What is your favorite indie game?

Submitted ⁨⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Elevator7009@lemmy.zip⁩ to ⁨games@lemmy.world⁩

Given the swathes of posts about bad behavior from big companies, I figure we could counterbalance that with some positivity about stuff the smaller guys made that often costs us less too.

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mohab@piefed.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Crimzon Clover: World EXplosion. Top 3 shmups of all-time and best shmup on Steam, IMO.

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- Elevator7009@lemmy.zip ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  You might like !shmups@lemmus.org
  
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TipRing@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Absolute favorite is Outer Wilds. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I can’t experience it again. A true masterpiece of a game.

After that, probably Noita for sheer insanity. Deeply unfair, but getting a god-run going is that much sweeter. It took me ~100 hours to beat it the first time, now I can consistently win if I try but I’m addicted to doing stupid things to see what happens.

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morbitm@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Stardew Valley

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yoriaiko@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Anything of Soldak - store.steampowered.com/franchise/soldak/ : 2 series - space shooters Drox and hack n slash Dins - Super coarse graphics, action, fighting, but their living worlds, like nowhere else. No other game where worlds freely grow based on player actions. Did You ever left main quest for exploration, lvling up or side games, oh well, here, world will not allow You to, as enemies won’t stay idle or wait for You, they do their business.

Orb of Creation - store.steampowered.com/app/…/Orb_of_Creation/ Semi-clicker (intense clicker, not much of idle) and immersive mage simulator, where You don’t make Your mage-avatar, but are the mage. Still beta, but already big.

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Katana314@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I suppose I’ve plugged it recently, but Another Crab’s Treasure.

It opens pretty plainly as an ocean-based Soulslike parody with a simple story premise and some self-subverting humor in the dialog with other crabs. As you go on though, every 20th conversation becomes really pointed and real-world-connecting, going beyond just “pollution bad”. It’s not quite Spec Ops: The Line, but it at least has something to say about society.

The combat is frustrating but addictive, much like Souls games - and it’s okay with handing off a number of allowances like accessibility modes and tip systems. It’s even helpful that, if I die to a glitch or something bogus, I can actually just choose to re-obtain my microplastics (souls) through a menu.

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monotremata@lemmy.ca ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Sticking only to ones I haven’t seen mentioned:

Tandis : geometry puzzler

Gateways : a 2d portal-style puzzler

Elliot Quest : pixel adventure

Phoenotopia Awakening : also a pixel adventure, had trouble with the final boss but the rest is great

Wuppo : flash-animation-style comedy adventure

Alba : sweet game about a girl who loves wildlife

Salt and Sanctuary : 2d soulslike

Legend of Grimrock : tile-based first person dungeon crawler (“dungeon master” spiritual successor)

A Short Hike (really short but amazing exploration game)

Ones I have seen mentioned but can’t bear not to mention:

TIS-100 : the finest of the Zachlikes; a programming puzzle game

Crosscode : 2d adventure with incredibly fine-tuned combat and puzzles

Outer Wilds : fantastic time-loop puzzle

FTL : space adventure “one more run!” game

Slay the Spire : deck-drafting “one more run!” game
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octobob@lemmy.ml ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Factorio, hands down

600 hours and counting. The space age expansion basically quadrupled the content, and is the first time I’ve played the game 100% vanilla with no mods in probably 10 years. Great times.

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underwire212@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Rimworld

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Feathercrown@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Celeste is one of my favorite games period, and it qualifies. Alternatively, if you’re looking for absolutely unhinged strange gameplay made by a programmer rather than a game designer, check out Fractal Block World. It’s pretty fascinating!

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Vedgytones@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Super Daryl Deluxe

That game has one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a game.

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Skwisgaar@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Synthetik is my top steam game with, like, 900 hours.

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ConstantPain@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Magicraft.

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orochi02@feddit.org ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Minecraft (the old one)

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Nefara@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Banished, you can’t get more Indie than just one guy’s passion project.

I don’t know what it is about that game but it really struck a chord with me and I’ve come back to it over and over. It’s my favorite game to play when I’m sick and can’t do anything. It’s relaxing and peaceful and cozy while also being complex and ruthlessly challenging at the same time, so it’s like spinning plates. Seems easy when you get the hang of it but it can all come crashing down if you make a bad enough mistake. It’s spawned some copy cats, and I’ve tried them, but the original just gets me somehow.

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umbraroze@slrpnk.net ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Can’t really add much to all of the great games already mentioned. But I’ll add one, because it was one of the best games I played in recent memory. Chants of Sennaar. Where to even start? Point-and-click adventure/puzzle game that is all about language puzzles. With great visuals and music. Really dig the eurocomics inspired style. I don’t know why, but this game really touched me - maybe it’s because the game is about uniting people in an age of discord.

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SinAdjetivos@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Some I really appreciate that I’m not seeing on this list:

I’m currently enjoying Blue Prince which is a fairly new rogue-like puzzle/mystery game it’s hard to explain without spoiling but it’s worth looking up.

Portals of Phereon is one of my absolute favorites. It’s a fairly deep tactical RPG thing with loads of replayability. It’s kind of like a Pokemon x FF Tactics but with monstergirls and it’s also currently free while it’s in development. Be aware it’s extremely NSFW and horny, which I suspect is the main reason it’s not as popular as some of the others listed (IE rimworld, stardew valley, etc.) however the horny is such a key point to it’s original gameplay and world-building that it wouldn’t be the same without it.

Thea: the awakening is a decent tactical RPG. I love it for it’s original battle mini game, crafting system and world-building. It unfortunately has some balance issues and jankiness that prevents it from being an all time favorite, but it’s definitely one I would encourage at least trying.

