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What are the best indie games of 2023? There is no single definitive answer, but these editorial and awards picks offer a useful place to start. This is a discovery list, not a universal ranking: it favors distinctive ideas, strong execution and variety across genres, while noting where a game is especially suited to a particular player. “Overlooked” here means worth another look, not a claim that a game was commercially obscure.
The list focuses on games first released in 2023. Platform availability is included where the cited coverage specifies it; a platform-specific roundup is not proof that a game is available everywhere.
How to use this list
Personal hidden-gem lists, platform-focused roundups and awards answer different questions. PC Gamer and GameSpot offer editorial discoveries; Pocket Tactics selects games in a Switch context; Into Indie Games names category winners; BAFTA’s 2023 longlist reflects professional recognition across the games industry, not an indie-only ranking. Consider each as one perspective rather than a shared verdict. See PC Gamer’s hidden gems, GameSpot’s hidden gems, Pocket Tactics’ Switch-focused picks, Into Indie Games’ awards and BAFTA’s announcement.
The recommendations below are grouped by the experience they offer, not ranked from best to worst. The sources do not provide comparable sales, player counts or review scores, so none is used as a measure of obscurity or quality.
#1 Best Overall
For puzzling and stories you piece together
Void Stranger
Best for: Puzzle fans who enjoy uncovering a story gradually. PC Gamer’s personal 2023 hidden-gems selection describes it as a block-pushing puzzler whose narrative opens into a larger mystery. Its appeal rests on the way the puzzle-solving and discovery unfold together; the recommendation is less suitable if you want a story explained up front. PC Gamer’s 2023 hidden-gems list is the cited source for this pick.
Chants of Sennaar
Best for: Players who like interpreting clues and making sense of an unfamiliar world. The adventure centers on deciphering languages. Pocket Tactics included it among its 2023 indie picks, and Into Indie Games named it Indie Game of the Year—two separate editorial endorsements, not evidence of unanimous consensus. Pocket Tactics and Into Indie Games both discuss the game.
Cocoon
Best for: Players drawn to wordless communication and puzzle design. Into Indie Games selected Cocoon as Best Debut Game. BAFTA’s 2023 games longlist also included COCOON in six categories, a sign of professional recognition rather than an indie-only ranking. BAFTA said its 60-game longlist was chosen by more than 1,200 members from 257 entries; eligible release dates ran from December 10, 2022, through November 24, 2023. That award window is not the same as a strict calendar-year definition. Read the Into Indie Games awards and BAFTA announcement.
For horror and an unusual atmosphere
Incident at Grove Lake
Best for: Anyone looking for a compact, lo-fi alien-abduction horror experience. GameSpot describes this PC game as a found-footage-style, analog-horror title by solo developer Dan McGrath, who uses the name Tooth and Claw. Its writer calls it a brief experience of about 30 minutes; that is an individual editorial description, not a guaranteed playtime for every player. If you want a long campaign, this is not the pick to start with. GameSpot’s hidden-gems feature covers it.
Lethal Company
Best for: Friends seeking co-op tension built around salvaging in abandoned moons. Into Indie Games named it Biggest Surprise, while GameSpot describes its co-op play and lists PC availability. It is included for the distinctive group experience, though the sources’ descriptions of it as a surprise or hit make it a less obscure recommendation than some of the other games here. See Into Indie Games and GameSpot.
For strategy, systems and genre blends
The Banished Vault
Best for: Strategy players intrigued by an interstellar gothic setting. Into Indie Games called it Best Game You Haven’t Heard Of. Its premise combines crew management, exploration, outpost construction and artifact hunting around a monastery in space. The award is a publication’s category pick, not a measurement of how many people know the game. Into Indie Games’ 2023 awards explains the selection.
Rank #3
- 【Pre-loaded Classics】This new style of handheld game console is designed to bring fun to young gamers, built-in different classic games. No matter what kind of games you want, you can find them in this retro game console. Let you play games without repetition every day and bring back your memory to the fun,enjoy family entertainment time.
