As the year marches on, the amount of amazing games across the industry never seems to slow down. Even in a busy year like 2025, indies have risen to the top to be some of the best experiences. From JRPG-inspired epics like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, to mind-bending puzzle games like Blue Prince, the indie scene has firmly planted its flag in the best games of the year discussion. Looking forward to the rest of the year before us, I wanted to highlight some indies that could join that conversation, and stick in people’s minds by year’s end.
Mixtape
Following up one of 2021’s major indie releases, The Artful Escape, Beethoven & Dinosaur is set to release its next coming-of-age tale, Mixtape, later this year. Built upon nostalgia, the game places you in the shoes of three friends reminiscing on their youth as they head to a final party. The real draw is the variety of music and gameplay leading you through these cherished memories. From skateboarding and hitting a few baseballs, all the way to more fantastic moments such as flying through the sky to a 90’s laden soundtrack. It will surely be discussed as being “one of those artsy games,” but for a portion of the gaming audience, that’s exactly the type of vibe they want from indies.
Dead Take
The horror genre has been having a triumphant renaissance over the last handful of years, and Surgent Studios’ next game is hoping to be mentioned amongst this year’s best horror titles. A psychological horror game, Dead Take will see you exploring a mansion for a missing actor, with the gameplay being a mix of escape room puzzles and FMV video clip splicing. Think Escape Academy meets Immortality. Add in a cast of today’s most recognizable gaming voice actors including Ben Starr, Neil Newbon, Sam Lake, and Laura Bailey to name a few, and there’s a chance that Dead Take could have the classic horror game label written all over it.
Slay the Spire 2
One of the games to start the trend of deck-building roguelikes, Slay the Spire has long been overdue for a follow-up, and were finally getting one in 2025. Building your deck, growing your hero’s power, and picking which path to take up the tower until you can overcome all its levels was a loop that kept players hooked for hundreds of hours in the original. In comes the sequel, looking to repeat that success and more when it launches into early access. Not much can be said about needed improvements to an already fantastic first entry, but the promises of new cards, characters, and strategies are more than enough for many to jump back in on day one and lose themselves to the spire all over again.
Hollow Knight Silksong
Initially a DLC for one of the most beloved Metroidvanias ever, Hollow Knight Silksong turned into a full-on standalone sequel, and a shadow hanging over every gaming showcase since its announcement. The answer to the question “When does Silksong drop?” is finally soon, with Team Cherry confirming it will be released before Christmas of this year. The wait will hopefully be well worth it, with Team Cherry confirming it’s a larger game in almost every way. Fans just wanted more of the excellent adventure put forth in the original game, and it’s an easy bet the most anticipated game of the last five years will have as much impact as the original.
Hades 2
While the other games on this list are looking to launch or enter early access this year, this game is coming out of early access, and I fully expect it to be one of my contenders for Game of the Year. Hades 2 dropped on PC in summer of last year, and even in the early access period, grabbed me by the collar and never let go. Directly following up one of the most-liked indie games ever, the sequel reintroduced us to the world of Greek mythology, with a new twist and turn at every corner. Combat was smooth and more involved, the revamped magic system recontextualizes character builds and strategies, and every character is just as memorable, likable, and attractive as the first game.
I deliberately avoided playing any major updates, wanting to go into full release with fresh eyes, and I’m entirely confident it’ll be better than I remember it was over a year ago. Hades 2 isn’t just my most anticipated indie, it’s my most anticipated game of the year.
