The world of indie gaming has always been a vast and varied one, gifting us memorable experiences often in as short as four or five hours. 2023 has given us so many fantastic indie titles like Cassette Beasts, DREDGE, Oxenfree II, Pizza Tower, Sea of Stars, and Cocoon.
Now, it’s 2024’s turn to wow us with all the clever, unique, and innovative ideas indie game developers have in store for us. From sequels to treasured indie hits, to new IPs from beloved developers, to new games from new teams hoping to stand out in the industry, all these indie games coming in 2024 and beyond deserve a place on your wishlist.
1. Retrowave World
Developer: RewindApp
Publisher: RewindApp
Release Date: Jan 19, 2024
Retrowave World looks to be a superlative open world version of the game Retrowave, an indie racing game drenched with 80s aesthetic and synthwave music. As both games were developed by RewindApp, Retrowave World promises to double down on the futuristic 80s escapism, living in a world filled with neon lights and nostalgia.
With over 50 different synthwave tracks, and palm trees and supercars everywhere, Retrowave World allows players to customize their cars and drive through the different worlds, visit the VHS store, play games at the arcade, make deliveries, earn money, challenge other players to races, and more.
It all seems like a dream come true for any 80s nerd out there, especially lovers of synth music like The Midnight, GUNSHIP, and FM-84. 80s nostalgia isn’t dying any time soon, and Retrowave World looks to be a fantastic way to get that hit.
2. Pacific Drive
Developer: Ironwood Studios
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Release Date: Feb 22, 2024
“You and the car are inseparable now,” says a voice in Pacific Drive’s teaser. “So get acquainted.” A story-rich first-person survival game, Pacific Drive has you driving across a surreal reimagining of the Pacific Northwest, one that’s filled with eerie happenings and supernatural dangers.
You’ll have to drive like hell to make it through alive — your car is your lifeline, and while you do get out and walk around from time to time, you’re much more vulnerable when you’re not in the driver’s seat. Luckily, the game allows you to customize your ride, experiment with different car parts, and upgrade how you see fit.
The game also features music by Wilbert Roget II, whom you might recognize from his work in Call of Duty: WWII and Mortal Kombat 1. It all looks like intriguing, mysterious stuff, reminiscent of shows like Wayward Pines. While I’d hate to take this road trip in real life, it’s one I’m looking forward to experiencing virtually.
3. Loco Motive
Developer: Robust Games
Publisher: Chucklefish
Release Date: Q1 2024
Set onboard a 1930s express train, Loco Motive is a point-and-click mystery about a murder taking place on the Reuss Express and the strange and quirky passengers who all could be suspects. The obvious inspiration here is Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. However, Loco Motive takes a more comedic and upbeat approach as the game aims to make you smile and laugh as much as it wants to intrigue and thrill you.
Point-and-clicks are rather infamous for having extremely difficult puzzles with nonsensical solutions, but this game promises to offer puzzles that, while challenging, won’t leave you head-scratching for hours. There’s also an in-game hint system you can use if you need a little nudge in the right direction.
Add the terrific voice acting and endearing pixel art style, and Loco Motive may well be the next fan favorite for players of the niche genre.
4. Hauntii
Developer: Moonloop Games LLC
Publisher: Firestoke
Release Date: Q2 2024
Twin-stick shooters have never looked or felt this haunting. Hauntii follows a brave ghost named Hauntii, who must explore open-ended environments to uncover the story of her past life. Whichever path you take, there’ll always be something around the corner, waiting to be discovered.
Hauntii’s beautiful visuals alone make for a hypnotizing offering, but the soundtrack sounds downright ethereal as well, creating a gripping atmosphere as the player roams this spirit world in a quest to discover their past.
A mixture of combat and puzzle challenges, Hauntii might join the likes of Limbo, Inside, and Little Nightmares as breathtakingly eerie games with a heavy emphasis on a slow burn pace and contemplative atmosphere. It’s an intriguing tone considering the usual fast pace of twin-stick shooters, but it also makes it a quick standout in the genre and an experience well worth looking forward to.
5. Thrasher
Developer: Puddle
Publisher: Creature
Release Date: 2024
2016’s Thumper is one of the coolest games on the planet, indie or otherwise. A rhythm game filled with psychedelic visuals and intense music, the reception of the game was overwhelmingly positive, boasting an 84 on Metacritic.
