The great indie boom triggered by digital distribution over a decade ago turned out to be more of a Big Bang, firing small-team development into a plethora of directions that now defy simple categorisation. The sheer volume is intimidating, so we had plenty to choose from when compiling our list of the best indie games. Perhaps too much.
But we should take stock to appreciate everything indie development has given us. Some of the games listed below were built in a weekend by first-time coders, while others were crafted by former triple-A creators who've instilled their independent work with the same technical standards. They barely have anything in common but a healthy dose of idiosyncrasy and ideas that make Steam worth spelunking and make our list of the best PC games.
The best indie games in 2026 are:
1. Blue Prince
This indie gem, and Indie Game of the Year 2025 nominee, is a slow-burn puzzle game that sees you weaving your way through a manor to find the elusive room 46. The tricky thing with Blue Prince is that the manor is completely blank at the beginning of each day, with rooms only forming once you try to enter them. It's hard to explain, but it makes total sense when you play. Still, we'll try.
In "one of the best puzzle games [PK] has ever played," as claimed in his Blue Prince review, you have a choice of three room blueprints each time you open a door; some rooms are overt puzzles, some have useful items, and some are dead ends that threaten to ruin that day's run. You go as far as you can, you discover as much as possible, and at the end of the day, you sleep, and the whole thing begins anew. The more days you play out, the more you know, and the closer you get to unlocking that secret room.
The atmosphere is eerie, and the story is compelling, and make sure you bring a pad and pen along with you because some puzzles don't make themselves known until you're hours in. In fact, you might even want to consult our guides, including all Blue Prince workshop items, and that puzzle game staple, Blue Prince safe codes.
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2. 1000xRESIST
Fellow Traveller has copped a reputation as an indie publisher that consistently delivers acclaimed experiences, and 1000xRESIST is yet another feather in its tasteful cap. This sci-fi story game is set in a dystopian future following an alien invasion that wipes out most of humanity. Its remnants, a clone society that worships the mysterious ALLMOTHER, await her call on the front lines of battle.
Sunset Visitor's collective talents in film, theater, and music collide with their lived experience in the Asian-Canadian diaspora to craft a narrative that spans identity, religion, language, and intergenerational trauma. It's a visual novel, but it's also so much more than that. It even made our top ten in PCGamesN's GOTY Awards 2024, where Ed Smith calls it "'good' in a way that videogames are rarely good."
As you're forced to make choices on your journey, you're also forced to look inward, as 1000XResist is an introspective experience that's going to feel different for everyone. Moving, engaging, and perhaps even emotionally difficult at times, 1000XResist is a truly special game that reflects what the medium can do at its very best.
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3. Hades 2
Developer Supergiant's latest is an impossibly moreish roguelike, and the follow-up to their 2020 breakout hit. This time, instead of playing as Zagreus, you play as his sister, Melinoë, on her quest to defeat the Titan of Time and save her family.
The vicious, hard-as-nails combat is an absolute joy to experiment with, but it's Hades' cast of bickering gods that makes its cyclical nature sing. You'll relish any chance to chat with your Olympian relatives, especially as doing so offers gameplay benefits and grants you a greater understanding of Supergiant's refreshing take on Greek mythology. In our Hades 2 review, we credit the sequel for not "[diluting] the narrative or [creating] additional unwarranted combat that soon grows stale," instead for "creating an unfathomably monumental storyline."
So, while we loved Hades, the sequel is even better, with bigger upgrades, open world areas, and a new roster of wildly entertaining Hades 2 gods and other characters - and you don't even need to play the first one to enjoy it.
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4. Pacific Drive
If you're a fan of the supernatural, you should definitely check out Pacific Drive. This first-person survival game tasks you with uncovering the mystery behind an abandoned research site in the Pacific Northwest. With mysterious Anomalies creeping around, traversing on foot is ill-advised, so you're encouraged to gather equipment to fix up a battered old car. With enough modifying, crafting, and upgrading, that very same car could be the difference between life and death.
