Top 20 Best Indie Games of the Century (So Far)

The 21st century has been a huge for indie games. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the greatest indie games released since the year 2000. Our countdown of the best indie games of the century includes “Celeste” (2018), “The Stanley Parable” (2013), “Hades” (2020), “Cuphead” (2017), and more! Let us know in the comments which of these indie darlings is your all-time FAVORITE.
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#indiegaming

[@WatchMojo]

Let us know in the comments which of these indie darlings is your all-time FAVORITE. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmjYf3WZa7qjpcU Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Cuphead

[@devingiles6597]

Honorable mentions: Hotline Miami Freedom Planet Ori and the Blind Forest 20XX Fight'N Rage 30XX Freedom Planet 2 Jitsu Squad

[@devingiles6597]

Honorable mention: Five Nights at Freddy's series The Messenger

[@Minimuffkiller07]

Lethal Company would be my personal favorite

[@Kiyaa930]

Omori deserves a spot on this list for sure

[@ghostofalgeria]

lame game

[@KomaedasOneTrueHope]

@@reedspace8267it came out in 2020 and was made by a small team🫣 i heard and it in 2021

[@laziass0129]

​@@ghostofalgerianope

[@avclub2456]

At this rate I'm never picking up Nightingale

[@alexp6220]

I wish I could like your comment twice.

[@bastionsea2829]

I got so many ads for it I was just not interested anymore

[@bogdankljajic5340]

I got 3 ads for it this video alone

[@rockingishan12345]

Where is dead cells

[@dooleh84]

It's probably a better game than any in the video. That game feels so good to play, it's ridiculous.

[@Mr.Drovak]

Its shit

[@christianloubardias6375]

@@dooleh84 Do people still associate it with that IGN reviewer who was caught plagiarizing his review of the game?

[@dooleh84]

@@christianloubardias6375 I remember that, but I don't remember it being a dead cells review. So in my case, no.

[@ARIXANDRE]

I'd like to leave a mention to Rebel Galaxy and Spiritfarer. Both amazing games that got me through hard times.

[@huntermyers3551]

All of the Indie darlings are my all-time favorites

[@HassanAskary-14]

Minecraft Journey Sea of stars Cuphead Subnautica The binding of Isaac Rebirth Shovel knight Limbo Inside Hollow knight Fez Stardew valley Celeste Super meat boy Undertale Hades Shredder's revenge Disco Elysium final cut

[@StarPlatinumAr]

Saved me 15 mins

[@kiwuuspurr1927]

you missed alot

[@user-us1vx3yy5j]

This list is a joke

[@bluefire6596]

Pizza tower should have been on the list

[@Leonelfreak]

thank you. i stopped watching after they explained journey because they basically spoiled the ending and didnt want to get spoiled on the rest lol. will do my own research on the list now lmao

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Cuphead might be the only indie game in History people both want & don't want a sequel to no matter how Awesome it was. 🙆🏿‍♂️🙅🏼‍♀️🙆🏻‍♀️🙅🏽‍♀️

[@irishwrestlingchicken9238]

Based I don't want a sequal either lmao I think the games too special to have a follow up

[@aryudsoh]

I personally would love another Cuphead but only if the devs felt the passion to make another rather than for sakes.

[@irishwrestlingchicken9238]

@@aryudsoh I just think it's really a once of a time game, and it's already done ig lol. I hope they don't make a sequal because honestly I want to see what other games the devs, Animators, Musicians and more make !!

[@andrewseeley3614]

I find it so interesting how some indie games look better than a lot of AAA titles

[@manzei]

Journey should be higher up. Something that can genuinely be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age. Truly special

[@midarei]

FTL, Rimworld, Frostpunk, Darkwood., Amnesia, Darkest Dungeon.

[@TheDrewjustforyou]

Dwarf fortress, factorio, kingdom, lifeline, weird West,

[@LegallyGaming]

Darkest Dungeon for sure, and Slay the Spire!

[@jessica49arrow]

This war of mine, Frostpunk, Terraria

[@ShivammWarambhey]

Oxygen Not Included, my favourite of all time

​@@ShivammWarambhey ONI isnt a indie

[@jarmo2975]

I think Terraria is the best game of all time.

[@SupaRush]

Hugely underrated

[@Ravolox]

My absolute favourite is Transistor (also from Supergiant Games). Gameplay and soundtrack are just brilliant! :)

[@lesterharrynuay2930]

The tutorial comment on cuphead had me 💀

[@supersemo4159]

Dude this is the greatest game review ive ever seen in my whole intire life

[@jenniferhunter5433]

Very cool thanks ✅✌🏼

[@alonweinberg9248]

If hollow knight isn't first I quit

[@glaucogd1800]

Well... Time to quit! XD I did not play any of the games in the top 10 besides Papers Please. So, i don't know if the list is accurate or not.

