20. The Pedestrian (PS5)
There are a zillion platformers out there, but how many take place across various warning and traffic signs? Probably just one — namely The Pedestrian. This is a 2D puzzle platformer that tasks you with reaching the "exit" of each sign, which then connects to another in a 3D environment. That little man who appears on all sorts of signage and iconography we see every day needs your help to reach his goal, and you'll go through all kinds of inventive puzzles to do so. It's not particularly long, but while it lasts, this is an inventive and unique indie title worth checking out.
19. OlliOlli World (PS5)
OlliOlli World is the third entry in Roll7's side-scrolling skateboarding series, and it takes things in a brilliant new direction. The gameplay is about the same, tasking you with pulling off tricks with the left stick as you speed through each level. However, the addictive, score-chasing core that keeps you hooked is wrapped in new layers that make it far more appealing. A cel-shaded look is complemented by a chilled out soundtrack and an eclectic range of characters, making for far more pleasant presentation. Full customisation gives you much more control of your skater's look, and asynchronous multiplayer gives you a practically limitless supply of stages to master. A compulsive and fun-loving take on the extreme sport.
18. The Artful Escape (PS5)
The Artful Escape is certainly a unique offering. It's a trippy, music-fuelled adventure game about an artist named Francis Vendetti discovering who he really is. This plays out through an audiovisual ride, taking you to some wild places full of vivid colours and excellent music. Featuring Hollywood talent and an entertaining script, this is one of those games that'll impress with its presentation more than anything. Gameplay-wise it's a little shallow, but don't let that stop you from taking this magical mystery tour.
17. Cyber Shadow (PS5)
Do you have a fondness for side-scrolling action games that kick your arse? Cyber Shadow fulfils that role with gusto. Playing as a cyborg ninja, it's up to you to rescue the rest of your clan and fight back against a metallic menace. It's a pretty challenging game, but it does afford you new powers and abilities at a good pace to deal with all those blasted bots. Despite one or two small issues holding it back from true greatness, this is a fun, no-nonsense title with excellent pixel art visuals to boot.
16. Thumper (PS5)
One of the stars of the original PSVR’s launch lineup, time has not dulled Thumper’s rhythm violence. Playing as a space beetle careening down a tunnel, PSVR2’s improved visual fidelity and haptic feedback has meaningfully enhanced this contemporary classic. While it can also be played on a standard television screen, virtual reality is transformative for this title, embedding you in its otherworldly environments in a way no traditional 4K panel can.
15. F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch (PS5)
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch might be a pain to type, but the game itself is a great Metroidvania. You play as a rabbit with an enormous robotic arm in a cyberpunk-like world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. Off to rescue a friend, the freedom fighter finds himself caught up in all kinds of mess, and it'll be down to you to fight through it. Engaging combat is at the heart of the game, but you're also rewarded for exploring the world, and the story is kept interesting by some great characters.
14. Overcooked: All You Can Eat (PS5)
Overcooked: All You Can Eat serves up everything from Overcooked and Overcooked 2 in one delicious meal. All that content has been refreshed and remastered, with online play now spread across both games, and even more DLC added on top. The brilliance of this series is how it forces you to truly work together — if you don't, chaos can quickly take hold, and you'll never get those three-star ratings on each level. It's also extremely accessible, with easy-to-grasp controls and objectives. Looking better than ever on PS5, it's the ultimate way to enjoy one of the best co-op party games in recent memory.
13. The Pathless (PS5)
The Pathless lives up to its name with a gorgeous open world to explore, but it's how you get around that sets this adventure apart. Playing as an archer, firing arrows at targets dotted throughout the map provide you a speed boost, letting you blitz through the natural environments and mysterious ruins with amazing flow. This traversal leads you to discover the secrets of a corrupted world, and you'll solve puzzles and tackle fearsome creatures in your quest to cleanse the land. A beautiful game in many ways, this is quietly one of PS5's best.
12. Stray (PS5)
Playing as a lost cat in a mysterious underground cybercity, Stray is a truly unique title. This is a short but sweet adventure game that emphasises exploration and investigation from a feline perspective, and it works wonderfully. Linear levels are punctuated by more open areas that are a real treat to explore with your catty dexterity, letting you meet robotic buddies as you weave through the streets and rooftops of a decaying town. While you're busy scratching up furniture and knocking things over, an intriguing sci-fi narrative unfolds around you. Gorgeous art direction and brilliant animation are the icing on this adorable cake.
11. The Light Brigade (PS5)
Roguelikes may be dime a dozen, but they’re less commonplace in virtual reality. The Light Brigade proves that the format can work with PSVR2 to excellent effect, and while it does little to reinvent the genre’s well-worn wheel, it instead focuses on executing all of its ideas to an exemplary standard. The result is an almost immaculate shooter, with stunning gameplay and an outstanding reward loop.
Comments 37
Well this confirms it, I hate indie games...😆
At first glance I thought this list had some pretty big omissions, but it’s hard to make an encompassing indie list when so many indies are just PS4 games playable on the PS5.
