Another year has gone by that was filled with some absolutely solid releases in the “AAA” space, but more importantly some great games in the indie scene. Last year, I wanted to highlight some of the more overlooked indie games due in large part to the conversation of what does or doesn’t make an indie game.
This year, however, with all the turmoil we’ve experienced in the “AAA” industry, I really wanted to keep the tradition going, because the indie scene truly may be our last stronghold of fun and creativity. To that end, here’s my list of impressive indie games—and a few that we may have overlooked—and five more to watch out for in the new year.
Top 5 Indies of 2024
Beastieball
I mentioned it when I got a chance to preview Beastieball, but I was ready to fall in love with it for a number of reasons. Every one of Greg Lobanov/Wishes Unlimited’s games has been incredibly creative, incredibly thoughtful and above all incredibly fun. Seeing these guys try their hand at Pokémon was definitely bold, but if anyone could pull it off, it would’ve been them. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was just how much Beastieball was going to hook me. A mashup of Pokémon and volleyball?
It was so simple on paper, and it worked so well. Not only did Wishes Unlimited create a really unique collection of Beasties to partner up with, but the game mechanics made the game so incredibly fun. There’s a deep level of strategy that’s required to really succeed and so many distinct mechanics to make the game incredibly deep. I’ve been feeling like the Pokémon franchise needed a shake-up for a while and Beastieball feels exactly like that kind of shake-up!
Penny’s Big Breakaway
I thought for sure that Penny’s Big Breakaway was going to be the smash Indie hit of the year. Developed by the same team that made what was debatably the best, if not the most beloved Sonic the Hedgehog game of the last decade? That had to have some staying power, right? But it really seemed like the conversation about Penny’s Big Breakaway died out really quickly—I thought for sure I’d see people comparing runs and sharing speed running tips for months.
I guess it’s just the circumstance that releasing at the start of the year, you’re doomed to get buried by every other release further down the road. But Penny’s Big Breakaway definitely deserved to be remembered for a bit longer, not just for its focus on fast and fluid movement, but also for being an incredibly well-crafted and tightly designed throwback to the Dreamcast era of 3D platformers.
Tiny Glade
You may recall I mentioned this in my list from last year, but I was genuinely surprised to see this one fly under the radar after I expressly told everyone to keep an eye out for it. Tiny Glade was an incredibly impressive, incredibly intuitive cottage building Cozy Game that offered players a lot of creative freedom and virtually no stress—with the game’s engine able to intuit small touches and design elements based on how you laid things out.
And with the Cozy Game scene absolutely exploding this year, it was really surprising to me that not many people talked about it, and it really quickly fell off the radar. Maybe it was because it was released in September alongside massive games like ASTRO BOT, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and The Plucky Squire, that it was somewhat overlooked, but as we enter an unknowably tumultuous new year, Tiny Glade’s laid back cottage and castle building gameplay might be exactly what players need to unwind.
Victory Heat Rally
I had been keeping my eye on this one ever since the trailer happened across my YouTube feed, especially after I tried the demo. Victory Heat Rally initially caught my attention with its old-school aesthetic, harkening back to the days of old-school arcade racers like Outrun, Top Racer or even F-Zero. But what really sets it apart is its incredibly tight controls and primary gameplay conceit of focusing on Mario Kart-style drifting for big speed boosts.
It was one of the most fun racing games I’ve played in a long time, and it was a shame to me that almost no one talked about it—with all of eight critical reviews on OpenCritic. But with an overabundance of style, charm and genuinely captivating gameplay fans of fast-paced racing games definitely need to check this one out! Also, the soundtrack absolutely slaps.
UFO 50
This was one that was a genuine shock to both discover and realize no one was really talking about—I had only heard about it, once again, from videogamedunkey and some game developers I really respect. But you’d really think more people would’ve been talking about a game styled after those “50 Games in One” cartridges, especially after the notoriety of Action 52. However, Mossmouth thought, “What if we made one of those, but…you know, good?”
UFO 50 is one of the most robust experiences you could ever hope to have with a video game. There’s so much creativity, variety and ingenuity on display it’s honestly staggering. You can go from playing an old-school dungeon crawler to Splatoon but with race cars. You can start playing a turn-based strategy about killing alien bugs, to a fully realized JRPG. UFO 50 is like if someone took all the best ideas from a Game Jam and crammed them into one game. It’s like the promise of those “50 Games in One” cartridges fully realized and absolutely worth the time.
Top 5 Most Anticipated Indies In 2025
Ruffy and the Riverside
Ruff and the Riverside was one of those games that initially caught my attention for its distinct art style. Recently, I’ve really come to appreciate games that utilize 2D characters in 3D worlds—games like Tinykin and Demon Turf. However, Ruff and the Riverside really hooked me with its unique gameplay conceit where the titular character can magically take the texture (or element) from one object and apply it to another. It’s shaping up to create a lot of really unique platforming and gameplay challenges. While this indie doesn’t have an official release date, it’s scheduled for a Q1 2025 release.
Demonschool
Demonschool caught my eye after an email about it landed in my inbox a little before Halloween. Looking like a mix of stylish turn-based strategy and unique social elements, what particularly interested me was its mix of highly detailed pixel art and blocky, almost PlayStation X-era 3D. I was hoping I would’ve had a chance to review it, but it seemed that development got pushed back a little. Nevertheless, it’s tentatively scheduled for a Q1 2025 release and I cannot wait.
Demon Tides
As a follow-up to the aforementioned and much beloved indie Demon Turf, Demon Tides looks to expand on its predecessor’s gameplay in almost every way. Shifting from its 2D characters in 3D environments to a fully 3D game, Demon Turf looks faster, more fluid and way more intense than ever. Furthermore, rather than segment its game into individual levels, the game is looking to have more of a Super Mario Galaxy styled world—with big open areas to platform around in segmented into individual islands. While there’s no official release date yet, Demon Turf is scheduled for a 2025 release.
Trigger Treat
I’ve been keeping my eye on this one for a little while now since, as you may well know, I genuinely love twin-stick shooters. Trigger Treat started development back in 2015 and after undergoing a radical overhaul, is finally aiming to release on Halloween of 2025. What’s so fun about this one is its specific focus on Halloween, which the developers—Wan Wan Games—say will be part of a much deeper story. Inspired by games like Carnevil and Smash TV, featuring a unique cast of spooky characters and a hand-drawn aesthetic Trigger Treat is looking to make this Halloween as action-packed as it is spooky.
Puff Palls: Island Skies
Since I am always on the lookout for adorable indies and life-sim games, every now and again the Algorithm blesses me with a trailer for something I might be interested in. Puff Pals: Island Skies certainly intrigued me as something that was trying less to be Animal Crossing, and trying a bit harder to be its own thing. Looking a bit more like a proper Farming Sim where the villagers are adorable living plushies, Puff Pals: Island Skies will offer players a robust level of gameplay and some pretty staggering customization options. Despite a few ups and downs in development, the game is still on track for a 2025 release, so keep an eye out for it!
