As the world prepares to sing “Auld Lang Syne” in just two weeks, many of us are left to reflect on the last 12 months. For gamers, 2025 brought hit after consecutive hit. Despite some blockbuster drops from the likes of Nintendo and Electronic Arts, many of the year’s most memorable — and commercially successful — video games were the products of independent studios. Some of these teams comprise just a handful of dedicated developers and rely largely on word-of-mouth, social media impressions, and paid-for PR campaigns for attention and advertisement. That being said, there’s really no better way to close out the Year of the Indie than to name the 25 best indie games of 2025.
If you’ve tuned into any awards ceremonies or read through myriad publications’ best-of lists, you’re likely familiar with a few of the year’s top contenders. But before we hop in, it’s important we lay out our parameters. That starts with a firm definition of independent or “indie” game studios. Typically, an independent video game studio operates without the financial support of big-time publishers. While limited capital certainly complicates game development and launches, independent teams are often able to experiment creatively without the added shareholder scrutiny that triple-A studio creatives sometimes face. Games, once ready to ship and share, are usually launched on digital game publishing platforms like Valve’s Steam, itch.io, GOG, and indie.io, among others.
We’ve already released our all-encompassing list of the 25 Best Video Games of 2025. While the piece does recognize a handful of indie games, it’s only fair that the niche gets an equitable write-up of its own. Check out Outrun Gaming’s team-assembled list of the best indie games of 2025, and let us know which ones you couldn’t put down. Did we forget your fave? Let us know — we’re always on the lookout!
NOTE: Although written by one individual, the titles on this best-of list were submitted by several Outrun Gaming staff members. This piece represents several players’ perspectives, not just the writer’s. Enjoy!
Abiotic Factor
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Deep Field Games; Playstack
RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 88 / 100
“Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for 1-6 players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats.” (per Steam listing)
Absolum
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Guard Crush Games, Supamonks; Dotemu; Gamirror Games
RELEASE DATE: Oct. 9, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 86 / 100
“Fight as the outcast heroes of Talamh in a fierce battle to retake magic from Sun King Azra’s grasp in Absolum, an original roguelite beat ‘em up by Dotemu.” (per Steam listing)
The Alters
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: 11 bit studios
RELEASE DATE: June 13, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 85 / 100
“Explore an emotional sci-fi game with a unique blend of survival, adventure, and base-building elements. Help Jan Dolski, the sole survivor of an ill-fated space expedition, create alternative versions of himself to escape a hostile planet and tackle personal turmoils with this unconventional crew.” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for The Alters here.
BALL x PIT
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Kenny Sun and Friends; Devolver Digital
RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 84 / 100
“BALL x PIT is a brick-breaking, ball-fusing, base-building survival roguelite. Batter hordes of enemies with ricocheting balls and gather the riches of the pit to expand your homestead, generate resources and recruit unique heroes.” (per Steam listing)
Blue Prince
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Dogubomb
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 92 / 100
“Welcome to Mt. Holly, where every dawn unveils a new mystery. Navigate through shifting corridors and ever-changing chambers in this genre-defying strategy puzzle adventure. But will your unpredictable path lead you to the rumored Room 46?” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for Blue Prince here.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Sandfall Interactive; Kepler Interactive
RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 92 / 100
“Lead the members of Expedition 33 on their quest to destroy the Paintress so that she can never paint death again. Explore a world of wonders inspired by Belle Époque France and battle unique enemies in this turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics.” (per Steam listing)
CloverPit
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Panik Arcade; Future Friends Games
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 77 / 100
“A rogue-lite slot machine nightmare. Gamble for your life in a never-ending debt simulator!” (per Steam listing)
Consume Me
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Jenny Jiao Hsia; AP Thomson; Jie En Lee; Violet W-P; Ken “coda” Snyder; Hexecutable
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 24, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE:
“did you feel stupid, fat, lazy, and ugly in high school? well i did…but at least i made a life-simulation RPG about it!” (per Steam listing)
Deltarune
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Toby Fox; 8-4
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 86 / 100
“Dive into the parallel story to UNDERTALE! Fight or spare your way through action-packed battles as you explore a mysterious world alongside an endearing cast of new and familiar characters. Chapters 1-4 will be available on launch, with more planned as free updates!” (per Steam listing)
Despelote
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Julián Cordero; Sebastian Valbuena; Panic.
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 89 / 100
“A slice-of-life adventure about childhood and the magical grip soccer held over the people of Quito, Ecuador in 2001.” (per Steam listing)
Dispatch
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: AdHoc Studio
RELEASE DATE: Oct. 22, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 89 / 100
“Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. Manage a dysfunctional team of misfit heroes and strategize who to send to emergencies around the city, all while balancing office politics, personal relationships, and your own quest to become a hero. All episodes out now!” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for Dispatch here.
Dogpile
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: WINGS; Studio Folly; Toot Games; Foot
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 10, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 81 / 100
“Dogpile is a roguelike deck builder about merging cute dogs into bigger dogs. Play dogs, get money, customize your dogs with special Traits, refine your deck, PLAY MORE DOGS! DOGS!” (per Steam listing)
Expelled!
