5 best indie games to play in 2024

Gamers have always loved the limitless possibilities of the best indie games developed by independent agencies or individuals. With independent developers pushing the boundaries of creativity and gameplay mechanics, this year's lineup of indie games offers something for every type of fan. Given the sheer number of indie titles released every year, you can't go through all of them individually.

This article will walk you through the best indie games that you should play in 2024, released this year or earlier.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.

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5 best Indie games that you need to play in 2024

Indie games aren't built with the technical budgets that AAA titles have, and their developing teams are usually small as well. Despite the apparent difference in resources, these are labors of love that offer experiences as engaging as found anywhere else. With that said, here are some of the best indie games that you should play this year:

1) Dordogne

Dordogne (Image via Focus Entertainment)

Release date: June 13, 2023

Dordogne is one of the best indie games out there with all the events taking place in France. You will find yourself in the shoes of a young French girl who goes to visit her grandma’s house who recently passed away. You will mostly play as the 10-year-old version of your current self, where you will have to solve puzzles and do tasks. These will help you reminisce about the beautiful times of your past.

You will be instantly greeted with a very soothing aesthetic when you play this game as everything is hand-painted and animated with a lot of care to give you a truly immersive experience. This animated water-painting style aesthetic is really one you should consider experiencing.

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2) Hellscreen

Hellscreen (Image via Mixtape Game UK)

Release date: March 9, 2023

Coming from a solo developer, Jamie D, Hellscreen is one of the best indie games around. It feels like a breath of fresh air amidst all the mainstream titles that can often feel boring and repetitive. Hellscreen is a retro-style shooter unlike any you have played before.

There is a brilliant contrast in the art style, making the reds dance against the cyan. This game is wonderfully designed, and while it may feel like it has drawn inspiration from other first-person arena shooters, there’s no doubt that Hellscreen is one of those indie games that you will not find reminding you about anything you have played in recent years.

What's unique about here is that you need to constantly keep an eye on your back, and that is why you have a rearview mirror at the top of your screen. Watching your back is more important than charging forward. The goal of each level is to collect Soul Cores that are needed to unlock more levels. You will face navigational obstacles and enemy NPCs that you need to clear with your weapon.

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3) Meifumado

Scene from Meifumado (Image via Old Bit Studio)

Release date: July 18, 2024

Having been kickstarted back in 2022, Meifumado was resurrected from the dead in 2024 after the developers went into hibernation post-reveal. This indie title is a side-scrolling action RPG with a postapocalyptic setting inspired by Japanese architecture.

Meifumado has gorgeous pixel-style visuals with linear levels that make the game worth playing. The combat is far from a cakewalk and you might take anywhere between three to four hours to complete all the level depending on how fast you learn the controls and your enemy's movements.

Even though it is a skill-based title, it is not tedious and you will enjoy Meifumado, making it one of the best indie games of 2024.

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4) Planet of Lana

Planet of Lana (Image via Wishfully)

Release date: May 23, 2023

Planet of Lana is one of the best indie games around and happens to be very appealing visually. It has an artistic approach to every graphic element that you come across. It almost looks like it has been hand-painted from scratch. It is really beautiful and you will surely find yourself getting engrossed in the gameplay experience.

Apart from looking good, this indie game is not easy, as the puzzles you need to solve require serious brain power and you need to have many logical deductions to get around the crafty experiences. Planet of Lana is a really beautiful game that you must experience first-hand.

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5) Superliminal

Scene from Superliminal (Image via Pillow Castle)

Release date: November 5, 2020

Superliminal is one of the best indie games that we have played and it gives you a unique gameplay experience. This game is built on perspectives and relies entirely on your ability to assess your surroundings. Your grasp on perception must be top-notch if you want to enjoy this game.

We don't think there has been another first-person puzzle game where you can control your reality by changing how you look at things around you. You play in the shoes of a patient named Pierce who is participating in a dream therapy program. You can manipulate the objects in your surroundings while in a lucid dream state. This is important for you to move through the various in this game.

This game also plays with light and shadows, making you question reality as you climb through levels that become more complex as you go up. Let the voice of Superliminal guide you through the corridors of one of the best indie games out there.

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