As always, there were many fantastic indie games released in 2024, and unlike last year, we didn’t have to argue about whether a game “looking indie” meant that it was an indie game. If you look at the list below, you’ll find some of the most innovative releases from the past year and some of the most addicting games we spent a bunch of time playing.

Here are our picks for the best indie games released in 2024.

10.) Wild Bastards

Following up Void Bastards, the sequel, Wild Bastards, is a different take on the rogue-FPS combat. There’s a gameboard map you move around, character and team-building elements, and all of it is important to pay attention to prior to jumping into any planet’s surfaces and ending up in some FPS combat in a 2.5D world. The art and mix of humour here are similar to Void Bastards and are well worth exploring for the first time or if you liked that game.

— Dylan Blight

9.) Anger Foot

In Anger Foot, there are weapons, but it’s a game about kicking harder than anything else, with your sneakers affecting your gameplay and proving to be the strongest weapons you have access to in the game. It’s ridiculous, but it’s both a lot of fun to play and a great one to watch friends play as well.

— Dylan Blight

8.) Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

I played Duck Detective: The Secret Salammi in one afternoon, and it was just a blessing out of nowhere. It has a cast of adorable animals, a simple mystery at the centre, and puzzles that give me just enough thought to keep me engaged at all times. It was one of my biggest surprises in 2024 and one of the best indie games of 2024.

— Dylan Blight

7.) Thank Goodness You’re Here

In this absurd game, you’ll laugh, be confused, laugh some more and then wonder what the hell is even happening. But it’s the excentric village of characters, absurdist mini-games and comedy styling that seem inspired by the best of Monty Python to deliver one of the wildest games to release in 2024 and an exciting release from developer Coal Supper, in the first ‘big’ game, and publisher Panic, who is becoming something of a go-to publisher for weird and funny games.

— Dylan Blight

6.) Neva

One of the most stunning games ever, Neva draws the attention of anyone who enters the room and sees you playing it—gamers or not. The story follows a young woman and a wolf as they grow together and survive against darkness taking over the forest around them. It’s simple, but the bond is a highlight of the year.

— Dylan Blight

5.) UFO 50

A unique title of fifty-one different games and a favourite of the Steam Deck community. A treasure chest of retro games that are quirky, fun, and creative. The games range from platformers to RPGs and shoot-‘em ups. There is also a bunch of two-player games to enjoy with friends. No matter what you’re looking for, UFO 50 will have something to love.

— Jacob Hegarty

4.) The Plucky Squire

If The Plucky Squire was just set in the beautiful 2D storybook world of the game, it would be one of the best-looking indie games of the year. If The Plucky Squire was just on the beautiful 3D child’s table of the game, it would be one of the best-looking indie games of the year. That the game is able to seamlessly transition between the two is astonishing to say the least. With the addition of some challenging puzzle solving, interesting boss encounters and a fun story on top of that, The Plucky Squire is another example of what Australian game developers are capable of.

— Ashley Hobley

3.) Arco

The mix of an RPG adventure, turn-based real-time combat, and truly stunning pixel artwork made for one of the year’s most exciting indie games. The story is deep and very affectionate, breaking down an Indigenous story in a way that I’ve never seen in a game before.

— Dylan Blight

2.) KILL KNIGHT

One of the most challenging and addictive twin-stick shooters of 2024 was KILL KNIGHT. It takes a little bit for your brain to kick into gear with this one. Still, when you get into the rhythm of using melee weapons to gain ammo, blocking to trigger massive counter acts and blasting foes with one of the game’s many guns, it makes for some of the year’s most exciting and thrilling gameplay.

— Dylan Blight

1.) Balatro

No other game this year has such an incredible success rate of turning naysayers into addicts. You only need to see the social media posts of those disparaging Balatro‘s Game of The Year nomination at the Game Awards, only to turn around days later and say “Sorry, I wasn’t familiar with your game”. This poker rogue-lite is incredibly addictive with that urge for one more run. A simple concept executed perfectly and playable anywhere and everywhere created by an anonymous solo developer. Incredible. Now, its time for one more run…

— Ashley Hobley

Check out the rest of our Best of 2024 coverage over here now!