The 25 Best Indie Games of 2012

It's been a pretty exciting year for the independent games scene. Kickstarter revolutionized what games get funded, Steam Greenlight allowed players to choose which titles got a shake on the marketplace, and we saw some truly fantastic games make their way to our PCs, consoles, and handhelds.

Picking the best of the best from this past year wasn't easy, and this list could have easily turned into a top 50 or top 100, but we've got to draw a line somewhere. There's no doubt you've got your own pecking order and we'd love to hear it in the comments below. Tell us who we forgot, what you think was overrated, and why your favorite indie games deserve to be at the top.

However, each and every one of the following games deserves their time in the spotlight for the innovation, creativity, and fun they brought us this year. Their creators did the impossible and released a game they believed in all on their own and we've fallen in love with them for it. Without further ado, these are the 25 best independent games of 2012.

Developer: Unknown Worlds Entertainment

Platforms: PC

Release Date: October 30, 2012

Plenty of other games have tried mashing together the FPS and RTS genres in the past to middling success, but the sequel to the popular Source Engine mod, Natural Selection 2, does it with such grace and ease you'll wonder why it's so difficult to get right.

As if blending to incongruous genres together wasn't enough, Natural Selection 2 also features a whole whack of awesome alien grotesquerie. Stealing motifs from movies like Alien and creature types from Starcraft's Zerg, this man versus mutant battle is downright fun to engross yourself in.

The coolest part about it all though is the role of the commanders who can set objectives for players and control where valuable structures get built. It's a game that really does require good communication (and a working mic) to be fun,b ut when it works, boy does it work.

Developer: Humble Hearts

Platforms: Xbox 360

Release Date: August 15, 2012

Fantastic animation can seperate a good game from a great game, and Dust: An Elysian Tail has quality artwork in spades. Fluid and functional, the movement in this action-platformer both helps illustrate the fantasy of the world around the player and provides them with a recognizable sense of their actions.

A quick glance from the uninformed might lead to assumptions that this is a game about furries, but the anthropomorphic animals that populate the world of Falana are more Watership Down than yiff-worthy. The mysticism and fantasy of Dust is inspiring and you'll find yourself disappointed every time you have to switch it off and leave.

Although originally planned as a three-month project by its creator, Dean Dodrill, the game took three and a half years to perfect, and that dedication absolutely shows in the final product. This is one of those games where the blood, sweat, and tears of its designer can be seen in every moment of the game.

Developer: thechineseroom

Platforms: PC

Release Date: February 14, 2012

Some might hesitate to call this a game, but that's part of what makes Dear Esther so damn interesting. More like a living painting than anything resembling a traditional genre experience, the game features some of the most gorgeous art direction we've ever seen from the indie community.

Recalling classics like Myst, this picturesque game of exploration invites you to feel clueless as you wander around its majestic world, interpreting what you will of it. With the only point of reference for anything going on in the game being the narrated letters to a vacant woman named Esther, but as things progress the identity of their creator becomes less clear, leaving the player to draw their own conclusions.

It's fitting that this love-letter of a game was released on Valentine's day this year because romance is a driving theme of the game. While it's not tackled by any of the traditional methods we've seen in games that approach the topic, it is by no means any less potent.

Developer: Mojang

Platforms: Xbox 360

Release Date: May 9, 2012

Putting Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition on this list almost feels a little like cheating considering that the original version of the game was released a few years back and this particular version was sponsored by Microsoft. However, Mojang and Notch have come to define what it means to be an indie success story, selling over 8 million copies of the game before it even hit the console.

The truth is though, for many people this is the definitive version of Minecraft and that deserves a little celebration. Sure, it may not have the plethora of mods that the PC community enjoys, and some might regard it as a dumbed down version of the original release, but Xbox 360 Edition brought the ultimate survival-construction game to an audience that might otherwise never have seen it and the gaming community has responded in kind by pouring enough of their time into the game to rival even the most popular titles on Xbox Live and that's not an easy feat.

Whether you're a fan of the classic survival mode or just want to create something cool with its LEGO-like creative mode, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition delivers on all of the fronts of its PC predecessor. With an easy to manage interface and achievements catered to a variety of different play styles, this version is the best one for those who enjoy the creative aspects of Minecraft, but prefer a more polished experience.

Developer: Might and Delight

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Release Date: October 31, 2012

Pid is the adorable story of a little boy from the future who falls asleep on the bus/spaceship home from school and finds himself stranded at a forgotten bus stop. He's got to make his way home through an unforgiving world of spike pits and robot assailants, but it never loses its juvenile sense of levity.

