12 Indie Games Gamers Loved in 2019
2019 has been a great year for indie games. While there were a few new releases, other older games saw a revival. Either way, gamers had a wonderful time playing these gems.
But, as we head closer to 2020, which games deserve a memorable mention? Without further ado, here are the top 12 games that indie gamers loved playing in 2019:
1. A Plague Tale: Innocence
The 1300s were a tough time for people in England. The Black Plague had a firm hold on the lives of thousands. In A Plague Tale: Innocence, players follow one such victim of Pestilence – a recently orphaned noble girl Amicia – as she searches for a cure for her brother Hugo’s terrible disease. She must find the cure quickly or risk losing the only other member of her family.
As the game progresses, Amicia and Hugo encounter evil guards, judgmental villagers, and even the Plague- all of whom are intent on killing them. Players must use a variety of strategies and ammunition to overcome all odds and help the children find the cure.
Beautifully designed by Asobo Studio and with a rich storyline, A Plague Tale: Innocence makes for a memorable game.
2. Untitled Goose Game
This could easily be the funniest and most fun game of the year; that is, if you love mischievous geese.
Untitled Goose Game is a gem of an indie game, where gamers take on the role of a naughty little goose. Your task – steal things from your human neighbors, pull-out their beautifully grown flowers, overturn boxes of paint, throw their house keys in the river, and many more such infuriating things. As you complete your To-Do list, you gain points and access more challenging tasks.
This game by House House has been a pleasant surprise on the indie scene, which honestly we never expected to make our best games list when it was first released. But here you go – the proof is in the goose.
3. Neo Cab
The world is heading towards automation. Neo Cab is set in such a world – a world where automation and robot-driven technology control our lives. All ride-sharing services are automated, and there’s no need for human drivers. Yet, there’s just one human driver – Lina – still present.
As the game unfolds, Lina is tasked with following the directions of various passengers, all with their unique backstories and requests. Players must help Lina fulfill her duty as their designated driver, all the while helping her find her missing friend.
Neo Cab’s storyline is one of the most evocative and rich in indie games. The dialogues have been drafted beautifully, and the developer, Chance Agency, have given characters distinct personalities.
4. Night in the Woods
Unlike many other indie games that are goal-driven, Night in the Woods is one game where the destination is completely unclear.
Gamers play Mae – a humanoid cat who’s dropped out of college to return to her life in her hometown Possum Springs. Her goal – reunite with friends and live the carefree life of her youth. But things are not the same anymore. Strange things are happening in town, and everyone’s different. Mae must interact with every townie, explore the nearby woods, and discover what’s wrong.
This game, by Infinite Fall, focuses on the player trying to solve the puzzle by leading the average American life. Mundane tasks have clues in them, and players must do everything, from cleaning their rooms to making obligatory social visits, to uncover them.
5. Owlboy
Video Source: Youtube
Although it was released in 2016, Owlboy has reclaimed the hearts of indie gamers in 2019.
Owlboy follows Otis, a half-human-half-owl being, who can’t speak, who can’t fly very well, and whose knowledge of magic and weaponry is dismal. Yet, he is the only hope to save his village from dangerous sky pirates. Otis must travel through monster-infested villages and ghostly ruins to get the tools he needs to challenge the enemy.
This wonderful game by D-Pad Studio is a love letter to the classic pixelated format. It’s received a perfect score from almost all major game reviewers for its stunning storyline, brilliant gameplay, and sublime graphics. The game is available on Nintendo Switch and PS4.
6. Braid
Developed by master developer Jonathan Blow (of The Witness fame), Braid resembles a Super Mario Bros adventure. But that’s not true. What is true, though, is that this game is one of the most intelligent, colorful, and fun games of 2019.
Players help the protagonist – a middle-aged sourpuss – solve a series of puzzles and questions, as he makes his way to the game’s finale. As the levels progress, the questions and puzzles start getting progressively harder. Gamers need to have some general knowledge and experience playing puzzle games to play Braid. Of course, help is available in-game.
