Top 5 Indie Games [Best of 2021]
<p class="">There are two Australian developers on this list, and I point that out as a “hey, look how awesome Australian developers are doing” and not a “we are totally biased” way.</p>
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.
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5) The Artful Escape — Beethoven & Dinosaur
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. -
4) Chicory: A Colorful Tale — Greg Lobanov, Alexis Dean-Jones, Lena Raine, Madeline Berger, A Shell in the Pit
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. -
3) Kena: Bridge of Spirits — Ember Lab
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. -
2) Unpacking — Witch Beam
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. -
1) Death’s Door — Acid Nerve
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
[He/Him] Dylan Blight is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Explosion Network, an independent Australian publication covering video games, film, television and pop culture. Since founding Explosion Network in 2017, Dylan has written and produced reviews, news, interviews, features and podcasts across the entertainment industry, while overseeing the publication's editorial direction and content.
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Ashley Hobley
[He/Him] As the Executive Editor of Games & Entertainment, Ash uses his sharp-eye to oversee the majority of the editorial work coming out of the Explosion Network.
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Jacob Hegarty
I enjoy games, and spending time with my pets, I also love drawing, painting, and being creative.
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