Since Atari’s 1972 hitPong,games have had the chance to become cultural icons. You only need to look as far as Fortnite’s in-game concerts, celebrity collaborations, and viral dance moves on TikTok to realize that some games just have that it-factor.
Then there are those that don’t, the games that miss the mark or take a minute to find their audience.
10 Most Influential Indie Games, Ranked
No AAA here.
Whether a game fails due to a misunderstood story, quirky mechanics, or a bold idea that the world isn’t ready for, there are plenty of indie titles that get left in the dust when they deserve better.
From broken promises to overlooked gems, this list celebrates the indie titles that didn’t quite hit their stride but deserve another chance to shine.
9Back To Bed
Quirky, Puzzling, Surreal
Back to Bed
Back to bed is a surrealist dream—literally. It’s taken some flack for being superficial with its dreamscape aesthetic serving to mask a pretty basic puzzle game. It still deserves a shot at becoming atop cozy indie game.
You play as the embodiment of a character’s subconscious, expressed as a dog-like creature named Subob. Your reason for being is to guide your body, a sleepwalker named Bob, through a Dali-esque surreal world and all the mind-bending puzzles you’ll encounter.
As the name suggests, you need to get Bob back to bed, before he comes to blows with bizarre dreamscape hazards.
Despite what critics say, even a single playthrough is so strange and delightfully unexpected that this game deserves a little more love.
It’s immediately obvious what you have to do, but it takes letting Bob fall to his death a few times before you can plan the perfect route. If only for the laugh riot of Subob lifting a giant apple and walking on its hind legs, this should be your next play.
8Enchanted Portal
Enchanted Portals in fantasy epics are usually bountiful doors to mystery, adventure, and discovery. But in the case of Enchanted Portals, it’s a magical gateway that leads to rather lukewarm gameplay.
Enchanted Portals chucks you into a fantasy world where you solve puzzles and interact with magical creatures—all in an attempt to save the realm from Dovus, an evil wizard. A fine concept in a world that has good bones.
But the key takeaway is that this isn’t Cuphead, no matter how much it wants to be, serving as a poor imitation. Yet, I can’t help but feel that with another crack at it, the developers could perhaps create a Cuphead-adjacent co-op adventure worth its weight in gold.
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The problem here was a lack of originality and identity, not to mention shoddy controls, but the vibrant, whimsical aesthetic alone makes it worth exploring—especially for fans ofmodern retro-inspired indie games.
You’re The Monster Now
If you’ve ever played a horror game and thought, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just be the thing chasing me?"—well, the answer is yes, as CARRION proves by casting you as the monster.
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You are an amorphous alien creature trapped in a research facility. Your only goal in life is to escape, eat, and evolve.
Sound’s similar to many other games, but this time, you’re not the victim, you’re not eating out of necessity, and your escape is an act of pure destruction.
CARRION managed rather middling reviews from critics and fumbled amongst the Metroidvania community due to map design that makes it very easy to get turned around and, by extension, ruins the pace of this quest for destruction.
However, such a unique premise, grotesque level design, and fluid movement are enough for this modern indie horror game to warrant more attention.
6Rain World
Tough-As-Nails Survival Platformer
Rain World
Despite the cuteness of the protagonist, this is a harsh, unforgiving survival platformer that blends challenging gameplay and environmental storytelling—without earning the recognition the Slugcat deserves.
What is a Slugcat? Well, in Rain World, a Slugcat is you. You’re separated from your family, and you need to survive in a dangerous world flooded with water and predators.
Rain World mainly suffered on release for being deeply inaccessible and unforgiving, which essentially led to a ‘skill issue’ among critics who simply couldn’t appreciate the game for what it was, writing it off as a poor platformer, or a confused Metroidvania.
However, Rain World is much more nuanced than that, and anyone who can endure the ecosystem long enough to see everything the game has to offer will likely see that.
It’s not making a list ofthe best platformersanytime soon, but the environment, narrative, and three game modes—survivor, predator, and monk—make it unique enough that it deserves the chance to hold its own.