7. Disco Elysium
Written by Estonian novelist Robert Kurvitz and developed by ZA/UM, Disco Elysium is an open-world role-playing game you’ll love to get your hands on.
Here, you play a detective in the city of Revachol. But unlike other games, you don’t need to resort to violence to catch the bad guys. From sweet-talking your way into the lion’s den to using bribes to get your way to even enlisting a mole in the mob, you can use several tactics to solve a crime.
The best part about this game is that it offers a large repository of character traits, skills, and gear, which players can use to build their character. Depending on what strategies you choose, the new challenges and people you encounter and the conversations you have with them personalize accordingly.
8. Dwarf Fortress
This 2006 game has always been a crowd-favorite, and it’s no wonder it had such a massive following in 2019 too.
Dwarf Fortress, published by Kitfox Games, is a unique and extremely engaging game that involves managing a, well, Dwarf Fortress.
Gamers are tasked with protecting the dwarfs who build the fortress and mine the underground caves. From saving them from evil monsters to helping them navigate suffocating cul-de-sacs to informing them about the fortress’ architectural problems, you’ll have plenty on your plate. With the dwarfs not willing to take orders from a human, you’ll need to devise creative ways to overcome these challenges.
If you really like the game, there’s a new Adventure Mode and Legacy Mode that’s up for grabs.
9. Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds by Mobius Digital deserves a place on this list for its extremely unique storyline. This game doesn’t involve tasks, challenges, or raids. It’s all about exploration – but one with an expiration date.
Players wake up in the middle of nowhere. They’re propelled into outer space and thrown into a spaceship that they can use to travel to any of the 22 planets in the game’s solar system. Their task – explore the worlds and learn all there is to know. But here’s the catch – the solar system is programmed to self-destruct in 22 minutes. Now, it’s a race against time to visit as many places as possible while avoiding the mistakes made by your past lives.
Outer Wilds is certainly not a game for everyone. It’s slower, much more abstract, and at times, plain infuriating. But, give it a shot, and you just might enjoy this special treat.
10. Spelunky
If there’s any game that can be called timeless, its Spelunky.
This 2D platform game developed by Derek Yu takes you into the depths of the Earth, where you interact with the weirdest characters and scariest monsters. There are numerous puzzles, quizzes, and challenges that you need to play to get through the levels. But know this – no matter what you do or how well you play, your character will die.
Don’t let this sadden you, though. Death’s the best part. Every time your character dies, you get regenerated and thrown into a completely different level of the game – even the higher levels. You won’t know which level you’re in until you’re reborn.
The game also has a co-op mod that allows you to play with your friends.
11. My Friend Pedro
Video Source: Youtube
My Friend Pedro, by DeadToast Entertainment, has been one of the most-played shooting games in 2019. The game – which involves players gunning down (in slow-mo) deadly assassins in back alley brawls – is exciting, and has numerous levels of challenging games. The developers have provided quite a lot of ammo, vehicles, and other helpful objects, which gamers can use to complete levels.
The best part about this game is that it mixes the realistic with the surreal. Gamers play the role of the protagonist, whose job it is to kill the bad guys. You’re accompanied by your trusted partner – a talking banana (who’s probably Spanish). The game, with its slow-mo jumps, ballet-like bounces, and shootouts, is a feast for the eyes. The graphics are rich, background score engaging, and the voiceovers excellent.
A must-play.
12. Stardew Valley
Developed by Eric Barone, Stardew Valley is, first-and-foremost, a farming simulator game. But don’t let this fool you. There’s plenty of adventure, action, and craziness that’s to be had on a farm.
Gamers play the role of a young man who’s inherited his grandfather’s farm. Your job is to cultivate the farm and ensure a plentiful crop. You can do this by interacting with your neighbors, marrying daughters of rich estate owners (because who says no to free money?), and even mining for rare items in the village’s unexplored caves. At one point in the game, you’ll even have to battle slime-coated aliens who want to steal all that you’ve earned. At the same time, you’ll need to fend-off envious neighbors who want to usurp your farm.
This colorful game is full-of-flavor and is extremely addictive. With so many things to do and characters to meet, you won’t have time for anything else.
