Indies are still winning
Every year I find myself more excited about indie games than AAA releases. While big studios keep betting on remasters and safe sequels, indie developers are doing the most interesting things in gaming right now.
This isn't an objective list. It's my list — what I'm playing, what I'm enjoying, and what I think deserves your time.
Hollow Knight: Silksong — yes, it finally happened
I'll be direct: Silksong arrived and exceeded expectations. Hornet feels different from Knight — faster, more aggressive, with a combat rhythm that demands your full attention. The world is more vertical, the bosses are more creative, and the narrative has a depth that Team Cherry handles better than anyone.
Are there things I didn't love? A few. The map feels less organic than the original in certain areas. But as a whole, it's a game that justifies every year of waiting.
If you played Hollow Knight and you're not playing Silksong, I genuinely don't know what you're doing with your life.
Stardew Valley 2 — ConcernedApe does it again
ConcernedApe did something rare: took as long as it needed to and shipped a complete game on day one.
Stardew Valley 2 isn't just "more of the same." There are new community mechanics that make the town actually feel like it changes based on your decisions. The seasons system has more depth. And yes, multiplayer is properly integrated from the start this time.
What I love most: it's still a game you can put down whenever you want without feeling guilty. That's intentional design, and very few developers get it right.
Neon Abyss 2 — roguelikes done right
The first Neon Abyss was a rough diamond. The sequel polishes everything that felt off and adds a between-run progression system that genuinely hooks you.
The combination of platformer shooter + roguelike is still its strongest identity. Every run feels different. Builds get absurd in fun ways. And the soundtrack remains one of the best in the genre.
If you're into roguelikes and haven't tried this one yet, now's the time.
What I'm still waiting on
A few 2026 titles came in with more hype than they deserved — I won't name them, no point giving them more attention. But some things are still on my radar:
- Axiom Verge 3: if it keeps the quality of the second entry, it'll be something special
- Cuphead DLC 2: rumored, not confirmed, but the studio keeps dropping hints
- A Devolver Digital title I can't mention yet due to NDA — I saw a private preview, and yes, it's good
Why indies still matter
The AAA industry is in a strange place right now. Crunch, mass layoffs, games that ship broken and get patched for months. Indie studios, for the most part, operate differently.
Not all of them, sure. Indie studios fail too. But there's something about small scale that forces more concrete decisions about what actually matters in a game.
When a team of five makes a game, every mechanic they include is a deliberate choice. That shows in the final product.
My recommendation
If you can only play one from this list: Silksong. No debate.
Want something more relaxing: Stardew Valley 2. Want more adrenaline: Neon Abyss 2.
Indie gaming in 2026 is at one of its highest points. Take advantage of it.