In a year dominated by blockbuster hits, 2023 quietly birthed a treasure trove of indie games that slipped under the radar but dazzled with creativity and heart. From haunting fairy tales and swashbuckling duels to vaporwave space westerns and mind-bending puzzles, these 10 indie gems offer unforgettable adventures you might have missed – yet are impossible to forget once discovered. Dive into the hidden corners of gaming’s most inventive year and uncover your next obsession.
It’s been one of those strange, busy years where any of AELGAMES’s top 10 games of the year could have made the No. 1 slot. Heck, you could expand that outward to include the top 20. There was a wealth of great games throughout the year, making it impossible to keep up with everything – even here at AELGAMES, where many of our jobs are to keep up with video games. That’s why we’ve created this list of 10 games you might have missed, all from indie studios. They cover a bunch of different genres, from a goofy multiplayer game to an inventory management roguelike.
Like with AELGAMES’s list of the top 50 games of the year, there are plenty of fantastic games that slipped through the cracks. Think we’ve missed any extra-special indies from the past year? Drop your favorites in the comments.
Bread & Fred
Bread & Fred is a charming cooperative indie platformer where two players control adorable penguins, Bread and Fred, tied together by a rope as they attempt to climb a snowy mountain summit. The game challenges players to time jumps, cling to walls, and swing across gaps, requiring teamwork and coordination to overcome the tricky platforming obstacles. Its unique rope mechanic adds both frustration and fun, making it a perfect game to play with friends or family, full of laughter and shared moments of triumph and failure. Released in May 2023, Bread & Fred offers a delightful blend of challenge and humor suitable for all ages.
Developer: SandCastles Studio
Where to play: Windows PC
Bread & Fred is a game you’re going to want to play with a friend. (Only one of you needs a copy of the game, thanks to Steam’s Remote Play Together.) You’ll play as two penguins tied together on a short rope, tasked with climbing a snowy mountain. It’s hard! The rope is very short, meaning there’s little wiggle room. Communication is key to timing each jump precisely – or you might fall down the mountain once again with a splat. So yes, Bread & Fred is hard, but it’s not impossible. Better yet, its challenge is pretty hilarious when playing with a friend you’re comfortable shouting at – or with. The animations have a slapstick element, making the already silly premise even funnier. –Nicole Carpenter
American Arcadia
American Arcadia is a captivating 2023 puzzle-platformer from Out of the Blue Games that plunges players into a 1970s retro-futuristic metropolis where citizens live in luxury, unaware they are the stars of the world’s most-watched reality show. You control Trevor Hills, an average man whose dwindling popularity on the show puts his life at risk, and Angela Solano, a stage technician who aids his escape through clever manipulation of the environment and hacking. Combining 2.5D platforming with first-person gameplay, the game offers a tightly paced, cinematic experience filled with twists and mystery, making it one of 2023’s hidden indie gems.
Developer: Out of the Blue Games
Where to play: Windows PC
Trevor, an office drone, wakes up one morning and learns his bosses are conspiring to kill him – and also that his entire life is built on a lie. American Arcadia is set in a ’70s-inspired metropolis called Arcadia, but something’s up with Arcadia: It’s a Truman Show-type widespread deception designed to trick thousands of people into living guilelessly for the entertainment of others. But that’s not American Arcadia’s only trick. One minute you’re bouncing across platforms like any other side-scrolling platformer. The next, you’re solving puzzles from a first-person perspective. Video games don’t often deploy multiple perspectives. Here, the shift is jarring but effective; it puts you on edge – kind of, one imagines, like learning the truth about Arcadia. –Ari Notis
El Paso, Elsewhere
El Paso, Elsewhere is a standout 2023 indie third-person shooter developed by Strange Scaffold that blends neo-noir aesthetics with supernatural horror. Players take on the role of James Savage, a narcotics-addicted vampire hunter on a mission to stop his ex-girlfriend, Draculae, from destroying the world through a dark ritual. Drawing inspiration from classics like Max Payne and Hotline Miami, the game features stylish bullet-time combat, dive-rolling mechanics, and retro 2000s-era graphics. Its gripping narrative, atmospheric settings, and intense gameplay have earned it critical acclaim and even a forthcoming Hollywood film adaptation starring LaKeith Stanfield, cementing its place as a must-play hidden gem from 2023.
Developer: Strange Scaffold
Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
If you can’t get enough of Max Payne, you won’t want to miss El Paso, Elsewhere. When vampires and werewolves arrive in a mysterious, supernatural motel, vampire hunter James Savage takes them head-on. What you get is a third-person shooter that revels in PlayStation-era graphics and explosive gameplay, with a narrative that sets the stakes especially high. You see, Savage’s ex is a vampire that’s about to perform a ritual – in that El Paso motel – to end the world. Within the mayhem of El Paso, Elsewhere, there’s a beautiful story about addiction and heartbreak that grounds the game’s physical demons within its metaphorical ones.
