5 Underrated New Indie Games from 2025 That You Don’t Want to Miss

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2025 turned out to be a fantastic year for gaming, despite a few high-profile cancellations and delays. We finally saw the release of eagerly awaited titles like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was also a strong year for independent games, with critically acclaimed releases such as Hades 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earning nominations and awards. However, with so many popular games vying for attention, some excellent titles may have been overlooked.

It often feels like everyone is talking about the same few popular games. While titles like Expedition 33 and Silksong will likely dominate conversations in 2025, there are also fantastic, lesser-known games that deserve attention. Here are 5 indie games from this year that you might have missed, but definitely shouldn’t.

5) Kokoro Kitchen

Platform(s): PC via Steam

Price: $11.99

If you’re a fan of cooking and restaurant management games like Lemon Cake or the classic Diner Dash, you should definitely check out this new indie game. Kokoro Kitchen, the first release from Mango Leaf Games, is full of charm and has a cozy atmosphere.

Kokoro Kitchen is a charming cooking game inspired by Japanese cuisine. You’ll do some light farming and play fun mini-games to prepare ingredients. The game looks great with cute 3D graphics and mouthwatering food illustrations. While not perfect, it’s received generally positive reviews on Steam and is a must-try for fans of cooking games, especially with its 2025 release.

4) Cinnabunny

Platform(s): PC via Steam, Switch, Switch 2

Price: $24.99

Many players probably missed this game because the cover art is misleading – it doesn’t reflect the cute art style inside. But despite the strange cover, Cinnabunny is a fantastic indie title. It’s a blend of farming and cooking simulation, with a touch of Tales of the Shire in the cozy Hobbit-inspired house designs. Players on Steam overwhelmingly recommend it, and I’d easily include it among my favorite games of the year.

With the game now available on Switch, more people are discovering it, which is great! Cinnabunny is a wonderfully relaxing and cozy game, ideal for winter or whenever you need to unwind. Plus, it has a co-op mode, letting you and your friends bake together as bunny bakers.

3) Absolum

Platform(s): PC via Steam, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Price: $24.99

While the game was nominated for Best Independent Game, it hasn’t gained much attention. This year’s nominees were all incredibly strong, and Absolum has been somewhat lost in the excitement surrounding the other titles. However, its ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ rating on Steam shows that players who have tried it really enjoy it.

Absolum is an exciting fantasy game where you battle through levels, combining action-packed beat ’em up gameplay with RPG character progression. It’s known for its stunning hand-drawn art, engaging story, and diverse levels and character builds. Players often compare it to Hades 2 and classic beat ’em ups, but Absolum offers its own distinctive visual style. If you’re a fan of RPGs or roguelites, Absolum is definitely worth checking out.

2) Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

Platform(s): PC via Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

Price: $24.99

I stumbled upon this game a while back, and even though it came out in January, it’s easy to miss with so many new games being released constantly. But honestly, the ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews on Steam really grabbed my attention! As a big fan of Ender Lilies, I was super excited to find out this is basically its spiritual successor – a brand new Souls-like Metroidvania that I couldn’t wait to dive into.

Okay, so I just finished playing Ender Magnolia, and wow, it’s beautiful! Seriously, it’s a side-scrolling platformer that everyone’s saying is a huge step up from the first game. I’m talking amazing story, really smooth gameplay, stunning art style, and a killer soundtrack. It’s quickly become one of my favorite Metroidvanias. If you’re like me and desperately waiting for Silksong, you need to check this indie game out – you won’t regret it!

1) StarVaders

Platform(s): PC via Steam

Price: $24.99

While browsing Reddit for overlooked games of the year, I kept seeing StarVaders. This roguelite deckbuilder is incredibly popular on Steam, with a very positive user rating. It features vibrant, anime-inspired graphics, and lets you control a mech to defend against an alien invasion—it’s a really appealing combination!

With so many deckbuilding games being released, StarVaders is still gaining attention from players. Reviewers often praise its clever deckbuilding and strategic gameplay, and say it deserves more recognition. The game keeps things fresh with diverse enemies and interesting combinations, all backed by a fantastic soundtrack. It could very well be one of the most overlooked gems of 2025.

What’s the best indie game you’ve played this year? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-26 18:16