Soft colors and edges provide an aesthetic that feels almost dreamlike while the mystical soundtrack recalls the imagination of childhood that we all sometimes forget. Even the collectables - clusters of stars forming little constellations - are quaintly charming.

Most of the mechanics have been seen in other games of similar design, but the application in Pid demands foresight and concentration for successful execution. It may look like it's all kids' stuff, but the challenge it provides most certainly is not.

Developer: Hitbox Team

Platforms: PC

Release Date: January 17, 2012

My god, this game is fluid. We talk a lot about tight controls when they're precise, but the sheer range of movement offered in Dustforce is something to marvel at as you slide and sweep your way around its dirty world.

Taking the super team concept and applying it to a bunch of glorified janitors destined to save humanity from the unclean is a brilliant idea that works remarkably well. It's fun and a little silly, but in a way that's never completely self-aware which is part of its charm.

Great animation is what's at the heart of Dustforce though and you'll find a zen moment once you fully grasp how to maneuver your character through the increasingly complex stages of the game. It's not a total clean sweep in terms of gameplay, but what it offers is definitely a much cleaner experience than most indie action-platformers.

Developer: Mossmouth

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360

Release Date: July 4, 2012

Randomly generated, the levels may be, but Spelunky's magic is far from accidental. The dynamic environment creation system means never having to get bored of the game because there's always something new to do in the caves beneath.

Primarily a treasure-collecting game, Spelunky's secret strength is in the strength of its secrets. With plenty of hidden quirks and surprises scattered through the maps, you'll be able to find new treasures to delight and constantly find little bits of unexpected that'll make you feel like a real cave explorer.

Although the original version was released back in 2009, it was the new XBLA edition with much improved graphics that's truly deserving of the praise we're heaping on it. For all the innovation the original provided, this new edition blows it out of the water visually, proving that sometimes graphics can make a bit of a difference.

Developer: Robot Entertainment

Platforms: PC

Release Date: July 30, 2012

Tower defence is challenging. Killing orcs is fun! Mix the two together and you've got a hybrid of strategy and action that gives players the chance to plan out their defenses, but also wade into the action themselves; this is what Orcs Must Die! 2 does best.

Expanding on the original game with added multiplayer, the new co-op missions add a level of complexity to your trap placement as players can work together to create impressive combos of bounce pads, arrow walls, sticky floors, and more. Figuring out how to work well with your partner to maximize your effectiveness against the orc horde is what the game's all about, and it's exceedingly fun (if you've got the right partner).

Alone, the game still holds up as a satisfying action experience that - while not as complex as it's co-op counterpart - offers players a variety of new implements to torture their green-skinned assailants with. If you've ever wanted to dabble in genocide without all that pesky UN nonsense, then Orcs Must Die! 2 is probably a good way to go.

Developer: Airtight Games

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Kim Swift is a legend in the indie community and rightfully so. Her student project Narbacular Drop eventually got her hired at Valve and working on the original Portal. However, despite her success and a solid position at what's considered by many the best video game company in the world, she left to bring us Quantum Conundrum.

Similar to Portal in that it's a first-person puzzle game, Quantum Conundrum has players manipulating the elements of their world by switching between dimensions that apply different characteristics to the pieces in play. For example, you'll switch to the fluffy dimension to pick up heavy things, hop into the reverse gravity dimension to throw Newton's laws out the window, and apply the slow dimension to maneuver around fast-moving elements.

Sure, it may lack the satisfyingly depressing taunts of GLaDOS, but it makes up for it with a cutesy aesthetic that adds a much needed adorableness to all the science. For the few hours it runs, Quantum Conundrum is a challenging and fulfilling game; we just hope Kim and her team keep innovating with new puzzle mechanics in the genre.

Developer: Subset Games

Platforms: PC

Release Date: September 14, 2012

FTL: Faster Than Light is a pretty phenomenal indie success story. One of the few projects to make it out of Kickstarter purgatory and into the hands of the people who backed it, FTL delivers a detailed space combat system that offers a depth that more refined games lack.

It takes a strong mind to truly master the elements at work in FTL, but the rewarding feeling after completing a successful mission makes it all worthwhile. You can easily drive yourself mad managing the minutia of the game, but in truth, it probably should; running a spaceship ain't easy.

The soundtrack by Ben Prunty is a pleasant addition, filled with hopeful tunes that'll have you looking up to the skies and cursing yourself for being born before the generation of frequent space travel. Since it's not likely you'll be able to jetset about the stars anytime soon, Faster Than Light makes a good substitute for now.

