We’ve been spoiled for choice for indie games in 2022; it might be the best year in recent memory for small developers. It was impossible to compile the classic top ten; after weeks of deliberation, 13 games absolutely deserved to be on 2022’s end-of-year shortlist, with a handful more deserving honorable mentions.
This took ages, so let’s not beat around the bush any longer.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Santa Ragione
Price: $19.99
Horror games tend to stay with you for longer than other genres, but few live rent-free in your head like Saturnalia does. This third-person survival adventure tale from Italian indie dev Santa Ragione sees you explore the labyrinthine, ever-changing village of Gravoi, uncovering the stories of four very different people while a malevolent monster picks them off one by one. If you’re all captured, you start again–but Gravoi re-emerges with a completely different layout.
Every perceived flaw in the game–frame rate, occasionally janky controls, steep learning curve, or interactivity issues–somehow conspire together to add to Saturnalia’s claustrophobic, intimidating vibes. Its gorgeous art style, 80s motifs, and clever storytelling make it an irresistible horror experience–perhaps 2022’s best.
Read my review of Saturnalia here.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Chuhai Labs
Price: $19.99
Within five minutes of playing Cursed to Golf, you know it’s special. After a few hours, it doesn’t just feel like one of the best indie games of the year, but possibly the greatest golf game ever made.
Combining elements from 2D platformers, roguelikes, and Scotland’s biggest contribution to sport, Cursed to Golf may be one of the weirdest games of 2022, but it’s a simple idea done brilliantly and beautifully–a hole-in-one effort for Chuhai Labs.
Check out my review of Cursed to Golf here.
Platforms: PC
Developer: Holy Wow Studios
Price: $14.99
Trombone Champ isn’t just the funniest game of 2022–it’s proved itself to be much more than the one-joke rhythm title many may’ve expected. The brainchild of developer Dan Vecchitto–A.K.A. Holy Wow Studios–Trombone Champ took social media by storm immediately after its release, not least because the funniest instrument in the orchestra was being used to murder classic songs like “God Save the King” and “Have Nagila”.
Since its release, Vecchitto has remained dedicated to the game, releasing free updates on a regular basis, and players continue to match his enthusiasm by creating incredible send-ups to things as diverse as Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Liz Truss’s resignation as the British prime minister, and Dragonforce’s “Through the Fire and Flames”. Most impressively, someone produced a scene-for-scene remake of A-ha’s “Take On Me”:
Read my full take on Trombone Champ here.
Platforms: PC, Switch
Developer: A Grumpy Fox
Price: $4.99
As the cheapest game here–an absolute steal at just $5–Lunistice is arguably the purest indie title on this list. It’s a passion project by solo dev A Grumpy Fox, A.K.A. Twitch streamer Deke64, and is as simple as platformers get–as well as a near-perfect send-up of golden-era titles from the Sega Saturn and PS1.
It may be short but it’s as sweet as they come, combining colorful and smooth graphics, straightforward yet challenging mechanics, ever-evolving environments, and one of the finest soundtracks of the year which, despite ironically costing twice as much as the game to buy outright, is also worth every penny. It’s impossible to name a reason not to buy this; Lunistice might be the best value for money game in 2022. A sequel is also in the works, elevating the experience to the Dreamcast era.
See my full take on Lunistice here.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Ghost Pattern
Price: $19.99
As arguably the most underrated and overlooked entry on this list, Wayward Strand may put a few people off with its Wes Anderson-esque concept: a dialog-heavy, three-day escapade around a floating nursing home.
While Wayward Strand may not be for everyone, those willing to give it a chance will almost certainly be rewarded with a compelling and surprisingly powerful tale about the human condition that will stay with you for days, if not weeks. Its ensemble cast just keeps on giving, uncovering more about themselves with each playthrough. However, it also teaches the importance of listening–or simply being there for those you love.
Take a look at my Wayward Strand review here.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Nosebleed Interactive
Price: $29.99
Running a laundromat has never been so fun. Arcade Paradise isn’t just a love letter to a bygone age–it’s dozens of love letters to the many machines that shaped millions of gamers’ childhoods, creating classic arcade games of its very own along the way (here’s looking at you, Zombat 2 and Knuckles & Knees).
Offering staggering value for money between its base empire-building experience, surprisingly rich story, and over 35 games to buy and enjoy at your leisure, Nosebleed Interactive’s take on management simulation is the best of the year, even in the face of stiff competition.
See my full review of Arcade Paradise here.
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Price: $29.99 (included with PS Plus Extra)
At the beginning of the year, Stray seemed to be the runaway favorite for 2022’s best indie game–a title The Game Awards duly bestowed on it. However, in the months that followed its July release, Stray hasn’t remained quite as memorable as other independent releases–not so much a criticism of Stray as the strongest praise for its competition.
While Stray may not be the best indie game of the year, it’s almost certainly its most iconic. BlueTwelve’s labor of love shines brightly in all the right places, showcases a world that feels lived in (even if it’s dying), and examines humanity in seven hours in ways very few AAA games manage in 70–incredible, given you’re a cat surrounded by robots.
Check out my review of Stray here.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, Amazon Luna
Developer: Herobeat Studios
Price: $29.99
Stray wasn’t the best indie game released in July; it wasn’t the best indie game released on July 19. That honor should go to Endling: Extinction is Forever, a surprisingly brutal affair that tugs the heartstrings and makes you gasp for air like you’re repeatedly being punched in the stomach when you least expect it.
