The Best Indie Games To Play in 2023

Triple-A games are, of course, the pride of the gaming industry. However, if you limit yourself to playing those multi-million budget games only, you’re missing out on a lot of amazing titles that are very much worth your time. For decades, indie games have been a fan favorite of many gamers, and that’s for good reason.

There are a ton of amazing indie games on the market right now. While these games are made with a minimal budget, they are far from low quality. From great stories to amazing gameplay, these best indie games to play are definitely worth your time and money. Budget-wise, these games are more affordable than those AAA games.

Dead Cells is one of the best, if not the best, indie games right now. The game is a call back to roguelikes, and if you’re a fan of that genre, you’ll feel right at home here.

Dead Cells is a mix of various genres including roguelikes, side-scrollers, and Metroidvanias. Since launching in 2017, the game has been an instant classic and it has been dubbed as the best indie game currently. The game has a lot going for it including a simple but interesting story, action-packed gameplay, and a ton of replay value. With Dead Cells, you’ll have a ton of hours of game time on your hands at a very considerable price.

The gameplay of Dead Cells is complex, so we’ll walk you through it.  Your character in Dead Cells is known as the Prisoner. Your goal is to explore the ever-changing castle, kill its guardians, and make your way out. Along the way, you’ll gain access to a variety of weapons, skills, and stat upgrades for the prisoner. However, if you die, you’ll lose all of your progress, including the weapons you’ve collected along the way.

Due to its roguelike nature, you can play Dead Cells for a hundred hours and still discover new things. The game has received numerous content updates since its launch. The most recent one brought in a new level dedicated to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. This means that the game has a lot in store for you even if you’re just getting it now. There could be more content drops in the future, so you could still get something new.

Dead Cells makes it on this list as it has a ton of replay value. It’s a tough contender for an indie game, and it’s worth every hour you spend on it. 

Pros

• Amazing gameplay
• Long replay value
• Tons of extra free content

Cons

• Can be difficult

Specification

• Price $33.99
• Type of item Video Game
• Rated Teen
• Platforms PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Android, iOS

Hades was Game of the Year in 2020, and it’s easy to see why. From the developers of other indie hits like Bastion and Transistor. Hades were in development and early access for a long time. When it launched, the results were nothing short of spectacular.

The game puts you in the shoes of Zagreus, son of Hades. The goal is to make it out of the underworld by going through its various stages. However, it’s not going to be an easy journey as Hades and his allies will do anything to stop Zagreus from achieving his goal. This simple premise led to the creation of one of the best indie experiences. Hades is a rogue-like hack and slasher that sees you trying repeatedly to get through the Underworld alive. The game gives a lot of amazing replay value, as well as an intense amount of challenge that will be enough to keep you busy for a long time.

As Zagreus, you’ll have a selection of amazing abilities and weapons to choose from. What you choose to fight with completely depends on your playstyle. Aside from those weapons, Hades can also get help from a wide selection of Greek Gods like Aphrodite, Zeus, Apollo, and more. Each god will give you specific upgrades to make the journey easier. This is part of what makes the game extra fun as you get to play with a good selection of builds for Zagreus. You can even try out a variety of builds with each playthrough and each of them will feel different from the others thanks to the wide variations of passive abilities you can get.

What makes Hades such a great game is the level of difficulty the game provides you. Although one of the main selling points is the replayability of the title, it’s still fun to experience the challenge that the game has to offer. The game’s bosses are certainly something to behold as they will push your knowledge of the game and the combat system to its limits. The game will force you to use all of the resources you have in your arsenal to help Zagreus get out of the Underworld and out of the clutches of his father. There’s a reason this game won Game of the Year, and that’s because it’s fun, well-made, and very addicting.

Hades is set to get a sequel soon. The game will not have Zagreus but instead, will focus on Melinoe as she makes her way out of the Underworld too. It would be wise to catch up to the lore by enjoying Hades now.

Pros

• High replay value
• Fast-paced combat

Cons

• Can be too challenging

Specification

• Price $39.99
• Type of item Video Game
• Rated Teen
• Platforms Nintendo Switch

If you’re going to want your kids to enjoy a fun-filled game with a ton of replay value and fun times ahead, then you might want to get Overcooked. It might be a simple title but it will bring all the laughs that your family needs in a single playthrough.

Overcooked is a fun and engaging multiplayer game that can be played by up to 4 players. On the Nintendo Switch, all of those players can enjoy the game via the Joy-Cons, so everyone else can join in on the fun. Couch co-op and online multiplayer are available in the game but trust us when we say that Overcooked is best played alongside your friends and family. Aside from the fact that it will make things easier on your end, playing together will make the game more fun too as you get to witness the chaos and funny moments that this simple game can bring to the table. Now, what is Overcooked and why is it enjoyed by so many people worldwide?

In Overcooked, you and up to three others are tasked with managing a kitchen. This task involves prepping ingredients, washing the dishes, cooking the dishes, and then serving everything up to the hungry customers. It might sound simple enough, but the game is actually quite complex and challenging. It’s one of the most challenging cooperative games out there as you’re going to need to work well together to make sure that each of the orders is carried out on time. To make matters worse, you’re going to be cooking in extreme settings such as a hot air balloon, a magician’s laboratory, on top of a raging river, and much more.

If you want the complete package, make sure that you’re getting the Overcooked 1 + 2 package. Along with both games, you’re also getting all of the DLCs that the game comes with. This will leave you with hours upon hours of game time for you and your family to enjoy. When playing Overcooked, make sure you pack a lot of patience with you as the game will push you and all who play it to your limits. Despite the childish appeal, Overcooked is actually very challenging and requires precise teamwork and cooperation. With so many levels to choose from, you’re going to be enjoying Overcooked for a long time.

Pros

• Great for the family
• Fun and addictive
• Tons of content

Cons

• Can be too challenging

Specification

• Price $32.99
• Type of item Video Game
• Rated Everyone
• Platforms Nintendo