Developer: Terry Cavanagh

Platforms: PC, iOS

Release Date: September 6, 2012

iOS gaming is at its best when it's at its simplest and Terry Cavanagh understands this. The rules of Super Hexagon can be summed up in about a sentence (move your arrow so it doesn't hit the colored hexagon descending upon it) but it's remarkably addictive to play.

It really doesn't take much to get invested in a good streak on the game and the longer you play it, the more engrossed you'll become with its trance-like vibes. Challenging your friends to ride with it as long as they can is a big part of the fun, but even in isolation, it's a satisfying experience.

The visuals are decidedly minimal and that'll turn off a handful of people. However, for those who don't necessarily require crazy graphics to experience quality gameplay, Super Hexagon is a perfect addition to your idle time playlist.

Developer: Klei Entertainment

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360

Release Date: September 7, 2012

Stealth-action is a hard genre to master, but the folks who brought us Shank seem to have a pretty good handle of it if Mark of the Ninja is anything to go by. What makes the genre so difficult to get right is balancing the feeling of power with the necessary vulnerabilities that make the stealth elements worthwhile. Mark of the Ninja gets this fantastically right by making you a lethal force in the shadows, but nearly immediately gone in the light.

High-quality animation is what seperates most Klei games from other indie titles and Mark of the Ninja is no exception. Everything is fluid and natural, the love put into each frame of the spritesheets can be felt as you watch your little ninja bounce around walls and creep underfoot.

To top it off, there's a significant amount of content available in the game. What's surprising is that despite there only being so many truly unique level designs one can implement in a game like this, the addition of new mechanics, weapons, and challenges makes it feel consistantly fresh as you progress.

Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Platforms: PC, PlayStation Vita

Release Date: February 21, 2012

The first Tales From Space game by Drinkbox Studios, About a Blob, was a fun and light-hearted video game version of a bad b-movie. Mutant Blobs Attack!!! expanded on the fundaments of its predecessor with significantly better level design and a much more whimsical storyline.

While Mutant Blobs Attack!!! is not alone in the Katamari-esque "consume everything you can" genre, it does it a lot better than most. Each stage is well paced and deviates from the assumed success most of these games suffer from by making a handful of items forever inaccessible if you don't get the progression just right. This won't stop you from continuing, but it will drive you crazy if you're a completionist trying to eat the whole world.

If you look close enough in the background of each level, you can find little jokes and homages to the source materials its parodying, but chances are you'll be so obsessed with consuming the items of the world and growing your blob in size that you'll probably not notice. It's all part of the fun atmosphere the game provides, making it one of the most delightful PSN games released this year.

Developer: Queasy Games

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Release Date: August 7, 2012

Music games have had a hit-and-miss track record outside of the plastic instrument department. Where most have tried to encourage players to play along with a song by forcing them in set paths, shaped to the music, Sound Shapes treats itself like a traditional platformer but lets the elements of each level define the sounds you hear.

Collecting the tokens scattered throughout the levels adds additional complexities to the music, providing a very recognizable audio reward every time you succeed. Of course, none of this would be meaningful without an awesome selection of songs, and with entire level packs dedicated to the creations of artists like Deadmau5 and Beck, there is plenty of good tunes to enjoy.

Once the (rather short) campaign is finished, it's time to either make your own levels with the included editor, or hop online LittleBigPlanet style and enjoy some of the thousands of free downloadable player creations. Sound Shapes lets you play part to the music in the best possible way.

Developer: Spooky Squid Games

Platforms: PC

Release Date: August 29, 2012

With the glut of 8-bit inspired action-platformers that have populated the Steam marketplace over the last few years, it can be hard finding one that's truly different. It's the super-tight combat system of They Bleed Pixels that makes it so damned fun to play and when placed in its challenging level design, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had.

The soundtrack to They Bleed Pixels is also one of its highlights, mixing deep grim tones with a vibrant beats for an unusually pleasing medley. It's one of the few elements that promises never to drive you bonkers after repeated failures.

One of the best elements of the game is its checkpoint system that allows players the freedom to store up energy by pulling off rad combos against enemies before laying down a save point for themselves. This adds an extra dimension of challenge as players must balance the risk and reward of saving frequently, or holding off until they need it. In They Bleed Pixels, you can never be entirely certain what trouble lays ahead.

Developer: Polytron

Platforms: Xbox 360

Release Date: April 13, 2012

For all the delays to release and trials creator Phil Fish underwent creating FEZ, the game turned out to be well worth the effort. Blending the puzzle-platformer genre with a unique dimension-shifting mechanic, FEZ showed players a brand new perspective on an otherwise tired concept.

