It's true that some of the best experiences to be had in video games are housed within AAA games. The games have the scale and budget to bring players into these massive worlds, with gameplay and cinematics that push graphics cards to their limit.

However, AAA games aren't the exclusive home to the best experiences in video games. In fact, there's a wide variety of indie games that are so good, they can make you forget about AAA games all together. They're cheaper, easier on your PC, and in many cases, arguably better than any AAA experience out there today.

In no particular order, here are just 15 examples of indie games on PC that can make you forget about AAA games entirely.

15 Hades

Getting into Hell is easy; getting out, though? Not as much.

Starting off incredibly strong, Hades is arguably the best game from developer Supergiant, which is saying something since they're the rare example of a studio that has yet to release a bad game. Hades is so mechanically tight, with high-octane gameplay that'll keep you gripping your controller, bewildered when you finally look at the clock and realize five hours have gone by.

Then you'll shrug, look back at your screen, and keep playing. Because beyond the gameplay being so fun and addictive, Hades seamlessly weaves a strong narrative, with characters that'll keep you coming back to the game long after you've successfully completed a run. Hades isn't just one of the best rougelikes to ever grace the genre, it's flat out one of the best video games ever made.

14 Stardew Valley

Defeat capitalism with cozy vibes.

Keeping it going with another one of the best games ever made, just in a totally different vein, is Stardew Valley. This game has everything. It's perhaps the most relaxing farming-sim ever, while also being a beautiful game to look at with stellar pixel art, music that makes you feel like you're floating, and a sprinkle of dungeon crawling, just for kicks.

There's a reason why Stardew Valley is a common sight on any list that looks to name some of the best games ever, whether that list is relegated to just indie games or even if it includes AAA titles. You can get lost in Stardew for hundreds of hours and still find new reasons to come back even after you think you're done with it.

13 Neon White

Heaven is a trip.

It probably wouldn't have been your first guess that one of the best FPS experiences in games would be a card shooter that mixes in intricate, twitchy 3D platforming. With a dash of a relationship sim added in for good measure. Neon White just defies expectations like that.

Easily one of the best shooters/platformers to release in recent memory, Neon White is the perfect game for anyone who loves to chase S-rank for every level. The excellent soundtrack will lock you right into a flow state where the rest of the world melts away, all paired with a stunning art style and unique premise, landing Neon White as a must-play game from the last decade. Pro tip: play it with headphones on if you can.

12 The Long Dark

Survive the quiet apocalypse.

You might think that big, open-world survival games with complex systems and a brutally challenging survival system is the kind of game you'd only see from bigger studios and developers. Developer Hinterland Studio proves that thesis flat out wrong with The Long Dark.

One of the best survival games on the market today, anyone who is a fan of survival games would be remiss if they didn't add The Long Dark to their library immediately.

11 Sifu

Revenge can take a lifetime.

Developer Sloclap's martial arts game Sifu is the kind of game you play when you want to put yourself in the center of a classic martial arts movie. A tale of revenge, this action roguelike tests you to become a true martial arts master, with limited permanent upgrades pushing you to lock in and simply improve with each run.

Played across five stages, you'll start as a young 20-year-old looking for revenge on the people who killed your family. Every time you die, you're brought back to life, but you're a little older. Eventually, you'll be too old to be brought back, but with age comes wisdom and strength since each blow you deliver deals more damage.

Not only does Sifu have a wickedly cool premise, but it's also oozing with style and overflowing with deep, substantial gameplay to match.

10 Slay the Spire

The best of deck-builders, rougelikes, and dungeon crawlers in one package.

If you know anything about indie games, there are a few titles you'd probably expect to see on a list like this. Stardew Valley is probably one of those games. Slay the Spire is definitely another. Developer Mega Crit Games created the quintessential deck-building rougelike that quickly onboards you and gets you into the action with its easy to pick up, and difficult-to-master gameplay.

Even if you're not the biggest fan of card games, Slay the Spire is worth a look because of how wonderfully fun it is to play and its exceptionally tight mechanics. It's a perfect blend of multiple genres that absolutely shouldn't be ignored.

9 Undertale

A masterpiece like no other.

Undertale isn't just an excellent indie game. Like other entries on this list, it's a game that would be included on a list of 'the best games of all time.' Not for its exceptionally tight mechanics or stunning graphics. But because there's no other RPG quite like Undertale, with writing and interactions that weave gameplay and storytelling together to create an experience that is absolutely unforgettable.

Technically speaking, everyone's appreciation and understanding of art is subjective. But if you play Undertale and don't walk away from it, understanding it to be a masterpiece, then I'd advise you to try again.

8 Hollow Knight

The essential Metroidvania.

The anticipation people have for Hollow Knight: Silksong, the follow-up to Team Cherry's Hollow Knight should be enough to tell you how much of an impact Hollow Knight has had on the industry since it launched back in 2017. A stunning, hand-drawn, action-platforming Metroidvania, Hollow Knight excels in everything it is trying to do. Yes, it can be extremely difficult at times, and it is not the kind of game that will hold your hand at any point.

But it repays your dedication to overcoming its challenges with exhilarating gameplay, the likes of which you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. It remains one of the best examples of how indie games can pack a far greater punch than AAA games at a fraction of the cost.

7 Celeste

Just start climbing, Madeline.

Continuing with another wickedly difficult game, Celeste might not look like much, but it's one of the best 2D platformers in the entire genre. And yes, that includes classic Mario titles. Celeste might be standing on the shoulders of the genre that Nintendo founded, but from there, it excels beyond anything Nintendo has released.

Not only is Celeste a perfectly executed platforming masterpiece, but at its core is an emotional, well-written, and ultimately uplifting story that once again wonderfully weaves narrative and gameplay together. The music is just as unforgettable, and as a whole package, Celeste is simply a must-play game.

6 Tunic

Step aside Link, there's a new fox in town.

Another edition by an indie developer showing Nintendo up at their own game, Tunic, is probably the best Zelda game not called Zelda. It's a musical adventure with a beautiful art style, while being equal parts challenging and joyful to play as you uncover its many, many layers.

Tunic is constantly referencing the old-school adventure games from the NES and SNES days, especially with its unique approach to the player's map and journal. It'll give you nostalgic vibes for the kinds of games you might've played when you were a kid while also elevating adventure games beyond what they've grown to be, even with new modern standards.