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The 25 best indie games to play in 2026

Ranked by a score built from player reviews, critic scores and GAMES.GG ratings, not by opinion. The score updates every week, so a great new game can enter.

GAMES.GG25 gamesHow we rank
#1 by scoreHadesScore 94
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The top 10

Hades

Hades

9497% positive · 287,782 Steam reviews2020
Steam 97Critic score 93Popularity 100GAMES.GG 95Steam 97Critic score 93Popularity 100GAMES.GG 95
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong

9389% positive · 391,201 Steam reviews2025
Steam 89Critic score 90Popularity 100GAMES.GG 95Steam 89Critic score 90Popularity 100GAMES.GG 95
How to Fish

How to Fish

9195% positive · 77,372 Steam reviews2026
Steam 95Popularity 79GAMES.GG 97Steam 95Popularity 79GAMES.GG 97
OMORI

OMORI

9097% positive · 80,438 Steam reviews2020
Steam 97Critic score 88Popularity 80GAMES.GG 100Steam 97Critic score 88Popularity 80GAMES.GG 100
Cookie Clicker

Cookie Clicker

8996% positive · 89,089 Steam reviews2021
Steam 96Popularity 82Steam 96Popularity 82
Celeste

Celeste

8897% positive · 134,228 Steam reviews2018
Steam 97Critic score 88Popularity 91Steam 97Critic score 88Popularity 91
Cairn

Cairn

8594% positive · 19,389 Steam reviews2026
Steam 94Popularity 49GAMES.GG 93Steam 94Popularity 49GAMES.GG 93
Gris

Gris

8596% positive · 84,365 Steam reviews2018
Steam 96Critic score 84Popularity 81Steam 96Critic score 84Popularity 81
Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer

8494% positive · 47,609 Steam reviews2020
Steam 94Critic score 84Popularity 69Steam 94Critic score 84Popularity 69
Bright Memory: Infinite

Bright Memory: Infinite

8391% positive · 36,274 Steam reviews2021
Steam 91Popularity 63Steam 91Popularity 63

11 to 25

#ScoreGameScore
1182ReStory: Chill Electronics RepairsMandragora82
1282NevaNomada Studio82
1382A Short Hikeadamgryu82
1481Rogue Legacy 2Cellar Door Games81
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#ScoreGameScore
1581Mark of the NinjaKlei Entertainment81
1681Hotline MiamiDennaton Games81
1780Into the BreachSubset Games80
1880Papers, PleaseLucas Pope80
1979Plague Inc: EvolvedNdemic Creations79
2079Don't StarveKlei Entertainment79
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#ScoreGameScore
2178To the MoonFreebird Games78
2278FTL: Faster Than LightSubset Games78
2377The Binding of IsaacEdmund McMillen77
2476SUPERHOTSUPERHOT Team76
2576The Stanley ParableGalactic Cafe76
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How we rank this list

No editor picks this order. Each game gets a score from 0 to 100. The score counts what players say in their Steam reviews, the critic score when the game has one, how many players reviewed it, the GAMES.GG rating and how new the game is. When a game has no critic score or no GAMES.GG rating, that part counts at the middle value of the games on this list, or lower, so a missing part never raises a score. A game needs at least 2,000 Steam reviews to enter. We start from the games in the GAMES.GG catalog that fit the list: 49 games.

Pool
49 games
Updated
Weekly
Games
Top 25
  • Steam reviewsThe share of players who recommend the game. A game with few reviews counts with more care.
  • Critic scoreThe critic score, when the game has one.
  • PopularityHow many players reviewed the game.
  • GAMES.GG ratingOur review score, else the average rating from GAMES.GG players.
  • How new it isNewer games count a little more.

Questions about this list

What is the best indie game right now?

Hades has the highest score this week. Hollow Knight: Silksong and How to Fish follow.

How is the score made?

Each game gets a score from 0 to 100. The score counts what players say in their Steam reviews, the critic score when the game has one, how many players reviewed it, the GAMES.GG rating and how new the game is. When a game has no critic score or no GAMES.GG rating, that part counts at the middle value of the games on this list, or lower, so a missing part never raises a score. A game needs at least 2,000 Steam reviews to enter.

Why is my favourite game not here?

It may not have enough Steam reviews yet, may not carry the genre tag, or may not be in the GAMES.GG catalog. The list updates every week.

How often does this list change?

Every week for scores. New games enter when they pass the review floor.

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