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- Katana314@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I was getting into Blue Prince, then I think I got a little annoyed with a puzzle involving a time lock, that claimed you could set it to open at a future date/time and it would stay for one hour. Fun, inventive way to get people to plan ahead.
  
  But no, then I wasted several out of game days planning only to find that it’s referring to in-game time; something that has not plainly existed through any of the other mechanics thus far. I’ll likely get back to it, just think they could’ve chosen the orientation of “big picture” puzzles like that a bit better.
  
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  - SinAdjetivos@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Oh I agree, but that one didn’t seem to bad to me due to the clocks depicting an in-game time that were everywhere. The ones that I almost rage quit on were:
    
    possible spoilers
    - The stupid gallery puzzles with the nonsensical images that you have to creatively interpret to get the initial clues to parse together in insane ways to get the correct answer - the culture of nuance
    
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damdy@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Just looking though some of my higher playtime games, here’s a few I haven’t seen mentioned: (I think they’re all indie or small studio)

Gunfire Reborn - Roguelike fps with infinite replay.

Troubleshooter Abandoned Children - XCOM style battle system with a really really fun way to customize how your character fight. Story is pretty lame though (I ended up skipping it) and it’s pretty grindy.

Thronefall - Pretty challenging base defence.

The last spell - Turn based base defence with lots of different ways to build your characters.

Ratropolis - Roguelike real-time card strategy base defence. Pretty good, although not well balanced at highest difficulties.

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tatterdemalion@programming.dev ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Swapper

Not my actual favorite, but it’s very high on my list, and I didn’t see it posted yet.

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krinks73@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I really liked What Remains is Edith Finch. It was now of an experience and really struck some emotional chords, leaving me write emotional at the end.

Really beautiful and melancholy experience.

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flyhunter@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Check out Tunic. I would recommend going blind.

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- Katana314@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  The soundtrack to Tunic is so moody.
  
  I used a few little hints to help with the “true final boss”, but it was a fantastic reorienting of everything, and was glad by then it got away from traditional combat. I enjoyed the core combat too, although I usually don’t even like Soulslikes.
  
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REDACTED@infosec.pub ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Used to play battlefield 2, BC2 and 3 alot. Then I stopped playing online games and recently started playing “Ravenfield”. It’s succesfully filling the void, there are even battlefield map and some vehicle/heli/jet/tank mods and ignoring the fact that it looks like battlefield heroes (very indie-style graphics), the physics/handling feels pretty close, especially when flying heli

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Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
The vast majority of my favourite games have been listed, many multiple times, so I’m gonna go with some I didn’t see, though I didn’t look exhaustively, here we go:

Horace

Quite a hidden gem in my opinion, almost no one I mention it to has heard of it. 2D platformer with an amazing story and some interesting gimmicks. One of the most surprising and unforgettable indie games I’ve played.

The Messenger

Ninja action-platformer that is way more than it first appears if you stick with it. Hilarious writing, great controls, and amazing music. Genuinely one of my favourite games.

Yoku’s Island Express

Almost entirely unique in it’s idea. It’s a pinball-metroidvania where you’re a postman dung beetle, and it really works. Gorgeous world, super chill vibes, clever puzzles… What metroid prime pinball should have been.

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- monotremata@lemmy.ca ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I liked Horace okay at first, but it definitely gets bastard hard in a hurry.
  
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- stringere@sh.itjust.works ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I’m still stuck in Horace! Such a great game.
  
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MyNameIsAtticus@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
I have a personal soft spot for Doki Doki Literature Club because it got me into programming when i was young, but that’s far more sentimental and to be honest i wouldn’t play it again as an adult really. If i had to pick something functionally though I’d say Project Zomboid. there’s a fuck ton of fun to be made in that, especially with Multiplayer. Even in singleplayer i like to turn on a NPC mod and assemble my own makeshift Walking Dead cast

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macmarkus@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Dyson sphere program is still one of my enduring favorites.

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holowolf@feddit.cl ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Saw someone else out urquan masters, so I’ll put Caves of Qud and Rain World. they both of some of the best pixel art ever, and caves of qud has some the most dynamic story telling in anything I’ve played

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- monotremata@lemmy.ca ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I’m pretty excited about the upcoming “Free Stars: Children of Infinity.” I backed them on Kickstarter.
  
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gmanlikescheese@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Slay The Spire Fury Ori And The Blind Forest

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- Feathercrown@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  
  Fury
  
  Furi? Or is there another indie game also called Fury?
  
  The Furi soundtrack slaps btw
  
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  - gmanlikescheese@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Oh yeah Furi.
    
    I was very tired when I typed this up.
    
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- stringere@sh.itjust.works ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an excellent followup to Blind Forest.
  
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Mateoto@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Undertale

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HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
i’m not sure The Ur-Quan Masters counts as indie

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- holowolf@feddit.cl ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  yes! Such a good game! Amazing art / story
  
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  - HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Dammit now that I’ve thought about it I’m gonna have to stay up and beat it sometime this week aren’t I. Best free game out there
    
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Guidy@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Factorio.

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- Elevator7009@lemmy.zip ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  You might like !factorio@lemmy.world
  
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CaptPretentious@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Dota.

Ok, I know what you’re saying, “But Valve makes Dota2” which, yes, this is true. But the OG game came about from gamers just loving games and making a custom game. I think it’s peak “indie” in it’s origin. Which went off to spawn several clones (League of Legends, Heroes Of Newerth, Heroes Of The Storm, Smite, Pokemon Unite, Paladins, etc.). Dota2 by far has the most hours played of any game.

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- damdy@lemm.ee ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Don’t think I can go back to dota, deadlock is really great though.
  
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