As the keeper of the Indie Spotlight series here at GamesRadar+, I’ve had a close eye on the indie scene throughout 2025. From seeing the likes of Dogubomb’s Blue Prince land back in April and quickly become a wide-spread puzzle obsession, to the multiplayer majesty of Peak that dominated social media feeds in June and rapidly climbed in popularity, there have been an astounding number of highlights in the last 12 months.
As I reflect back on so many of the memorable new indie games we’ve covered, it’s abundantly clear to me they’ve 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 and shapes and sizes, there’s so much to shout about, and in a year that’s seen so much hardship within the games industry, it feels only 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 do showcase a broad range of experiences. From the comfortingly cozy tea-making of Wanderstop from Ivy Road, to the likes of solo developed delight Spilled! – which delivered a short, meaningful pixelated boating adventure that donated a percentage of its proceeds 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 that. After getting glowing reviews on Steam, I sunk into the management sim on the Switch and was immediately taken by its charming characters, satisfying bookshop keeping, and sense of progression. I’ve revisited it often whenever I want to slow down and distract myself from my busy thoughts, and it’s a game I’d wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who’s after a laidback gem.
Year in Review 2025
GamesRadar+ presents Year in Review: The Best of 2025, our coverage of all the unforgettable games, movies, TV, hardware, and comics released during the last 12 months. Throughout December, we’re looking back at the very best of 2025, so be sure to check in across the month for new lists, interviews, features, and retrospectives as we guide you through the best the past year had to offer.
Honestly, this year has seen so many indie releases I’d recommend to anyone who will listen. And no matter what genre speaks to you, there’s bound to be something we’ve covered in the indie spotlight for you – which really illustrates how the indie scene continues to bring us such a broad and varied range of adventures from independent developers of varying sizes.
Are you a fan of gumshoe capers? Well, I’d point you to the likes of the comedic Cat Detective Albert Wilde, Duck Detective: Ghost of Glamping, or the episodic Of the Devil, which is like a fusion of Ace Attorney meets Danganropa.
Horror more your vibe? The incredibly unsettling No, I’m Not Human, the Tim Burton-esque environmental puzzler Gloomy Eyes, or Doom 2 mod Total Chaos are here for you. Looking for short but memorable experiences? Well, look no further than the likes of the fantastic slice-of-life adventure, Despelote.
There’s no end of other examples I could pluck from the year that deserve recognition. I mean heck, A Game About Digging A Hole even surfaced to intrigue us with its hidden depths.
We’ve also seen some Early Access gems arrive this year, from the likes of Aloft which landed in January to bring us a whimsical twist 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 marvel, Hades 2, which left its Early Access period in September. As our Hades 2 review highlights, the follow-up really is godly, boasting a rich cast of characters and impeccable combat that you’ll relish getting stuck into time and again.
Heavy hitters
Answering anticipation
Hollow Knight Silksong review: “Worth the wait and then some, this isn’t just more Hollow Knight but an evolved, spindly beast all its own – even if it’s fiddly at times”
It’s no small exaggeration to say that plenty of games from independent developers dominated the conversation this year. Out of GTA 6, Hollow Knight: Silksong has easily been one of the most anticipated games of the last few years, and no one could quite believe it when Team Cherry’s sequel finally materialized in September. Even following its long-awaited release, it has continued to hold players’ attention for months as so many delve into the haunted kingdom.
Following Aggro Crab’s crustacean Soulsike last year, Team Peak came to bring us the game jam born co-op climbing adventure, Peak, which challenged us all to work together to make it up rockfaces and slippery inclines as we try to reach the top of an island’s mountain. And of course, as our Blue Prince review can attest to, the puzzler brought us a curiously unique roguelike that quickly showed GOTY potential for so many.
But there were also some unexpected surprises this year, too. One that filled the Wolf Among Us 2 hole in my life came in the form of AdHoc’s episodic narrative-driven superhero comedy, Dispatch. Not only did it introduce a cast of memorable characters brought to life by a talented cast, but it also proved there’s still an appetite for Telltale-like story-driven games.
Likewise, Consume Me arrived to remind us how effectively heavy themes can be tackled with humor and heart. And you just have to check out our Skin Deep review to see that the indie scene can also drop funny, imaginative immersive sims that drip with style.
The very fact that all of the indie games mentioned here barely scratch the surface of how many fantastic new arrivals came our way this year speaks volumes. Every year I look back over the Indie Spotlight series, I’m in awe of the many memorable adventures indie developers have brought us. And if 2026 is anything like this year, it just makes me all the more excited for the upcoming indie games we’ve yet to see.
Look back over the highlights in the GamesRadar+ GOTY: The 25 Best Games of 2025 list.
