, here are my top 10 indie games of 2024!
When possible, I linked my full review in the title as well.
I imagine this is one of the lower rankings of this game you’ll see from someone who finished it. I’ve seen this in several peoples’ top 10 overall games of the year, and I’ve seen people actually list it as their Game of the Year. There is real passion behind 1000xResist.
And I had a pretty similar passion about halfway through the game. I was absolutely in love with both the world and the storytelling. The game challenges you to understand it, but then rewards you greatly for putting in the work to do so. From there, the plot goes in a different direction around the halfway point, and while I still liked it, I just wasn’t as in love as I was with it early on. But I still had a great time with this game overall.
The concept and world are incredibly interesting. I love how the game slowly doles out one revelation after another. And there are some pretty compelling characters and surprisingly good voice acting to go with it. I don’t think 1000xResist will click for everyone, but it’s definitely a game you should try if you like narrative sci-fi games.
Neva is another artistic masterpiece from Nomada Studios. Much like their first game, Gris, this is the rare indie game that has the juice to even stand with some massive budget AAA games for its art direction and overall graphics. The watercolor style is beautiful, as is the story.
Neva also adds in some action combat to its puzzle solving, which is a big shift from Gris. Early on, I felt like this might be a mistake, but as the game goes on, it starts to blend its elements together in wonderful ways that feel like a real evolution for the studio.
Also, if you like to cry, this game might just have you covered. Get through the first 90 minutes or so, and you should be in for a fantastic ride.
8. UFO 50
UFO 50 might be the most remarkable game on this list. This is actually 50 games. UFO 50 is a compilation of games from fictional developer “UFOsoft” during the 1980s. There are puzzle games, action games, platformers, RPGs, etc. There is something for everyone here. There are even sequels and spinoffs and little descriptions that give you backstories into the history of the fake developer. It feels like a clever peek into the history of video games as well.
While almost all of these games feel a bit ahead of their time in various ways, they are also grounded in a lot of principles from the 1980s. At times, this can be jarring, but it’s still a really cool experience.
I have played about half of the games as of this writing, and I hope to play more down the road. All I can say is that if you have ever enjoyed any games from the NES era, you should be able to find something that makes you happy here.
Animal Well is one of the most unique and interesting Metroidvanias I have ever played. This is a pure puzzle game with next to no handholding. The game barely tells you where to go, and secrets are tucked everywhere. So there is a lot of exploring to be done.
Despite the lack of handholding, I was constantly impressed by how intuitive Animal Well was. The main tools you use to solve puzzles are all childhood toys. So you often can solve puzzles by just using the toys the way you would expect to use them. Animal Well also has a tremendous and distinct visual style that adds nicely to everything else it does. While there can be a few frustrating moments, and I hate the way the game uses fast travel, this is still one of the coolest experiences I had this year.
6. Nine Sols
This is the only game on the list that I haven’t finished yet (I’m about 25% of the way through it), but it has quickly left such a strong impression that I feel confident that it won’t fall off for me (in fact, there is potential for it to go higher).
Nine Sols is an action-oriented Metroidvania. It could even be called a 2D Sekiro in many ways. The combat just absolutely cooks here. It has a really satisfying parry mechanic and lots of nice enemy variety. Enemy attacks are telegraphed enough where the game never feels unfair, even though it is quite difficult on the “normal” difficulty setting. Boss fights are intense, but once again, they still feel fair.
Nine Sols is also brought to another level by a fantastic story, which is a rare thing from just about any Metroidvania. I get as excited for its cutscenes as I do for any tough boss fight. It also excels with its art direction. This is just an absolute gem, and I’m excited to dive in even more.
I had a blast with the first game in this series, Case of the Golden Idol, so I was extremely pumped to dive into this one, and it didn’t disappoint.
Rise of the Golden Idol takes the point and click detective gameplay from the first game and polishes it up in several ways. The UI is cleaner, as are the actual graphics. This enhances the detective work quite a bit. I love that the game doesn’t hold your hand at all, and despite how hard it can be, I really only get frustrated a few times. That is not easy to pull off.
And much like the first game, there is a tremendous story that also pulls all of the cases together. While this game is a bit niche, I still think it deserves far more attention.
In recent years, I have gotten much better at not abandoning games, even if I’m not in love with them at first.
This newfound skill was massive for me when it came to Harold Halibut. I struggled to get through the first 4-5 hours of the game. The plot felt unnecessarily slow, and trekking through the same areas over and over had me considering putting the game down for good. But I noticed small things, even when I was frustrated. I could tell a lot of love and care had been put into the game. There were a few genuinely funny and heartfelt moments. And of course, the claymation art design was really unique and striking.
