6 Must-Play Indie Games to Look Forward to in 2026

The independent game scene is thriving, as demonstrated by the fact that half of the Game of the Year nominees in 2025 were from indie developers. 2026 looks just as promising, with a diverse range of games – from beautifully illustrated fantasy adventures to challenging, strategic roguelikes and innovative simulation games – all created by small, dedicated teams. No matter your preference – whether it’s retro pixel art, immersive horror, or clever gameplay – 2026’s indie games are expected to deliver new ideas, compelling stories, and stunning visuals, potentially achieving the same level of success as the standout indie titles of 2025.

Indie games are now more popular than ever, moving from a small, dedicated following to widespread recognition. What began with just a handful of unique titles has grown into a huge collection of amazing games, and the future looks bright with exciting new releases on the horizon. Here are six noteworthy indie games to keep an eye on.

6) Mewgenics

Edmund McMillen, known for The Binding of Isaac, is back with Mewgenics, a unique game that blends cat breeding with challenging tactical combat. The game revolves around two main activities: breeding and training a diverse group of cats with different traits and abilities, and then sending them into short, strategic battles on randomly generated maps. These battles are like quick, difficult roguelike encounters where careful positioning and the right equipment are key. The core idea is that the cats you breed and prepare directly impact your success in these permadeath-style combat runs.

Mewgenics has a unique and charming visual style. Its creatures and menus are designed with a modern, pixelated look that still feels like classic cartoons. The game focuses on clear visuals during battles and in the game world, making it easy to understand what’s happening and create strategies. Character designs and how creatures change visually add personality to the game’s life-simulation aspects.

This game focuses on creating unique stories through gameplay, rather than a strong, pre-written plot. The drama unfolds based on your cats’ traits, how well they do, and what challenges they face. When it releases on PC through Steam on February 10, 2026, you can expect each playthrough to be different, with events happening randomly, instead of following a set path.

5) Grave Seasons

Grave Seasons is a unique game that combines the relaxing elements of a farming simulator with the suspense of a horror mystery. Players will enjoy familiar activities like planting crops, building relationships with townspeople, and crafting items, all while trying to uncover the identity of a supernatural serial killer. The killer and their reasons change with each playthrough, and your choices in farming, friendships, and romance directly impact the investigation and story, making each game a fresh and thrilling experience.

The game uses a charming, retro pixel-art style, but don’t let that fool you – it’s surprisingly unsettling. Peaceful scenes of colorful fields and cute towns are contrasted with disturbing, bloody moments and creepy details in the environment. This clever use of contrast between bright, normal days and dark, frightening nights creates tension, and the pixelated graphics actually make the horror feel more strange and impactful.

In Grave Seasons, you play as a newcomer to the town of Ashenridge, hoping for a fresh start, but quickly become entangled in a series of mysterious murders. What makes the game unique is that the killer changes with each playthrough, and your relationships with the townsfolk directly impact how the story unfolds. This means your choices matter, turning social interactions into crucial gameplay moments. If you’re looking for a relaxing farming sim with a thrilling murder mystery, Grave Seasons is one to watch when it releases on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation in 2026.

4) Neverway

Neverway is a horror role-playing game that focuses on building a life in a creepy, isolated community. It combines everyday activities like crafting and building relationships with exciting, fast-paced combat. The game emphasizes a slow-burn atmosphere, where your choices affect your relationships and how you deal with the dangers of the island. You’ll establish routines, navigate threats, and build connections that truly matter.

Neverway boasts a striking visual style, featuring moody, high-contrast pixel art created by the artist known for Celeste, all rendered in a haunting monochrome palette. The game’s atmosphere is further enhanced by a similarly evocative soundtrack from Disasterpeace, creating a minimalist yet eerie tone. Dramatic cutscenes utilize light and shadow effectively, adding to the immersive experience without striving for overly realistic graphics.

