The Best Indie Games of 2021

2021 was an excellent year for gaming, and nowhere is that more true than the world of indie games. 

From platforming perfection to bizarre rhythm violence, here are the best indie games of 2021. 

The Ascent

The Ascent is a gorgeous twin-stick shooter set in the decaying rubble of a once-futuristic city. 

There hasn’t been a twin-stick shooter this good since 2017’s Nex Machina, and even that masterclass barely holds up. Combining the chaotic action typical of the genre with a full RPG-style skill tree, The Ascent is a truly unique experience that kept me coming back for multiple playthroughs. 

Here’s hoping that the success and brilliance of The Ascent leads to twin-stick shooters becoming the next indie revolution. 

The Ascent is out now on Xbox and PC. 

 Cyber Shadow

Published by Yacht Club Games of Shovel Knight fame, Cyber Shadow is an ode to the classic Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi games. 

Following a small batch of indie titles that have paid similar tribute, Cyber Shadow is by the far the most faithful to the original designs of the NES and Mega Drive classics. Linear, one-off levels with tightly designed enemy and platform placements take centre stage here, as well as huge mechanical bosses that cap them off. 

The level of challenge is an era-accurate throwback too, with the epic difficulty of the genre titans being captured here in perfect detail. Whether or not that’s a good thing, I’ll leave up to you. 

Cyber Shadow is out now on PC, Mac, and all major consoles. 

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Everhood

Everhood plays like a psychedelic trip that’s been invaded by a group of eldritch horrors. It goes one step further into this insanity with a battle system that plays out like a violent Guitar Hero 3 boss battle mixed with Undertale. 

Just about everything about the game is bizarre, even including the full title, Everhood: An Ineffable Tale of the Inexpressible Divine Moments of Truth. To explain this title, or even a basic rundown of the story, would be to spoil the eccentric, hallucinatory magic of Everhood. 

If you want a unique experience, you can’t do any better than Everhood.

Everhood is out now on PC and Nintendo Switch. 

Death’s Door 

Death’s Door melds dungeon puzzling, fast-paced combat and a Tim Burton-esque landscape that somehow manages to stay charming, despite the bleakness that permeates through almost every level. 

It holds more than a passing resemblance to the design of the best games amongst the Zelda series, and that’s no easy feat to achieve. The world is brimming with secrets, tight sequences of puzzles, and great bosses. 

If you play one indie game this year, it should probably be Death’s Door. 

Death’s Door is out now on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Yes, Kena is an indie game. Not just that, but Ember Lab Studio’s very first game. Aside from the obvious marvel of an indie game being one of the best looking games on PlayStation 5, Kena also has depth in every other aspect of its design. 

Ember Lab has fused their favourite elements of different genres to bring together an experience that feels fresh despite no singular unique elements. Shades of Zelda, Pikmin, and even Dark Souls act as the undercurrent for a charming story in a gorgeous world influenced by Japanese and Balinese culture. 

Best experience on PlayStation 5, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a must-play if you’ve achieved the impossible and managed to buy one. 

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is out now on PS4, PS5 and PC. 

What did you make of our list of the best indie games of 2021? Disagree? Let us know via our Twitter! And why not check out some more great content on our site while you’re here?