Indie Games That Made Their Developers Famous

Summary

• Indie games can lead to industry success with a breakout hit like Cuphead.
• Hades innovated with combat and storytelling, boosting Supergiant Games’ reputation.
• Stardew Valley redefined farming sims with depth and charm, becoming a cultural phenomenon.

There are hundreds of indie games out there, but very few lead to career-defining success. When you’re a small game developer, a single breakout hit can be all you need to go from obscurity to industry icon. Many of these games weren’t just successful; they were innovative and unique.

Several indie games catapulted their developers to success. Some were simple sandbox games with interesting mechanics, while others were focused on heartfelt narratives or challenging gameplay. Either way, these games have left their mark on the industry and turned small teams into industry names.

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Cuphead

Cuphead may not be one of the most successful indie games of all time, but it did catch quite a few eyes with its cartoon-style art and surprisingly hard boss battles. With hand-drawn animations and watercolor backgrounds, this game is an absolute delight to play. Plus, the unforgiving difficulty added to its charm.

Brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer poured everything into the project, even mortgaging their homes to fund it. Luckily, the game was a massive success, earning both critical acclaim and several awards.

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Hades

Hades brought innovation to the rogue-like genre with its interesting narrative and endless replayability. You take on the role of Zagreus, one of Hades’ sons, who is trying to escape the underworld. You’ll need to interact with the Greek gods while mastering combat.

Supergiant Games was already respected for hits like Bastion. However, Hades received even more acclaim thanks to its blend of fast-paced combat with character-driven storytelling (something that’s hard to find in the genre). The game won numerous awards and solidified the developer as one of the best indie studios out there.

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Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy put hardcore platforming back on the map. You’ll have to guide Meat Boy through several deadly platforming levels while he tries to save his girlfriend. It’s a classic story, but its clever level design led to its overnight success.

Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes designed the game, which became a major hit on Xbox Live Arcade and Steam. It received a loyal fanbase, which led to several spinoffs. Both developers experienced overnight success when this simple platformer blew up far more than they anticipated.

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Braid

Braid reshaped the puzzle-platformer genre with its unique time manipulation mechanics and philosophical narrative. Released in 2009, this was truly one of the first indie games out there that achieved mainstream success.

Braid was the brainchild of Jonathan Blow, who designed the game with hand-painted visuals and a story that involved some deep interpretation. It’s a game that will leave you thinking about it for months (or even years) later. Its success allowed Blow to focus on his next project, The Witness, which was also a success.

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Celeste

Celeste is both a difficult platformer and a narrative that sheds light on mental health. It was made by Matt Thorson and his small team. You follow Madeline’s journey as she climbs a deadly mountain while also dealing with some inner problems. The game’s spotless mechanics and clever level design made it a hit, and its assist mode allowed it to be played by a wide audience.

Its themes resonate deeply with many players, which is likely one reason it became so successful. It has even won several awards and continues to be one of the most popular indie games.

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Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight has become the modern classic of Metroidvania games. It took off thanks to its rich world-building and challenging combat. Plus, it’s beautiful, hand-drawn art that captures many players’ imaginations. You’ll need to explore a very atmospheric world filled with lore and secrets. The exploration is completely non-linear, and there are tons of different characters.

All of these factors led to this game being exceptionally popular. It was funded by a Kickstarter and quickly exceeded expectations. The game was updated several times by Team Cherry, the developer, and led to a much-anticipated sequel, Silksong.

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Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley redefined what farming simulators could be by adding tons of depth without losing the charm. Eric Barone developed the game by himself over the course of four years. You start out as a new farmer on a broken-down, inherited farm. It’s up to you to rebuild it how you see fit while you explore the nearby townspeople.

While Stardew Valley is a farming game, it is also a lot more than that. You can farm, fish, mine, and build relationships. It’s become a cultural phenomenon that continues to get updates regularly. It’s sold millions of copies and is easily one of the most successful indie games of all time.

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Undertale

Undertale turned what RPGs are supposed to be on its head with humor and tons of player choice. It’s about a child who falls into a world of monsters, but fighting isn’t the only option available. The game has a unique mercy system that allows players to spare enemies, making morals a key part of the game.

Plus, there is tons of witty dialogue and several memorable characters. Undertale quickly earned a cult following and boosted Toby Fox, its creator, to fame.

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Minecraft

No indie game has been as successful as Minecraft. Markus Persson created Minecraft as a small project, but the game quickly grew into one of the most successful of all time. The key draw to Minecraft is that it gives players unlimited freedom. You can build, explore, fight, survive, or any combination. Because the worlds are procedurally generated, it’s endlessly replayable.

The success of Minecraft led to the foundation of Mojang Studies and later a $2.5 billion acquisition by Microsoft. The game also shaped many modern games and continues to be played by millions today.

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