Image: Supermassive Games
Tons of indie games launched in 2024, but we enjoyed playing these five the most.
2024 is nearly over, and it’s time to take stock of our favourite games of the year. Independent game studios have seen a lot of breakout hits this year, such as LocalThunk’s addictive card game Balatro, which has scored nigh-universal acclaim and a GOTY nomination at The Game Awards 2024.
Balatro’s success is a microcosm of indies taking 2024 by storm, with Pocketpair’s Palworld being just another example of indies reaching massive audiences this year. It’s not all card games and Pokemon-likes, however. Indies encompass a colourful variety of game genres, giving all kinds of players thoroughly fun experiences crafted by small teams of passionate creatives.
These are our favourite indie games of 2024:
Fields of Mistria
If you’re looking for a new Stardew Valley-like game to sink your teeth into, Fields of Mistria will be right up your alley. This farm life RPG takes place in the fictional town of Mistria, which is attempting to rebuild after a devastating earthquake rocked the lives of its townspeople. The player character is asked to live on a plot of land and help out with the town’s rebuilding efforts, while also engaging in traditional farming activities and connecting with the people around them.
Fields of Mistria has extraordinarily pretty visuals and a low-stakes but nonetheless addictive gameplay loop, making it perfect for fans of cosy games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Spiritfarer. We’ve seen many farm games emerge since Stardew Valley's release, but this one has the perfect mix of compelling characters, a charming setting and much-appreciated quality-of-life additions that allow it to truly stand apart. The only caveat here is that the game is still in early access – so if you’re willing to wait out its current launch state (which already boasts quite a bit of content), it stands to be a much better game in 2025.
Animal Well
Animal Well already looked like a pretty interesting Metroidvania from the trailers we were treated to before its release, but it’s a very different beast in actual gameplay. This non-linear game has players find and pick up various items during exploration, then figure out how to use them to solve all manner of puzzles in their environment in order to move forward.
This is a clever little game that refuses to hold your hand, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking for players to find multiple uses out of every piece of gear they find. The deeper players dig into the game however, the more they’ll realise there is left to discover. Fun fact: Animal Well is also the first game to be published under Bigmode, a label created by gaming YouTuber Videogamedunkey and his wife Leah.
Balatro
Another year, another card game – only this one seems a little familiar, no? It’s likely that you’ve played a simple game of Poker before, but it is highly unlikely that you’ve played it like this. Balatro isn’t just a Poker game, after all; it’s a roguelike deckbuilder that gets addictive very quickly. By constantly throwing out-of-left-field mechanics at the player using special Joker abilities, defeating the game’s ‘blinds’ becomes a unique challenge that never gets repetitive.
Going on high-stakes runs and hoping that the odds lean in your favour, trying to build up powerful synergies with the help of Jokers, and stringing together unexpected combos all make Balatro satisfying and thoroughly replayable. Almost too replayable – how is it 3am already?
UFO 50
UFO 50 is arguably the most bang for your buck you’re going to get from buying a game on this list. As the title implies, this is a package of 50 games that hail from the creators of Spelunky, Catacomb Kids, and Downwell, ranging from single-player titles to multiplayer games. All of these games are themed after classic retro-style 8-bit games, but with fresh ideas that allow them to stand on their own two feet. It's almost like you're playing games exclusive to a 90s console that never existed.
The sheer level of depth and breadth of creativity of these titles earn UFO 50 a spot on this list, especially since the bundle’s 50 games aren’t just minigames – they’re full-fledged games that are satisfying experiences on their own. The best bit? A lot of these games can be played in multiplayer, giving you even more playtime out of the bundle.
Hades 2
Supergiant Games’ roguelike action game Hades 2 launched in early access this year with a lot more content than players might have expected. With even more gods from the Olympic pantheon joining players on their pursuit to defeat the titan of time Chronos, and even more weapons with which to slay hordes of monsters along the way, this sequel is packed with content both new and familiar.
With gorgeous art, incredible music, and addictive dungeon-crawling gameplay, Hades 2 is every bit the sequel we wanted it to be – not that it’s complete just yet. Still, this is a game we hotly anticipate returning to once it’s ready for a full release.
Honourable mention: Still Wakes the Deep
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs developer The Chinese Room’s latest horror game is a trip. This first-person game takes place on an offshore oil rig, where a worker is forced to fight for his life in the midst of a vicious storm, all manner of disasters, and the constant threat of sinking into the freezing North Sea.
Still Wakes the Deep isn’t all about thalassaphobia, despite its setting so clearly teeing those scares up. It plays with the player’s fear of the unknown in clever ways, forcing them into situations where they’re not just disoriented and in danger – but never quite sure of the next step they’re about to take.