While the initial release wasn't without its fair share of technical flaws, the concepts the game put forth were relatively well executed and gave players something fresh to enjoy over the industry's dry season. What makes FEZ more than just a typical game with a unique gimmick is its ability to teach players about the difference between dimensional perspectives through its gameplay.

Complete with a 4D tesseract acting as your Navi-like spirit guide, the game is a clever elaboration on the flatlander concept that never feels like a lecture. There are parts that'll leave you scratching your head, but in the best way possible. Making you feel clever for completing its trickier puzzles is what this game does best, and we're glad to have it in our collections.

Developer: Minority

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Like any other form of art, video games are most relevant when they're interpreting issues that can sometimes be hard for us to deal with. Papo & Yo may look like a typical fantasy adventure on the surface, but under the right microscope it's an allegory about drug abuse, neglect, unconditional love, and child abuse; not easy stuff to swallow.

Inspired by the life of its creator, players take on the role of a little boy growing up in a fantastical Brazillian favela with his best friend and companion, Monster. Monster's taste for eating frogs that turn him into a raging beast that will destroy everything in his path - including the player if he can't escape - is a harsh reminder that no matter how close you are to someone, a drug can change them entirely.

Touching and maybe just a little sad, Papo & Yo is a beautiful and sometimes painful reminder of the harsh realities those touched by drug abuse face. Still, within such a grim topic the game never loses its childlike sense of imagination and playfulness which provides hope, arguably the most powerful weapon against situations like these.

Developer: Digital Reality, Grasshopper Manufacture

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Release Date: March 21, 2012

Gradius-style shoot 'em ups have long been vacant from store shelves, digital or otherwise, but that didn't stop Digital Reality and Grasshopper Manufacture from making one of the best the genre's ever seen. Updating the classic concepts with a fresh and eye-catching visual aesthetic, the game plays very much like its ancestors but looks so pretty that it draws you into the world immediately - something SHMUP games have never been good at.

As if that weren't enough, the time-bending mechanic introduced in Sine Mora is so forehead-slappingly obvious that you'll wonder why more games haven't tried something similar. The ability to slow down the speed of the game to carefully maneuver between enemy projectiles simultaneously allowed the developers to create some incredible bullet-hell patterns while giving players the means to survive them.

It's the boss battles that truly make the game though, with some fantastic art direction and gameplay design, each one is memorable and unique. From the giant squid-like mechanical nightmare to the train full of cannons, each one is fun and satisfying to defeat. Sine Mora is one of the most over-looked indie games of the year, but for those who play it, it's definitely not underappreciated.

Developer: Runic Games

Platforms: PC

Release Date: September 20, 2012

There's no better David and Goliath story than Runic Games versus Activision Blizzard. Going up against such a monolith and competing with one of their most prolific franchises is the very definition of the indie spirit. Allowing innovation, creativity, and sheer talent to rise above the marketing hyperbole and incredible resources behind Diablo III is exactly what Runic did making Torchlight II.

In almost every category, Torchlight II either matches or bests Diablo III making it (in some eyes at least) a superior game for significantly cheaper. Offering fans the ability to mod and customize their experience and the lack of restrictive DRM sets this indie dungeon crawler ahead of its bigger brother.

It takes a lot of balls to pull off what Runic did and their efforts have been validated by the sheer addictiveness of their product. The multiplayer additions and expansiveness of the campaign enhance what was already great about Torchlight and the innovations they pioneered for the genre deserve to become mainstay for generations to come.

Developer: Torn Banner Studios

Platforms: PC

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Independent developers have a horrible track record creating engaging and long-lasting multiplayer experiences, but the student team behind Torn Banner Studios have done just that with Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. Where larger, more established developers like Paradox have failed to deliver on the promise of brutal medieval combat, this small team of young game makers have put together an incredibly compelling experience that truly stands out.

As if the quality of its intricate combat system wasn't enough, the game looks absolutely gorgeous. Rendered in the Unreal Engine 3, it shimmers with the visual fidelity of a much larger budget game. It's not without technical flaws, but the team has proven themselves dedicated to perfecting the experience over time.

Part of what makes Chivalry so awesome are the very unique objective modes that deviate greatly from the traditional team deathmatch and free-for-all modes that make up a bulk of multiplayer games. Protecting a cart full of plague-ridden bodies so you can dump 'em into the enemies water supply, slaughtering the descendants of the king, even burning valuable kingdom resources are all part of the engrossing online experience.

