25 Indies We're Excited to Play in 2025
Every time a new year comes around we always find ourselves saying, “This is going to be a crazy good year for games.” But seriously, 2025 is going to be a crazy good year for games. We mean it.
We’re constantly hyped for games. All the games, all the time, but we wanted to put together a list of 25 games that we hope will release as soon as possible or, at the very least, release in 2025 for us all to appreciate. Check out these 25 indies that we’re super excited to play in 2025.
Rift of the Necrodancer
From the creators of the award-winning roguelike rhythm game Crypt of the Necrodancer comes their newest title, Rift of the Necrodancer. This time around Cadence is dragged to a strange new world and will have to engage in exciting musical combat. Each battle is set to a heart-thumping electric soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky and friends.
Rift of the Necrodancer is set to release for PC and Nintendo Switch on February 5th and there is a demo available to play right now on Steam.
Sword of the Sea
From Developer Giant Squid, the team behind the incredible titles Abzu, The Pathless and Journey, is a new beautifully atmospheric adventure game. In Sword of the Sea you will step onto your hoversword and surf across various stunning landscapes uncovering ancient secrets, mysterious shipwrecks and more. Feel like an epic skateboarder as you move across sand, lava and ice, picking up momentum to traverse even the tallest of obstacles.
Sword of the Sea does not yet have a release date but is currently set to release for PC and PlayStation 5.
Date Everything!
Since its announcement a few months ago, we’ve been so excited to dive into Date Everything! Date Everything! From Sappy Clap Games is a dating sim where your goal is to…well date everything. And they mean EVERYTHING. If you’ve ever looked at your fridge and thought, “I’d totally hit that” then you’ll definitely want to have this one on your radar. With over 100 dateable characters each fully voice acted by some of the best talents in the industry, 2025 may just be your year to find love.
Date Everything! is set to release on February 14th for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X/S.
Fragile Reflection
We all love a game that’s steeped in nostalgia. Fragile Reflection from Spectra Team is a beautiful retro horror that will have you feeling like you’ve jumped into the past. Set in Japan in the 1990s, Fragile Reflection follows Kario Ito who goes to her hometown Nankofuraku after receiving a disturbing call from the local hospital there. You will uncover countless secrets as you explore and are forced to fight off monsters wearing Japanese Noh theater masks.
Fragile Reflection is set to release in February for PC and there is a demo available to play right now on Steam.
Afterlove EP
From the beloved creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After, Afterlove EP takes place in the beautiful city of Jakarta and blends together elements of visual novel, adventure and rhythm games. Follow Rama, a musician who is struggling to move on after the death of his girlfriend Cinta. Taking place over twenty eight days, Afterlove EP will have you exploring Jakarta, working on Rama’s relationships and trying to navigate the world without Cinta. Afterlove EP is sure to tug at our heartstrings and we are eagerly awaiting its release.
Afterlove EP is set to release in Q1 of 2025 and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. There is currently a demo available on Steam.
Earthblade
From the creators of Celeste, Earthblade is an explor-action platformer with challenging combat and many mysteries to uncover. You are Névoa, a child of fate who has recently returned to Earth. You will travel across what is left of this broken world to try and piece together what happened there.
Earthblade does not have a release date yet but is set to release on PC.
Demonschool
From Developer Necrosoft Games, Demonschool is a turn-based tactics RPG where you play as Faye and her companions as they try to take down weirdos in a space between the human and demon worlds. The game will feature unique mechanics where you can rewind any action during your planning phase to create epic combos. Level up your characters and meet up to 15 people that you can form relationships with.
Demonschool is set to release in Q1 of 2025 and has a demo currently available on Steam.
Sloppy Forgeries
We first played Sloppy Forgeries at Dreamhack Atlanta 2024 and fell in love with its simple but brilliant concept. From Playful Systems LLC, Sloppy Forgeries has players competing to create famous paintings using only a few painting tools. Your goal is to be as accurate as possible or, more importantly, be more accurate than your opponent. You have limited time to complete your masterpiece, so you’ll be racing against the clock and seeing if you have what it takes to be the next Van Gogh.
