The 10 best indie RPGs of all time

that role-playing game The genre is one of the most popular and iconic in the industry and includes renowned brands such as: final fantasy, dragon questand Elder Scrolls. But what about all the great RPGs made by independent developers? This small but impressive project is partly responsible for preserving and popularizing the genre during one of its worst periods: the 2000s and early 2010s.

Indie RPG It has captivated players with its unique art style, captivating storyline, and creative gameplay mechanics for over 20 years. Creating these types of games is becoming easier every year, thanks to the advent of accessible game creation tools and large online communities. There are plenty of indie RPGs that fans of the genre should try, but these 10 are some of the best of all time.

Yumeniki

Laying the foundation for an indie RPG

No list of the best indie RPGs would be complete without them. YumenikiA game that is single-handedly responsible for popularizing the genre. The game was created by a single Japanese developer named Kikiyama, who used RPG Maker 2003 to create one of the most bizarre fictional adventures ever created.

Yumeniki It is a narrative RPG. There is no combat, instead focusing on exploration, interaction, and item use. It takes place entirely within the dreams of the main character, Madotsuki, and both the imagery and atmosphere can be incredibly creepy and surreal. Needless to say, Yumeniki It's a huge influence on the genre, and luckily it's available for free download on Steam.

turn off

A unique and bizarre RPG that further popularized the genre.

The indie RPG scene became more popular in the late 2000s, resulting in some of the best games in the genre. one of them is turn offCreated by Mortis Ghost and made with RPG Maker 2003, e.g. Yumeniki). In terms of gameplay, turn off is a very simple and traditional turn-based RPG, but its story and world solidify it as an absolute classic.

Players control a character called Batter, who must purify a mysterious world by defeating the guardians of four different realms. It starts off normal, but gets more and more bizarre until the story turns everything on its own at the last moment and ultimately shocks the player. Plus, the game's catchy music and unique art style are great. turn off It recently received a remake for Steam and Nintendo Switch, making this legendary indie RPG more accessible than ever.

lisa

Post-apocalyptic adventure with a dark narrative

that lisa The game was created by solo developer Austin Jorgensen at RPG Maker VX Ace, and is often cited as the title that made the indie RPG genre wildly popular in the 2010s. turn off). These are technically three separate games. Lisa: First, Lisa: painful and Lisa: Happy — are often grouped together because they are all part of the same story.

of the combat system lisa It has some interesting ideas, but the story and characters are what makes this game worth checking out. It is set in a desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland where everyone is addicted to a substance called Joy. lisa It tells the story of Brad Armstrong, a man who must rescue a kidnapped baby girl. This story is incredibly dark and emotional as it deals with some difficult topics. Despite this, it has a dark sense of humor that is surprisingly charming. lisa It also has an amazing soundtrack composed by Jorgensen himself.

Undertale

A peaceful RPG that redefined an entire genre

When people hear the term ‘indie RPG’ Undertale It's probably one of the first games that comes to mind. Toby Fox's debut title in 2015 not only revolutionized the genre, but the gaming industry as a whole. This turn-based RPG features a bullet-hell combat system that encourages players to find ways to resolve conflicts peacefully without killing their enemies. The concept captured the hearts of gamers around the world and still feels fresh today.

Undertale It gained great popularity not only because of its unique concept, but also because its worldview, characters, writing, and story resonated with many people. Everything about this game was masterfully crafted by Toby Fox and his small team. It includes one of its biggest selling points: music. That is, because it has a compelling, distinct, and memorable soundtrack. Undertale It went on to sell millions of copies, catapulting Toby Fox's career and inspiring the creation of many similar titles.

Deltarune

an imperfect masterpiece

Toby Fox approved Undertale It was a ‘test run’ made to gain experience, and its spiritual successor was DeltaruneThis is the game he always wanted to make. This title imports everything created Undertale It's very special and takes it to a whole new level. The mechanics have become more refined, the combat has become more complex, the story has become more interesting, and the soundtrack has become much more diverse.

