indie games

Small studio creations

Indie games are video games developed by individuals or small studios without major publisher backing.

The term emphasizes creative independence—freedom from corporate pressure to follow trends or maximize profit.

Indie games often feature experimental gameplay, distinctive art styles, or personal storytelling: I've been playing a lot of indie games lately.

The category ranges from solo passion projects to modest commercial releases.

Related

prototyping · visual novels · multiplayer · minimalist design · homebrew · Undertale · cult following · platformer · passion project · game jam · retro aesthetics · interactive storytelling · collaborative projects · playtesting · survival horror · developer · publishing · retro

Categories
Opposites
production scale and budget

indie gamesAAA games

High-budget mainstream video productions

Family

games, independent

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G