Of course, the announcement of a spiritual sequel called Thrasher would make fans ecstatic, and Thrasher looks to be another mind-melting game from artist and composer Brian Gibson, offering a trippy and hypnotizing audiovisual experience unlike anything else.
Considering Thumper’s popularity in VR mode, though, Thrasher is planned to launch first as a VR game, with a traditional version coming later down the road. Using gestural controls to evolve your space eel from worm to mega beast, this is another fast-paced rhythm title that pushes players to their limit and challenges them to degrees of breakneck speed.
6. The Plucky Squire
Developer: All Possible Futures
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Release Date: 2024
Everything about The Plucky Squire looks straight-up enchanting. Taking place inside a storybook whose villain is hell-bent on changing the ending, the game follows Joy and his friends as they jump in and out of the book and between 2D and 3D worlds to save their storybook and restore their happy ending.
It’s a plot straight out of a Disney movie, and everything about the game’s marketing makes it clear the developers truly want to capture that childlike wonder with its bright colors, friendly character designs, and stunning worlds.
The Plucky Squire looks just about as innocent and spirited as its title character and is sure to bring out the inner child of any adult playing. Hopefully, there’s a good level of difficulty here similar to the Mario games because this seems like one of those games you’ll be replaying over and over again.
7. Pepper Grinder
Developer: Ahr Ech
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Release Date: 2024
Have you ever wanted to move around the Earth like a dolphin? Well, the 2D action game Pepper Grinder will finally allow you to live out that dream. The game centers around a seafarer named Pepper who gets her treasure stolen after a nasty shipwreck.
Luckily, she’s got Grinder, her super-powered drilling device, and together, they’ll dive in and out of the earth like a dolphin swims through water to reclaim her treasure and even collect other riches during the adventure.
It’s a delightfully silly premise, but the game is no joke, requiring precise movements, quick finger movements, and smart leaps if you want to be able to beat the game. The trailer boasts rich levels with fast-paced obstacles and challenging boss fights, and all that digging, exploring, and grinding looks absolutely addictive. The game also boasts luscious colors with its charming pixel art and character designs, making Pepper Grinder an indie title to watch for 2024.
8. Pixelshire
Developer: Kappa Bits
Publisher: Merge Games
Release Date: 2024
Pixelshire looks so sweet and relaxing, it could easily earn a place alongside beloved cozy games like Stardew Valley and Littlewood. Breathe life into the town of Pixelshire by building and growing the town, designing it to your liking, mastering trades, growing friendships with your neighbors, and exploring the rich continent of Arcadia.
With procedurally generated islands and a large cast of characters you can befriend and help out, Pixelshire feels like a warm hug of a game. There’s a reason why cozy gaming has gotten so popular as of late. That’s because with how busy and stressful life can get, it’s nice to just play an easy and non-demanding game where you grow plants, build items, and interact with nice people. Pixelshire might be the next farming sim title to take over your life.
9. Harold Halibut
Developer: Slow Bros.
Publisher: Slow Bros.
Release Date: 2024
Stop-motion animation is a miracle to pull off regardless of whether you’re making a short, movie, or in Harold Halibut’s case, video game. You certainly don’t come across a stop-motion video game every day, and Harold Halbut’s animation looks utterly stunning, with several moments in the trailer making you wonder how they were able to animate such a scene.
Gameplay-wise, the game is a story-rich walking simulator following Harold, a young lab assistant living in a spaceship that’s spent 250 years in space trying to find a habitable planet to preserve the human race.
With a variety of unique characters and full voice acting, Harold Halibut promises a captivating and emotional cinematic storyline about friendship and the true meaning of home. This definitely looks like an interesting story, and the medium of video games could elevate the storytelling and have us greatly connect with the characters and their quest to find a home.
10. Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Release Date: TBC 2024
A sequel to one of the most praised indie games of the 2020s, Hades II is probably the most anticipated indie game release of next year, as it’s set to enter Early Access in early 2024. While delays can happen, Supergiant Games would be wise to walk the line between long enough that the game is given due attention, and short enough that the fan base doesn’t get frustratingly exhausted from waiting.
Based on the announcement trailer, the gameplay looks largely similar to the original, but Supergiant does promise a bigger, deeper mythic world and an all-new action-packed experience.
