admin As keeper of the Indie Spotlight series here at GamesRadar+, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the indie scene in 2025. From seeing Dogubomb’s Blue Prince in April and quickly becoming a widespread puzzle obsession, to the multiplayer majesty of Peak dominating social media feeds in June and quickly rising in popularity, there have been an astonishing number of highlights over the past twelve months.
When I think back on the many memorable new indie games we’ve covered, it’s abundantly clear to me that they delivered some of the most surprising, inventive, and moving experiences of the year. With so many developers pouring their passion and creativity into games of all genres, shapes and sizes, there’s so much to cheer about, and in a year when the games industry has seen so much hardship, it only feels right that we celebrate the many incredible indie releases in 2025.
Making memories
Some of my personal highlights of the year are all attributed to the indie space, and they really showcase a wide range of experiences. From the reassuringly cozy tea making from Wanderstop from Ivy Road, to solo developed pleasure Spilled! – which delivered a short, meaningful, pixelated boat adventure with a percentage of the proceeds donated to whale and dolphin conservation – so many of the new indie games I’ve played in 2025 have made a lasting impression.
Tiny Bookshop is another perfect example of this. After receiving rave reviews on Steam, I dug into the management simulation on the Switch and was immediately taken in by the charming characters, satisfying bookstore management, and sense of progress. I’ve revisited it many times when I want to slow down and distract myself from my busy thoughts, and it’s a game I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing gem.
Annual review 2025
GamesRadar+ presents Annual overview: the best of 2025our coverage of all the unforgettable games, movies, TV, hardware and comics released over the past 12 months. We’ll be looking back at the very best of 2025 throughout the month of December, so be sure to stop by throughout the month for new lists, interviews, features and retrospectives as we guide you through the best of the past year.
Honestly, there have been so many indie releases this year that I would recommend to anyone who will listen. And no matter what genre appeals to you, there’s bound to be something we can do in the indie spotlight for you – which really illustrates how the indie scene continues to give us such a wide and varied range of adventures from independent developers of different sizes.
Are you a fan of gumshoe capers? Well, I would point you to the comic Cat Detective Albert Wilde, Duck Detective: Ghost of Glamping, or the episode Of the Devil, which seems like a merger of Ace Attorney and Danganropa.
Horror more your vibe? The incredibly disturbing No, I’m Not Human, the Tim Burton-esque environmental puzzle game Gloomy Eyes of Doom 2 mod Total Chaos are here for you. Looking for short but memorable experiences? Look no further than the fantastic slice of life adventure Despelote.
There is no end of other examples I could pick from the year that deserve recognition. I mean, a hole-digging game has even surfaced to intrigue us with its hidden depths.
We’ve also seen some Early Access gems arrive this year, like Aloft which landed in January and gave us a playful spin on the survival genre, while 9 Kings delivered a dose of roguelike city building that impressed us with its intricate design and satisfying strategy.
And speaking of Early Access, how could I not mention Supergiant’s mythological wonder, Hades 2, which left its Early Access period in September. As our Hades 2 review highlights, the sequel is truly divine, with a rich cast of characters and impeccable combat that you’ll enjoy again and again.
Heavy hitters
Answer expectations
It’s no small exaggeration to say that many games from independent developers dominated the discussion this year. From GTA 6, Hollow Knight: Silksong has easily been one of the most anticipated games of recent years, and no one could quite believe it when Team Cherry’s sequel finally released in September. Even after its highly anticipated release, it continued to hold players’ attention for months as many delved into the haunted kingdom.
After Aggro Crab’s crustacean Soulsike last year, Team Peak brought us the game-jam-based cooperative climbing adventure Peak, which challenged us all to work together to conquer rock walls and slippery slopes as we try to reach the top of an island’s mountain. And of course, as our Blue Prince review can attest, the puzzle game brought us a strangely unique roguelike that quickly showed its GOTY potential for so many.
But there were also some unexpected surprises this year. One that filled the Wolf Among Us 2 gap in my life came in the form of AdHoc’s episodic narrative superhero comedy, Dispatch. Not only did it introduce a cast of memorable characters brought to life by a talented cast, but it also proved that there is still a need for Telltale-style, story-driven games.
Likewise, Consume Me arrived to remind us how to effectively tackle heavy themes with humor and heart. And you only have to check out our Skin Deep review to see that the indie scene can also deliver fun, imaginative, immersive sims that are dripping with style.
The mere fact that all the indie games mentioned here barely give an idea of how many fantastic newcomers came our way this year speaks volumes. Every year when I look back on the Indie Spotlight series, I’m in awe of the many memorable adventures that indie developers have brought us. And if 2026 is anything like this year, it will only make me more excited about the upcoming indie games we have yet to see.
Look back at the highlights in the GamesRadar+ GOTY: the list of the 25 best games of 2025.
