Indie gameshave become a fundamental component of the interactive medium. They are no longer a segment for a few players, but a large portion of the most anticipated titles each year.
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Games like Freedom Planet 2 and Blasphemous 2 take already impressive indie games to new heights.
As time goes by, their quality and relevance grow, sothere are more independent titles that captivate us as much as the big productions.
Every new year is another opportunity to follow the most special releases outside the blockbusters, looking for those special games with something new to offer.
Therefore, if you’re interested in knowing what the next year has in store for this type of experience, I recommend you keep an eye on theten most anticipated indie games of 2025.
10Tenjutsu
Rogue-jutsu Style
Developer(s)
Deep night Games
Publisher(s)
Devolver Digital
Action, Roguelite
As a fan of roguelites, the announcement ofTenjutsuenthralled me, much more when I knew it was the new game by Sébastien Benard, designer ofDead Cells.
Although such credentials are enough to stand out, it’s easy to notice that its combat system promises the same great sensations as games likeSifuorDead Cellsitself.
Considering its roguelite and management components, which resemble wonderful experiments likeCult of the LamborLoop Hero, having good expectations is inevitable.
Besides, the good people atDevolver Digitalare Tenjutsu’s publishers, and there’s no such thing as a video game with their stamp that’s not at least unique.
9Little Nightmares 3
The Continuation of An Iconic Trilogy
Supermassive Games
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Adventure, Terror
While it’s rare for an indie game to become a series,Little Nightmares 3 has come along to set a valuable precedent.
The horror genre has always felt different in indie games, and the imaginative promises of this third entry are striking even by the trilogy’s standards.
Unfortunately, it won’t be developed by Tarsier Studios, the first two installments' creators, but will instead be handled by the talented team at Supermassive Games.
So, with the creators ofUntil Dawn,The Quarry, and more adventures in the genre being responsible for the sequel,I feel confident enough to have solid hopes for Little Nightmares 3.
8Sword of the Sea
Rejoice, Journey fans
Giant Squid
Adventure, Exploration
One of the things I value most about indie games istheir ability to offer unforgettable journeys without focusing on violent victory conditions, which is very unusual in AAA games.
Because of this,Sword of the Seais among the most interesting titles of 2025, as it draws inspiration from skateboarding and snowboarding games to create an odyssey that values movement, art, andmusicabove all.
As it’s the new project by the artist behindABZÛ,The Pathless, andJourney, I’m not surprised this is the direction. On the contrary, I’m extremely attracted to it, especially given the importance they claim narrative and atmosphere will have in the experience.
Promising Retro-futuristic Gem
Sad Cat Studios
Coatsink, Thunderful
Platformer, Action
The announcement trailer forREPLACEDis one of the most amazing things I’ve seen recently, and I can’t believe we’re finally getting close to experiencing it by ourselves.
This 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer isshaping up to meet all the fans of the cyberpunk subgenre’s expectations, as everything from the theme to the aesthetics and soundtrack looks phenomenal.
With a story focused on corruption, nuclear disasters, and unequal distribution of power,REPLACED will combine cinematic platforming, pixel art, and free-flow action combat, so the hype is through the roof.
6Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Pushing the Boundaries of the Indie Tag
Sandfall Interactive
Kepler Interactive
I wouldn’t say the phrase “it doesn’t look indie” is exactly positive, but I think it’s a fitting statement forClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
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In that sense, it reminds me ofLies of Pnot only because it’s inspired by the Belle Époque from France, but also because it looks so promising that it’s difficult not to be skeptical.
However,Lies of Pproved my doubts wrong, so this turn-based RPG with real-time elements has gained my attention becauseI believe it will be as good as it looks in its exhibitions.
Even if it only achieves half of the quality it shows, it will probably still be an excellent title, so I remain fully confident.
5Earthblade
Celeste’s Creators New Journey
Extremely OK Games, Ltd.
Metroidvania
SinceCelesteis one of thebest pixel-art games of all time, looking forward toEarthblade’s release is just the right thing to do.
The creators of the incredible platformer will use their experience to developa metroidvania with seamless exploration,demanding combat,and plenty of mysteries to unravel.
As you might expect, despiteCelestesetting the bar high in every sense, both the aesthetics and the soundtrack of this game feel like something from another universe.
We’ve seen little ofEarthblade, but if it already looks this promising,I can’t even imagine what to expect when it’s available.
4Crowsworn
A Long-awaited Counterpart to Hollow Knight
Mongoose Rodeo
While most Metroidvanias are indie games,I’m willing to say none of them look as good asCrowsworn.
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A match made in heaven.
Even though so many years have passed since its original announcement, the game is looking better and better. As much as I’m sad that it got delayed, the latest trailers make me think it was the right decision.
On the other hand, the similarities withHollow Knightare indisputable, though over time, it has differentiated itself from others, andI trust it will have nothing to envy of the greats of the genre.
My interest inCrowswornbegan with the possibility it would replace the absence of acertain metroidvaniathat has not yet come out, but now I’m more interested in it for what it will be on its own.
3Hyper Light Breaker
The Birth of a Universe
Heart Machine
A-RPG, Adventure
As one of thebest pre-apocalyptic gamesout there,Hyper Light Drifteris largely responsible for my love for indie games. Thus, myHyper Light Breaker’s expectations are massive.
Given Heart Machine’s record, I have complete confidence in the team’s ability to createa transcendental indie that will surprise everyone who plays it.
Now thatHyper Lightis a franchise, it’s a dream come true that the team can unleash their imagination to create an immersive and atmospheric universe with unparalleled audiovisual beauty.
Although the gameplay style differs from its predecessor,Hyper Light Breakerpromises to be one of the biggest releases of 2025, soI can’t stress enough how much faith I have in it.
2Slay the Spire 2
The Future Most Addictive Sequel
Roguelike, Card Battler
If I’m being honest, I don’t thinkSlay the Spireneeds a sequel, and yet I’m first in line to buy it as soon as it’s available.
Being thebest deck-building roguelike everis no small feat, so it’s surprising thatSlay the Spire 2’s premise is to surpass a practically perfect game.
Regardless, Mega Crit’s talent is so great that they have my full confidence, even more than I would have in a large company with a big budget.
As the sequel will have new enemies, events, and treasures,I’m convincedSlay the Spire 2will be as remarkable as the original creation,and perhaps more.
1Hollow Knight: Silksong
A Never-ending Hope
Team Cherry
I belong to the large community of players who are still waiting for Hornet’s arrival, so it was easy to predict thatHollow Knight: Silksongwould be at the top of the list.
Despite my eagerness to play it, if there’s a team that can take the time to do their work calmly and verify to deliver the best possible result, that’s Team Cherry.
I may disagree with the way they have handled communications aboutSilksong’s development, but I will never doubt the quality I know it will have.
From the areas to thebosses, and from the combat to the secondary characters,I thinkHollow Knight: Silksongwill meet the expectations of everyone who has been waiting for years.
We’re talking about the heir tothe best metroidvania in history, so I think they deserve our patience. Just let’s hope we won’t have to wait beyond 2025.
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