Then, the game finally hit a pivotal moment, and I was completely invested the rest of the way. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the finish. The ending is easily one of the video game moments that I have thought the most about this year. I am so glad that I stuck with this game, and if you decide to play it, make sure to remember that as you push through the early hours.
One of my favorite games of all time is Slay The Spire. It was my personal game of the year in 2019. I could not stop playing that game for months.
While I loved it, it has now been 5 years since I played it. If I were to pick it up tomorrow, I would have to essentially start from scratch. I’d be a newbie all over again.
The amazing thing about Balatro is that if I were in the same situation, I’d still be able to pick it up and play it immediately like a pro. This is the most accessible roguelike card game of all time. If you have any base knowledge of how poker hands work, you will pretty much know exactly what you are doing from the first moment. It’s amazing how I was able to pick this game up at nearly a full sprint off the jump.
It also adds in just enough depth to keep things interesting. Even if it’s a bit different from the usual deck builder, you still have to make some tough calls on how to use your resources in between each match.
There is so much content here, I can see how some people have literally been playing this all year, including with the somewhat new phone app. I had some minor gripes that had me feeling content after 40 hours or so, which is why this isn’t #1, but I still feel tempted to pick it up on occasion. I will probably give in to that temptation eventually, as Balatro is that damn good.
Crypt Custodian may be #2 on this particular list, but it is #1 in something far more special. This is the most I have ever emotionally connected with a video game.
Crypt Custodian is a Metroidvania about a cat. This cat has died tragically and is now in the afterlife. It gets sentenced to being a custodian in the afterlife, which is a very funny bit. You even use the same broom you clean with as a weapon.
It doesn’t take long for the cat to decide to forgo his cleaning duties to go on a quest. The cat is searching for a mirror that would allow him to visit his former caretakers from time to time. It’s sad, but also quite quirky and funny, as you can probably tell.
I booted this game up right around when I made the difficult decision that my dog would have to cross the rainbow bridge soon. I played this game about a pet who had died with him sleeping in my lap for several nights in a row.
When he passed away, this was the first game I booted up after. And I don’t think I played one other game until I reached the finish line. The sad mood and vibe just fit how I was feeling at that moment. I wasn’t in the mood to play something super upbeat or over the top at that point. But the game being funny also helped lighten things in a way that only humor coming from a sad place can. I can honestly say that this game helped me heal in a tough moment, and man, I’ll never forget what it did for me. I’ve never said that about a video game.
But I was also all in because this is a damn fun game to play as well. The combat is crunchy and fast-paced, with cool bullet hell elements added in that make it feel like something different. There is some very solid platforming as well. The Metroidvania elements are also all on point, from a great map to generous fast travel to a metric ton of very rewarding secrets to find. I feel like solo developer Kyle Thompson has mastered the art of Metroidvania structure in a way that few other developers have. This is the second game from him to make a top 10 game of the year list for me. Islets did so in 2022. That just shows that despite my emotional connection with the game, I do not feel like I am overrating the gameplay at all. This game has it all. It unfortunately just had to go toe to toe with a top 5 indie game of all time for me, and I don’t quite have it at that level from a gameplay perspective.
I love when a developer manages to mix two genres in a way that I would have never thought of. Microbird Games pulled off this feat for me when they announced Dungeons of Hinterberg, a Zelda styled game with Persona-esque social link elements. It’s a union that blends together perfectly.
It helps that each of those elements is done so well. The dungeons, in particular, rival the puzzle solving in classic Zelda games for me. They are just tricky enough to keep you thinking, but usually can be figured out relatively quickly. This keeps the game flowing in such a nice way. While the combat isn’t perfect, I also found it to be pretty fun.
Exploring the overworld is a blast and very rewarding. The social links are pretty cool, and explore some interesting themes that relate a lot to what it’s like in a resort town. I’ve often wondered what life is like for those who live in tourist destinations. It has to be strange being in a “paradise” where you are generally outnumbered by people who don’t live there. The game explores all the complexities surrounding this deftly.
The story and writing are also nice. I spent more time in this photo mode than almost any other game this year because the art direction is consistently striking. And the music is great. This game just doesn’t miss in almost any way, which is why it is my clear indie Game of the Year, despite having some strong opposition.
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for a whole lot more Game of the Year coverage in the coming weeks!
Big Nerd Gaming 
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