Collage of standout indie games from 2021

There are two Australian developers on this list—called out as a “hey, look how awesome Australian developers are doing,” not a “we are totally biased” thing.
Here are our picks for the Best Indie Games of 2021.

  1. 5) The Artful Escape — Beethoven & Dinosaur

    Psychedelic stage vista from The Artful Escape

    Once a failed Kickstarter, Melbourne studio Beethoven & Dinosaur rode an Annapurna partnership to create one of the year’s most unique works:
    an interactive concept album/space-rock odyssey about identity, legacy, and letting your inner shredder loose. As a debut, it’s wild, confident, and
    pure medium-bending joy.

    — Dylan Blight

  2. 4) Chicory: A Colorful Tale — Greg Lobanov, Alexis Dean-Jones, Lena Raine, Madeline Berger, A Shell in the Pit

    Hand-painted world from Chicory: A Colorful Tale

    Whimsical on the surface, profound underneath: Chicory mixes inventive paint-based puzzling with tender writing about self-doubt,
    burnout, and community. New mechanics keep the brushwork fresh, while its food-named folks make the world irresistibly cozy.

    — Wil James

  3. 3) Kena: Bridge of Spirits — Ember Lab

    Kena stands with the Rot in a lush forest

    A striking debut that feels like stepping into a Pixar-worthy fable—vibrant, heartfelt, and steeped in spiritual lore. Combat could be sleeker,
    but the art, pacing, and worldbuilding shine, carried by the adorable yet crucial Rot companions.

    — Jacob Hegarty

  4. 2) Unpacking — Witch Beam

    Pixel-art apartment mid-unpack with boxes and keepsakes

    From Brisbane’s Witch Beam, a tender, wordless biography told through belongings. What sounds mundane becomes quietly
    transcendent—each move revealing a life’s shifts in love, career, taste, and self. Small team, huge heart, unforgettable payoff.

    — Dylan Blight

  5. 1) Death’s Door — Acid Nerve

    Isometric combat scene from Death’s Door

    From a two-person studio (!), a polished, tightly designed action-adventure that looks, sounds, and plays like a much bigger production.
    Focused ideas, expressive art direction, crisp combat—every piece feels honed to a fine edge. Whatever Acid Nerve does next, we’re in.

    — Dylan Blight