Indie Games
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a 2016 farm life sim video game developed by Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone. Players take the role of a character who inherits their deceased grandfather's dilapidated farm in a place known as Stardew Valley. The game was released for Windows in February 2016, before being ported to other platforms.
Play Now Watch GamePlayDead Cells
Dead Cells is a 2018 roguelike-Metroidvania game developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire, and published by Motion Twin. The player takes the role of an amorphous creature called the Prisoner. As the Prisoner, the player must fight their way out of a diseased island in order to slay the island's King.
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Palworld
Palworld, a sort of Pokemon PC game with guns and Ark survival mechanics, was an instant hit, smashing player number records in its first week of release. Made by PocketPair Inc, the Japanese developer behind the comparatively unknown Craftopia, Palworld provided an unexpected start to 2024, met with controversy and criticism over its similarities to other games, as well as unmitigated popularity. It seems the survival game offers Pokemon fans what they’ve always wanted in all the ways Palword differs from Pokemon itself.
Play Now Watch GamePlayValheim
Valheim’s enchanting visual style and dreamlike Norse setting set it apart from the pack of co-op survival games. The survival mechanics are comparatively forgiving, so you can raise mead halls and roundhouses in relative tranquillity, watching the sunset wash across the sky as the mist rolls in.
Vikings in search of a challenge, though, can set sail across the procedurally generated wilderness, trudging through swamps and scrambling over freezing mountains to defeat a series of Valheim bosses in order to bring home hordes of trophies and gold. Just don’t forget that boar loves you.
Terraria
This sandbox game hasn’t slowed in popularity since it arrived as the ‘2D Minecraft’ back in 2011. Mainly, you’re never short of something to do in this spellbinding indie game. You can make your own objectives by setting objectives, such as building Terraria houses, fighting one of the many Terraria bosses, or even exploring the depths of the deadly dungeons.
Completing goals unlocks NPCs and you essentially build your own village to house them, with each NPC providing different benefits, such as a Wizard for potions or a Nurse for healing. If you reach the end, no problem, there’s an expert level that adds even more bosses, enemies, biomes, and items. Though Terraria certainly isn’t as relaxing as its blocky comparison, you can always try a spot of Terraria fishing to ease you in.