11 Most Popular Indie Games of 2015

Updated:

22 Aug 2024

Looking for something a little different from big publisher games?

Tired of cutscenes over content? PC is the place to go for unique and interesting games outside of the box of the mainstream. Here are a few of the most popular ones from the last year we think you should check out.

11. Life is Strange

Life is strange HD Walkthrough no commentary part 2 "Flash drive hunt"

Life is Strange is currently a 5 part episodic journey that took the indie world by storm. You play as Maxine Caulfield who discovers she has the power to go back in time. This leads to a series of timelines by her own creation that allows you as the player to control the narrative of the story.

The game has been praised for its time travel style gameplay and how it affects the overall plot and character arcs. Each choice you make has a consequence and each timeline you encounter is just as deep and meaningful to the character development as the alternative. You’ll spend endless hours replaying the game for the different scenarios it can afford you in this instant indie classic.

Time travel requires grand hand gestures.

10. Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Run 1 – No Commentary 60 FPS PC Gameplay

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a remake of a popular 2D dungeon crawler by the same name. It is loosely based on the biblical tale and follows Isaac as he is imprisoned by his fanatically religious mother. Once Isaac learns his mother is trying to kill him, he must flee to survive her canonical Old Testament wrath.

The original game received rave reviews but was too limiting on its original Adobe Flash software. The developers then spent the next few years rebuilding the game from the ground up, creating a fresh updated game that still remained true to the original. Since then, downloadable content has been added to the game throughout 2015 to keep people playing and putting it as one of the top-sellers for indie games for the year.

Battle of the brains. Literally.

9. SOMA

SOMA Gameplay Part 2 No Commentary

SOMA comes from the incredibly popular creators of the Amnesia series and like its predecessors, it’s just as creepy and suspenseful with horror as you’d expect. The protagonist of the game, Simon, awakes to find that much of earth has been killed off by a terrible disaster and he must survive the underwater facility he finds himself in. The gameplay doesn’t deviate too much clue-finding and discovery, but that only allows you to focus on the story.

SOMA has been particularly praised for its intriguing plot and superb voice acting. Although the horror element might not be as shocking as what players experienced in the Amnesia games, there is plenty of fright to go around. Overall it is a strong game received well by fans and critics alike.

You want SOMA this? Get it? Get it?

8. Undertale

Undertale – No Mercy[Long Play][No Commentary]

Undertale took the indie world by storm in 2015. You play a child who gets stuck in an underground world and must face the monsters that reside there. Through solving puzzles and fighting monsters, your mainly are faced with a series of choices. Monsters: will they live or die?

Through several playthroughs, you control the fate of the Underground. Spare and befriend the monsters or participate in the mass genocide that brings about their extinction? That is your moral obligation to figure out.

Undertale quickly became one of the bestselling games on steam and has been lauded for its story and gameplay. In a seemingly simple game you find yourself making decisions that drastically affect the outcome of your story. With such success, it’s hard to believe that this indie RPG originally got its start in a Kickstarter campaign.

Monster mama.

7. Don’t Starve Together

Don’t Starve Day 1 – No Commentary

This co-op sandbox survival game by Klei entertainment is one of the quickest ways to break up a friendship group, but you’ll at least enjoy the ride on the way down. Upgraded from its original single-player mode, you are dropped off in the middle of a treacherous wilderness and must harness the nature around you in order to survive—and not starve. The biggest difference is this time you get to bring your friends.

For anyone not familiar with the original game, Don’t Starve tests your limits with survival as you must build fires, structures, and cook food during the day in order to make it through the harsh nights. Occasionally you’ll find yourself attacked by foul creatures of winter, ravenous hounds, and perhaps standing too close to a swinging swamp tentacle.

Don’t Starve Together was a highly requested upgrade that finally came into effect with its beta testing in late 2014 and has since received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam for which is its main platform. Although it is still in early access, the game is fully functional and every few months offers a new and exciting upgrade to keep you coming back for more!

Spiders vs Axe.

6. Rust

RUST – Raiding Small Rad (No Commentary)

Rust may still only be in early access, but it shows great potential and picked up a lot of steam over 2015. A classic sandbox survival, you must face the dire consequences of your desolate world, build tools, find shelter, and even avoid radiation.