5Griftlands
Balatro Meets Subsurface Circular Meets Tekken
Griftlands
Griftlands is a deck-building RPG with a noir twist—pick from three characters and use political intrigue, backstabbing, and negotiation to complete your missions.
Choose your path—mercenary, criminal, or politician. Every decision matters as conversations and battles play out as card games that can lead to triumph or disaster. If you’re into strategy and card-based mechanics, check out some ofthe best deck-building gamesfor more like this.
Even though it’s a personal favorite, I get why this one doesn’t click for everyone. The early game drags a little; too many character introductions before the first battle. You’ve also got a limited card selection here compared to other deck-builders.
Give it time, though, because when this game opens up, it is one of the most fleshed-out narratives I’ve played in a deck-builder, and the dual-deck system—separating combat and negotiations—is such a creative twist.
You can disable permadeath in the start menu to focus more on the storyline without increased difficulty.
4The Swords of Ditto
Bite-Sized Action RPG
The Swords of Ditto
For fans of classic roguelikes and dungeon-crawlers, here’s The Swords of Ditto. It’s a quirky, colorful action RPG that didn’t quite manage to hit the mainstream. The cute visuals and high replayability might make you wonder why.
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When the latest in a string of heroes—the Sword of Ditto, as it were—is slain during battle, you’ll need to pick up the mantle and his sword, and become—wait for it—the Sword of Ditto. One hero falls, another must rise, but with each death, the world resets.
Critics call the gameplay repetitive, but isn’t that the point of a grindy roguelike? Hades is grindy too, yet it’s snapped up multiple Game of the Year awards.
The whimsical art style and unique twist on classic roguelike elements make up for it. Besides, how many games allow you to travel by flying kazoo?
3Eternal Threads
A Crash Course In The Butterfly Effect
Eternal Threads
Eternal Threads pulls you into the aftermath of a tragic house fire, challenging you to use time manipulation to rewrite the choices of six people and save their lives.
I was captivated by how the story unravels, with every choice feeling consequential, but uncovering the few pivotal ones is where the real challenge lies.
Critics have dismissed it as unoriginal or lacking ambition, but I couldn’t disagree more. Within moments of playing, I experienced a strikingly mind-bending sequence—traveling through time, altering the past, and shaping the future.
It’s the kind of interactive storytelling that requires a particular mindset to appreciate fully. If you’re intrigued by cause-and-effect puzzles, you might find its creativity mirrors that of some of thebest time travel games.
Eternal Threads didn’t achieve widespread acclaim, likely due to its slower pace and replay-heavy design. However, its loyal niche appreciates the game’s nuanced storytelling. If the premise intrigues you, it’s worth revisiting.
2Ghost Master
Become A Diabolical Puppeteer
Ghost Master
Ghost Master flips the script on the typical ghost-hunting narrative by putting you in control of the ghosts. Your job? Scare the living daylights out of unsuspecting humans by strategically deploying your spectral minions and unleashing pure chaos.
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While its unique premise and quirky humor made it a hit with a niche audience,Ghost Masternever reached mainstream success.
Critics may harp on the clunky mechanics and lack of polish, but Ghost Master’s charm and originality are undeniable.
Sure, it’s from 2003 and could use a remake, but its unique execution as a ghostly strategy-sim still stands out. This cult classic deserves another chance to build a loyal player base, much like The Sims 2 and 3 continue to enjoy.
1Yooka-Laylee
Not Banjo, But Close
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee was hyped as the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie but didn’t quite meet sky-high expectations. Even so, its vibrant world, quirky characters, and nostalgic charm have plenty to offer fans ofwell-known 3D platformers.
Yes, the gameplay can feel repetitive, and the controls aren’t perfect—it’s surprisingly tricky to make precise movements—but there’s something undeniably endearing about Yooka and Laylee’s adventure. With more refinement, it might’ve stood toe-to-toe with the legends that inspired it.
If you enjoy cheerful, colorful escapades, don’t let the criticism scare you away—Yooka-Laylee has its own kind of magic.
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Just because it’s an indie game doesn’t mean it escapes scrutiny.