Sloppy Forgeries doesn’t have a release date yet but is set to release on PC, Mac and iOS.
Cairn
From The Game Bakers, the Developers behind 2020’s Haven comes the newest survival-climber game. Cairn challenges players to ascend beautiful landscapes. Plan your route carefully, manage your pitons and make every movement count to help Aava achieve the ascent of a lifetime. Cairn boasts realistic climbing, allowing you to find the best holds for Aava’s hands and feet as well as the ability to adjust her posture, effort and balance. You’re free to climb anywhere, but you’ll have to be careful and take your time because you can - and will - fall. But it’s all about the journey.
Cairn doesn’t have a release date quite yet but is set to release for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and it has a demo available right now on Steam.
Wanderstop
Wanderstop is an upcoming game from the familiar team behind The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide. This time around Developer Ivy Road has created a narrative heavy game where you play as Alta, a fallen fighter who now manages a tea shop in a magical forest. Your job is to tend to your customers, but ultimately Alta hopes to move on from the shop and go back to her more exciting days as a fighter. You will manage the shop and its customers, but how long will Alta be able to stand this calming lifestyle?
Wanderstop is set to release on March 11th for PC and PlayStation 5.
THRASHER
THRASHER is an arcade action and audiovisual experience from the artist and composer of THUMPER. In THRASHER, players control a space eel through unique, strange and incredible landscapes. Thrash through the world to defeat bosses and make it out alive. Brian Gibson sets to immerse players in an enthralling soundtrack to create an epic sensory experience.
Without a release date at this time we hope we’ll be seeing more from THRASHER when it releases later on PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Skate Story
I sure hope there’s skateboards in hell because the one in Skate Story looks amazing. In Skate Story you play as a Demon in the Underworld. When The Devil gives you a skateboard, he also gives you a huge mission. Skate to the moon, swallow it, and you’ll be free. You’ll quickly hop onto your skateboard, learning to master your weight and motion along the way, in order to perfect your skills. Groove to the soundtrack from New York artist Blood Cultures and additional tracks by John Flo while you skate through nine layers of The Underworld.
Skate Story doesn’t have a release date yet but is set to release on PC and Mac.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
There’s only a few weeks to go until the sequel of 2022’s Citizen Sleeper from Jump Over the Age releases and we absolutely cannot wait. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG where you play as an escaped android with a price on your head. With a malfunctioning body and no memory of your past, you are forced to go on the run and gather a gang, build a network of allies and take on contracts as you try to survive and move on in this brutal world.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is set to release on January 31st, 2025 for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
Elroy and the Aliens
Another game full of nostalgic elements is Elroy and the Aliens from Developer Motiviti. Based in 1993 and featuring familiar point-and-click controls reminiscent of Monkey Island, Elroy and the Aliens follows the titular Elroy, a rocket engineer and Penny, an investigative reporter who discover a secret crystal and a message. This enigmatic message will have you journeying through space to try and find Elroy’s long lost father and taking on threats to the universe.
The beautifully hand-drawn Elroy and the Aliens is set to release on April 2nd, 2025 and will be available on PC.
Bad Cheese
We’ve never seen anything quite like the upcoming psychological horror game Bad Cheese from Simon Lukasik. Inspired by 1920s animation, Bad Cheese looks like Steamboat Willy with a terrifying twist. Take on the role of a mouse trying to keep his dysfunctional dad happy while his mother is away. Help around the house, find hidden treasure and try to keep your demons away.
Bad Cheese does not have a release date yet but is set to release on PC.
Big Walk
A co-op adventure from House House, creators of Untitled: Goose Game, Big Walk invites players to grab their friends and dive into a silly wide-open world. Work together to navigate through challenges, puzzles and more. And you won’t have to stay right next to each other while you play as you’ll be able to communicate with one another through a variety of tools and toys. There’s also plenty of time to simply hang out and enjoy each other’s company.
There’s no release for Big Walk just yet but it will be available for PC upon release.
