Key Takeaways
- The Indie Game library offers unique experiences not found in AAA titles.
- The Plucky Squire, Untitled Goose Game, and Dredge showcase innovation and creativity in the Indie space.
- Roguelite Indie games like Dead Cells and Slay the Spire are tough but rewarding.
The Indie game library is the best place to go for titles that take risks and offer experiences you can’t find in the AAA space.
There’s a sea of incredible Indie games made by talented developers, but many miss the mark. If you want to play some guaranteed bangers, here are our picks for the best you can enjoy on PS Plus.
10 The Plucky Squire
Fresh Off The Press
The Plucky Squire is a brilliant dimension-bending adventure game that seamlessly merges 2D and 3D gameplay. It’s also arguably the prettiest game on the list, with attention to detail that brings the world to life.
You play as Jot, a hero, complete with his own book. His story takes an unseen turn when he’s pushed out of the book and into the real world, and thus the story begins.
There are plenty of games that combine perspectives, but I’ve never seen it done as well as it is here. There are also plenty of not-so-subtle nods to retro classics, like Punch Out.
The Plucky Squire is full of creative ideas and unique ways to bend the rules. This is a kid-friendly game with enough humor and puzzles for adults to enjoy, too. Platforming veterans may find the title a little easy, but it’s still worth playing for the spectacle.
9 Untitled Goose Game
A Bird With Attitude
The best Indie games often experiment with fresh concepts, and few are as wild as Untitled Goose Game.
Oddly enough, you play as a goose in Untitled Goose Game. You’re tasked with relieving the nearby townsfolk of their belongings. As you lack threatening appendages, like teeth, you must be smart about it.
There’s plenty of light puzzle-solving, and solutions are often charming and well-thought-out. It’s also surprisingly fun just vibing as a goose with a mean streak.
Untitled Goose Game even has co-op, and while it’s restricted to local play, it’s so much fun to unleash two-pronged schemes on hapless villagers.
If you’re after a superb puzzler with a unique approach, you will have a ton of fun playing as a feathered menace.
8 Dredge
You’ve Never Played A Fishing Game Like This
Dredge is what you get if you combine fishing with Lovecraftian horror. It’s a mixture that shouldn’t work, yet it’s a gripping and compelling adventure from start to finish.
Fishing is addictive as you can sell your catch and use the money to upgrade your boat and equipment. While Dredge has many hallmarks of a relaxed Fishing Sim, time is always against you.
Your catch will spoil if you leave it festering on the boat for too long, but your biggest worries come if you’re still on the water when the sun sets.
Those Lovecraftian horrors I mentioned will come for you if you’re still at sea during the night. Without delving into spoilers, there are even Eternal Darkness-style scares if you stay out too late.
Dredge doesn’t resort to cheap thrills, but it’s unnerving thanks to the superb world-building.
7 Hollow Knight
A Top-Tier Metroidvania
Hollow Knight likely needs no introduction, as it’s a stellar 2D game with a massive fan base.
As Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania, there’s a heavy emphasis on world-building and exploration. The world of Hallownest is bleak but oddly captivating, and you’ll enjoy discovering its secrets.
There’s a satisfying blend of puzzle-solving, combat, and plenty of collectibles to uncover. While there’s a lot to love in Hollow Knight, you will need your thinking cap on. It’s easy to get hopelessly lost in Hallownest, and there are few hints to show the way.
That said, exploration and discovery are the name of the game in Metroidvania’s, and it always feels rewarding when you finally figure out where to go next.
With the sequel, Silksong, just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to dive in and see what all the fuss is about.
6 Undertale
A Unique Spin On The RPG Genre
Undertale is an unforgettable RPG full of iconic characters, humor, and a unique approach to combat.
You can defeat opponents with a well-timed slash, but you can also attempt to talk yourself out of battle. If you know what to say, you can even beat bosses without resorting to violence.
There are multiple endings based on how you approach fights and a strong story influenced by your actions. Undertale isn’t afraid to tug at your heartstrings, either. Many of the characters are beautifully written, and you feel for their plight, even if they are more foes than friends.