Perhaps what sets Rust apart from other traditional survival games is the ability to form clans. You can team up with other players online and form raiding parties and pretty much spend your days terrorizing others in your post-apocalyptic world. And even this aspect of gameplay is pretty varied.

So you want to kidnap other players and stick them in an arena for a cannibalistic fight to the death? Doable. Make a meat army of loyal internet followers to do your bidding? Why not? The possibilities are endless. No wonder it’s such a popular game.

Sunset on the apocalypse.

5. Darkest Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon gameplay no commentary

Darkest Dungeons has been on our minds for awhile as its early access was released in the beginning of 2015. Since then gamers have had the pleasure of watching it develop into a rich and rewarding game. It sells big in visuals and its overall strategic rogue-like gameplay.

Perhaps however it delivers best in story. Dive into Darkest Dungeon and learn the haunted past of your home and family. As the protagonist, you inherit a mansion rife with monsters that you must battle and send back to their demonic dimensions. From there you’ll organize expeditions into the dungeon mazes below to put these ghoulish activities to rest.

Who looked at this and didn’t think the place might be haunted?

4. The Long Dark

The Long Dark Walkthrough Part 1 No Commentary

Stranded in the frozen Canadian wilderness, survival is definitely the theme of indie 2015. Although the game is originally meant to be played between two modes: story and sandbox, only sandbox mode set at different difficulties is available for early release. Although still in its beginning stages, the game has been praised for its detail-oriented gameplay and beautiful, though simplistic, art design.

You must scavenge through the frigid tundra, taking factors such as body temperature, hunger, fatigue, as well as numerous other survival means into account. With the episodic storyline still in production however, the overall goal of the game is not yet clear.

Despite this, the game is expansive enough to have a lot of fun running around; free from the horror genre that so usually accompanies these sorts of games. Your enemy instead is the vast and treacherous wilderness, which is more than enough for anyone.

Snow, nature and nothingness. Obviously Canada.

3. Ori and the Blind Forest

Ori and the Blind Forest (No Commentary) Part: 1 of 4

Ori and the Blind Forest is a remarkable visually beautiful puzzle platformer by independent developers, Moon Studios. Although it had a boost in representation by Microsoft picking it up as a publisher, it still has all the charm and organic creativity of an indie game. One of the most unique things about its production is the fact that it was created internationally from developers on opposite sides of the globe. Austria, Israel and Australia are only a few of the countries these developers hail from.

The story of the game follows Ori, an orphaned guardian spirit, as he must help resurrect the dying forest he calls home. The player will use Ori to solve puzzles, build talents, fights enemies and bring balance to the elements. This much buzzed about game will be an experience you’re not likely to forget.

Like playing in a dream.

2. Broforce

Broforce – Gameplay [Pink Version Arrives]

In Broforce you’ll find yourself on an epic journey as a super macho 80’s action hero type that goes out to, well, collect bros. Yes, Broforce is game where you must use your ultra-American manliness and finesse your way through the game so that you can save your bros from captivity.

Broforce received rave reviews from fans as it parodies the ‘Murica subculture of explosions and hyperbole of Hollywood action films. It’s not uncommon to find yourself raising a US flag in celebration after defeating your enemies, the evil “foreign devils”. With such a theme, it isn’t all that a surprise that Broforce has such a large cult following.

Bro exploded by Bro-cannon.

1. The Forest

The Forest Gameplay Part 1 - PC - No Commentary - Max Settings

As a survivor of a plane crash in The Forest, you must fight against the elements, find food to stave off starvation, oh and not get jumped by a bunch of mutant cannibals. The Forest attempts to prepare the average gamer for the least likely scenario of being stranded after a plane crash (as if we care). Build shelter by day, fight evil mutants by night.

Currently the game is still in early development, so only a sandbox feature is available without any quest lines, but it’s on the edge of your seat brilliant nonetheless. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of The Forest is how it is being developed with Oculus Rift in mind. Soon you won’t just be clicking a mouse to fight the cannibals, but fending them off in virtual reality as well!

The Forest May be one of the most popular indie games of 2015, but it may take 2016 along with it if the Oculus Rift VR gameplay turns out anywhere as exciting as we expect it to be. Good things are certainly on the horizon for the indie world.