It’s everything that made the first game such a hit but doubled down. That should excite Hades fans as the game was already a perfect roguelike — it was deliriously challenging, packed with content, and endlessly replayable with no two playthroughs alike. Supergiant has yet to miss with successes like Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre under their belt, and Hades II could be another incredible title from them.
11. World of Goo 2
Developer: 2D Boy & Tomorrow Corporation
Publisher: TBA
Release Date: 2024
It’s World of Goo 2, it’s World of Goo 2 just for me! Back in 2008, the original World of Goo was an early example of an indie game becoming a big hit, largely thanks to its release on the Wii. With the player using balls of goo to create bridges over obstacles and such, the simple yet addictive gameplay was perfect for the Wii’s pointer functionality.
Original game developers 2DBoy are still the team for this one (teaming up with Tomorrow Corporation, developers of Little Inferno) and have stated that this is the “biggest game” they’ve ever made, which only makes the wait even more exciting.
Based on the reveal trailer, the game looks to be a bigger, brighter, and better extension of the first game, and while this sequel probably (and sadly) won’t be getting a Wii release, we’re happy to finally be returning to the world of World of Goo, 15 years later.
12. Billie Bust Up
Developer: Giddy Goat Games
Publisher: Humble Games
Release Date: TBA
Between this, Mouse, Enchanted Portals, and Galaxi Taxi, Cuphead is shaping up to be not just one of the most successful, but also one of the most influential indie games of all time. However, nobody could call Billie Bust Up a Cuphead clone as the title’s a 3D platformer with gameplay more akin to Super Mario Galaxy and Castle of Illusion.
The game’s a musical too, of all things. The battles are platforming rhythm-based challenges, and each main character has their own signature song composed by Emmy-nominated musician Daniel Ingram, known for his work as the songwriter of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
The game even comes with an optional sing-a-long mode for every song, and given how catchy the Friendship is Magic songs are, that mode is sure to be used by the majority of players. Just about everything about this platformer sets itself up to be an instant cult favorite.
13. Paralives
Developer: Paralives Studio
Publisher: Paralives Studio
Release Date: TBA
Winner of the 2020 Most Anticipated Canadian Game, Paralives looks to be the long-overdue worthy competitor to The Sims franchise. With an emphasis on being a realistic life sim, the game allows players to create their Parafolk, build their dream homes, take care of their pets, grow their careers, make friends, explore hobbies, and more.
It’s an open world with opportunities for adventure and fun just around every corner. Because the game was funded through the crowdfunding platform Patreon, designer Alex Massé encouraged backers to offer ideas and suggestions to really make Paralives the great life simulator it deserves to be.
Will it be enough to overtake the popularity of The Sims? Probably not considering the magnitude of that franchise’s fame, but it might be enough to offer a distinct (and possibly even better) alternative.
14. REPLACED
Developer: Sad Cat Studios
Publisher: Coatsink
Release Date: TBA
We told you 80s nostalgia wasn’t dying anytime soon. REPLACED is a 2.5D sci-fi platformer set in an alternative retro-futuristic 1980s, one filled with neon lights, robots, and high-tech transportation. Just from visuals alone, REPLACED is dazzling with its detailed pixel art and Blade Runner-esque set designs, but the gameplay looks riveting as well, with exciting action and combat, and intriguing storytelling.
The player plays as R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body, striving to adjust to human life in Phoenix-City where everything is ruled by corruption and greed, and humans and their organs are seen as nothing more than currency.
Dystopian societies set in cyberpunk cities certainly aren’t anything new to the sci-fi genre, but REPLACED looks so rich with lore and detail. With so much care put into its presentation, there’s no way you should be missing out on such a clear passion project.
15. Scarlet Deer Inn
Developer: Attu Games
Publisher: Attu Games
Release Date: TBA
Narrative indie platformers are a dime a dozen these days — this list alone has multiple of them. However, Scarlet Deer Inn has one thing that very much makes it stand out, not just from other 2D platformers but animation in general: all the character images were embroidered.
Seeing the process of how the designers were able to achieve such an animation style is quite mesmerizing, and the backgrounds are beautifully hand-painted as well, but the game doesn’t just promise impressive visuals.
Drawing inspiration from Studio Ghibli titles, Scarlet Deer Inn offers a grand medieval fantasy filled with colorful characters and unforgettable stories. The music was also done by the husband-and-wife design team themselves, utilizing traditional instruments such as the flute and mandolin to capture that folklore atmosphere. With such a luscious art style and soundtrack, Scarlet Deer Inn is setting itself up to be a transporting fantasy experience.
