5 Best Indie Games Of 2026 (So Far)

Indie games have maintained a steady presence for decades, offering a contrast to the bloated, overly polished titles published by major developers. Freed from the weight of corporate pressures, these games rely on their creativity and unbridled fun factor to stand out. This strategy has paid off, with titles like "Hollow Knight" or "Hades" being among the most acclaimed games of their generation. Some of the best games of 2026 so far happen to be indie titles, proving that a big budget doesn't always dominate the market.

As the gaming industry endures tumultuous changes, including Xbox studio layoffs, indie titles have helped keep the medium alive. At just over halfway through the year, as of this writing, there are several indie titles that have stood out in 2026. These games showcase the possibilities of the medium without the backing of a major studio, each standing on par with big-budget releases in their own way.

After leaving Team Meat, the studio behind "Super Meat Boy," fan-favorite game developer Edmund McMillen teamed up with Tyler Glaiel for "Mewgenics." In contrast to McMillen's prior work, which largely revolved around side-scrolling platforming gameplay, "Mewgenics" is a tactical RPG. Player parties consist of cats in different RPG roles, forming groups of four to participate in turn-based movement and combat across grid-oriented battlefields from an isometric perspective. Between quest runs, players can breed additional cats from surviving party members, inheriting their parents' traits for their own adventures.

"Mewgenics" retains McMillen's penchant for infusing games with plenty of dark humor and accessible reinvention of familiar mechanics. With his latest title, McMillen leans into the delightfully bizarre in this roguelike tactical game. The more macabre design qualities are still present, but this time played for more overt laughs punctuating the action. Boasting an enormous scope and offering plenty of replayability through its roguelike setup and generational premise, "Mewgenics" is another instant classic from McMillen and Glaiel.

It's been seven years since the original "Slay the Spire" and the wait for its sequel was well worth it. Developed and published by Mega Crit, "Slay the Spire II" is another roguelike dungeon-crawler with progression driven by deck-building gameplay. Players choose from a group of five characters, each with their own starting decks, with three characters returning from the previous game. Delving into procedurally generated spires, players battle enemies and alter their decks as they acquire more cards.

The original "Slay the Spire" was one of the most underappreciated games of 2019 and its sequel retains and refines what made its predecessor so appealing. The big addition to "Slay the Spire II" is the inclusion of co-op multiplayer, with up to four players able to proceed together as a party. In fairness, "Slay the Spire II" is still in early access but we've liked what we've seen so far in its expansion of the original game's memorable elements. Accessible to newcomers and with new twists to thrill returning fans, "Slay the Spire II" provides an engaging dungeon-crawler experience.

In one of those concepts that's almost unbelievably genius, "Mouse: P.I. for Hire" is one of the most aesthetically distinct titles released this year. Developed by Fumi Games and published by PlaySide Studios, it is a first-person shooter set within a black-and-white 1930s animated world in the tradition of early Fleischer and Disney cartoons. In a noir-coded city populated by anthropomorphic animals, the game's main character is private investigator mouse Jack Pepper. Jack's latest hardboiled case has him unravel a conspiracy set to change his world forever as he battles through a small army of deadly crooks.

With first-person shooters crowding the market, "Mouse: P.I. for Hire" adds its own twist to the genre with its classic cartoon design. There is plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor reflecting the game's animated inspirations while setting the period piece mood with its jazzy soundtrack. Adding to its impressive behind-the-scenes acumen is that the protagonist is played by Troy Baker, one of the most prolific voices behind the games in the industry today. One of the most original first-person shooters in recent memory, "Mouse: P.I. for Hire" blasts through the competition.

Not every game needs life and death stakes to be worthwhile, and the slice-of-life adventure "Mixtape" is a clear reminder of that. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game is set during a summer in the '90s in a small Northern California town. The story centers on three teenagers as they finish high school and enjoy one last night of youthful reckless abandon before transitioning into adulthood. As this freewheeling trio get into mischief around their hometown, they reconcile with the unspoken tension behind their impending separation.

For players looking for something wistfully cozy, "Mixtape" is an atmospheric masterpiece worth diving into. True to its title, the game is powered by a soundtrack of memorable '90s songs, giving its sequences an extra emotional boost. It ties into the story's strong coming-of-age themes, without distracting from the fun of skateboarding around town and outmaneuvering the police. One of the best interactive story games in recent memory, with a little more action thrown in, "Mixtape" is an unassuming triumph.

The most recent release on this list, "Mina the Hollower" has been an absolute blast to play, especially for '90s action RPG fans. Developed and published by Yacht Club Games, the game's titular protagonist is an anthropomorphic mouse inventor and adventurer. After the generators Mina invented to power her island mysteriously shut down, she sets out to find out why, armed with a variety of weapons. This leads Mina to discover what her generators have caused and who is seeking to stop her.

Worthy of being placed among the best games that feel like "The Legend of Zelda," "Mina the Hollower" remains its own distinct experience. The action RPG gameplay is well-developed, fitting in with its more pronounced horror aesthetic, while the top-down perspective and island setting evokes titles like "Link's Awakening." The game's mechanics also place a greater emphasis on combat and Mina's ability to hollow, which is to say burrowing underground for traversal and evasion. Leaning into its influences without feeling constrained, "Mina the Hollower" is one of the best adventure games of the year.