- 【3.0-Inch LCD Display】Featuring a clear 3.0-inch screen with vibrant colors, this video game console delivers excellent visuals for all handheld games. The bright display ensures smooth gameplay while protecting eyesight. Enjoy classic gaming anywhere.
- 【Rechargeable Battery: This retro gaming console delivers 6 hours of stable gameplay on a single charge. With USB plug-and-play charging, enjoy uninterrupted handheld video game sessions during long trips without battery changes (Please charge fully before first use)
- 【2 Players & Play on TV】Rediscover the fun of classic games with our nostalgic gamepads. Even better, you can play two-player games with friends or family. Connect the 3.0-inch LCD screen to your TV via AV output and use the included gamepad to play games with friends for a more immersive gaming experience, double the fun.
- 【Easy to Operate】This mini handheld console is extremely easy to operate, suitable for all ages. It's an ideal gi-ft for birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays, sure to bring great surprise and joy to your loved ones.
Moonstone Island
Best for: Players who want several familiar loops combined rather than a single narrow activity. GameSpot describes a mix of farming, social simulation, creature collection and deck-building, and its feature covers the PC version. The recommendation is based on that PC-focused coverage; it should not be read as confirmation of availability on other platforms. GameSpot’s feature provides the cited overview.
Nova Lands
Best for: Players who enjoy exploration and building up automated production. GameSpot describes using robots, factories and farms, and lists PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch versions. Its platform listing is broader than the platform-scoped recommendations above, but check a store listing for the specific system and edition you intend to play. GameSpot’s feature covers the game and platforms.
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In Stars and Time
Best for: RPG players interested in a time-loop structure. Pocket Tactics describes a pixel-art RPG in which repeating actions helps open new paths. Its recommendation comes from a roundup specifically about Switch games released through 2023, so it supports the Switch context rather than broad platform availability. Pocket Tactics’ list gives the cited description.
Rank #4
- Massive 210000+ Game Library: Instantly access a vast collection of classic retro games, providing endless hours of entertainment without the need for downloads or cartridges.
- Vibrant 3.5-inch IPS Display (640×480): Enjoy crisp, clear visuals and wide viewing angles, enhancing your gaming experience with rich colors and sharp details.
- Long-Lasting 3500mAh Battery: Play for extended periods on the go without worrying about running out of power, perfect for commutes or travel.
- Ample Storage & Connectivity: Now with a dual TF card system, this console provides over 21,000 games out of the box on a 64GB card, while the second slot allows for storage expansion up to 256GB. Easily transfer data and connect accessories with the versatile Type-C and Type-C-OTG interfaces.
- Experience immersive audio when the game software allows: Experience the game's audio with the built-in 8W speaker, designed to provide clear and dynamic sound. While the original game design may have audio limitations, you can also enjoy a personalized audio experience with your own headphones using the 3.5mm jack.
For climbing, exploration and a Switch-context pick
Jusant
Best for: Players who want climbing to be the central challenge. GameSpot describes vertical puzzles shaped by stamina, checkpoints and abilities earned along the way. Its environmental storytelling points to a society changed by catastrophe. The feature lists PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. GameSpot’s hidden-gems feature is the source for the mechanics and platform list.
Dredge
Best for: Readers looking specifically for a Switch-context recommendation. Pocket Tactics included Dredge among its 2023 indie games in a Switch-focused roundup. That inclusion does not establish current stock, a particular digital or physical edition, or a retailer’s price; check the live listing before buying. See Pocket Tactics’ 2023 list.
What counts as a 2023 indie game?
“Indie” does not have one shared definition across these selections, and an award label is not proof that every publication applies the same industry test. This list uses the games selected by the cited indie-focused editorials and identifies specific award or platform contexts rather than asserting a universal classification.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIt also uses a first-release-in-2023 boundary. BAFTA’s eligibility dates span part of December 2022 and stop before the end of November 2023, so its longlist is evidence of recognition within its own award window, not a definitive calendar-year catalog. Platform launches and expansions can blur a year label: Pocket Tactics’ Switch roundup, for example, includes a game that first appeared on mobile in 2022 and came to Switch in 2023. Rain World: Downpour is an expansion, not a standalone first release, so it is outside this list’s scope.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
