Summary

  • Itch.io offers a wide variety of indie titles in various genres, making it a great source for underrated masterpieces.
  • The simulator games on Itch.io, like Plant Daddy and Waterworks!, provide unique and relaxing experiences for players looking for something different.
  • Missed Messages combines romance and horror in a realistic and deep way, creating a memorable and emotional story for players to explore.

Itch.io is a great source for various indie titles that cover a large variety of genres. While many players may be used to their usual games made by bigger-name developers, sometimes it's better to take a step back and focus on those who are working independently or are just starting out with their hobby of creating games.

Bird Gliding In A Short Hike, Platforming Challenge In SELF, Two Characters Outside Snowy Cabin In Pikwip
10 Best Platform Games On Itch.io, Ranked

Itch.io can be the best place to find some underrated masterpieces, no matter what genre of game players are looking for, including platforming games.

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Players who have an interest in simulation games but no longer wish to spend their time on the likes of RimWorld or the Rollercoaster Tycoon series should instead take a look at Itch.io to see what worlds others have attempted to simulate. These are by far some of the greatest simulator titles players can find and enjoy on this indie-filled site.

8 Plant Daddy

A Laid-Back Sim About Growing Plants

A Garden Plant on a window in Plant Daddy

Plant Daddy is a straightforward simulator where players purchase plants and grow them in their apartment. All a player needs to remember to do is to water them regularly, and they'll watch them grow in real-time.

Looking after a plant will reward the player with leaves which can then be used to purchase more plants, and eventually, the player's whole apartment will be filled with foliage. While the game may not have any deeper gameplay than this, many players have found Plant Daddy to be a relaxing experience they can keep open in a spare browser and occasionally check up on.

7 Waterworks!

Manage The Water In A Medieval Town

A bunch of fires in a town in Waterworks!

Waterworks! Is a card-based strategy game that simulates the scenario of the player being in charge of the entire water supply within the Medieval town of Grudziadz. Similar to a game of Cities: Skylines, players should make sure that each and every house in the town has a water supply that connects to them or the player will begin to lose reputation.

Besides this, fires will also break out in the town, which will need extra water to be dealt with. Recruiting more units will unlock better technology and as time progresses in the town, newer ways of dealing with water will be required.

6 Good Morning!

Start The Day Right

A girl brushing her teeth in Good Morning!
  • Status: Released
  • Developer: cnmon

Good Morning! Is a morning simulator. The developer cnnmon recommends that the player plays Good Morning! Just as they wake up for their day. This game contains plenty of morning-themed mini-games with a relaxing lo-fi soundtracktrack to turn any player that hates waking up early into a morning person.

Six Cats Under, P.E. Noire, Goodbye, Doggy
7 Best Puzzle Games On Itch.io

Itch.io has an impressive selection of interesting games, especially for those looking to challenge themselves with puzzles.

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Besides the mini-games, various adorable little puzzles are sure to get the player's mind working while also being themed in a way to encourage the player to be productive. Although this indie title might not be long, it's still a widely enjoyed experience by players on Itch.io.

5 Voices Of The Void

Analyze Signals From Space

The player's chair they sit in to locate signals in Voices of the Void
  • Status: In Development
  • Developer: mrdrnose

Some simulators may at first seem quite simplistic and perhaps even a little boring, but are actually filled with possibilities and trap the player in an enjoyable routine. In Voices of the Void, the player becomes a scientist living in the mountains of Switzerland.

They have one job: locating signals from space, analyzing them, and then selling those signals to earn points. There are over 40 days of events that can happen and way more than 150 signals to scan. While some days may be slow with a simple dwarf planet located, others may include the possibility of aliens.

4 MiSide Demo

It's A Game In A Game

A girl in front of a door with the options Deny or Stay in MiSide
  • Status: Released (Demo)
  • Developer: Aihasto

In MiSide, the player controls a boy who enjoys playing a game on his mobile phone where he looks after a girl and helps her with her chores. However, looking back up from his screen, he sees that he has now been teleported into her world. What starts off as innocent and adorable becomes dark when the player wants to finally leave.

Although only the demo for MiSide is available, this interesting game within a game concept has already attracted many players who have found this horror game that first appeared so bright and colorful to be interesting. With the full release of the game to be expected in 2024, there is promise for it to continue being amazing.

3 Exhibit Of Sorrows

Freedom To Explore Scares

A creepy jack-in-the-box in Exhibit of Sorrows

Exhibit of Sorrows is an interactive experience that has the player exploring a creepy-looking circus filled with clowns. Each room contains puzzles for the player to solve while odd things happen in each place they visit.

While to some, these clowns may at first look inviting as they attempt to solve the puzzles that surround them, yet one thing is certain during the whole simulated experience: the player shouldn't upset the clown. Overall, Exhibit of Sorrows feels like an original experience, especially with how it combines an almost bubbly art style with such horrors.

2 Missed Messages

Life, Death, And Memes In A Love/Horror Story

Two women lying on a bed together with three options of things to do like dream or stare outside in Missed Messages

Romance games are some of the best simulator titles around, as the game attempts to make a connection between the player and the character they are trying to romance. Missed Messages takes this theme twelve steps deeper by combining this romance story with elements of horror, while still leaning a little on the funny side.

Missed Messages continues to be a realistic rendition of a romance. Even with the horror involved, players are likely to feel for the two characters involved in the title as they explore themes of life and death.

1 Sort The Court

Become Royalty And Make All The Decisions

A player talking to their Royal Advisor in Sort the Court

As the name of the game suggests, in this simulation players take on the role of a king or queen and make choices for their kingdom. Depending on if they say yes or no, various things may happen during their rule. It's important to balance the enjoyment of the citizens alongside the population of the kingdom and how much money they all have.

While there have since been many games like this released, Sort the Court is entirely free for players that want to experience life as a leader. Players then they have the choice of donating to the game's developer after playing.

MORE: Best Visual Novels on Itch.io