[@wombozombo]

#9 smh

[@onaforkliftwrestlingpodcast]

​@@glaucogd1800if hollow knight isn't #1, then the list is wrong

[@sidewinder2057]

Hope its not. Game’s tedious af.

[@arnaldofernandesdasilvafil7034]

Hades

[@coletrainhetrick]

Absolutely thrilled to see Disco Elysium at number 1, ah gosh, probably the most satisfying number 1 from any if your lists

[@jackjager8790]

I think its overrated, but it deserves a spot on the list.

[@elchris87]

ty for not going into spoilers i really appreciate it

[@DuchessOfStratosphere]

He spoils the game 'inside' - basically shows the big reveal at the end

[@bryanmalone1496]

Dead Cells, Hotline Miami, Shovel Knight, Terraria. Where is TERRARIA.

[@kiwuuspurr1927]

shovel knight was on this

[@djayjp]

Bonus: Portal (which, yes, started life as an indie game).

[@dighad3824]

give this guy more video game lists cuz he goddamn knows what he's talking about

[@alejandroflores7219]

Such a bummer that the studio of disco elysium Is such a mes nowdays. I really hope for a sequel.

[@rahgato1736]

Damn where’s little nightmares?

[@code066funkinbird3]

Or omori and Celeste

[@shadysorkin9214]

@@code066funkinbird3 celeste is number 5?

[@chibiprussia5574]

MADiSON is hella good and really scary :3 Last I checked, it's getting a vr version. It's about Luca and the haunted camera that belonged to a serial killer named Madison who now haunts the camera. Will he end the curse or succumb to it?

[@joeiwithani9875]

No slay the spire or FTL?? Where's the love for the strategy games? If anybody is an enjoyer of these, id suggest checking out hellcard as well

[@Bluestar-bh3bf]

Cuphead was amazing its one of the many games I hope get a sequel

[@AceOfClubsHUN]

No Darkest Dungeon? No Broforce? No Amnesia?

[@panjurek3305]

Amnesia The Dark Descent should be in top 10 imo, one of the best horror games ever and still supported by both devs and community after all these years

[@Linkous12]

Seconding Darkest Dungeon.

[@jackjager8790]

Amnesia TDD should've been there.

[@zachseigel2139]

Shovel Knight is a darling game that is nearly perfectly in my view.

[@Ninailhead987]

What about vampire survivors???

[@kruczak7896]

Don't ever let WatchMojo make a tierlist again

[@Atrus999]

How did Cave Story not make the list? I figured that one would have easily made the top 10. 🤔

[@jackjager8790]

Cave Story is bad

[@Atrus999]

@@jackjager8790 Huh? It's known to be one of the best indie games of all time.

[@Chillax1984]

Its watchmojo man, what did you expect?

[@kshatriyadeepak9457]

Ohh yess very genuine list with Minecraft placed no 20

[@JuliusCaesar103]

I swear if the Messenger isn't here...

[@jackjager8790]

SoS is better and its from the same people.

[@DavidLopez-ln2ch]

Penny’s Big Breakaway is not only my all time favorite Indie game, but possibly my favorite video game of all time!

[@coldwichswitch4075]

I think it looks like tons of fun. I think I will buy it soon.

[@giandomenicomartorelli8069]

I notice two great absents: Darkest Dungeon and Hyper Light Drifter.

[@yasser3268]

Wow No Broforce on the list? That’s the worst crime ever committed

[@NathansWargames]

Vampire Survivors should have been in this. it spawned a genre that is thriving with other amazing indie games and won a Bafta.

[@MyNemex]

Even tho I don't like VS, I also think it should be high on the list, it did inspire a lot of creators.

[@devingiles6597]

Not only that. There is also Freedom Planet, 20XX, and Spark the Electric Jester.

[@Ninailhead987]

I agree completely!

[@flagutierrez]

Absolutly agreed with You also they should have removed Sea of Star from that list thats just an unoriginally Chrono Trigger rip off

[@matthewxbradley7102]

I think Freedom Planet should have been on the list. Love that game

[@ZP1993]

Since I love dinosaur games,my favorite indie game is Paleo Pines 🦕🦖

[@jeffreydubois4981]

Too many great indie games out there there to name!

[@johonimo]

How is sea of stars on the list when games like chained echoes exist?

