Summary

  • Kena: Bridge of Spirits offers Pixar-like graphics and Pikmin-style gameplay.
  • Stray lets you play as a cat; stunning visuals blur indie and Triple-A lines.
  • Disco Elysium skill-based RPG with oil painted visuals; sets apart as influential indie game.

Indie games fill the gap between Triple-A releases and, at times, offer the perfect alternative to paying $70 for a major title. However, there are moments when the line between indie games and Triple-A games start to blur, and some just look so good or run so smoothly that the idea that they are indie goes over your head.

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Indie doesn’t just mean that a game has pixel graphics or can only be found on itchio; it just means that they are made by independent studios. So let's take a moment to look at these surprising titles that just happen to be indie games.

10 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

Pixar-Like Animations

via Ember Lab

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Adventure Released September 21, 2021 ESRB T for Teen: Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Ember Lab Publisher(s) Ember Lab Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Despite releasing as a PlayStation exclusive and having some very Pixar-like graphics, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is actually an indie game. This is because Ember Lab used to focus more on animation; one of their more iconic shorts is based on The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Kena Bridge of Spirits has similar gameplay to Pikmin with the element of instructing little creatures known as The Rot to perform tasks for you, such as distracting enemies in a fight or moving objects across the world.

9 Stray

If You Wish You Were A Cat

Stray

Adventure 5.0/5 10.0/10 Released July 19, 2022 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence Developer(s) BlueTwelve Studio Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Platform(s) PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Powered by Expand Collapse

From meme culture to just being downright cute, cats have a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere. Stray lets you take control of a cat in a cyberpunk world who is looking for a way home. From toppling objects over to scratching your enemies, you’ll need every cat skill to navigate through the world.

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The world of Stray is filled with neon lights and robotic denizens that inhabit the city. The game is also stunning to look at, with a quality of polish that often blurs the line between an indie game and a Triple-A title.

8 Subnautica

Exploring The Vast Ocean

Subnautica

Survival Horror Open-World Science Fiction 9.0/10 Released January 23, 2018 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language Developer(s) Unknown Worlds Entertainment Publisher(s) Gearbox Publishing Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Subnautica has been around for so long that it is easy to forget that it was once an indie game still in early access. However, it is now one of the best games to feature underwater gameplay and capture both the horror and beauty of the deep.

With each new update, Subnautica has added new areas to explore, new biomes, and new tools to build as you expand your base. The more you expand, the easier it becomes to go on deeper journeys. However, at the end of the day, this is still an indie success story.

7 Cuphead

Fluid 2D Animation

Cuphead

Platformer Released September 29, 2017 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Developer(s) Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. Publisher(s) Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Cuphead has fluid 2D animation with a rubber hose style. Originally released as an Xbox exclusive, Cuphead delivered on its promise to take players back to a vintage era or animation. Triple-A titles aren’t just defined by realistic graphics but also by the quality of their presentation.

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Running and gunning is only half of the fun of Cuphead. Every boss is an homage to vintage cartoon characters and shorts. They also have unique animations for their attacks and transformations the closer you get to beating them.

6 Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice

Fighting Against The Unknown

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Action Adventure Released August 16, 2017 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Ninja Theory Publisher(s) Ninja Theory Platform(s) PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice is a dark fantasy game that is actually more rooted in reality than it initially appears. It follows Senua as she fights supernatural beings in an effort to revive her dead lover. Graphically, the game is gorgeous to look at with a dark and gritty tone.

Because of its visuals, Hellblade can be mistaken as non-indie. However, it just shows that the indie genre can encompass many unique styles. From swordplay to puzzles, Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice tackles mental health topics in a time period where the concept is not fully understood.

5 The Outer Wilds

22 Minutes To Save The World

Outer Wilds

Adventure 9.5/10 Released May 28, 2019 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference Developer(s) Mobius Digital Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

The Outer Wilds is an emotionally impactful game which follows the last 22 minutes of a planet’s existence. However, despite having 3D graphics and often being mistaken for The Outer Worlds due to the orange text, it is an indie game through and through.

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Travel through space and learn the secrets of your civilization before the sun explodes. While everything resets at the end of each time loop, you keep all the info you have learned. Some areas will also only be accessible during specific times.

4 Indika

The Devil Speaks

Indika

Adventure Released May 8, 2024 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Odd Meter Publisher(s) 11 Bit Studios Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Indie horror games love the old Playstation aesthetic. So it’s surprising when an indie game has 3D graphics and resembles a Triple-A game. The story follows a nun named Indika who has made a connection with the Devil.

While she struggles to fit in with her Monastic setting, her world continuously gets darker as she encounters sinful characters and even begins to question her own faith. The presentation of this game and film-like qualities makes it easy to mistaken for a Triple-A game.

3 Firewatch

A Walking Simulator With A View

Firewatch

Adventure Released February 9, 2016 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Suggestive Themes, Nudity, Drug and Alcohol Reference, Strong Language Developer(s) Campo Santo Publisher(s) Campo Santo, Panic Platform(s) PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

With Firewatch’s heartbreaking story and stylized setting within the woods, it’s easy to get so caught up in the aesthetic that you forget you’re playing an indie game. This walking simulator lets you patrol the wilderness as a park ranger, picking up items along the way that will help you on your journey.

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You will also be in constant communication with Delilah, another ranger, as your interactions reveal more about your backstory. The forest also becomes more dangerous as time goes by as you witness a natural disaster start to unfold before your very eyes.

2 Disco Elysium

An Impactful Indie Game With Style

Disco Elysium

RPG 4.5/5 Released October 15, 2019 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence Developer(s) ZA/UM Publisher(s) ZA/UM Platform(s) PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia Powered by Expand Collapse

Disco Elysium is one of the most influential games to come out in the 2010s. With well written dialogue and unique gameplay that revolves around skill checks, Disco Elysium sets itself apart from many indie games.

It also has an oil painted aesthetic which makes it visually unique and rolling the dice almost makes it feel like you’re playing a tabletop game. These elements elevate the experience but also make it easy to be mistaken for a Triple-A game. In reality, it is one of the best crafted indie games of all time.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

What Is An Indie Game?

Baldur's Gate 3

RPG 5.0/5 25 9.4/10 Released August 3, 2023 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Larian Studios Publisher(s) Larian Studios Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS Powered by Expand Collapse

It is often debated whether or not Baldur’s Gate 3 is an indie game or not. Not only is the game based on a much bigger IP, but the graphics, release, and price tag all make it seem like it must have come from a much larger studio.

By definition, Larian is an indie studio that self-published the game. However, the scope of Baldur’s gate 3 falls into the triple-A category. This is one game that blurs the line between two worlds, yet it checks all the boxes needed to be indie while throwing other criteria into question.

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