Yes, I made a Max Payne comparison – and you’ll see that a lot when reading about El Paso, Elsewhere – but the game is something wholly itself. It’s not to be missed. –NC
A Highland Song
A Highland Song is a captivating narrative platformer from Inkle that takes players on a wild adventure through the Scottish Highlands. You control Moira McKinnon, a teenager running away to reach her uncle’s lighthouse on the coast, navigating rugged terrain with open platforming, survival elements, and dynamic storytelling. The game uniquely blends exploration with rhythm gameplay, set to an evocative soundtrack by acclaimed Scottish folk bands Talisk and Fourth Moon, creating an immersive experience where the landscape and music intertwine. With its adaptive narrative and richly atmospheric world, A Highland Song offers a deeply replayable journey filled with secrets, family stories, and the haunting beauty of the Highlands.
Developer: inkle
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
A Highland Song is one of those 2023 latecomers, sneaking into this year’s release calendar on Dec. 5. From the creators of 80 Days and Heaven’s Vault, it’s not a game to be missed. The stylized art style perfectly renders the Scottish Highlands, where Moira is exploring in order to get to the sea. It’s one of those games, like A Short Hike, where the journey is much more important than the destination. Set to music from Scottish folk artists TALISK and Fourth Moon, A Highland Song has so many lovely, warming moments, even when you’re sheltered up in a cave to escape the cold. –NC
MyHouse
MyHouse is a standout indie game mod built on the classic Doom II engine, crafted by developer Veddge. Released in 2023, it transforms the familiar Doom gameplay into a subversive horror-thriller experience centered around a surreal, ever-changing suburban house inspired by the novel House of Leaves. The map’s non-linear exploration reveals multiple endings and uses advanced Doom modding features like portals and scripting to create a deeply unsettling atmosphere that challenges players’ expectations. Praised for its technical innovation, storytelling, and literary depth, MyHouse has earned critical acclaim and a dedicated following among horror and Doom fans alike.
Developer: Veddge
Where to play: Windows PC
MyHouse.wad is a pretty boring Doom mod. I’m no game designer, and I’m hesitant to repeat a tired line about modern art, but come on: I could have made this! The map is just a typical suburban split-level home. There’s nothing to do but scurry around AELGAMESal furniture, look at tacky domestic art, and shoot some generic Doom enemies. I suspect – if I’m being honest – its elevated reputation stems from its tragic backstory.
A Doomworld user named Veddge released MyHouse.wad on the site’s forum back in March. Veddge was clear from the beginning that MyHouse wasn’t his mod; he’d just polished it up. The original version belonged to Veddge’s childhood friend Tom, who had recently passed away. To honor his pal, he decided to touch up the map into operable shape and share the file with some hardcore Doom nerds – the sort of folks who might appreciate this amateur but lovingly made map.
I appreciate the good intentions. I just can’t understand why anybody would find this normal house all that interesting. I mean sure, the rooms keep moving. And sometimes there’s no way out. And other times I wake up in an empty hospital. But this is just a normal, boring Doom mod. There’s nothing to see here.
Unless none of this is true. –Chris Plante
Videoverse
Videoverse is a 2023 narrative adventure game by Kinmoku that immerses players in the nostalgic world of early 2000s online gaming communities. Set in 2003, you play as Emmett, a teenage gamer navigating friendships, fan art, and social drama on a fictional social network tied to his favorite JRPG, Feudal Fantasy. The game captures the charm of vintage social interfaces inspired by MSN Messenger and Miiverse, blending a heartfelt coming-of-age story with retro aesthetics and a chill lo-fi soundtrack. With multiple story paths shaped by your choices, Videoverse offers a unique exploration of youth, fandom, and the evolving nature of online communities.
Developer: Kinmoku
Where to play: Mac, Linux, Windows PC
Videoverse is a game for those of us nostalgic for the early internet and its intimate communities. When I was a kid, I spent my free time digging into niches on Neopets and talking to strangers about shared interests in AOL chat rooms. I made friends in forums, creating an online world sometimes more enticing than my own real life. Videoverse is all of those things on a fictional forum dedicated to a dying MMO, and it perfectly captures the drama and sadness of letting go. All at once, Videoverse has recreated the frivolous, beautiful, dramatic, and profound ways technology has influenced my life, and maybe yours, too. –NC
A Space for the Unbound
2023 was a remarkable year for indie games, offering a unique space where creativity knows no bounds. Titles like Wild Bastards transported players to vaporwave space westerns filled with robot cowboys, while Bramble: The Mountain King revived the eerie magic of Scandinavian folklore with stunning visuals and intense gameplay. These games, among many others, showcase how indie developers continue to push the limits of storytelling, art, and gameplay, creating immersive worlds that defy conventional genres and invite players to explore uncharted territories of imagination and emotion. This year’s indie scene truly became a space for the unbound, where innovation and passion flourish beyond the constraints of mainstream gaming.
