Top 10 Indie Games

Written by: Anurag Ghosh • Edited by: Michael Hartman
Published Jul 31, 2010 • Related Guides: Xbox 360 | Activision

Indie games stand apart from the mainstream AAA titles because of their individuality and creativity. The best indie games such as Darwinia, Machinarium, Puzzle Bots and Uplink are perfect examples of new age video games with a fresh gameplay and a unique style of their own.

The Best Indie Video Games

With a unique story, odd artwork and engaging gameplay, the best indie games stand apart from the mainstream. Gamers, bored from the hack-and-slash or shooter games always look for something different. Indie video games provide the right dose to cure the hangover of boring mindless shooting games. Here are some of the finest independent video game titles that will leave you completely spellbound:

10. Uplink

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In 1985, Activision released a game called Hacker for the Amiga, Commodore 64, MS-DOS and AX Spectrum platforms. The game revolved around computer hacking and computer security – terms which were in the limelight after the release of the movie WarGames. The game allowed players to break into virtual secure computer systems and achieved instant success and soon a sequel called Doomsday Papers was released in the following year.

Uplink is the next best hacking simulation game after Hacker, with more variations, tools and gadgets. Developed by Introversion Software, the game lets you access personal files, documents and hack computer systems. It is a hacking simulation game set in a futuristic world and the entire plot will remind you of Swordfish and Sneakers. Uplink is one of the few best indie games with a theme that’s completely different from usual platformers and action games.

9. Grid Wars

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The game is similar to Geometry Wars, but with a unique on-screen grid and a variety of vector enemies. Grid Wars is simple, addictive, purely psychedelic, and that’s why it will remind you of Geometry Wars. The controls are easy and the graphics truly vibrant. Players have to stay alive in Grid Wars, but with the increasing number of vector enemies, survival can be quite tricky. Developed by Marco Incitti, the game got involved in a controversy with the Geometry Wars developer Bizarre Creations and was pulled down, but many gamers still love this game, probably because of the difficulty curve.

8. Puzzle Bots

Puzzlebots - One of the Best Indie Video Games

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An adventure game of tiny proportions – yes tiny because it has 5 tiny, cute robots to help you solve logical puzzles. Puzzle Bots is a humorous point-and-click adventure game with nice cartoony visuals and brain-tickling puzzles. Developed by Wadjet Eye, Puzzle Bots is quite unique from other indie video games and requires your robots’ teamwork to do certain tasks. There’s a Flamethrower-bot to burn anything, an Ultrabot to push things and a Shrimp-bot that can swim! With cutesy visuals, Puzzle Bots is a nice lighthearted game.

7. Machinarium

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Another indie game with a “robot” theme, Machinarium is a good adventure title with challenging puzzles and superb artwork. Designed and developed by Amanita Design, Machinarium was voted as one of the best indie games in 2009. The game’s uniqueness lies in its breathtaking art style and varied soundtrack. This point-and-click adventure game has some very interesting puzzles that require logic. Sometimes the solutions are very simple, but the puzzle design is so intricate that it becomes difficult to ascertain that the solution will be so easy. Machinarium also has plenty of mini-games besides main puzzles to keep boredom at bay. Just a few minutes of gameplay will make you fall in love with the robot world.

6. Audiosurf

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Ride high on the rhythm road! No this isn’t any country song, but a short description of Audiosurf – A rhythm game that transforms your chosen music into a rhythmic highway. You have a futuristic airborne vehicle that rides down the highway collecting colored blocks and if it collects three or more blocks of the same color, you score points.

Developed by Invisible Handlebar, Audiosurf has unique neon-like visuals, which can be too bright for some, including epileptic patients. But, the addictiveness of the game is what makes its stand apart from others. You won’t get tired listening to your favorite tracks and driving your vehicle to collect points. This Audiosurf Review explains why the game is one of the best indie video games of the decade.

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