Best Indie Games You Must Play in 2025

The cool breeze of the year’s end marks the perfect moment to celebrate the indie games that shaped 2025. As we move closer to 2026, the indie scene across the SEA region continues to shine bright with developers pouring passion and creativity into projects that stand shoulder to shoulder with major releases. This curated collection brings together twelve remarkable indie titles that gamers should not miss, especially as the long holiday break arrives. Each title presents a unique world built with love, craftsmanship, and bold ideas that showcase why indie games remain some of the most inspiring creations in gaming today

Herdling

Herdling captures the heart of adventure as players command a herd of mystical Calicorns through tranquil mountain ranges draped in mystery. The journey toward the peak is filled with unexpected threats and emotional moments as the bond between leader and creatures deepens. This thoughtful adventure blends atmosphere, puzzle solving, and exploration to deliver an experience that feels warm and memorable from start to finish.

Is This Seat Taken?

Is This Seat Taken brings clever puzzle charm to everyday scenarios. Players arrange quirky, cube shaped characters across different venues like cruises, theaters, restaurants, and concerts. Every personality comes with needs, preferences, and even scents that shape seating logic, creating a challenge that remains lighthearted yet satisfyingly strategic. Its simple visuals hide a surprisingly deep puzzle experience that rewards both precision and intuition.

Monument Valley III

Monument Valley III returns with a stunning isometric world, introducing Noor on a quest to restore a fading light source and revive her mysterious land. The series once again elevates perspective bending puzzles and offers the most refined mechanics yet. With expanded controls and a shift to console for the first time, this new chapter feels ambitious, elegant, and emotionally layered in every unfolding moment.

Ball X Pit

Ball X Pit invites players back into fast paced Roguelike action with bouncing magic projectile combat that channels arcade nostalgia. Heroes plunge into a seemingly endless pit filled with monsters while upgrading magical ball weapons that ricochet across the screen. Treasure hunts, new companions, and town building systems enrich each run, blending classic arcade energy with refreshing modern twists.

Hollow Knight Silksong

Hollow Knight Silksong finally arrives with a powerful continuation of its beloved universe. Taking on the role of Hornet, players navigate a world shaped by silk and song after being captured and transported to a strange kingdom. Brutal enemies, intricate secrets, and a vast Metroidvania map define its journey upward through dangerous heights. Every step is a challenge to survive, adapt, and uncover ancient truths hidden within a haunting kingdom.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 pushes turn based RPG storytelling in a new direction. Set in a world where the villainous Paintress erases lives based on a yearly chosen number, players must prevent the tragedy tied to the number thirty-three. Mixing real time movement with classic command input combat, the game demands strategic awareness and constant vigilance as the group seeks to end the cycle of devastation.

Star Overdrive

Star Overdrive rockets players far beyond the familiar as they chase a mysterious distress signal across alien landscapes. Hoverboard traversal, physics bending puzzles, and colossal enemy encounters define its high adrenaline pace. Exploration brings constant surprises through varied biomes, secret paths, and upgrades that shape every fight and discovery throughout this offworld odyssey.

Blue Prince

Blue Prince blends an escape room atmosphere with Roguelike unpredictability inside a mansion where every decision shifts the layout of the rooms ahead. A young man searching for room forty-six becomes lost in a labyrinth that resets his memory each day, forcing players to piece together clues with persistence and curiosity. Its surreal design and shifting routes keep tension and intrigue high in every attempt.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector expands its sci fi RPG roots with dice driven progression and deep character relationships. Playing as a flawed android on the run from a ruthless corporation, players must assemble a crew, secure a ship, and escape across the stars. Every dice roll shapes the journey forward, creating unpredictable branching paths that reflect the chaos and ambition of life on the edge of survival.

Absolum

Absolum channels retro intensity through side scrolling, beat em up Roguelike action. Exiled heroes rise up to challenge a tyrant who persecutes magic users, fighting through waves of enemies with distinct abilities. Whether played solo or alongside friends, its fast battles, varied heroes, and revolution driven narrative deliver a classic yet modernized punch.

PEAK

Peak invites players to climb soaring mountains through cooperative online teamwork where tiny avatar climbers must coordinate rope setups, camps, food, and survival strategies. Each day brings a randomized map, ensuring every ascent feels fresh and unpredictable. The charm lies not only in the challenge, but the camaraderie built during the climb.

Hades II

Hades II concludes the list with the fiery tale of the immortal princess navigating the underworld once again. The game expands the mythology rich world with new weapons, spells empowered by darkness, and the return of the beloved God Mode. Its large dungeon layouts ensure endless exploration, replayability, and a deep sense of discovery in every attempt toward victory.

The indie lineup of 2025 proves that creativity thrives strongest when developers are free to experiment, dream, and redefine boundaries. Each game on this list shows how independent creators continue to push the medium forward with bold ideas, heartfelt storytelling, and unforgettable gameplay. As we step into 2026, it is clear that the future of gaming will continue to be shaped not only by major studios but by passionate individuals who bring their visions to life with sincerity and remarkable skill.