[@zacharymc745]

Video suggestions: TOP 20 BEST MULTIPLAYER/CO-OP GAMES OF THE DECADE/CENTURY TOP 10 MOST UNDERRATED VIDEO GAMES OF THE 2010S ANOTHER TOP 20 BEST YEARS IN VIDEO GAMES (ex. 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, or 2023)

[@Zynx_Skipperdoo]

Needs Spelunky

[@olleselin]

Whoa, Cuphead is an Indie game!?

[@jimbo9208]

yes how it not

[@Sai-hq3qv]

Not fear and hunger yet?.... some day

[@Cat.Gaming]

"If you can beat the tutorial, you'll find an excellent game beyond." WE WILL NEVER DROP THIS, WILL WE? 🤣🤣

[@TheTemplar127]

I hope there are people here who remember Crosscode

[@Darkal_]

Not only remember, but play the game at least once a year. But maybe that's just me.

[@just-someone99]

no BLASPHEMOUS 😣😣

[@SantiagoCarretoSz]

Honorable Mention: Moonlighter

[@user-hz4bk3ii2w]

I like all-time favorite indie darlings on the PS4 or on the switch or on the PS3 like Minecraft and Cuphead

[@TheBlaskar]

I compiled 10 lists of “the 50 best indie games” and ranked them all by points gained from list positions. Stardew Valley was #1, Hollow Knight was the only game on all 10 lists, and Outer Wilds had the highest average but was only on 4/10 lists (49.3 point average, crazy). 210 games total across the 10 sources, half of which were only on one person’s list

[@sidewinder2057]

10:24 Obra dinn, nor orba din

[@barry_the_xalanyn]

No Ori makes this video a joke. From what I've played in this list Ori stands like that: Hades Ori and the Will of the Wisps Inside Celeste Limbo Stardew Valley

[@jackjager8790]

Ori is not an indie

[@barry_the_xalanyn]

@@jackjager8790 Yeah i guess, but then Baldur's Gate 3 should be here lol

[@anamedguy12]

Top 10 games i have played - Bendy, FNaF, Cuphead, Job Simulator, The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe, Portal 2, Undertale, Minecraft, Deltarune and Baldi’s Basics.

[@wafflebrothel7712]

I loved Sea of Stars. Certainly was my game of 2023 My top five (no particular order). Theres just so many games! Fez Shovel Knight Inside Bastion Super Meat Boy

[@DejonAllen]

Where the hell is Risk Of Rain

[@creamiemilk474]

Please do one of bug fables the everlasting sapling, its EXTREMELY underrated indie game from 2019!

[@ScrubVigil]

Hotline Miami?!?

[@user-ui7mc6vt3l]

I love Hades so a much fun game bro i recomend it

[@MVahag]

Actually a pretty decent top. I would arrange some of those differently, but agree with Disco being number 1. It's an unquestionable masterpiece.

[@A-Dubs398]

Spoilers!

[@zaidt2002]

Yeah the game has a lot of depth

[@Badass-Dalty]

@@A-Dubs398you should of have been prepared this is a comment section and that’s a regular thing

[@kkalski]

This list is incomplete without Spirit Farer.

[@ecelextra]

No Terraria or Geometry Dash is crazy

[@dom13de]

I’ve never played Hades. Y’all how good is it and should I check it out?

[@barry_the_xalanyn]

It's one of the best games that exists rn.

[@exhalealexinhale]

yes. 21,020 voice lines from some of the most committed voice actors you'll ever hear.

[@barry_the_xalanyn]

@@exhalealexinhale it's just the nearest game to perfection imo, literally 10/10 all around.

[@sunlightswift]

Its an incredible game. Absolutely among the greatest titans of gaming history as a whole

[@dighad3824]

probably the best roguelite dungeon crawler out there. if you love greek myth then you're gonna have an even better time

[@darkdragonmedeus705]

If only AVGN Adventures could have made the list. As Omori and Deltarune as well. And Bug Fables the Everlasting Sapling.

[@coldwichswitch4075]

AVGN adventures is unironically a master piece.

[@jlom6805]

Outer wilds at 15 is criminally low ngl

[@jackjager8790]

Outer Wilds is one of the best games of all time. a true masterpiece. My top 5 indie: 1- Outer Wilds 2- Hollow Knight 3- Cuphead 4- Amnesia The Dark Descent 5- Slay the Spire

[@baseballking251]

How did dead cells and vampire survivors get left off this list?

[@MelanieCaffrey]

The Messenger Starbound Terraria Iconoclasts Omori Just Shapes and Beats I could keep going but I would be here for hours. Why none of those are on this list is messed up.