The main appeal of Pacific Drive is discovering something new around every corner: a clue to the mystery you're trying to solve, a new part for your car, or a never-before-seen adversary. If you thrive on unpredictability, then you should definitely hop into the driver's seat. And while it's a thin line, this really is unpredictability and not an exercise in frustration. As Nat Smith says in her Pacific Drive review, "instead, the delicious friction between Pacific Drive's tactility and adrenaline creates emergent chase sequences laced with panic and amusement in equal measure."
With this, while it's not a horror game per se, Pacific Drive certainly doesn't make it easy to accelerate away from paranormal threats. You'll likely fumble with the controls sometimes, but when you're not revving the engine with the handbrake on, cruising along to a catchy soundtrack soon distracts you from the terrors bounding toward you.
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5. Balatro
If you've still not played the breakout game of 2024, we're still here harping on about it, so you probably should. While Balatro has been confused as a poker game for its focus on poker hands, this is not about keeping a straight face. Instead, Balatro is a roguelike deckbuilder combining the best elements of both for an intensely enjoyable but oftentimes infuriating experience. In a good way.
Whether you're a poker fan or not doesn't matter - you'll quickly learn the best hands to play. Your focus instead is more on the unique Joker cards introduced by Balatro, the RNG element of your rotating shop, and building the best deck. For example, if you want to focus on playing flushes, some abilities allow you to change the suit on cards, so you can work on turning your entire deck into a single suit. Combine that with multipliers for playing cards of that suit, and you're on a roll.
Like many of the best deckbuilding games, there are plenty of mechanics in place that make it easy to create powerful synergies. Balatro is so hard to put down once you start to understand how it works, and it's easy to start up a new run if your last save doesn't go to plan, so you'll be hitting 'New Run' before you've even realized you're out. If, for any reason, you do need more or just want a new deck to look at, there are tons of excellent Balatro mods to choose from, to boot.
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6. Celeste
The mountaineer that pulled at everyone's heartstrings, Celeste wasn't just one of the best indie games in recent years, it was our pick for the best PC game of 2018, and it still holds up today. Its pinpoint, simple controls make it an excellent and challenging platformer, while its narrative takes the genre to a whole new level.
You play as Madeline, a young woman who has decided to conquer the icy mountain Celeste by reaching its summit. As our protagonist fights against her demons as well as the more literal mountain climb, you'll face tricky challenges of your own, but a quick respawn time and thoughtful messages of encouragement spur you on even when things get tough. If the challenging gameplay of Celeste puts you off playing, then there's no need to worry, as there are a variety of assists you can turn on so you're free to enjoy the story regardless of your skill level.
This is perhaps one of the most moving games on this list, tackling mental health issues and that nagging inner voice. As Celeste works through her issues in this platform game, you'll experience a captivating feeling of growth, while maybe working through some of your own.
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7. Against the Storm
Against the Storm puts a welcome spin on city-building games by introducing roguelite elements that ensure no two settlements are ever the same. You are the Scorched Queen's Viceroy in this dark fantasy, tasked with expanding her territory through the wilderness and claiming any treasures you might find for her own. Your expansion isn't just for glory, though - it's also to ensure that the Queen's kingdom survives the titular Blightstorm wreaking destruction across the land.
In our Against the Storm review, Josh Brown describes the city builder as "highly engaging, delectably rewarding, and suitably frustrating." While it does suffer from UI bloat and a slight learning curve to overcome, once you get to grips with its micromanagement systems, you can expect a "near-perfect roguelike strategy game" with ample replayability.
We are obsessed with strategy games here at PCGN, so the fact that Josh scored this one a whopping 9/10 should go some way to telling you just how much we love it, especially since writers Ken and Gina have also dedicated hundreds of hours to it.
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8. Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is a gorgeous turn-based RPG full of exciting adventure. You play out the story of two young adults who have recently graduated from trainees to adventurers, as they're tasked with using their sun and moon powers combined to defeat the big, bad Fleshmancer.