No love for Narita Boy? Shocking. I know it's a PS4 game but to be fair that entire list is too.
@Shigurui Yeah, the difference is that Narita Boy doesn't have a native PS5 version
Lost in Random I keep meaning to buy but I keep getting distracted by other games coming out. The Pathless and FIST I absolutely loved. Off topic, sort of but I really hope we get some news on Silksong soon because we haven't heard anything about that game for quite some time now.
Mostly top down and 2d side scroller games.
Will start Hades this year.
I don't like Death Door artstyle too much.
Really hope the new Hyper Light Drifter game comes to consoles, cuz that seems fire. I love the indie games that try to achieve as much as possible.
I love Overcooked, me and my wife had a lot of "fights" because of this game while trying to 3 stars every stage, great fun! haha
At first I missed Deaths Door from the list and was somewhat confused but on second look I see that it did indeed make the top 3, where it belongs. An Absolutely delightful game, and far more challenging than its cutesy art direction may have you believe. A definite indie highlight for me this year. Hades is also incredible but Deaths Door got me bad. Now all we need is the Hollow Knight sequel!
Love Chicory and Kena, such great games.
2nd place is pretty damn good for me. Haven't played Hades yet, technically still really need to finish their other games... Disco Elysium was more my speed, fantastic art style, funny, depressing and so different. No idea how it will translate into a TV show.
Is spiritfarer allowed on the list? The game has a good sense of humour and it's about dying.
I've only played three out of this list :Chicory,Kena and the best Bugsnax.There are a few on the list I'm very interested in but what with the new Ps Plus Tier system soon to start im hoping a lot of them are included in the 'free' games..
@PVTHudson Disco Elysium is being made in to a tv show?!?
I'm playing Carrion right now. Pretty damn good game I might add.
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance not in the top 20?
A travesty I say!
Theseus is easily one of the biggest cons in all of gaming. Take that however you want to
Not sure if it counts but I love cuphead! It’s hard as hell but still fun
@Ward_ting yeah, both that and Life Is Strange got picked up by a TV studio for adaptations. I have mixed feelings when they adapt games, let alone ones that are exclusively based around player choice.
@PVTHudson yea, I am with you on that. I honestly couldn’t tell you an adaptation that I have ever liked. Arcane is probably the exception! If Disco Elysium remained animated in a similar style to Arcane then I could definitely see that working! It’s an awesome world so am very intrigued!
I started The Pedestrian yesterday as I've been wanting to get around to checking it out for ages. It's a well thought out game and I can see it should get quite challenging.
Hades I loved, that's a great game and really deserved the praise it got. There's so many other games off this list that I really want to get around to playing. Perhaps I just need to devote some time to playing through Indies.
@RubyCarbuncle its just arrived on game pass if you play cross platform. I've wanted to try Lost in Random since release, so having a GP release really helps!
Never going to agree with lists like these completely but top games for me would be Solar Ash, Paradise Killer and No Man’s Sky. Art of Rally I really wanted to like but really didn’t.
Lost In Random is wonderful and should be getting far, far more attention than it has.
This is my recommendation, from my country Indonesia 🇮🇩
Surprised Cuphead wasn't on this list. Expected it to be on Top5 but that wasn't the case. Cuphead is one of the best Indie games I've played so far.
Played many of these and can particularly recommend. Death's Door, The Pathless, Kena, Stray, Cyber Shadow, Artful Escape and to a lesser extent Haven.
I've always enjoyed What Remains of Edith Finch but also never quite understood why it is quite SO beloved. It's a brilliant little game, that tells a simple story very well, but best indie? No, not even top 5 for me.
Have to prioritise Hades, Disco Elysium, FIST, Sifu & Chicory!
Without a shadow of a doubt, Unpacking should be on this list.
@SoulChimera
I agree Unpacking should be on this list.
But my favorite Indie of all time only released a couple of weeks ago.
My pick is "Rimworld" Console edition. Best city builder-story telling game of all time.
I loved it on the PC and love it more now that it is on Playstation.
The interface is much better on the PS5 controller than on mouse and keyboard.
@Shigurui Naruta Boy's lack of d-pad support made it unplayable for me. It was a real shame. I wish I could adjust the controls
Rollerdrome is woefully underrated. What an excellent title!
Also, PS5 seriously needs more indie titles…
Cult Of The Lamb should be on this list also.
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, Donut County, Superhot, Degrees of Separation, Alba, ..
Inscryption...?
This list is a bit overcrowded and takes away from some actual great games, but its solid nonetheless. Sifu would be my number 1.
At some point you guys should update Haven to reflect that it is available on PS+ Extra.
And Olli Olli World was a PS+ Essential game last month.
Surprised to see it didn't make the list among the community but tunic is an amazing game!! Challenging combat, amazing exploration, haunting soundtrack that I still listen to and an interesting story.
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