Best indie games

This category introduces indie games that reached a very wide audience. Stardew Valley, created almost entirely by one developer, lets you restore an old farm, grow crops and become part of a small town community. Undertale is a role-playing game where you can choose to spare every monster rather than fight, and the story changes depending on how you treat others. Hollow Knight is a large, hand-drawn underground world full of challenging enemies and hidden paths. Journey is a short wordless trip across a desert toward a distant mountain, where you may meet other players without knowing who they are.

Indie games are often smaller and cheaper than big releases, but many offer as many hours of play. For each game we explain what you do, how long it usually takes, the platforms it appeared on when we are certain, and who will enjoy it most. Ratings are our own editorial view. We do not sell or host these commercial games; this guide only introduces them. Our own in-house browser games are small, original designs too, and they are free to play.