It’s not much of a shocking statement to hear a friend mentioning that a movie or book "changed their life", yet it would still be surprising for most people to hear a friend say that a video game changed their life. But this shouldn’t be surprising, because video games have been pulling at the same kind of narrative heartstrings for decades now, and nowhere is that pull stronger than in indie games.

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Indie games, or, independently produced games not affiliated with major studios, tend to push the boat out a little further when it comes to both gameplay mechanics and narrative design. Indie developers can afford to take more risks, and sometimes because of this, they miss out on mainstream attention. But occasionally, developers take a risk that not only manifests something impactful but something potent enough for people to remember for the rest of their lives.

Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium promo art with two of the cast's characters set to the artistic backdrop of the urban-fantasy setting

As one Redditor points out, "Disco Elysium is arguably the best RPG ever made", and with its numerous awards, the case can certainly be made. Combining elements of tabletop RPGs with a point-and-click style adventure, the format is broad enough to allow themes of nihilism, ultraliberalism, and even substance abuse to come through.

The game unfolds like a novel, understandably as it was written and designed by Estonian novelist Robert Kurvitz. But beyond the game’s uniquely literary style, it is set by a stunning art style that is largely inspired by oil paintings, achieving one of the most concise, and overall realized artistic efforts a video game has ever strived for.

Spiritfarer

Logo from Spiritfarer

Despite being one of the newest entries on this list, Spiritfarer has still managed to garner a cult following similar to if it had been released decades prior. Approaching its mature topics in a sensitive, ethereal way, the game has been applauded for "how it celebrates death" as one Redditor puts it.

Technically a ‘management sim’, Spiritfarer's Ghibli-esque art style and writing make its experience practically the antithesis of the usual stresses one expects from the genre. Still, however much Spiritfarer is applauded for being a calming experience, one Redditor reminds newcomers that "that game sucker punched me right in the heart."

The Stanley Parable

The Stanley Parable Adventure Line

The term ‘meta’ is utilized when something refers back to itself, or about itself. Almost every artistic medium has employed it at some stage, from theatre to poetry, but arguably one of the most meta, meta products ever to exist is the video game The Stanley Parable. One player described it as "a unique experience that I haven’t quite gotten from anything else again."

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A commentary on indie games as a whole, the pleasures of gaming, and the actual paradox of freedom, The Stanley Parable is a narrative-driven game where the player directs an office worker at the behest of a truly unreliable narrator. Though incredibly simple in its gameplay, the game excels for its experimental writing and the voice acting of Kevan Brighting.

Thomas Was Alone

Thomas in Thomas Was Alone

As explained in the pages of almost every book on narrative theory, one of the most exciting parts of writing is its ability to create empathy for something that does not exist. In the case of Thomas Was Alone, that ability is pushed to its limit in asking audiences to empathize with a group of shapes.

The game’s success in this can be demonstrated by one Redditor’s comment, "this game made me tear up over a rectangle." But beyond its obvious narrative achievements, Thomas Was Alone is also a delightfully challenging platformer, that like many other applauded indie games, uses its gameplay mechanics to further reinforce its story.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds Wallpaper

Named game of the year by about half a dozen publishers in 2019, Outer Wilds is an open-world exploration game that managed to make its non-linear journey feel specifically tailored to each player. One Redditor describes it as "a game where the story is told through your own curiosity and exploration."

Coming seemingly out of the blue, Outer Wilds positioned players as a recruit in a space program, tasked with exploring the galaxy to unravel the mystery which had entombed the solar system in an endless time loop. The game, inspired by The Legend of Zelda, is filled with stories that constantly suppose compounding enigmas to the player, leading to a world experience unlike any other.

Hotline Miami

Most Important Indie Game Of Each Year Since 2008

One of the more controversial indie games to exist, Hotline Miami in many ways achieved exactly what it set out to do, drawing attention to the hyper-violence that had become commonplace within video games. One Redditor describes it as "the most influential indie game due to its soundtrack and meta commentary for games."

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The game reached serious critical acclaim in 2012, and to this day its art style and music retain an intense cult following due to its spin on the popular aesthetic of 80s blood-drenched neon. Finding its stylistic influences from the 2011 film Drive, the game was popular enough to expand into an equally acclaimed sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley title on sky view with hills

Though farming has been one of the most consistently successful topics for simulation games, none have come close to the success of Stardew Valley. A feat even more impressive considering the game was entirely developed by one man over four years, that man being Eric Barone.

Though not critically heralded, the response to Stardew Valley was mostly positive, but sincerely not equated to the outstanding commercial success it has now received. The game is loved for its open-ended escapist feel, the NPC residents of Stardew Valley itself, and how it enables players to take both a feverishly rigorous approach, or a casual, relaxed one to farming. As one Redditor describes it, it’s "A game where you can truly play it however you want."

Terraria

The logo from the video game Terraria

At one point the main rival to the world’s most popular video game, Minecraft, Terraria is nowadays undervalued for how popular and impactful it was at both its release, and the years following. Having been lovingly updated and expanded by its developers to this day, Terraria is a gigantic open-world side-scroller that sets players on a surprisingly intense quest.

When first loading up Terraria it can initially appear like a side-on view of Minecraft, with a block structure dictating mineable resources and a crafting system through which to use them. But long-term players of the game know that Terraria is far deeper than Minecraft for its available resources and customization. One Redditor estimates that "a single run takes like 100 hours" but recent estimates suspect that figure to be closer to 500.

Hollow Knight

The logo for the Video Game Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

The Metroidvania genre has received a huge resurgence in recent years, attributed to a multitude of games including Dead Cells, Sundered, and Cave Story. But one of the most surprising successes was the un-assuming Hollow Knight, an accessible game that lured players into a punishing experience reminiscent of  "Souls-Borne" games.

Hiding its story in a seemingly endless maze of tunnels, cities, and jungles, one of the greatest achievements of this game is the scope of its creativity. Unraveling the story takes genuine time and effort, and the simple move-set becomes bafflingly intricate as the bosses grow harder and attack windows grow shorter. Its world is entrancingly bleak and its music equally as memorable, as one Redditor puts it "Two years later and I regularly catch my wife humming the map guy’s song."

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