Where To Find the Best Indie Games for Your Platform

By Lucas Coll

As triple-A studios struggle with lackluster sales and layoffs, indie games are more popular than ever. The growth of indie titles is easily one of the most prevalent gaming trends in recent years. Indie titles are often limited to digital distribution platforms, raising the question of where to find them. Look no further: Whether you play on PC, console or a mobile device, we’ll show you where to buy the best indie games, plus throw in some upcoming titles to look forward to.

Where to find indie games for any platform

The best place to find indie games is usually right on your favorite platform. Each console has an official online store:

• The Nintendo Store is the go-to place to find indie games for Switch. (Unfortunately, 3DS games are no longer in the store.)
• The Microsoft Store, formerly the Xbox Marketplace, has indie games for Xbox One and the Xbox Series S/X consoles.
• The PlayStation Store is where you’ll find indie games for PS5 and PS4.
• The Google Play Store and Apple App Store have plenty of mobile indie games you can play on a phone or tablet.

PC gamers have a few places to find the best indie games:

• Valve’s Steam is the most popular PC gaming platform. It’s a great place to find indie titles, including indie games for Mac.
• The Epic Games Store, founded by the company behind “Fortnite,” also gives away free PC games weekly.
• GOG, short for “Good Old Games,” is a great place to find indie games and classic titles unavailable on other platforms.

Microsoft Game Pass is another option for Xbox and PC gamers. This subscription-based service gives you access to an expansive indie games library. With cross-platform compatibility between Xbox and PC, Game Pass is worth considering if you play on both systems.

Finally, there are third-party websites that sell digital games for all platforms. Buy the game code for your system and redeem it on your chosen platform, then download and play. Stick with trusted websites to avoid scams or malware, so you can stay safe while gaming. A few reliable third-party stores for finding indie games are Eneba, G2A and CDKeys.

What makes an indie game great?

“Indie” stands for “independent” and generally refers to developers who aren’t working under major publishers. Independent development teams are often relatively small. It can even be a single person creating a game by themselves, as with popular titles like “Cave Story” or “Animal Well.”

Though working independently is difficult, indie developers have total creative freedom. Most gamers would probably agree that this is what makes indie games special. Great indie games offer unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that set them apart from the endless sequels, sports games, hero shooters and other formulaic titles that big publishers churn out year after year.

Cost is also a factor. Indie games are less expensive than triple-A titles and usually don’t require demanding hardware to play. Many of the best indie games cost $20 to $30 or even less, and don’t require a high-end gaming system. Most indie games are playable on basic PCs, last-gen consoles and even smartphones and tablets.

Upcoming indie games and sequels

Lots are coming down the pipe in the second half of 2024 and in 2025. Here’s a handful of the most highly anticipated indies in development:

• “Hyper Light Breaker” (expected Summer 2024) – This action-adventure roguelike takes players back into the realm of the 2016 “Hyper Light Drifter.” This time, you can explore and fight through the neon-tinged open world with friends.
• “Hollow Knight 2: Silksong” (release date late 2024) – “Silksong” is the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning “Hollow Knight.” News about its release has been scarce, although it’s confirmed to be in production. Its official release date announcement should be a sudden (and welcome) surprise.
• “Frostpunk 2” (coming July 2024) – Blending aspects of city-building and survival sims, “Frostpunk 2” takes players back into the frozen post-apocalyptic world of 2018’s “Frostpunk.” You must guide your people’s future while facing various threats, from the icy elements to the darker side of human nature.
• “Screenbound” (release date TBA) – “Screenbound” combines 2D and 3D platforming in one of the most innovative concepts we’ve seen. It’s a game within a game, letting you explore a 3D world in first person while navigating using a 2D handheld reminiscent of the classic Game Boy.
• “The Plucky Squire” (coming 2024) – “The Plucky Squire” combines two and three dimensions in a different way. You jump back and forth between a 2D storybook and a 3D world, hacking, slashing and adventuring through two colorful realms.

Popular genres and trends in indie games

The most popular genres today include roguelikes (where levels are procedurally generated), RPGs, survival sims and multiplayer shooters. Also big are horror games, which often blend survival, multiplayer and first-person shooter elements. So-called “cozy” games are huge right now, too. Indie hits like “Stardew Valley” offer players a relaxing, slower-paced experience.

Another trend is cross-platform play, allowing people to enjoy games together regardless of what system they play on. There is also a new accessibility of development tools and self-publishing platforms. This opens up the market to smaller developers, reducing the barriers to entry that used to keep them out. Finally, growing nostalgia for the late ‘90s and early 2000s means we anticipate more indie games that mimic the “low-poly” graphical aesthetic of 3D worlds from that era.

One thing is clear: Indie games aren’t going anywhere. No matter what system you play on or what genres you enjoy, you have an ocean of amazing indie games at your fingertips. And now, whether you play on a console, computer or mobile device, you know exactly where to find them.

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