There are a lot of indie games coming in 2021. With more developers and studios exploring new genres and topics in their games, there are plenty of exciting, unique titles to dive into. These indie games are funny, thought-provoking, and sometimes downright terrifying.
With games like Hades constantly pushing the boundaries of what indie games are capable of, there are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on the games in this list. Players looking for classic platforming, stylish horror, and cyberpunk kitties can find it all here.
All of these indie games are expected to release in 2021 but given the delays so many games saw in 2020 don’t be surprised if at least a few of these see their release dates pushed back. This list is nowhere near comprehensive, and there are sure to be other amazing indie games coming in 2021, but these are some of the most exciting games coming this year.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: 30XX
In the roguelike action platformer 30XX, players take the role of a blue robot and make their way through a colorful cybernetic world. With blisteringly fast combat and a synth-filled soundtrack, 30XX is looking to scratch that Mega Man X itch. As a sequel to 20XX, 30XX has seen a major graphics update while still retaining the classic retro look. 30XX is taking the classic platforming to a new level with a co-op mode and a level editor so players can design their own stages.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Boyfriend Dungeon
Boyfriend Dungeon has everything players could possibly want from a dungeon-crawling dating sim. Monsters, loot, and kissable swords. Each weapon has a unique personality and their strength grows as they become closer to the personified weapon. After players explore the dungeon (or the ‘dunj’), they can take their hard earned cash to spend on dates. Boyfriend Dungeon is working to create a more inclusive approach to dating sims, with more female, male, and non-binary romance options, as well as a plutonic option with a cat.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Garden Story
Garden Story may be one of the cutest community-building games around. As Concord, a little grape, players help restore an island that has been divided thanks to an infestation called the Rot. Players can take on quests, clear enemies, and gather resources as they rebuild the island.
Once they’re done conquering the island, players can build gardens, help other villagers, and reconnect a struggling community. Garden Story pulls heavy influences from other farming sim games like Stardew Valley but crosses it with the wholesome community of Animal Crossing.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Goodbye Volcano High
Described as a “cinematic narrative adventure,” Goodbye Volcano High follows Fang, a typical 18-year old dinosaur who dreams about going viral with their band. Fang and their friends balance graduating high school, budding romances, and growing up in uncertain times. Goodbye Volcano High features multiple endings, musical mini-games, and is fully voice-acted, featuring Lachlan Watson from Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Given the characters are dinosaurs and there’s a meteor in the game’s logo, there may be more pressing matters for the high schoolers to manage soon.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Saturnalia
Horror games rarely look as good as Saturnalia. This stylish game takes place in Sardinia, Italy, in 1989, as a cast of characters stumble across a creepy ritual. Each character is a life in-game, as they are killed in the city players assume the role of a new character. Once all characters die, the village layout changes, and a new cast of characters will have to brave the city. Saturnalia combines these roguelite elements with a non-linear story to create an anxiety-driven horror experience.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: She Dreams Elsewhere
She Dreams Elsewhere is a surreal roleplaying game where players, as they may have guessed, explore the dreams of Thalia, a comatose woman who journeys through her dreams in hopes of waking up. Thalia teams up with other characters in her subconscious to fight nightmares in turn-based combat.
She Dreams Elsewhere builds on other games like Undertale to tell an amazing story with limited graphics. Each character has their own story to tell and players increase their bond through a ‘Connection’ system. The abstract world of She Dreams Elsewhere reflects the emotional and mental health of Thalia, and from what developer Studio Zevere has shown, players should expect some terrifying enemies.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: SkateBIRD
Easily the sickest indie game coming in 2021 is SkateBIRD. Players control a bird as they grind, kickflip, and airwalk across tiny skate parks. There are little pencils and staplers to jump over and ramps made out of notebooks. Players can even customize their birds and custom soundtracks if they’re not feeling the lo-fi beats. SkateBIRD is a must-have for any real hawk fans.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Solar Ash
Heart Machine’s follow-up to 2016’s Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash has players traveling through incredibly stylized worlds and taking down enemies with blindingly fast attacks. Movement in the game looks smooth, with players gliding through environments on futuristic roller blades. Gravity seems to be subjective too, as players can walk across platforms that twist upside down. Not much else has been revealed for Solar Ash but the studio promises unique characters and massive combat sequences.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Stray
The futuristic world of Stray has players controlling a cat. Not a cyber-cat, or an android cat, or an alien-cat species. Just a cat. Players explore a city populated by robots, where humans are nowhere to be seen, possibly having been wiped out years before given the state of the city.
In order to reunite the stray with their family, players will have to sneak around and outsmart the robot citizens of a decaying city.
Indie Games to Watch in 2021: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is another adorable farming sim and dungeon exploring game but this time with a felony sized twist. After they are evicted from their home for not paying taxes, players have to earn back enough money to pay off their debt and dismantle a corrupt government system bent on keeping good vegetables down. Players can explore Zelda-like dungeons filled with oversized pigs and cute snails, with secrets and more to discover. There are plenty more indie games to watch in 2021, this list is just a small look at some of the amazing games coming this year.
