Indie games are always a big highlight of The Game Awards ceremony. Their place in various categories strewn throughout the show acts as an annual reminder that there are always teams out there who are dedicating their lives to making video games purely because it's their passion, and not because it's a multi-billion-dollar industry. As such, Indie games tend to have some of the biggest hearts in the entire gaming ecosphere.
That's certainly true for this year's line-up for The Game Awards' Best Independent Game category. Five Indie games have been nominated this year, all of which have a genuine chance of winning, and all of which arguably deserve that win. But unfortunately, just one game can walk away with the Game Awards trophy.
The Game Awards 2024 Best Independent Game Nominees
- Balatro
- Animal Well
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Neva
- UFO 50
Balatro
Over the last few years, the video game industry has continued to see at least one Indie game become something of a sensation, becoming a hot topic in the gaming world for a little while. Balatro is this year's breakout Indie hit.
A roguelike deck-builder that was created by just one person, Balatro has earned widespread critical acclaim since its release back in February. Balatro has also continued to receive free content, with its most recent "Friends of Jimbo" updates bringing a wealth of crossover cards to the game based on Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher, The Binding of Isaac, Stardew Valley, and more.
Balatro has been nominated for an impressive total of five categories at this year's Game Awards, and while the odds are stacked against it winning Game of the Year, it's in with a strong chance of walking away with the Best Independent Game trophy on December 12.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- February 20, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Publisher(s)
- Playstack
- Engine
- LÖVE
WHERE TO PLAY
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Animal Well
A critical darling in every sense of the word, Animal Well is the debut title from videogamedunkey's publisher, Bigmode. Though the Metroidvania genre has been explored thoroughly in the last few years, Animal Well goes above and beyond to offer a completely new type of Metroidvania experience, one that puts a stronger emphasis than ever on player-led exploration and puzzle-solving. While Animal Well can be enjoyed at its base level by anyone, those looking for a deeper challenge will have so much fun discovering everything that the game has to offer.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- May 9, 2024
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Shared Memory
- Publisher(s)
- Bigmode
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
WHERE TO PLAY
Hatch from your flower and spelunk through the beautiful and sometimes haunting world of Animal Well, a pixelated wonder rendered in intricate audio and visual detail. Encounter lively creatures small and large, helpful and ominous as you discover unconventional upgrades and unravel the well’s secrets. This is a truly unique experience that can make you laugh in fear, surprise, or delight.
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Puzzle
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
The latest project from Sayonara Wild Hearts' Simogo studio, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a third-person puzzle game set in a vast hotel. Along with a striking black-and-white art style and Resident Evil-inspired camera angles, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes stands out from the crowd with its bite-sized, compelling puzzles, of which there are over 150 in the game. And without spoiling too much, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes' surreal undertones are the cherry on the cake.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- May 16, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- Simogo
- Publisher(s)
- Annapurna Interactive
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you remember the maze?
A woman, summoned by an eccentric man to participate in a project in an old hotel somewhere in central Europe, becomes embroiled in a game of illusions, increasingly dangerous and surreal.
Now you are invited to fall into the same rabbit hole, in a non-linear mystery with an immense amount of handcrafted puzzles, constantly presenting you with new riddles to solve, each leading you closer to deciphering the enigma of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Neva
A puzzle-platformer from Gris developer Nomada Studio, Neva is arguably one of the most beautiful video games of all time. In Neva, players control a young woman named Alba who's tasked with ridding the world of a mysterious dark force. The eponymous wolf-like companion fights right alongside Alba throughout the game's four seasons, each one bringing with it a breathtaking art style change and some fresh puzzle-platforming challenges. Neva's hard-hitting, emotional narrative and equally expressive music puts it in a great position for this year's Game Awards.
Neva
- Released
- October 15, 2024
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nomada Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- Unity
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
WHERE TO PLAY
Neva is an emotionally-charged action adventure from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed GRIS.
Neva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them.
Over time, their relationship will evolve as they learn to work together, helping one another to brave increasingly dangerous situations. The wolf will grow from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult seeking to forge her own identity, testing Alba’s love and their commitment to one another.
As the cursed world threatens to overwhelm them, Alba and her courageous companion will do whatever it takes to survive and make a new home, together.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Platformer, Puzzle
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 5 GB (approx)
UFO 50
One of the most objectively impressive Indie games of 2024, UFO 50 is a collection of 50 original, individual video games, all bundled together in one nostalgic package. Created by Spelunky developer Mossmouth, UFO 50 takes players on a journey through a fictional gaming company's history, allowing them to experience the 50 games that were fictitiously released between 1982 and 1989. Each game looks and sounds authentic to the era it's trying to imitate, and control schemes and gameplay mechanics become more complex the further along in the timeline players progress.
UFO 50 is a love letter to the NES and SNES eras of gaming, and while not all of its games are worth seeing to completion, a surprising number are. And with sports games, shooters, open-world adventures, beat-em-ups, fighting games, and even fully-fledged RPGs all contained inside, UFO 50 has something for everyone.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- September 18, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Mossmouth, Eirik Suhrke, Derek Yu, Jon Perry, Tyriq Plummer, Paul Hubans, Ojiro Fumoto
- Publisher(s)
- Mossmouth
WHERE TO PLAY
UFO 50 is a collection of 50 single and multiplayer games from the creators of Spelunky, Downwell, and Catacomb Kids. Explore a variety of genres, from platformers and shoot 'em ups to puzzle games, roguelites, and RPGs. Our goal is to combine a familiar 8-bit aesthetic with new ideas and modern game design.
50 BRAND NEW GAMES - These are NOT minigames or microgames! Although the size of each game varies, every one is a complete experience, from its opening title screen to its ending credits. Some are small arcade-style games but there are also larger open-world adventures and a JRPG that could take many hours to beat.
AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE - According to the story of UFO 50, the games were all created by a fictional 80s video game company that was obscure but ahead of its time. Some games are sequels to other games in the collection and various characters appear in multiple titles as part of a shared continuity.
AN INSTANT LIBRARY - All 50 games are available to play at the start! The concept was inspired by multicarts, retro collections, and the experience of going to a friend's house and perusing their game library. Jump in and out of games at a whim - exploring the collection is part of the fun!
AUTHENTIC BUT ALSO MODERN - We carefully chose what elements to modernize. Every game shares a unique 32-color palette and we took great efforts to make them look and sound like actual 8-bit titles from the 80s. On the other hand, it was important to us that UFO 50 was fun and surprising for modern players, so we chose not to limit ourselves to the genres and design conventions of the past.
VERSUS AND CO-OP PLAY - Half of the collection features local multiplayer, including co-op and versus. You can compete head-to-head in a new fighting or strategy game... Or team up to beat a classic arcade game from an alternate timeline. It's great for groups!
Final Prediction
The Game Awards 2024's Best Independent Game category is a really difficult one to predict. All five nominees are genuinely brilliant games that excel at what they set out to do. UFO 50 is a variety bucket of nostalgia. Neva is an emotive spectacle. Animal Well raises the bar for the Metroidvania genre. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a riveting puzzle game with a distinct sense of style. And Balatro is an addictive amalgamation of some of the hottest genres in gaming right now.
But only one game can win. With it being the only game also nominated for Game of the Year, and with it retaining such a strong player-base for almost the entire year, it seems highly likely that Balatro will win The Game Awards 2024's Best Independent Game category.