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: inkle
RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 82 / 100
“A School Prefect has been pushed out of a window, and everyone’s blaming YOU. Can you find the culprit – or someone to take the fall – before you get EXPELLED? Mystery with a wicked twist, from the creators of Overboard!, 80 Days, Heaven’s Vault and A Highland Song.” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for Expelled! here.
Hades II
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Supergiant Games
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 25, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 95 / 100
“Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.” (per Steam listing)
Hollow Knight: Silksong
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Team Cherry
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 4, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 90 / 100
“Discover a vast, haunted kingdom in Hollow Knight: Silksong! Explore, fight and survive as you ascend to the peak of a land ruled by silk and song.” (per Steam listing)
Is This Seat Taken?
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Poti Poti Studio; Wholesome Games Presents
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 7, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 79 / 100
“Is This Seat Taken? is a logic puzzle game where you play matchmaker for groups of hilariously particular people. Each character has pet peeves that make seating them a delightful challenge. Find the perfect spot for each person to unlock new levels in this cozy, silly, and relatable experience.” (per Steam listing)
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Tribute Games Inc.; Dotemu; Gamirror Games
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 81 / 100
“A cosmic battle awaits! Choose between 15 Marvel Super Heroes in this frenetic action beat ‘em up to fight against the deadly Annihilation Wave threatening the galaxy. From New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, the future of the Marvel Universe will be fought for across the stars!” (per Steam listing)
Megabonk
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Vedinad
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: TBD
“Smash your way through endless waves of enemies and grow absurdly powerful! Grab loot, level up, unlock characters and upgrade to create unique and crazy builds as you fend off hordes of creatures!” (per Steam listing)
The Midnight Walk
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: MoonHood
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 77 / 100
“Follow The Midnight Walk in a dark adventure from the minds behind Lost in Random. Befriend a lost lantern creature and light your way through a world of wonder and terror. Outsmart monsters and marvel at details in a landscape handcrafted with real clay and animated in a stop motion style.” (per Steam listing)
News Tower
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Sparrow Night; Twin Sails Interactive
RELEASE DATE: Nov. 18, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 84 / 100
“Develop your newspaper and become New York’s new media mogul! In this tycoon, build and manage your newspaper from printer to toilet. Create your editorial line and lead your journalists through unique 1930’s stories and dig out the latest scoops!” (per Steam listing)
No, I’m not a Human
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Critical Reflex; Trioskaz
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 76 / 100
“WARNING. Stay inside. Lock your doors. Close the blinds. Only let humans in. Eliminate all Visitors. An anxiety horror about paranoia in the End of Times.” (per Steam listing)
Öoo
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi.
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 7, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: TBD
“A Bomb Caterpillar’s Big Adventure! ‘Öoo‘ is a charming yet mysterious exploration puzzle platformer where you discover creative ways to use bombs!” (per Steam listing)
Promise Mascot Agency
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Kaizen Game Works.
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 77 / 100
“Explore a cursed Japanese town! Recruit mascot friends and come to the rescue when disaster strikes! Solve the mystery of your exile! Help a living finger work through her many anger issues! Turn Promise Mascot Agency into the best agency in Japan in this open-world narrative adventure!” (per Steam listing)
Rhythm Doctor
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: 7th Beat Games; indienova
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: TBD
“Save patients with your rhythm mastery! Rhythm Doctor is a rhythm game where you heal patients by defibrillating in time to their heartbeats. Learn each patient’s unique heartbeat and defeat boss viruses trying to sabotage your rhythm, all set to heart-pumping, soul-soothing music.” (per Steam listing)
Ruffy and the Riverside
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Phiphen Games
RELEASE DATE: June 26, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 74 / 100
“In Ruffy and the Riverside, you wield the magic SWAP to Copy & Paste textures – turn ice into lava or waterfalls into vines! Explore, fight, skate on straw bales, and unleash your imagination in this quirky open-world action game. Dive into an adventure that lets you literally change the world!” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for Ruffy and the Riverside here.
Sorry, We’re Closed
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Akupara Games; a la mode games.
RELEASE DATE: Nov. 14, 2024
METACRITIC SCORE: 83 / 100
“Sorry, We’re Closed is an eccentric story-driven survival horror game about demons, angels and what happens when both sides collide. A mix of classic fixed-camera exploration and arcade-style shooting where Michelle must use her Third Eye to see between worlds, uncover secrets and solve puzzles.” (per Steam listing)
Check out our review for Sorry, We’re Closed here.
Tiny Bookshop
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Skydance Games
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 7, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: 81 / 100
“Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this cozy narrative management game. Stock your tiny bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and run your cozy second-hand bookshop while getting to know the locals.” (per Steam listing)
Watchword
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Big Quail Games
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 2025
METACRITIC SCORE: TBD
“Watchword is the anagram roguelike. Strategically spell real and made-up words while using magical rule-bending books to score massively satisfying combos. Build your deck of letter tiles and find synergies in this endlessly re-playable twist on classic word games.” (per Steam listing)
