Best Indie Games On Steam You May Have Missed

Summary

• AAA games may be the most popular in terms of player-counts, but indie titles hold a special niche for cultivating new experiences.
• New indie gems are providing tons of different and unique gameplay options for all sorts of players.
• From city builders and colony sims to FPSs and RPGs, there is no shortage of diversity with the wealth of indie titles out there.

It’s no secret that the biggest companies for development and publishing have always dominated the industry with their games. But in more recent years, with game development becoming even more accessible to the average user, there has been a big rise in the independent side of the gaming industry.

Games like Terraria, Stardew Valley, Rocket League, and so many more, which all got their start originally as humble, indie titles, have since grown into some of the most popular and widely played games out there. But, with so many new titles out there being released on Steam every day, there’s a chance that players have missed out on some awesome indie games, hidden among the vast selection.

7

Abiotic Factor (2024)

Surviving Paranormal Monsters & Anomalies

Abiotic Factor is a newer indie title in the open-world survival crafting genre that’s been steadily growing in popularity since its initial release back in mid-2024. While indie games in that genre seem to be pretty common nowadays, Abiotic Factor puts its own unique spin on the common theme and formula.

The interesting atmosphere of Abiotic Factor is one of its standout qualities, also mixing in a bit of a horror element to the gameplay. Taking place in a secret underground research facility, players are dropped in to survive in the midst of total chaos in the subterranean lab, caught between paranormal monsters, other-worldly events, and a military incursion. Scavenge for resources and arm up with melee weapons or firearms to face the many threats and unravel the mysteries that lie in this mysterious underground facility.

Even though the list of open-world survival crafting indie games on Steam is a long one, Abiotic Factor has an addictive gameplay loop and stands apart with its unique atmosphere — which can obviously be seen by the game’s Steam store page, where it currently has an overwhelmingly positive review score from players.

6

WEBFISHING (2024)

Chat, Relax, & Do Some Fishing

WEBFISHING is a bit of an odd one, but absolutely deserves a mention here. Made by a solo indie developer who goes by the handle “lamedeveloper” (great name, by the way), the title is a sort of hidden gem in the genre of casual indie games. It was originally a free game, created in only eight days for a Game Jam in 2022 and later being updated and re-released on Steam in 2024.

At its core, WEBFISHING is a casual, social fishing game with a simple concept and gameplay loop: the player creates their own anthropomorphic animal avatar and goes off to catch some fish. While solo play is an option, the core of the game is in its multiplayer. Casually meet and interact with other players online, while relaxing and collecting various aquatic creatures along the way. Players can earn money through fishing to buy and upgrade their gear, as well as customize their character in whatever way they see fit.

It trades the sometimes difficult and competitive nature of other online games for a simple and calming experience. Currently sitting at an overwhelmingly positive review score on Steam, for only a few dollars, it’s a delightfully fun experience that is absolutely worth exploring for a change of pace.

5

Old School Rally (2024)

PS1 Racing Fans Rejoice!

• Release Date: July 18, 2024
• Developer: Frozen Lake Games
• Genre: Racing

Old School Rally is a faithful and near-perfect replication of the feeling of an old-fashioned PS1 rally-racer. Sure, other modern racing titles may have stunning graphics, in-depth mechanics, and customization. But Old School Rally lives up to its self-explanatory title: a simple, no-fuss, no-muss rally racing game, filled with all the nostalgia retro game fans could ever ask for.

Naturally, the concept will be familiar to anybody who has played a rally title before, racing a variety of tracks from start to finish, aiming to get the fastest time overall. Where the game gets it right is in the way it handles its gameplay, offering mechanics that are simple to get the hang of overall, but balancing that with its difficulty, where some technique will be required to learn track layout and proper cornering. Of course, the presentation here is a standout point too, where Old School Rally mimics the iconic “wobbly” look of the original PlayStation but tones it down a bit to be easier on the eyes.

Suffice to say, for players out there longing for a nostalgia trip back to the days of Colin McRae Rally, wobbly polygons, and simple-to-learn yet hard-to-master gameplay, Old School Rally will be right up their street. And, for just around $10 on Steam, it’s an absolute steal for how much of a blast it is.

4

Drova – Forsaken Kin (2024)

A Dark, Gothic-Style ARPG

Drova – Forsaken Kin may just be the perfect fit for those who are fans of old school or more retro-style RPG games. Released in the fall of 2024, the newer indie ARPG combines a darker, grim atmosphere with a theme based in Celtic mythology, and it manages to balance the two very well in its stylish pixel art.

