Top 13 Indie Games

Limbo

Limbo is an artistic indie game is about a boy traveling through Limbo while avoiding traps and attacks. This game is a 2D puzzle platformer. You do not have a set number of lives, so you try and die until you are able to progress. There are also many fan theories about the story behind the game and the meanings in the game but the creator is keeping quiet about the truth.This game is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, iOS, Android, and Wii U.

Super Meat Boy 

I did a full review on Super Meat Boy in a earlier post (Review: Super Meat Boy) but the short of the entire review is this game is a must play. Not too shabby for the team of 4 people who made this game.

Five Night At Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy's is extremely popular for it's scares. You play as an overnight security guard working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (think similar to Chuck E. Cheese) and must survive five nights. Animatronics walk around during the night and if they catch you they will kill you by shoving you inside an empty mechanical suit. This game is unique with its gameplay because you protect yourself by shutting the doors, turning on hall lights, and using the cameras to track the animatronics. If you use the items too much it will fully drain your power and you will be unable to use any of them resulting in no protection at all. This game spawned 3 sequels, an upcoming movie, and countless reaction videos on sites like YouTube. This game is available on PC, Android, and iOS.

 
Fez 

Fez is a 2D platformer sent in a 3D world. You can rotate the world to discover new paths, doors, and golden cubes. You must collect these cubes to progress to the next level. This game was most known for its rocky development which is chronicled in the move Indie Game: The Movie. This game is available on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, and Playstation Vita.

 
Minecraft

Minecraft is a game with no goals for the player to complete. This allows players the freedom of choosing how to play the game. Gameplay is first person, but players can switch to third person mode. You can build anything you want in this game with the cubes from the world. This game became a massive success and has spawned a large merchandise line, and a convention called MineCon. This game is available for PC, Android, Mac, iOS, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, and Playstation Vita.

Slender: The Eight Pages

Slender: The Eight Pages is a First Person Survival Horror game based on the Slender Man character from the Something Awful Internet forum. The player is given only a flashlight to see and Slender Man will occasionally appear in the player's view. Game over happens when the player has taken too long to find a note, the player stares at Slender Man for too long, or if Slender Man touches the player. Besides being know for the many reaction video on YouTube, and its scare factor, Slender Man is mostly known for being the inspiration for some recent violent crimes committed by teenage girls.

 
Braid 

Braid is a 2D platformer where you must rescue the princess from a monster. You must collect puzzle pieces and book pages to progress and learn the story of the game. What sets this game apart from other platformers is the ability to manipulate time to solve puzzles and to avoid death. Braid is actually the top rated Xbox Live Arcade game. If you like a great story and want a platformer with a twist, then this game is a must play. Braid is available on Xbox 360, PC, Mac, and Playstation 3 .

 
Ark Survival Evolved 

Ark: Survival Evolved is a Action-Adventure Survival game. The game is played a third person or first person view. Players use firearms and makeshift weapons to defend against other people and creatures. The game can be played either single player or multiplayer similar to a massive multiplayer game. This game is most know for the ability to tame and ride/utilize dinosaurs include the famous T-Rex. This game is now in early access for PC and Mac with Playstation 4 and Xbox One getting a release next year.

 
Shovel Knight 

Shovel Knight is a 2D side scrolling platformer. The game is presented in an 8-Bit style which adds to the nostalgic charm of the game. You play as Shovel Knight and you must beat the 8 bosses to reach the Tower of Fate to fight Enchantress. The game had a very successful Kickstarter campaign raising a total of over $300,000 when their goal was only $75,000. The game has received glowing reviews from many sources. Shovel Knight is available on PC, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Mac, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, and Xbox One. Some versions contain features unique to that console, such as bosses or areas.

 
Journey 

In Journey, the player controls a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. Other players on the same journey can be discovered, and two players can meet and aid each other, but they cannot communicate via speech or text and cannot see each other's names. This game was highly praised for its artistic direction and especially for its soundtrack. It was one of the fastest selling games on the Playstation Network and received numerous awards. Journey is available for Playstation 3 and Playstation 4.

Flower 

Flower is a visual poetry of a game. You start each level as a single petal in the breeze that as you blow by other flowers you collect more petals. Once you collect all the petals from an area, you will be directed to a new area. This game relies heavily on its visuals. This game is made by the same company that would go on to make Journey. In 2013, The Smithsonian American Art Museum added this game its permanent collection. Flower is available on the Playstation3, Playstation 4, and Playstation Vita.

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a dungeon crawler where you must clear each room of the monsters before moving on to the next room. This game is loosely based on the biblical story of the same name. The artist and designer behind this title is also the creator of Super Meat Boy. Binding of Isaac: Rebirth received glowing reviews and is available on PC, Mac, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, and Xbox One.

Angry Birds

The game that started the mobile gaming boom, and spawned numerous spin-offs and a sequel. If you haven't heard of this yet, you must be living under a rock. The concept is simple, launch birds with a slingshot to destroy the pigs. This game is available on iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PSP, Playstation 3, Playstation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, and Android.

Honorable Mention:

Flappy Bird

This game was famous for being notoriously hard and for the creator pulling the game from the app stores. This caused players to sell their phones on Ebay for thousands of dollars. This game was available on iOS and Android but there are still ways to find it if you really want it.