Developer: Mojiken
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Set in rural Indonesia, A Space for the Unbound is a slice-of-life story of high school sweethearts Atma and Raya, who have a bucket list to fulfill. While A Space for the Unbound is an intimate look into a teenage relationship in ’90s Indonesia, it’s also the backdrop for a larger supernatural power that’s threatening reality – the end of the world. That framing makes for an interesting dichotomy between the scope of the stories: everyday moments paired with otherworldly drama. It’s one of those games that’s so earnest that’s it’s easy to overlook any flaws or bugs while captured by the stakes of the world and its characters. A bonus for pixel art fans: The game is gorgeous! –NC
Tape to Tape
Tape to Tape is a standout indie game from 2023 that blends nostalgia with fresh gameplay mechanics. It offers a unique experience reminiscent of classic sports and arcade games but with modern twists that keep players engaged. The game’s charm lies in its retro aesthetic combined with smooth, intuitive controls, making it a hidden gem that indie fans should not miss. Its innovative approach to gameplay and design exemplifies the creativity flourishing in the indie scene this year.
Developer: Excellent Rectangle
Where to play: Windows PC
A hockey game, but make it roguelite! Tape to Tape is in early access, so it hasn’t had its full release just yet. But what it is now is very fun: a game about building a hockey team by hiring players and managing the team. Play in games, of course, with different – not actual hockey-legal – abilities, upgrades, and bribes. Tape to Tape screams ’90s Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, but a lot more wacky. As in other roguelites, losing is fine: It’s an opportunity to upgrade your tools of the trade and get further next time.
Grab some hockey fans in your life for online multiplayer (with Remote Play Together) or on split screen. –NC
Moonring
Moonring is a standout indie RPG released in 2023 by Fluttermind, led by Dene Carter, co-creator of the Fable series. This free-to-play, retro-inspired open-world game channels the spirit of classic Ultima titles with turn-based, tile-based gameplay set in the richly detailed land of Caldera. Players explore a vast hand-crafted world, delve into procedurally generated dungeons, engage in strategic combat, and interact with a dynamic narrative shaped by devotion to five gods. Praised for its deep mechanics, extensive exploration, and nostalgic yet modern design, Moonring offers a compelling experience for fans of old-school role-playing games and was recognized as one of the best indie games of 2023.
Developer: Fluttermind
Where to play: Windows PC
Don’t let the old-school visuals fool you: Moonring is one of 2023’s richest video game experiences. Created by Dene Carter, a co-creator of the iconic RPG Fable, the colorful adventure gives players the expansive freedom popularized by games of the 1980s – when graphics played second fiddle to creativity and scope. Trade with unsavory types. Partner with questionable cults. Converse with practically everyone.
Perhaps most importantly for our readers, this Ultima-inspired roguelike is free. Like, free free. At that price, Carter may get his wish of introducing the old ways of game design to new audiences. “I hope Moonring recaptures some of the spirit of those days for you,” Carter writes on the Moonring Steam page. “For those who did not, I hope that the more modern conveniences you find in this game allow you to catch a glimpse of what we did 40 years ago.” –CP
Backpack Hero
Backpack Hero is a unique roguelike game that combines dungeon crawling with an innovative inventory management system. Players control one of five adorable animal heroes, each with distinct abilities, and must strategically organize items within a grid-based magical backpack to maximize their combat effectiveness. The game challenges you to balance attack, defense, and resource management as you explore procedurally generated dungeons, all wrapped in charming pixel art. Beyond the dungeons, players can develop their town using resources gathered, adding a rewarding progression layer. Praised for its fresh gameplay twist and engaging mechanics, Backpack Hero stands out as a must-try indie from 2023.
Developer: Jaspel
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, Mac, Windows PC
When I can’t sleep, I consider the mysteries of the universe. Like, who came up with the whiskey sour? “Whiskey is amazing, but what if we added raw egg whites?” Backpack Hero’s creators took a similarly audacious approach with the classic dungeon crawler, splicing the genre with the Tetris-like inventory management popularized by Resident Evil 4. Much like the foamy cocktail, the results are delicious.
Generally, I’m hesitant to list back-of-the-box bullet points, but I’m tickled by how big the creators have made a game about backpack organization: There are over 800 items and 100 enemies, you can play as five different heroes, and the dungeons are procedurally generated within a overworld map the player constructs. Like its hero mouse, Backpack Hero punches way above its weight class. And it will keep you up at night, because there’s always time for one more run. –CP
Which indie game in 2023 surprised me the most with its unique style
The indie game that surprised you the most in 2023 with its unique style is likely Tchia. This game stands out for its beautiful art inspired by the Pacific Islands of New Caledonia, an excellent soundtrack, and innovative gameplay that lets you climb almost any surface and possess objects, offering a fresh and immersive open-world experience reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild but with even cooler movement mechanics. Its distinctive cultural setting and engaging mechanics made it a memorable and unique indie title of the year.
Which indie game in 2023’s lineup had the most striking visual style for me
The indie game in 2023 that had the most striking visual style for you was likely Jusant. It features a unique, vibrant graphic style combined with an absorbing and relaxing atmosphere, setting it apart as a visually captivating experience reminiscent of a “Journey”-like climb through stunning sunsets and weather effects. Other visually notable indie games mentioned include Lunacid, Sea of Stars, and Tchia, but Jusant’s distinctive, colorful ascent and serene aesthetic stood out for its graphical charm and immersive environment.