Forsaken Kin puts the player in control of a druid who is trapped in the titular land of Drova after being banished from their tribe. Along the way, they will battle mystical enemies, interact with different factions, and uncover various mysteries, all the while trying to escape the harsh land they find themselves stranded in. Its gameplay definitely seems to be inspired by old-school RPG games, with a touch of modernization to its mechanics. Combat is often challenging, and not much detail is given to the player in terms of markers or directions. While this can make the experience seem more difficult to some, it brings the focus more to player exploration like the aforementioned retro RPG games, making the experience feel both interesting and rewarding.

Drova – Forsaken Kin certainly isn’t the first pixel art ARPG out there, but it has definitely proved itself to be one of the more unique and polished indie titles in the category, perfect for gamers who love a classic RPG experience.

3

7 Days To Die (2024)

Surviving The Blood Moon

7 Days to Die is an open-world survival crafting indie title that’s been around since the early days of Steam’s old Greenlight Program in 2013. The game has recently seen a resurgence in late 2024, when it finally got its full 1.0 release for PC and its long-awaited new console versions. While some have been quick to criticize the game’s rough appearance at times, 7 Days to Die offers so much more to make up for it.

Choosing between either a pre-made or a randomly generated world, players are dropped into a large map featuring different biomes, cities, and traders, with the ultimate goal of surviving the zombie apocalypse and harsh environment. Gather resources and build a base with loads of crafting and upgrade options to experiment with, a formula not unfamiliar to the genre. However, where 7 Days to Die is different from the rest of the genre is mentioned right in its title. Every 7 days, by default, a horde of fast, powerful zombies will storm players and their base (if they have one), with no option to hide or escape. It’s pretty tense for new players but offers big rewards for experience and the loot zombies can drop.

7 Days to Die has grown a lot over the years, not only in the content it offers but in its community as well, as it’s been sitting in the top 100 most played games on Steam for many years in a row now. Despite having been in early access for over 10 years, the 1.0 update injected quite a bit of life into the game. It’s still evolving and receiving big updates from its developers. Definitely a great option for fans of survival crafting games — and slaying hordes of the undead, of course.

2

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic (2024)

In-Depth City-Building & Management With A Unique Theme

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic may sound like it could be a game mostly made for cracking the common political jokes, but the truth is, this expansive city builder is anything but. Developed by a small indie studio from Slovakia named 3DVISION, Workers & Resources could be best described as an in-depth city-builder, colony-simulator, and management game all wrapped up into one, of course, with its Soviet-era, Eastern Europe theme.

Players can start a pre-made or random map — either completely empty, or dotted with towns and inhabitants throughout to get a head start — and from there, it’s on to the building. Instead of just designating zones and letting the game do the work like some other city-builders out there, Soviet Republic tasks players with building it all from the ground up. Everything from housing, amenities, power generation, andtransportation — and really, that’s not even scratching the surface, because a big part of the game is the industries. Since the player’s Republic will need funding, figuring out import, export, and production costs is crucial to success in the game and can get very in-depth very quickly.

Due to its complexity at times, though, it may not be every gamer’s cup of tea, so to speak. But, for those who enjoy in-depth management and building games, or those who want to give them an honest shot, Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic may be one of the strongest options currently out there. Definitely a hidden gem among Steam’s indie games.

1

Elin (2024)

An Expansive Sandbox RPG Offering Total Freedom

Elin is so expansive for an indie title that it’s almost hard to describe, combining elements of open-world survival, crafting, colony building, and pretty much everything in between, with the classic pixel art style of old-school JRPG games.

Create a custom character with a diverse range of skill and personality options and essentially be set free in a forested area, where players can choose whichever path they want. Players can explore other areas of its isometric map, build a homestead, or maybe recruit other settlers and build a small town — and that’s barely scratching the surface of what can be done. Elin appears simple, but the game itself has a lot to learn and plenty to explore. Luckily, there are a few NPCs to act as guides near the beginning of the journey to show players the ropes and guide them through its many mechanics.

It’s easy to glaze over Elin with the thousands of other indie titles out there on Steam, but the sheer amount of things it offers is truly unmatched. And, it is definitely a must-play for those who want the total freedom to carve their own path.