In 2024, nearly 19,000 games debuted on Steam, a figure that has continued to rise each year since 2019. This massive influx makes it nearly impossible to keep up with all the releases, especially considering the numerous new titles that don’t make it to Steam. While high-profile games from major publishers like Activision and Ubisoft often dominate the headlines, many remarkable indie titles released each year tend to go unnoticed.
At Polygon, our team is dedicated to covering video games, yet even we struggle to stay on top of everything being released. Each day, we make an effort to explore indie games spanning various genres—whether they are quirky takes on first-person shooters, inventive twists on card games, or eerie typing experiences. For our purposes, we define indie games as those developed by independent studios operating outside the constraints of major publishers. While some may receive financial backing from big names, they are primarily independent in nature.
Although it’s still early in the year, indie games have already made a strong impression. From job simulators and survival horrors to Soulslikes and dig-your-own-hole adventures, there’s likely a new indie game out there that fits your interests.
Here is a roundup of all the indie games we’ve enjoyed and featured so far this year.
