There’s something for everyone in our look at the best indie games on PC, including engrossing roguelikes, gorgeous puzzlers, and challenging platformers
Deciding on the very best indie games on PC is a task that involves some painful exclusion. The great indie boom triggered by digital distribution a decade ago turned out to be more of a Big Bang, firing small-team development into a plethora of directions that now defy simple categorisation. The sheer volume is intimidating, so we have plenty to choose from when compiling our list of the best indie games. Perhaps too much.
But we should take stock, from time to time, to appreciate everything publisher-less development has given us. Some of the games listed below were built in a weekend by first-time coders, while others were crafted by former triple-A creators who’ve instilled their independent work with the same technical standards. They barely have anything in common but a healthy dose of idiosyncrasy and ideas that make Steam worth spelunking.
So what is our final shortlist of the finest indies around? It’s got everything, from puzzle games to narrative wonders, through pixelart games and the most gorgeous, graphically detailed gems. You’re going to want to play each and every one.
The best indie games 2022 are:
Norco
This adventure game takes place in the real town of Norco, Louisiana as a search for your missing brother quickly spirals into a mystery that spans generations. Akin to games like Kentucky Route Zero and Beneath a Steel Sky, Norco’s stand out pixel art and powerful themes of capitalism, climate change, and the impact of our choices in the future make this one of best story games on PC.
As with most point and click games, the gameplay isn’t challenging, and the real adventure is experiencing the story through narration that appears on a side bar where you can determine your next move and find out more about your surroundings, whether that’s interacting with objects or talking to the characters you meet along the way.
Terraria
This sandbox game hasn’t slowed in popularity since it arrived as the ‘2D Minecraft’ back in 2011. Mainly as you’re never short of something to do is this spellbinding indie game that you can make your own through setting objectives, such as building Terraria houses, fighting one of the many Terraria bosses, or even exploring the depths of the deadly dungeons.
Completing goals unlocks NPCs and you essentially build your own village to house them, with each NPC providing different benefits, such as a Wizard for potions or a Nurse for healing. If you reach the end, no problem, there’s an expert level that adds even more bosses, enemies, biomes, and items. Though Terraria certainly isn’t as relaxing as its blocky comparison, you can always try a spot of Terraria fishing to ease you in.
The Binding of Isaac Rebirth
A randomly generated action RPG with roguelike elements, The Binding of Isaac Rebirth is the sequel to the first game, which has the same premise. The game follows Isaac through an unknown world, as he makes a quick escape into a trap door hidden in his bedroom to flee his devout Christian mother hellbent on sacrificing him.
As Isaac, you acquire superhuman abilities and find hidden treasure as you fight off droves of enemies, discover secrets, and hopefully escape to safety. The maze of rooms and variations to creatures make this a tough game, but it’s worth scrappily making your way to the multiple endings the game has to offer.
Wildermyth
If you’ve ever wanted to play through a tabletop roleplaying campaign with friends without needing a dungeon master to craft your story, Wildermyth is the perfect solution. As your unique cohort of heroes set out into the world, they encounter all sorts of adventures that shape their identity and personal narrative – and as each story is procedurally generated, you end up playing through a tale that’s totally unique.
Your characters age, fall in love, and eventually die, but you can keep their legacies alive in subsequent playthroughs. It’s a storytelling marvel, with beautiful papercraft art and endless replayability.