Deltarune It's unlike anything else currently on the market, and if you're a fan of the RPG genre (or games in general), you should definitely check it out. The only caveat is that development took so long that Toby Fox has been releasing it as separate chapters since 2018. However, there are currently four chapters available (two of which are free to download) and over 20 hours of content.

Hylix 2

A surreal adventure brought to life with claymation

• Released: June 22, 2020
• system: PC
• developer: Mason Lindros
• Genre: role playing

In 2015, indie developer Mason Lindroth made a huge impact on the indie RPG scene with games like: HylixSet in a colorful and surreal world brought to life with handmade claymation. It became a cult classic, but was also criticized for being short and simplistic. It was more of an experience than a video game. Fortunately, the 2020 sequel Hylix 2We've solved this problem in a bigger and better way in every way.

Hylix 2 It's closer to a full-fledged RPG with a wider world to explore, more characters to meet, and deeper combat mechanics. But what makes this game stand out so much is its presentation. Not only are all the characters and items in this surreal world depicted in claymation, but everything has a unique and striking design that players will never forget about this unique adventure. Hylix 2 It was also praised for its psychedelic funk soundtrack composed by Chuck Salamone and Lindroth himself.

Omori

A heartbreaking psychological story inspired by Earthbound

Omori

released

December 25, 2020

• 

while lisa and Undertale Redefining the RPG genre in the 2010sOmori We did the same thing in the 2020s. At first it looks like your average turn-based RPG with a combat system that puts enemies front and center. earthbound And other games that inspired it. But as the player progresses, things get much deeper.

battle Omori It utilizes a creative rock-paper-scissors mechanic where enemies and playable characters become stronger or weaker depending on how they feel. But the biggest reason why this game was so successful is its story. It's incredibly dark and emotional, not to mention the psychological horror elements. It deals with dark topics that may hit too close to home for some players, including trauma, anxiety, loneliness, and self-harm.

connected echo

Traditional fantasy RPG

Some people believe that the indie RPG scene consists only of colorful and strange games with plots that deal with dark themes, but this couldn't be further from the truth. There are actually a lot of high-quality indie RPGs inspired by games like: final fantasy, Chrono Trigger And many other influential IPs. connected echo This is one of the most famous examples.

The game is essentially a modern SNES RPG with beautiful pixel art, a memorable soundtrack, and a captivating fantasy world (with a few sci-fi elements thrown in). battle connected echo These are some of the biggest highlights of the game. Despite being turn-based, it's incredibly fast-paced thanks to fluid attack animations and overdrive mechanics. Because of all this, connected echo It is considered one of the best turn-based RPGs of the current generation and has gained quite a following.

cassette beast

It's more than just a Pokemon clone.

The indie RPG scene is filled with high-quality projects that attempt to recreate the gameplay of beloved AAA franchises. pokemon It is one of the most frequently emulated IPs. But in a sea of ​​similar appearance pokemon Clones, there is one game that stands out on its own, and that is cassette beast.

A monster-taming open world RPG with some of the most original and outstanding monster designs in the genre. Players can collect, train, and transform a variety of creatures in exciting turn-based battles. Even better, you can fuse these monsters to create even more powerful evolutions with new designs and animations. The second half of the game contains compelling and moving story segments and monsters that help it stand out further from the competition, solidifying it as an excellent modern classic and one of the most interesting games inspired by gaming. Pokemon.

sea ​​of ​​stars

A fusion of classic RPGs to create an award-winning indie game.

For a modern indie RPG inspired by gameplay and setting. final fantasy and/or Chrono Trigger, sea ​​of ​​stars This is one of the most notable examples. Despite being released just a few years ago, the game has already become a huge cult classic, captivating legions of gamers with both its combat and presentation.

sea ​​of ​​stars It was intentionally created as a fusion of several influential old school RPGs. Combat has been integrated without loading screens. Chrono TriggerInteractive combat system with timed input including: super mario rpg, and a complex fantasy story inspired by it. Gaia's Vision. And if that's not enough, it also comes with detailed sprite work and an excellent score. Because it has many positive characteristics. sea ​​of ​​stars It won many awards, including winning Best Independent Game at The Game Awards 2023.