Neverway tells the story of starting a new life on a secluded island as a messenger for a deceased god. As you settle in, you’ll uncover the island’s mysteries and navigate complex relationships with other characters. The game features a dating aspect, individual storylines for each character that evolve over time, and a rich narrative to explore, all while you customize your home. Neverway is currently scheduled to release in 2026 on PC and Nintendo Switch.

3) At Fate’s End

Thunder Lotus, the team behind Spirit Farer, is trying something new with At Fate’s End: faster-paced action. But don’t worry, the game still delivers the emotional stories they’re known for. You’ll play a sword-fighting game focused on quick combos using the powerful God Sword Aesus. As you play, you’ll unlock skills influenced by your character’s relationships and history, letting you customize your playstyle. The game features challenging boss battles that combine skillful timing, special moves, and story elements. At Fate’s End mixes exploration, light puzzles, and deeply personal duels with your long-lost siblings.

I’m really excited about At Fate’s End! It seems like a story that’s all about the characters, and you play as Shan, who’s this young woman inheriting a lot of responsibility from her family. You basically have to deal with all sorts of family drama, uncover secrets from the past, and see what happens when you’re born into power. A big part of the story revolves around your siblings and these duels they’re in, and your choices actually matter. Not only will they change the story, but they’ll also unlock new skills you can use in fights, which is awesome. It’s set in this beautiful fantasy world, and I can’t wait to explore it and see how my decisions play out!

The game is visually stunning, with beautifully painted worlds, smooth animations, and characters that show a lot of emotion. Thunder Lotus uses this art style to make even battles feel dramatic and exciting. The action flows seamlessly between fighting and story scenes, keeping you fully immersed. While a specific release date isn’t available yet, Thunder Lotus has confirmed the game will be available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in 2026.

2) Mina the Hollower

Yacht Club Games’ Mina the Hollower is a classic-style action-adventure game, similar to The Legend of Zelda, but with updated graphics and design. It focuses on difficult but fair combat, where enemies clearly signal their attacks, and explores dungeons in the style of older 2D action games. Players will improve their character with new items and abilities, learn the patterns of challenging bosses, and rely on skillful timing in combat. A demo of the game’s first area and boss was released to very positive reviews.

The game’s art style is a beautiful, gothic-horror pixel art reminiscent of Castlevania, imagining what it would look like if Simon Belmont were a mouse. It features detailed environments, expressive character sprites, and a design that blends classic 16-bit adventure games with a modern feel. Every action feels powerful thanks to the polished animations and sound. The story of Mina takes place in a dark and strange world inspired by folklore, filled with eerie creatures. It promises a classic gothic horror experience with a touch of charm and mystery, focusing more on creating a strong atmosphere and memorable moments than a complex, overarching plot.

Originally planned for release on October 31st, 2025, the game Mina the Hollower has been delayed. While a new release date hasn’t been announced, fans can look forward to a similar level of quality and detail as the popular game Shovel Knight. The developers, Yacht Club Games, believe the extra time into 2026 will allow them to fully realize their creative vision after dedicating years to Shovel Knight and its related games. Mina the Hollower will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox when it launches.

1) Slay the Spire 2

Fans are eagerly awaiting Slay the Spire 2, and for good reason. As the sequel to a hugely popular and influential deckbuilding roguelike, it’s at the top of many players’ wish lists. The new game promises even more complex deck strategies, improved challenges, and fresh ways to balance risk and reward with each playthrough.

The new game keeps the same distinctive illustrated card style as the first, but with smoother animations, a better user interface, and more varied challenges to keep each playthrough exciting and easy to follow. Players will see familiar faces, cards, and enemies, alongside plenty of new content. Early looks at the gameplay show an improved experience that stays true to the original’s beloved look and feel.

The original Slay the Spire was known for creating unique stories through items, events, and in-game text, rather than a traditional story campaign, and the sequel appears to be following suit. While new characters will add to the narrative, the return of familiar faces has sparked curiosity among fans. Slay the Spire 2 is scheduled for release on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation in March 2026. With so many games borrowing ideas from the first Slay the Spire, it’s exciting to see a return to one of the most influential deckbuilding roguelikes ever created.

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2026-01-01 17:19