16. Bits & Bops
Developer: Tempo Lab Games
Publisher: Tempo Lab Games
Release Date: TBA
Bits & Bops is another soon-to-be-released rhythm game, but unlike Thrasher, this one aims to enchant through cute and funny visuals rather than kaleidoscopic ones. With charming hand-drawn animation and humorous scenarios for its stages, this collection of over 20 rhythm minigames ranges from trying to take a picture of a seal playing with a ball to helping a robot and his backup dancers breakdance in time to the beat.
The trailer alone is unbelievably charming, and one minigame playthrough is sure to be enough to brighten up your day. The game also promises catchy and upbeat original tunes, as well as fun gameplay that’s simple enough for anyone to learn, so this should be an obvious buy for anyone who shares their Switch or Deck with friends or family.
Hilarious and exciting, Bits & Bops looks to be a fast winner for any rhythm game lover.
17. Mina the Hollower
Developer: Yacht Club Games
Publisher: Yacht Club Games
Release Date: TBA
From the team that brought us Shovel Knight comes Mina the Hollower, another 2D platformer that boasts great pixel art, addictive gameplay, and fun music. Following Mina, a renowned Hollower on a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island filled with a cast of bizarre characters, the game doesn’t seem too far off from the look and style of Shovel Knight but has enough to keep it its own thing.
From the trailers, the game utilizes an angled top-down perspective and looks to prioritize exploration within levels rather than just mostly straight-forward paths, almost like Shovel Knight meeting Hyper Light Drifter.
Luckily, the Yacht Club Games title still has that awesome 8-bit-inspired aesthetic and soundtrack, and the difficulty still appears to be greatly challenging but not unfairly so. If the screen was narrower, you might fool some people into thinking this was a Game Boy release.
18. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Release Date: TBA
Call us optimistic fools, but surely a release can’t be too far off from now, right? The sequel to 2017’s hit Metroidvania Hollow Knight, Hollow Knight: Silksong was announced back in 2019. Team Cherry announced back in May 2023 that the game was originally planned for a release in the first half of 2023, but development is still continuing.
Still, it’s also quite comforting knowing Team Cherry is putting in the time and effort to make this game as terrific a sequel as it can be. Hollow Knight was a near-perfect game, with mesmerizing worldbuilding and just the right level of difficulty.
If Silksong manages to capture that atmosphere and addictiveness, as well as make the world even more of a blast to explore, the sequel is sure to be a quick pick as one of the best indie games of the year — whichever year it releases, of course.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: watch it end up on next year’s list as well…)
19. Troubleshooting
Developer: JAM😄RASCALS
Publisher: JAM😄RASCALS
Release Date: TBA
We all remember how messy and confusing computers were in the early 2000s, especially when it was a shared family computer and your sibling seemed obsessed with downloading new custom cursors and browser toolbars every week. What if an FPS was set inside such a computer filled with sketchy files and disorganized folders? Now, that’s a creative game.
Troubleshooting has you playing as a JPEG on a quest to save a computer by hunting viruses, as the antivirus hasn’t been updated in 527 days. Throughout, you’ll fix the Wi-Fi, organize the messy desktop, make friends with files, and more.
It’s part action and part puzzle, but the best part about it is how humorous it all seems. Troubleshooting looks to be a fine example of how to do a funny game right, where jokes and gameplay complement each other rather than get in each other’s way.
20. SCHiM
Developer: Ewoud van der Werf
Publisher: Extra Nice, PLAYISM
Release Date: TBA
A schim is the soul and spirit of a thing or being that should never be separated from their thing. In this game, you need to get your separated schim back before it’s too late. There’s a catch, though: your schim can only travel through shadows, which means you’ll have to jump from shadow to shadow in large 3D environments to travel if you don’t want to lose your schim forever.
It’s such a neat and interesting concept, and we can’t wait to see how well it’s executed once the game releases. The 3D environments themselves look wonderful, boasting a unique look from the crowded indie platformer genre, and how well the colors and style complement the gameplay makes things even better.
These are the kinds of experiences you only get from indie games, making SCHiM a highly anticipated release for just about any puzzle platformer fan.
READ NEXT: 20 Best Sega Saturn Games of All Time
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.