While the turn-based strategy gameplay is engaging, and the synergy between our protagonists' powers is satisfying, the real joy of Sea of Stars is its beautiful setting and a moving story of friendship and emotional development. Even if the gameplay wasn't strong enough to demand your attention (it is), the cute and funny NPCs would be. Together, well, they're why you're seeing Sea of Stars on this list. In fact, as Lowell Bell says in our Sea of Stars review, Sea of Stars is the perfect combination of "balanced and engaging turn-based combat wrapped up in an enthralling world," before they remark on the characters' "mysterious backgrounds and bittersweet story arcs."
On top of all of this, the soundtrack is glorious and will have you delaying your decision-making just to groove along. There are plenty of collectibles to grab along the way if you're a completionist, like the Rainbow Conches and the Sea of Stars relics, which all have different uses.
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9. Norco
This adventure game takes place in the real town of Norco, Louisiana, as a search for your missing brother quickly spirals into a mystery that spans generations.
Akin to games like Kentucky Route Zero and Beneath a Steel Sky, Norco's stand-out pixel art and powerful themes of capitalism, climate change, and the impact of our choices in the future make this one of the best story games on PC.
Like other point-and-click games, Norco's gameplay isn't challenging, and the real adventure is experiencing the story through narration that appears on a sidebar. Here, you can determine your next move and find out more about your surroundings, whether that's interacting with objects or talking to the characters you meet along the way.
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10. Terraria
This sandbox game hasn't slowed in popularity since it arrived as '2D Minecraft' back in 2011. Since you're never short of something to do in this spellbinding indie game, it has truly stood the test of time. You can even set your own objectives, such as building houses, defeating a boss, or even exploring the depths of the deadly dungeons.
Completing goals unlocks NPCs, and you essentially build your own village to house them, with each character providing a unique benefit. For example, there's a Wizard who crafts potions and a Nurse to heal you.
If you somehow manage to reach the end, no problem - there's an expert level that adds even more deadly Terraria bosses, enemies, biomes, and items. Though this crafting game certainly isn't as relaxing as its main blocky competitor, you can always try a spot of Terraria fishing to ease you in.
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11. Wildermyth
If you've ever wanted to play through a tabletop role-playing campaign with friends without needing a dungeon master to craft your story, Wildermyth is the perfect solution. As your unique cohort of heroes set out into the world, they encounter all sorts of adventures that shape their identity and personal narrative - and as each story is procedurally generated, you end up playing through a tale that's totally unique.
This also means Wildermyth has incredible replayability. In fact, while your characters age, fall in love, and eventually die, you can keep their legacies alive in subsequent playthroughs.
If you're looking for a Dungeons and Dragons game, Wildermyth is a storytelling marvel, with beautiful papercraft art and endless replayability, as well as being one of the best indie games we've come across in the last few years.
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12. Disco Elysium
We've labelled a few of these indies as the best of their respective years, and Disco Elysium is no different, having been crowned as our best indie game of 2019. Dumping you into the soiled shoes of a detective after an amnesia-inducing night of drinking and immediately charging you with investigating a grizzly murder, Disco Elysium is all about wrestling with your own psyche to form the kind of detective you want to be.
With no traditional combat to speak of, Disco Elysium is more thoughtful and intentional than many other games on this list, and you must employ your evolving and fractured personality to get answers from suspects without using brute force.
This wouldn't work if it weren't for some phenomenal writing, and in this respect, Disco Elysium is a peerless RPG. With countless conversational threads to pick at in any given encounter, the fact that each one of them is brimming with personality is what makes this detective game so special.
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13. Spelunky 2
There's always a danger that a sequel, particularly of a beloved first game, might not live up to people's unrealistic expectations. Spelunky was a marvel, still boasting thousands of Very Positive reviews on Steam, and developer Mossmouth succeeded a second time with Spelunky 2.
Part roguelike, thanks to randomized challenges, part excellent and challenging platformer, the sequel manages to build on everything that made the original special, while taking things a step further with an expanded world, filled with mysteries and surprises along the way. Luckily, Spelunky 2 is a treasure for platformer fans who may be new to roguelikes, but it's also perfect for roguelike fans. As Iain Harris says in our Spelunky 2 review, the game "will delight roguelike fans whether they played the first or not."
