The 10 Best Indie Games of 2023

Independent video game developers delivered many creative highlights in 2023. Ranging across genres and themes, these artistically driven titles creatively rival big-budget games. Here we count down the 10 best indie games of 2023, featuring a diverse mix of genres, art styles, and gameplay experiences that stood out as the year's most impactful releases.

The 10 Best Indie Games of 2023

Driven by passion instead of profit potential, indie developers keep pushing gaming’s creative boundaries. These 10 titles from 2023 provide just a sample of the impressive output from small and independent studios.

1) Sea of Stars

Developer: Sabotage Studio

Release Date: August 2023

Available for: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

This turn-based RPG feels like a love letter to 16-bit JRPG classics, with its charming retro pixel art style and soundtrack. However, Sea of Stars modernizes the formula by removing grinding and adding timed hits and parries to battles. With a cast of endearing characters and expansive post-game content, Sea of Stars is a must-play for JRPG fans.

2) Cocoon

Developer: Geometric Interactive

Release Date: September 2023

Available for: Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

From the creators of acclaimed indie hits Limbo and Inside, Cocoon delivers fiendishly clever puzzles. You navigate a surreal world by passing between orbs, each containing environmental puzzles that must be solved to progress. Linking these orbs creates brain-bending meta-puzzles that are immensely satisfying to unravel.

3) Venba

Developer: Visai Games

Release Date: July 2023

Available for: Nintendo Switch, PS 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

Venba provides an emotional narrative experience centered around cooking traditions. You play an Indian immigrant in Canada trying to preserve her culinary heritage. With poignant writing and charming pixel art, Venba gives a window into the immigrant experience through an accessible yet meaningful game.

4) A Space for the Unbound

Developer: Mojiken Studio

Release Date: January 2023

Available for: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S

This magical realist narrative adventure starts as a humble coming-of-age story in rural 1990s Indonesia. But it expands into a sprawling tale involving supernatural forces that threaten the world. Despite some uneven pacing, A Space for the Unbound delivers an unforgettable experience with well-realized characters.

5) Viewfinder

Developer: Sad Owl Studios

Release Date: July 2023

Available for: PS4, PS 5, and Windows

Sad Owl Studios' first-person puzzler Viewfinder has some of the most creative puzzle designs of 2023. You manipulate photos of the environment to alter your path forward. This central conceit leads to mind-bending challenges and satisfying "eureka" moments throughout its 10-hour campaign. A stunning debut.

6) Dredge

Developer: Black Salt Games

Release Date: 2023

Available for: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Who would have thought a fishing game could channel a cosmic horror story? That's exactly what Black Salt Games accomplishes with Dredge. Sailing your boat between creepy islands and fishing for clues, an unsettling atmosphere slowly envelops you. Dredge proves fishing can be relaxing one moment and utterly terrifying the next.

7) Jusant

Developer: Don't Nod

Release Date: October 2023

Available for: PS 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S

Climbing challenging mountains is already intense, but Jusant's stylized world multiplies that intensity. The clever translation mechanics also force you to carefully observe each new culture and language. Jusant's icy peaks inspire determination, while brief moments of tranquility remind you of the grand scale of your journey.

8) Undying

Developer: Vanimals

Release Date: December 2023

Available for: Windows

Who doesn't love a heartfelt story about a mother teaching her zombie son about the world? Undying presents a touching post-apocalyptic narrative alongside challenging twin-stick shooting and platforming.

9)  Cassette Beasts

Developer: Bytten Studio

Release Date: April 2023

Available for: Windows

Bytten Studio aimed to evolve the creature collecting formula in bold new directions. Released in April 2022, the game has players take on the role of the creatures themselves in a unique twist. Reviewers praised the fresh take on elemental types and combat dynamics.

10) Videoverse

Developer: Kinmoku

Release Date: March 2023

Available for: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Linux, and Windows

Kinmoku offered a nostalgic recreation of early internet communities within a fictional dying MMO. The 2023 release resonated with those who fondly remember niche online spaces of the past. Videoverse was highlighted for effectively capturing the impact of technology on relationships.

The indie gaming landscape continues to demonstrate its creativity and fearlessness when tackling unconventional ideas. Dedicated indie fans were richly rewarded this past year with some of the medium's most forward-thinking and finely crafted games.