[@LadyUsakoB]

just so many they can do i guess o.o;;

[@NikoPlayz_Fnaf_GD]

easily could replace shapes and beats with geometry dash GD came first and 2.2 just came out and deserves a spot on this list for sure especially considering rob is a single developer

[@rickyelricviana8853]

Nah man, it's just your favorites

[@azain9470]

other than terraria mid asf games.

[@kiwuuspurr1927]

@@reedspace8267 how the hell do you not know terraria, that's one of the most popular indie games of all time

[@Bedardo12]

No Dead Cells?

[@dianadavindiva]

Great list! I just missed GRIS and maybe Bloodborne...

[@jaydenm45]

Bloodborne ??

[@dianadavindiva]

@@jaydenm45 that´s why you shouldn´t drink and then comment stuff on internet. 😅 I really can´t remember why I wrote that... hope my ex doesn´t appear here 🤣

[@Baldis_basics_is_a_goat]

Baldi's basics: Where is us?

[@sunlightswift]

Thought for sure Rimworld would have been here. Also I was pretty sure Geometry Dash would as well

[@Jacket50Blessings]

no hotline miami is insane.

[@butterschunkmcdonalds5333]

Absolutely LOVE y'all's #1 pick, Disco Elysium is legit one of the greatest games I've ever played, Probably the most well written and funniest tbh. Legit the first list with Hollow Knight ever that I didn't put it at #1, That's how much i love Disco, But HK def deserves to be #2 IMO Other games from this list I love include Hades, Undertale, Cuphead and Celeste, There is one game that is for sure missing on here tho and that's Omori, Incredible game, HEAVY hitting story and for sure in my top 5, Maybe top 3 favorite OSTs of all time, Its music is phenomenal.

[@granzert1711]

I'd rank Cuphead and Hollow Knight much higher. But putting Disco Elysium on top was a good choice.

[@seanG0318]

Terraria, especially with Calamity Mod??? How about Little Nightmares??? Doki Doki Literature Club, dubbed the #1 Psychological Horror experience???

[@high.level.noob.]

Outer Wilds and Hollow Knight are some of the most perfect games I have ever played.

[@Superfan109]

Let’s face it, most indie games are far better then half the shit corporations come out with now-a-days…

[@YourBestBudFlowey]

Never heard of the number 1 choice. I think the number 20 choice should've been much higher, that game is iconic & dare I say revolutionary. The number 3 slot is personally my favourite game of all time, overtaking my previous favourite game (which was Skyrim for the longest time) but after a replay of the game it overtook it.

[@2killzore]

Sorry to interrupt the party but baldurs gate and larian jusy kicked the door in 😂 and they want to know where spelunky 1 and 2 is at.

[@LegallyGaming]

Cuphead deserves to be so much higher! Hades #1! Other than that I was pretty happy with the list!

[@al3xtl]

Why is cuphead 17th? This is actually criminal

[@sanctuary9992]

What about Pizza Tower.

[@wesmyone9562]

Hollow Knight = Masterpiece, simply as that🤷🏿‍♂️

[@Ori_Kohav]

No Stray??????????

[@grenity]

hotline miami dead cells spelunky into the breach slay the spire

[@Badass-Dalty]

It’s disappointing that Freedom Planet or any of the Shantae Games are not here not even FNAF

[@MattAndPock-uk7tz]

No Pizza TOWER!

[@riolu477]

Like some others have said, the list itself is good, but the order, there are some games that barely any people know and famous games everyone knows are near thr bottom, it seems to be an EXTREMELY biased list feels more like a singular person's personal list of games they like rather than actual fame

[@bastionsea2829]

I thought Stardew Valley was just a retitled Harvest Moon

[@Gradiusfan]

My top 5: Super Cyborg Valfaris Shredders Stardrift Evolution Huntdown

[@devonmcg7128]

IMO Hollow Knoght deserves 1st place. Truly a masterpiece of a game😊

[@matthewclark1006]

I have the answer so everybody that’s going to watch this. I’ll save you the time. 1) Hyper light drifter (Special Edition for switch) 2) Cuphead DLC

[@bangem1988]

No soma? No kenshi? What are we doing here?

[@TechTokOffical]

Idk what the rest of the list looks like, but imo mindcraft might be the biggest indie game EVER...and I've never played it once. In terms of success,I'm def interested on what else is on this list

[@R-Otaku747]

lol man i wish omori was up there

[@Foxwizard35]

Hollow Knight is number 1 in my list Close runner up is outer wilds

[@BigTibbo]

Where’s castle crashers????

[@stevenmcdonald5837]

has anyone at watchmojo…played hollow knight? you dont get health from killing your shade lol