Ghost Keeper
Jump into the ultimate scaring experience in Ghostkeeper from Blum Entertainment and Quest Craft. Ghost Keeper is said to merge classic elements from old-school games with more modern mechanics. Lead a group of monsters, ghosts, demons and beasts as you attempt to overtake living enemies. Eliminate the Brotherhood and steal their secrets in a world inspired by 19th Century England.
Ghost Keeper does not yet have a release date but is set to release on PC.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire
Another game inspired by early 1900s cartoons, Mouse: P.I. for Hire has been on our watchlist for a while. Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a first person action game inspired by 1930s cartoons. You play as private investigator Jack Pepper, once a war hero, who now spends his days taking down bad guys in a corrupt city. Pepper has his work cut out for him as he begins to uncover the web of intrigue and mystery in Mouseberg.
Mouse: P.I. for Hire has no current release date but is set to release for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.
Replaced
Replaced from Sad Cat World Studios really intrigued us when we first saw it. A retro 2.5D sci-fi action platformer, Replaced combines platforming with freeflow action combat. You play as R.E.A.C.H., an AI trapped in a human body. The world around you is littered with corruption and greed and you’ll have to adjust to human life in a cyberpunk inspired world.
We hope to see a Replaced launch in 2025 but it is not currently confirmed for an exact date yet. It will be available at launch on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Tenebris Somnia
Another horror game we’ve been keeping our eyes on is Tenebris Somnia from Andres Borghi and Saibot Studios. The game is mostly in a 2D artstyle but what really intrigues us are its live action cutscenes. Tenebris Somnia’s 2D gameplay will remind players of classic survival horrors like Resident Evil and Silent Hill while they struggle to solve puzzles and survive. Then, during the more cinematic moments, you’ll be captivated by the game’s story and cutscenes created by a professional and award-winning film crew.
Tenebris Somnia does not have a release date yet and will launch on PC.
Hyperlight Breaker
Let the hype begin because Heart Machine is getting ready to release another Hyperlight game in 2025! In Hyperlight Breaker you can play alone or with friends as you enter the Overgrowth, explore the world and fight to overcome powerful enemies. Hyperlight Breaker takes place in a fully 3D world with varying landscapes. Enjoy traversal freedom by utilizing the game’s wall-dashing, hoverboard and gliding mechanics. Join your friends to learn more about the world and create a flourishing settlement.
Hyperlight Breaker is set to release into Early Access on Steam on January 14th.
Blue Prince
An upcoming puzzle adventure game from Dogobomb, Blue Prince will have you navigating twisting, changing rooms with mind-bending puzzles. Each choice you make as you explore will change the path ahead. Every door reveals a new room, a new puzzle, a new mystery and more. The rooms you see on your first day may not be the same on your second so you’ll have to stay on your toes.
Blue Prince does not have a release date yet but is set to release on PC.
The Mermaid Mask
From the Developers of one of our favorite games of last year, Crow Country, comes Mermaid Mask, the detective mystery game with returning protagonists Detective Grimoire and Sally. This time around Grimoire and Sally must try and piece together what happened in a long abandoned fishing town. Mermaid Mask is fully voice acted and features an original soundtrack performed by the Budapest Art Orchestra.
The Mermaid Mask does not have a release date yet but is set to release on PC.
Slay the Spire 2
The Spire is back and more dangerous than ever in the sequel to Mega Crit’s iconic roguelike deckbuilder, Slay the Spire. Slay the Spire 2 has you climbing the spire once again and this time it has evolved with new foes and new encounters. There are also new and returning characters as well as new cards, relics, potions and more. And once again, Mega Crit will allow players to jump into Early Access to provide valuable feedback.
Slay the Spire Early Access doesn’t have a launch date but will be available (hopefully!) soon on PC.
TOEM 2
Only announced recently, we’re already stoked to dive back into the work of TOEM when its sequel TOEM 2 releases (hopefully) in 2025. Step into the shoes of the curious photographer once again and go on a new adventure. Help your friends along the way and document your favorite wonders of the world. We don’t know much else about this sequel yet, but we can’t wait to see where this new adventure takes us.
TOEM 2 does not have a release date yet but will release on PC.