This title left a real impression on me when I beat it for the first time, and considering the passionate fanbase, I’m not the only one.
The title is pretty short for an RPG, but if it draws you in, you will want to play multiple times for the different outcomes.
5 Slay the Spire
Laced With Strategy
Slay the Spire is an outstanding card-based Roguelite with a superb mix of strategy and play styles.
Deck building is ferociously addictive, and you can spend hours theory-crafting the perfect deck. There are multiple characters, each with a unique card pool, and every boss demands a different approach. Even the world map requires nuance and strategy. There are plenty of events outside card-based combat that force you to take risks.
Do you want to risk valuable HP for the chance at a rare card or Artifact? Should you remove cards from your deck at the shop to increase the odds of drawing things you want? There’s no “right” way to play Slay the Spire, and it’s one of the many reasons the game is so highly regarded in the genre.
Slay the Spire is arguably one of the most challenging games on this list, and you will fail many times before you score your first win. That said, the game is more about the journey than the destination, and you’ll get a little further on each attempt.
If you’re open to trying out a card-based game, you can’t do much better than this one.
4 Celeste
The Ultimate Platformer
Celeste is a beloved 2D adventure that will put your platforming skills to the ultimate test.
A mountain of fiendish jump puzzles and challenges stands between you and your destination. The intended route through each area will provide a solid workout, but the Strawberry collectathon will test even the most seasoned platforming veterans.
Unlike most 2D adventures, there’s no combat in Celeste, so your entire focus is on navigation and acrobatic prowess. Madeline is a surprisingly agile protagonist who can do everything from wall bounces to wave dashes. Navigation in Celeste is like an art form and rewards precision with a lofty skill ceiling.
The controls are so finely tuned that the title is even a hit with speedrunners. Records are coveted at the highest level of play, and the game has a ton of replayability for future playthroughs.
3 Dead Cells
An Action Packed Roguelite
Dead Cells is an impressive 2D Roguelite with tight controls and beautiful pixel art graphics.
There are well over 100 weapons to collect, and it will take dozens of hours to master them all. Combat is unforgiving and fast-paced, but you have the tools to remain unscathed.
With practice, you can effortlessly zip around maps, and there are multiple branching paths through the game.
Levels in Dead Cells are procedurally generated, which means no two rounds are the same. Your first few runs will be extremely short, but thanks to rewarding meta progression, you’re always getting stronger and unlocking new things.
Dead Cells is a tough nut to crack but satisfying if you stick with it through the rough early game.
2 Enter the Gungeon
Master The Dodge Roll
Enter the Gungeon is a fast-paced Roguelite with dozens of weapons, synergies, and a colorful cast of characters and bosses.
Every room in the Gungeon is like an arena where your shooting skills will be tested. You have a trusty dodge roll to avoid bullets and stages quickly become frantic battles for survival.
Enter the Gungeon doesn’t skimp on secrets, either. There are entire floors hidden behind obscure entry requirements complete with demanding boss encounters.
Like many Roguelites, Enter the Gungeon is ruthlessly tricky, and it will take many goes to claim your first win. If you want the true ending, you have to beat the game multiple times. Fortunately, you always unlock new gear and items to spice up future attempts.
While item synergies aren’t quite as fleshed out as in games like The Binding Of Isaac, there are some utterly busted combinations just waiting to be discovered.
1 Inscryption
Card Games, Horror, And So Much More
Inscryption is an atmospheric mixture of multiple genres. We have a bit of everything, from Card Games to Escape Room puzzles, and saying much more would be a disservice.
Inscryption is at its best when you don’t know what to expect, but the card game gives you a taste of what’s to come.
You play against a menacing figure who monitors your every move from the darkness. Every mistake is punished, and even your own cards make fun of you. There are plenty of bizarre mechanics you won’t find in any other game. You can even rip your own teeth out and use them as bargaining chips. It’s disgusting and horrific, and I’m absolutely here for it!
This game is perfect for Halloween and remains a must-play regardless of the season.
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