Every year, countless amazing new ones of the best indie RPGs emerge from talented independent developers. All the games listed here are the result of in-depth research from various trusted sources and having gone through careful consideration. Graphics, missions carried out in the game, the characters’ storylines, voice acting, soundtrack, and unique titles that are not too explicit yet spark curiosity are all significant factors. Additionally, good marketing, gamers’ responses to the released trailers, and widespread coverage surrounding the trailers or the game itself are crucial in determining the qualifications of the best indie RPGs to be reviewed. Now let’s check it out!
Best Indie RPGs 2020: Haven
Haven by the Game Bakers is one of the best indie RPGs that has received extensive reviews from online gaming media. In short, this game features two characters, Yu and Kay, a couple escaping from an arranged marriage known in their society as Matchmaker to another planet that is physically fragmented into small islands. Their mission is to cleanse Rust, a harmful red substance that threatens the planet and its wildlife while gathering food and fighting off various enemies as they glide through the environment.
Haven feels like a drama film with beautiful narration in the form of dialogue throughout the gameplay, blending a vibrant art style in its palette, creating a more atmospheric ambiance even though the islands visited seem familiar to one another. In terms of music, the synth-wave soundtrack from Danger and “20:06 Millions of Lumsecs Away” stands out prominently.
Best Indie RPGs 2021: The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is one of the best indie RPGs designed with a strong Roman aesthetic and culture infused with myth, mystery, and horror where if a citizen commits a sin, then the entire population could turn into golden statues as punishment. A standard British accent enhances the voice acting along with captivating facial animations, while the dialogue is interactive into details and a well-structured narrative. Of course, this captivating dialogue is marked by the oily strokes of an Australian Nick Pearce’s hand, the winner of the writers Guild Award.
This one of the best indie RPGs in the time-loop genre features a magical reset button. Players can start their adventure in the present, discovering ancient Roman ruins filled with golden human statues, and then get thrown back in time through a portal, arriving in the same city, intact and clean, with all the statues still being living humans. This game lets a player play as a detective in a city filled with people who could be suspects and figure out who’s about to break the Golden Rule.
Best Indie RPGs 2022: Chained Echoes
Another one of the best indie RPGs, Chained Echoes created by Matthias Linda has everything a RPG’s lover’s heart needs. Since Chained Echoes is a classic JRPG-styled game with a whole lot of minigames, this is so incredible that Chained Echoes has a complex equipment, skill system, stats, loot, sidequests, big towns, dangerous dungeons, laser beams or switch between battling by foot or explore the war-ridden land of Valandis with high speed of mech or calling an airship. Chained Echoes is estimated to have generated gross revenue of $5,175,628.92 since the game was released. From this amount, the developers project a net revenue of $1,526,810.53.
There are some shortcomings in the dialogue, which feel awkward and stiff, and this is understandable considering that the developers are not native English speakers. Overall, the storyline of Chained Echoes features well-paced elements of classic RPGs. Chained Echoes tells the tale of a group of heroes on a mission of peace for Valandis, which ultimately escalates into a widespread crusade against ancient evils, gods, and tyrannical foes threatening to destroy the very fabric of life. They actually consist of several different layers of society, most of which function as an ensemble or music group made up of various performers or singers.
Best Indie RPGs 2023: Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is one of the best indie RPGs that presents the best part of its predecessor games such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, or Star Ocean: The Second Story. Sea of Stars is quite weighty from a storyline standpoint, the fighting visually looks wild but is very mechanically appealing, and the story is rich and accompanied by good humor along with surprising twits. The story begins with the appearance of both teenage characters Zale and Valere who make the leap to a neighboring island to fight and save the world by killing the villains. Another character named Garl appears In the middle of the story to help them.
Most of all, Sea of Stars looks impressive with its villains, magic, and its highly organic world of betting. In addition, the player can also return to the camp and talk to the poet who tells the story of the world and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the elements of this best indie RPG are weaker than its predecessor as evidenced by the combat system that always uses the same strategy over and over by the end due to the lack of skills, combos, and limited combat options.
Best Indie RPGs 2024
The year of 2024 is not the end yet. New games that became one of the best indie RPGs emerged with two different themes. First, classic games are packaged in slightly modern nuances and unique games with a compelling premise and deep storyline. It’s so hard to choose from all the indie RPG games out there. Finally, the choice fell on these two games where each of them has its advantages.
Thaumaturge
Thaumaturge may not shine as brightly as Baldur’s Gate 3, but for a mid-sized one of the best indie RPGs, it has a rich atmosphere filled with cool ideas that are mostly executed very well. This game features turn-based combat with engaging strategic choices that lead to different endings. This game is set during the transitional period leading to the 20th century in Poland, infused with political drama and magical intrigue. It features the expansion of the Russian Empire into Poland and a Polish revolution filled with tensions that can only be resolved through rifles, pistols, cavalry swords, and ghostly figures.
The main character, Wiktor, is a blend of Witcher/John Constantine and an extraplanar detective. This game is suitable for players who enjoy combat sequences that unfold slowly, with risky dialogue choices that carry consequences, allowing players to control the unfolding events. In carrying out their missions, both the protagonist and the antagonist have Salutor, spiritual beings that help them win battles. In conclusion, this game features great graphics, evident in clothing styles, hairstyles, architectural designs, colors, and harmonious lighting. However, there is a slight awkwardness in the voice acting, as the accent in the dialogue reflects Standard English rather than the native accent of the local community besides some problematic movements and strange noises
Rise of the Rōnin
Rise of the Rōnin is on the list of the best indie RPGs with an open-world concept where the player will dive into the political turmoil of Japan. The game gives players the freedom to choose characters with extensive customization features, which is why there are no official names for any of the characters. The developer can present appealing female characters with strong personalities rather than relying solely on visual sensuality. Additionally, impressive designs of the cities of Yokohama, Edo, and Kyoto are depicted with an authentic feel, avoiding the dramatization of beauty seen in places like the Ghost of Tsushima. The game also includes non-fictional characters whose storylines align with historical facts.
However, there are some drawbacks, such as a poorly structured faction system that can confuse players; they can switch from one faction to another, becoming enemies of their former allies after negotiating to recruit players into their new faction. Furthermore, there are classic technical issues, such as textures popping when players ride horses into the city, cliffs “breaking” due to slow texture loading, and the presence of jaggies in gameplay that affect visual sharpness even in quality mode.
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