Best indie games of 2023: games you missed out on this year

Not everything in 2023 had to be a huge 3D open world

Author:
Georgina Young, Stoyan Ovcharov, Ryan Woodrow and Marco Wutz
Publish date:
Dec 26, 2023 9:00 AM EST

Throughout the year, games have been released, and every time, people say what an amazing year 2023 is in terms of video games. Without too much thought, pretty much any gamer can list off ten games that could easily fight for Game of the Year, making this year’s decisions the most difficult since 1998. This means that more amazing games than usual are going to be looked over when it comes to end-of-the-year lists, and that just doesn’t seem right to us.

In honor of how incredible this year has been, we’ve rounded up all of the games we loved this year that likely won’t make it onto people’s Game of the Year lists due to just how stacked 2023 has been. They are all still likely someone’s favorite, but with Tears of the Kingdom battling Baldur’s Gate 3 for attention, it’s been easy to overlook some of these hidden gems. Here’s the games we’ve played this year that you should definitely check out.

Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars will likely make a number of ‘Best Indies’ lists, but we don’t expect it to claim a place for best game overall. Despite that, it shouldn't be overlooked. A throwback to old-school JRPGs like Chrono Trigger, but with modern systems like the removal of grinding. It has a charming cast of characters, and a big beefy post-game, that’s perfect for older fans of the genre, and welcoming for new blood. Just give yourself a few hours to be pleasantly surprised.

Jusant

You, the person reading this, like Ico. I know you like Ico because you are reading a list about indie games, and because everyone likes Ico. Jusant gives the vibes of Ico while also offering the themes of overcoming adversity by climbing a huge mountain like Celeste. Every time you look down over the landscape you see just how far you’ve come and each challenging step upwards all seems worth it.

Paranormasight

Parnormasight screenshot — Paranormasight
Square Enix

Coming out in the early half of the year, it feels like everyone has already forgotten about Paranormasight. However, this was one of the best surprises of the year, bringing an exciting murder mystery horror game that plays with the player’s expectations. Switching between timelines and protagonists in order to figure out the path forward, it marries tense detective work and paranormal horror in an unexpected way, and if played, will stick with you until the end of next year.

Chants of Sennaar

One of the most original games I’ve ever played, in Chants of Sennaar you play the role of a translator making their way up a tower. You will encounter different peoples on the tower who each have their own language. You learn each language and then work as a moderator between the different tribes. An amazing game for showing just how fun language learning can be, like Duolingo if it was actually good.

Cassette Beasts

When Cassette Beasts came out, it was seen as the next Pokémon clone, but it’s so much more than that. While it has the similar setup of collectible beasts that you use to battle, it mixes up the formula with forced double battles, and the fact that you can fight the wielder along with the beasts. It has some unique mechanics and status conditions that allow for great synergy between attacks. It is also filled with sidequests and things to do, which will keep you entertained for hours.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly

Coffee Talk Episode 1 & 2 - Complete Series — Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly
Toge Productions

The original game launched in 2020, but the second half was only released in the first half of this year. Best played back-to-back, each episode offers a bite-size story based on the customers to your café, while also broadening your repertoire of hot drinks. There are multiple endings and scenarios based on your actions, and as a sucker for a secret ending, I loved this one.

Dave the Diver

Dave the Diver is a wholesome adventure that mixes up exploration and fishing with some light restaurant management elements. While technically not an indie, as it's developed by Mintrocket, a subsidiary of publisher Nexon, the game gives off immaculate indie vibes that go beyond its pixel art style. Its unusual genre blend and core gameplay loop may sound boring and repetitive, but thanks to the constant flow of new mechanics and content the game throws at you, it feels fresh and rewarding until the very end.

Against the Storm

Against the Storm mixes classic and satisfying city-builder gameplay with roguelike elements to create a truly unique experience that has won the hearts and minds of strategy game fans everywhere. Clad in a creative fantasy aesthetic the developers call “rainpunk”, and focusing on what’s usually the most interesting and dynamic phase of any city-building game – the foundation period – Against the Storm never overstays its welcome, allowing players to easily “finish” a city in one sitting. Against the Storm is a textbook example of how to use Early Access and how to electrify today’s strategy game audience without sacrificing challenge and complexity on the altar of simplification.

Backpack Hero

Given how crowded the market has become, it takes a lot for me to sit up and notice a truly great indie roguelike, but Backpack Hero tickles my brain in just the right way. While it may not look like it, it’s secretly a deck-builder, as you gather equipment to fill your slowly-expanding backpack to fight increasingly tough creatures in the dungeons.

Every battle is a puzzle as you decide how to spend your limited energy each turn, and then after the battle you have a lot to think about too, as you need to decide what new slots to open up in your backpack and which items should fill your limited space. Plus, the story mode gives you plenty of unique starting item sets that force you to play in unique ways to ensure that it never gets old.