Endling is a survival-based adventure game in which you assume the role of the last mother fox on a post-apocalyptic Earth, trying to survive with her newly born cubs. From the first moments, Endling doesn’t mess about with its core topics–fear, desperation, murder, suicide, and most importantly, hope–and it hits the mark with every single one. It’s a game everyone should play, even if completing it might feel like a pyrrhic victory.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Splashteam
Price: $24.99 (included with Xbox Game Pass)
Landing quietly on Xbox Game Pass in late August, Tinykin has gone on to become incredibly popular via word of mouth–I would’ve missed it myself if it hadn’t’ve been for my best friend practically shouting from the rooftops to make sure I didn’t miss it. I couldn’t be happier with his persistence–Tinykin is the most wholesomely compulsive adventure game of the year.
This colorful, Pikmin-inspired experience sees you, interplanetary traveller Milodane, crash land on an oversized human house controlled by insects. The Tinykin in question are collectable followers hatched from eggs, which can carry objects, open new paths, build ladders and bridges, or just blow stuff up as and when needed. You surf around maps on a soap bar, collecting pollen, finding new pathways and stories, and enjoying every second of its brilliantly designed levels, tight controls, and fascinating storytelling. It’s like Toy Story on the most pleasant acid trip–one that fills you with pure happiness.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Andrew Shouldice
Price: $29.99 (included with Xbox Game Pass)
Another day-one indie launch on Game Pass from way back in March proved to be even more impressive than Tinykin, though this adventure is far from relaxing. Tunic revolutionizes the top-down, isometric action-adventure format; the fact it’s created by a single developer–Andrew Shouldice–is mind-blowing when you consider just how beautiful, polished, and outright inventive it is.
You control a silent, inquisitive fox who washes up on a beach, Link’s Awakening style. Overcoming seemingly indecipherable puzzles and signs with a fourth-wall-breaking collectable manual system, while battling ever more challenging foes with an intuitive but demanding combat system, Tunic is a triumph of inventiveness–one still on Game Pass, but something worth way more than its $30 price tag.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Drinkbox Studios
Price: $24.99 (included with Xbox Game Pass)
It may be the oldest game on this list, but Nobody Saves the World–which arrived in January–is just as memorable now as it was when it was first released. Drinkbox Studios, which had gone quiet since releasing Guacamelee 2 in 2018, proved its next game was well worth the wait, bringing its quirky art and humor hallmarks to deliver a distinct, fresh action-adventure IP that just keeps on giving.
Nobody Saves the World puts you in the role of a pathetic, eyeless, human-shaped husk with no memory of who you are. Luckily, you’re not restricted to this form–you’re soon able to transform into a rat, zombie, mermaid, ranger, monk, and many more classes, each with their own abilities and upgradable skill trees, exploring dungeons, overcoming tough challenges, and uncovering the truth of how you came to be. Nobody Saves the World encourages creativity and experimentation, but its demands never feel like a chore through its well-paced 25-hour story.
Read my full review of Nobody Saves the World here.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PS4, Switch
Developer: Matthias Linda
Price: $24.99 (included with Xbox Game Pass)
Chained Echoes’ subtitle ought to be “better late than never”–not just because it overcame a December release to immediately deserve a place on this shortlist, but also due to its near-seven-year development cycle, supercharged by a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019. As a send-up to classic 16-bit JRPGs, Chained Echoes doesn’t just celebrate them–it elevates them to the point it should be considered in the same company as Final Fantasy VI, Secret of Mana, and Breath of Fire. This really isn’t an exaggeration–and like Tunic, just one person is responsible for it.
Developer Matthias Linda’s mission was to draw inspiration from Chained Echoes’ predecessors without outright ripping them off, and his quest proves to be a runaway success. The warring world of Valandis feels alive, quirky, vibrant, and believable. The battle system, featuring a unique and innovative Overdrive system, brings new life to the RPG genre. The stories told are often more adult-themed than you expect, but they’re consistently well-paced. Its controls are tight and its graphics are stunning. Linda’s years-long investment has paid off; this must go down as a modern masterpiece.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox, Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Developer: Massive Monster
Price: $24.99
After years of great roguelikes–notably Nuclear Throne, Hades, and my 2020 indie GOTY HyperParasite–it felt like the genre had been well and truly milked for the foreseeable future. That was until Massive Monster introduced Cult of the Lamb: Stardew Valley, if it was designed by Aleister Crowley.
Combining deeply dark themes with a cutesy art style, Cult of the Lamb sees you take on the role of a fuzzy Jim Jones as to create your commune to free the old god who saved you from being murdered. Over its day/night cycle, you unlock new buildings, skills, and upgrades through dungeon crawling, enemy vanquishing, follower indoctrination, careful management, and the occasional spot of ritualistic sacrifice.
Cult of the Lamb is impeccably paced, nearly impossible to put down, and distills everything great about roguelikes while effortlessly incorporating other familiar genres. Nearly every gamer will find something to love here, even if you sometimes need a strong stomach to face the reality of becoming a successful cult leader–however benevolent you hope to be.
A Little to the Left: The self-styled “cozy puzzle game” may be the most wholesome thing to come out of 2022–a truly brilliant debut by game dev duo Max Inferno.
The Entropy Centre: Giving more than a nod to Portal, solo developer Daniel Stubbington creates one of the cleverest puzzle games in recent memory. Here’s my full review of The Entropy Centre.
The Trolley Problem, Inc: Arguably 2022’s most important game, even if you’ll probably hate it. Read my Trolley Problem, Inc review here.
Slipstream: An impeccable, but often brutally difficult, OutRun-inspired retro racer from solo dev Sandro Luiz “ansdor” de Paula. Check out my Slipstream review here.
Neon White: Ben Esposito’s follow-up to Donut County couldn’t be more different. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love it absolutely adore it.
Prodeus: The best send-up of 90s-era FPS games in recent memory finally came out of two years of Early Access this year, landing straight onto Game Pass.
Check out my top ten indie games from 2020 and 2021.
