Indie or independent games have always existed, offering gamers some of the best stories, gameplay experiences, and memorable moments in the medium. Where big-budget, AAA titles have failed to capture the imagination and appreciation of gamers of late, indie games have been the saving grace of the industry.

It's incredibly difficult to crown a handful of titles "the best indie games of all time", but I've nonetheless tried to include 10 titles that deserve to be experienced by everyone. These titles have pushed the gaming medium forward, innovated on familiar tropes of the medium, and cemented a lasting presence in the hearts and minds of gamers. You'll probably find some of the most popular games missing from this list, but that's simply because I can't fit every indie gem in a single article.

10 Undertale (2015)

You decide how the story ends

To the uninitiated, Undertale might appear the same as countless other top-down RPGs. It is, in fact, one of the few masterpieces to come out in the last two decades. Undertale is a must-play for every gamer for a multitude of reasons, but the ones that matter the most are that it truly redefines player choice, reshapes the story and the ending based on your actions, and subverts traditional RPG mechanics in ingenious, humorous, and satisfying ways.

Created by a single developer (Toby Fox), Undertale features riveting gameplay, a memorable soundtrack, and characters that feel shockingly alive. If you have to choose one new game to play from this list, make it this one.

9 Celeste (2018)

Scale the mountain, defeat your fears

Celeste isn't an unknown entity by any means, but I felt compelled to include it on this list, as many gamers around me still haven't played it. Widely regarded as one of the greatest platformers ever, Celeste distinguishes itself due to the depth of its narrative, distinct visual flavor, amazing soundtrack, and challenging controls. Other games might excel in one of these areas, but Celeste manages to ace all of them.

It tells a tale of overcoming your inner demons, inspired by the personal experiences of the developers. The game was originally developed as a small project in a game jam in just four days, and you can actually play that original version inside the final game. Crowned the best indie game of 2018 at The Game Awards, and awarded for its soundtrack and impact, Celeste deserves to be at the top of your backlog.

8 Outer Wilds (2020)

A wild ride

You may or may not have heard of Outer Wilds, but it happens to be one of the most acclaimed games to come out in the last 10 years. Awarded "Best Game" at the BAFTA Games Awards 2020, Outer Wilds sets you on a journey of space exploration where you need to uncover the secrets of a solar system trapped in a time loop, figuring out its past and trying to find a way to save it from oblivion.

This is a game that eschews conventional game mechanics and objectives in favor of environmental storytelling, rewarding exploration, and asking deep existential questions. As the world around you evolves with each loop, the journey becomes more rewarding than the destination.

7 Shovel Knight (2014)

Dig in for endless fun

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is another excellent platformer made with a love for the retro 8-bit aesthetic. Featuring tight gameplay, memorable characters, an epic soundtrack, and a solid dash of humor, Shovel Knight feels like it's been plucked right out of the golden NES era. Easily one of the best games of the genre, its boss battles are some of its highlights, and its endless replayability is addictive.

If you are left wanting more once you finish the game, there are four expansions that bring more enjoyable content. Collected in the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove bundle, each of these content expansions is filled with the same charm and quality as the original game.

6 RimWorld (2018)

The simulator of simulators

As far as city/base builders go, RimWorld is in a league of its own. Designed to challenge you to adapt to the whims of the AI storyteller, it forces you to make tough choices as you strive to protect your colonists from whatever new calamity the storyteller cooks up. These chaotic events might not always be world-shattering in nature, but they ensure every playthrough feels unique.

The complex simulation mechanics and systems of the game are easy to pick up but hard to master, and you'll find people having spent thousands of hours in the game. RimWorld is one of the most unique gaming experiences you'll ever have, and that's why it deserves to be on this list.

5 Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)

Return to great storytelling

Return of the Obra Dinn is unique in many ways, from its monochrome art style to its intricately layered gameplay, forcing the player to dive headfirst into the fascinating tragedy at the core. As an insurance investigator, you're tasked with uncovering what happened to the Obra Dinn, a trade ship that mysteriously lost its crew on a voyage from London to the Orient, returning to port five years later.

Using logical deduction and exploration after boarding the ill-fated ship, you need to piece together clues about the fate of the ship as well as the crew members. The black-and-white gives the game a timeless look, while also imparting a haunting atmosphere to the narrative. Its narrative and art design have won numerous awards, showcasing the vision and meteoric talent of its single developer, Lucas Pope.

4 The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014)

You might not like the answers to this mystery

Many games on this list shine either due to the story, gameplay, or art design. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter makes this list due to its atmosphere. This is not to say the game doesn't look good or has a bad story. On the contrary, its narrative and visuals play a huge part in its success. However, the core of its appeal is still the mood of the game — unsettling, desolate, terrifying.

You will need to engage in some puzzle-solving to progress the narrative, but the game's focus is never to use difficulty to keep you engaged. The deep mystery of the story and the immersive world around you are enough to keep you hooked. It won the "Game Innovation" award at the 2015 BAFTA Games Awards, and was universally praised for heralding a new age of environmental storytelling.

3 Journey (2020)

A voyage inward

When I first played Journey a few years ago, I knew five minutes into the game that I was in the presence of something special. The game took its time to guide me through its visual language and allowed me to absorb its message organically, not relying on overt clues or exposition. On the surface, it is a simple adventure game where you solve a few puzzles on the way to the final destination of the protagonist.

However, you'll soon realize that even without dialogue, objectives, or traditional progression, Journey is weaving a brilliant narrative through its visuals, music, and minimalist player interaction. It's no hyperbole to say that Journey transcends the medium and becomes something that even non-gamers should try at least once. Hence, its place on this list.

2 Hypnospace Outlaw (2019)

Police the virtual streets of the '90s internet

If you're a fan of games that transport you to a familiar past, Hypnospace Outlaw should be on your list. Set in an over-the-top version of the '90s internet, it's a "cyber sleuthing" game where you have to go after wrongdoers guilty of crimes like copyright infringement, internet bullying, phishing scams, spamming, doxxing, and more.

You'll be treated to the glorious days of the early internet, where you can customize your desktop, download apps that you might or might not need, and hunt for weird secrets in the seedy underbelly of the virtual streets. If nothing else, Hypnospace Outlaw is a singular experience that can only be had in a video game.

1 Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)

Descend into madness

The survival horror genre saw a tectonic shift in 2010 with Amnesia: The Dark Descent, as it introduced landmark innovations that influenced countless other horror titles to come. A strong focus on psychological terror instead of jump scares and diminished player ability when defending against supernatural threats were the highlights of the game.

The player's sanity meter dropping when staring at monsters or staying in the dark too long emphasizes the vulnerability of the player in the face of terrible evil. Drop the meter too much and the screen will start shaking, and the sounds will become scarier, amplifying the terror. Amnesia: The Dark Descent uses the player's imagination against them and tells a masterful story steeped in guilt, corruption, despair, and redemption.

There's a treasure trove of indie games to explore

Indie games undoubtedly offer some of the best gaming experiences for players willing to find time away from big-budget games. Whenever you find yourself with nothing to play, find a worthy indie title and gift yourself with some of the most memorable moments of your gaming journey. The titles on this list are just 10 of the hundreds of indie gems waiting to be explored, appreciated, and championed.