Developer: thatgamecompany

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Release Date: March 13, 2012

As per usual, Jenova Chen and the team at thatgamecompany have found new ways to explore what games can deliver us and what they can teach us about ourselves along the way. A far more traditional game than the more experimental Flower and Flow that preceded it, Journey asks us whether or not the inherent good in people will lead us to help each other with no immediately recognizable benefit.

Capitalizing on the feelings of insignificance, wonder, and mystery that we so rarely feel in our daily self-important lives, Journey tasks us with making our way through its beautiful world with the only potential help coming from random players who connect to you online but cannot communicate with you. The intent was to disestablish assumptions players may have about each other to see if they were capable of working together, and it has proven incredibly effective.

Journey is both beautiful and enjoyable, but it can be thought provoking for those who seek to explore its themes deeper. With a soundtrack that's bar-none the best released this year (even the Grammy's think so), it's an evocative experience that's a must-play for indie enthusiasts.

Developer: Dennaton Games

Platforms: PC

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Creepy carnage is the name of the game in Hotline Miami, but while at first glance you may only see the sic, fetishistic killing that colors the game's tone, there are a lot of intricate gameplay mechanics at work that make it intensely addictive. Learning how to properly manage your enemies' awareness, the weapons at your disposal, and the unsettling masks you wear at the start of each mission all play into a complex system that somehow always feels like you're in the midst of a Tarantino-style action flick.

Music plays a large role in the game, with the soundtrack pumping tunes that - while distinctly 80's - have a modern flair to them. Thumping bass and techno tones play part and parcel to the thrilling on-screen combat, keeping players distracted from their numerous failed attempts to slaughter buildings full of people.

On top of this blood-flavored sundae is a grim cherry of a storyline that will leave you asking more questions than finding answers, all the way through to the end. While you think you may know, there will always be a worm of an idea chewing the back of your brain while you play, forcing you to ask what's really going on?

Developer: Right Square Bracket Left Square Bracket Inc.

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Release Date: July 17, 2012

Taking cues from creators like Jeff Minter and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Shawn McGrath and David Kanaga have made something that most could never even begin to conceptualize. A shape-shifting synthesis of light, action, and sound, DYAD is a full-bodied experience that grabs on to your mind and begs you to stay with it as long as you can.

The sheer intensity of battling the glut of sensation it throws at you creates this unmistakable feeling of intangible euphoria that drives you to succeed just to stay with it a little longer. DYAD is not a game you can just beat though, it becomes part of you once you finish.

If that sounds overly dramatic and a little cosmic-hippy, it probably should. Then again, if it does, you probably haven't experienced all that the game has to offer. For all of the delights its brightly colored presentation and heart-pumping soundtrack have to offer, it's the melding of all its elements to create a surprisingly emotional trip that makes DYAD stand out from the crowd.

Developer: Vblank Entertainment

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Wii

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Retro City Rampage would have been the best game of all time if it had been released on the Nintendo Entertainment System and while that seems like a reason to hold back the praise for it now, it still deserves every bit of acclaim it's received. Even though it may have been built to the standards of the pre-Clinton era, it's so jam-packed full of content, cameos, and crazy carnage that it's still just as fun today.

Nostalgia aside, the sheer scale of Brian Provinciano's Theftropolis is staggaring. Each of the carefully crafted missions highlights a unique form of level design that shows not only a great knowledge on what makes each genre fun, but also a markedly impressive e of execution and that's no easy feat.

If there's one game that deserves to go back in time, it's undoubtedly Retro City Rampage, but since none of us have access to a flux combobulator enjoying it because we can will just have to do. Five years of love and passion have been injected into this little number and regardless of what platform you wind up playing it on, that fact is always immediately apparent.

Developer: Giant Sparrow

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Release Date: October 16, 2012

The first few seconds of The Unfinished Swan define the very heart of an indie experience. It thrusts the player into a brand new world in which their traditional understanding of games no longer applies and encourages them to explore that world by quite literally feeling it out, piece by piece, with their intuition and a magical silver paintbrush.

The Unfinished Swan really is unlike any other game on this list because it doesn't ape any known genre, but simultaneously feels so natural that it almost immediately makes sense to those who play it; experimental gamer or not. Its heartfelt story about the orphaned Munroe is touching and sentimental and the more players engross themselves in the hidden backstory of the game's world, the more real the fairy tale becomes.

What the team at Giant Sparrow have created is a living storybook, filled with all of the magic and mystery we fed on as children. It's poetic in its simplicity and with each new blind turn, there are secrets to discover and surprises to delight. Above all, The Unfinished Swan delivers a youthful sense of wonder that reminds us what it's like to discover a world, one step at a time.