Best Indies

From arcadey action to slow-burning narrative journeys, indie games do it all. These picks went above and beyond to become our favorites in 2021.

Workers are mere resources in this biting satire of corporate culture where you literally program them to do their jobs. 7 Billion Humans is a wonderfully witty lesson in programming logic that never feels like a lecture.

Bird Alone isn’t just a game; it’s a bond you share with the world’s loneliest parrot. While it starts as idle chatter, you’ll soon find yourself yearning to interact with your feathered companion as a friendship blossoms over art, life, and death.

Devour everything in sight as an ever-expanding sinkhole in this clearly absurd adventure about the ills of late-stage capitalism. There’s never a dull moment, and its action is matched only by the colorful cast of lovable creatures you’ll meet on the way.

Choreograph outrageous displays of mayhem in this acrobatic shooter. Every room brims with potential for bullet ballet as you ricochet shots off your surroundings at the behest of a sentient banana. It’s an action masterclass that’s ripe for replays.

Roll, juggle and launch Knightly the ball to the end of this comical horrorscape. Gloomy atmosphere, stunning pixel art, and challenging physics puzzles cement Puzzling Peaks EXE as one of the best indie hits this year.