The Best Indie Games of 2024
01. Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Panic’s comedy platform game gets our vote as the best indie game of 2024, and perhaps the strangest game of the year. You play as a travelling salesman in the bizarre Northern English town of Barnsworth, with a mix of absurd humour, odd tasks, and a beautiful art style.
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02. Animal Well
Anyone who loves retro platformers will feel nostalgic playing Billy Basso’s Animal Well, thanks to its gorgeous pixel art CRT look with thick scanlines combined with modern lighting effects and animations. The game packs in multiple layers of puzzles in an underground cavern world that never ceases to surprise and satisfy.
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03. Neva
For its second game, Nomada Studios surpassed even the painterly style of 2018’s Gris. Our protagonist Alba journeys with the eponymous wolf cub through a decaying world in this graceful side-scrollling platformer. The game is about the bond between Alba and Neva, who must fight battles and solve puzzles through four seasons. The influence of Miyazaki is unmistakable, both on the story and the art, contributing to one of the most beautiful indie games we’ve seen.
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04. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus
There are some similar themes in this action-adventure platformer from Squid Shock Studios, but the execution is very different. Inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology – and the wonder of tea, the game has some Metroidvania elements. The gameplay revolves pummeling enemies with Bo’s staff, which can take different forms when you find different tea. The 2.5D world is visually arresting as are the hand-drawn creatures encountered on the journey.
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05. Farewell North
Kyle Banks’ hauntingly beautiful open-world adventure shows the power of emotionally driven storytelling. We play as a collie who must help its companion bring colour back to remote northern islands by solving a range of puzzles. The transformation as colour returns to the world is wonderful.
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06. Another Crab’s Treasure
This was an intriguing underwater take on the soulslike game genre (spawned by FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls trilogy). It sees Kril the crab take on a corrupt government to seek his shell, a mission that requires using different shells with different abilities. It’s very funny, but it also has a pertinent environmental message about the plight of the world’s oceans.
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Conclusion
The best indie games of 2024 showcase the ingenuity and creativity of independent game developers, covering a wide range of genres and artistic styles. From comedy platformers to retro graphics and emotionally powerful open-world adventures, these games have left us in stitches, taken us back in time, and moved us to tears.
FAQs
Q: What is the best indie game of 2024?
A: Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic is our top pick.
Q: What is the most visually stunning game on this list?
A: Neva by Nomada Studios is a standout for its beautiful art style.
Q: What is the most environmentally conscious game on this list?
A: Another Crab’s Treasure by Squid Shock Studios has a pertinent message about the plight of the world’s oceans.
Q: What is the most nostalgic game on this list?
A: Animal Well by Billy Basso is a retro platformer that will transport you back to the good old days.