If you have, you may know the Spelunky games are known for their punishing difficulty, but it's the satisfaction you get when you clear a tough zone that makes each level feel like you've reached a milestone. While the first game included co-op features, Spelunky 2 once again improved on this with cross-platform and online functionality, making it easy to play with up to three additional spelunkers.
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14. Stardew Valley
Of course Stardew Valley is on this list. Concerned Ape's charming masterpiece will probably appear on 'best indie games' lists for the rest of time. And we can say from experience that, if you are here and still haven't tried it, or have tried it and didn't get into it, you should give it a go. Now.
There's a reason this life game captured the hearts of not just fans of the genre but has also recruited thousands from outside it, as well. It has wholesome NPCs you can develop relationships with. It has genuinely challenging combat that evolves as you keep playing. There are unlockable areas that expand the game, and, crucially, those relaxing fishing and farming mechanics we adore. There's also a reason so many games released since have tried to recreate the magic.
While Stardew Valley is one of the best single-player games, we recommend it more as a multiplayer game, as playing with one or two others makes things like cave exploration and seasonal events even more enjoyable. Either way, playing Stardew Valley on PC also grants you access to a plethora of incredible Stardew Valley mods. Bursting with personality, Stardew Valley is an unmissable adventure for anyone craving village life.
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15. Undertale
This 16-bit indie is one of the most underrated RPGs ever. You can subdue, pacify, and even flirt with enemies that stand in your way. How you approach these choices impacts the story and how characters treat you in the future. Leave enemies alive, and they'll show up later and maybe even make friends with you. Attack and defeat them once, and they'll be your enemies for life.
As for the story, you play a kid who falls into the world of monsters as he struggles to find his way out. What ensues is an endearing adventure that's consistently well-written, full of memorable characters and one-liners you'll trade with friends, with a wonderful soundtrack to boot.
When you think of the best RPGs, you might automatically leap to the likes of Baldur's Gate, Fallout, or Final Fantasy, but we recommend you give this indie gem a go - you won't be disappointed.
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16. Mewgenics
From the small team that brought you such classics as The Binding of Issac and Super Meat Boy comes another grotesque, but oddly compelling videogame - this time in turn-based strategy form! Mewgenics tasks you with breeding cats to send on missions, where you'll face off against some really disgusting creatures and hopefully make it back home to continue the bloodline.
PK's Mewgenics review talks about this being one of the deepest strategy games he's played in years, and it's easy to see why; with hundreds upon hundreds of items to discover and a mind-boggling amount of potential cats to be bred, this one will keep you hooked for a long time.
If you do decide to get into the cat game, make sure you check out our Mewgenics classes guide - it will give you a rundown of each of the classes you can assign to your feline warriors, and how to unlock new ones.
17. Slay the Spire
Few deckbuilding roguelikes hit like Slay the Spire, and a sequel seemed to be a tough ask. Thankfully, we had nothing to be worried about, and even though it's only out in early access, Slay the Spire 2 is everything the first game was, and more.
Christian's 10/10 Slay the Spire 2 review signs off with the fact that this sequel "is an all-time classic that you won't want to miss out on," which shouldn't be taken lightly, considering the amount of hours he has in the first one.
For those jumping in for the first time, or even those coming back from a Slay hiatus, check out our guides on the Slay the Spire 2 characters, and a deep dive into the Regent, if you want to tackle one of the new additions.
New indie games
Keeping a list of the best indie games is tough. While these are among those we consider the best of the best, there are probably hundreds more we'd love to include here, including Lone Survivor and The Binding of Isaac, with more indie gems being released all the time. While we keep our upcoming games list full of AAA launches, future indie games, and everything in between, we're keeping a particularly close eye on Nova Roma, Holstin, and Moonlight Peaks in the indie space.
Thus ends our roundup of the best indie games on PC. Be sure to seek out our list of old PC games if you want some more underrated treats. Meanwhile, our best relaxing games list and our rundown of the greatest zombie games also include some smaller indie titles, so check those out for even more.