There was a time in the mid-2010's when industry professionals were predicting an "indiepocolypse." The idea was that independently developed video games would soon be suffocated by the sheer number of cheaply made cash-grab titles flooding online marketplaces like the App Store and Steam. It seemed like there would soon be no room for smaller creative titles to see any success. This was a particularly bleak thought, since indie games were on the rise, proving to be some of the more forward-thinking and innovative releases in the medium.

Yet despite the forcast, things went in the opposite direction. The industry at large seemed to recognize the extrordinary things small-time developers were doing, leading to many major studios backing indie titles, or even opening their own indie branch. Kickstarter also took off, giving creators a chance to reach their fans directly, and for fans to help fund games that they wanted to play. As a result, we were left with some of the most compelling games to come out durrring the 8th generation of gaming.

*The 8th generation consists of games released on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, as well as PC, Wii U and Switch between 2013 and 2020. 

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We've seen 2d platformers, rougelikes and isometric RPGs make a comeback, riviting stories told in non-traditional ways, and unprecendeted representation of people from different backgrounds. Indie developers have both demanded and earned our attention this generation with what they have been able to create. Yet among the dozens of titles worthy of praise, there are some that left a permenant mark on those who played them. Here are our 5 best indie games of the 8th generation:

Honorable Mentions: Undertale, Return of the Obra Dinn, Stardew Valley, The Witness, Shovel Knight

5. Firewatch (2016)

An image of the Firewatch Map

The opening minutes of Campo Santo's Firewatch is the gaming equivalent of Up's heartbreaking "married life" montage. Delivered simply through text, we witness as Henry, our protagonist, meets and falls in love with his wife only to slowly lose her to early-onset Alzheimers. Broken and miserable, Henry takes on a job as firewatcher in the middle of the Wyoming wilderness. What follows is a serene and sometimes eerie experience as you explore the surrounding area and uncover the mystery of a years-old tragedy.

The strongest element of Firewatch is the relationship between Henry and his supervisor Delilah, who's only interactions with him are through a short-wave radio. As the game progresses, you develop a bond with her as she becomes not just a boss, but someone that Henry can confide in and count on. Firewatch is a beautiful game about escaping and being among nature, but it's also game about guilt, isolation and coming to terms with loss. It will stick with you for a long a time.

4. Celeste (2018)

A screenshot from Celeste.

One of the more popular types of indie game this generation has been throwback-style side scrolling platformers. While some of these games may be just more of a good thing, it's always exciting when we see a game do something new with the old format. Part Super Meat Boy, part Journey, Celeste is an ultra-challenging platformer that also tells the story of a young girl struggling with crippling anxiety.

Celeste is a departure for developer Matt Makes Games, who previously created the chaotic Towerfall. It's a tighter, more rewarding experience that treats the mental-health struggles of Celeste in a mature way while never coming across as too heavy handed or trite. The player's journey mirrors Celeste's: As we master each seemingly impossible obstacle the game throws at us, Celeste makes her way slowly up the (literal and metaphorical) mountain. It may seem impossible at times, but sticking with Celeste to completion will leave you feeling more accomplished than most other games released in the past several years.

3. Inside (2016)

After a long 6 years, Playdead Studios finally followed up their genre defining Limbo with Inside in 2016. Certainly one of the more abstract and bizarre games this generation, Inside is not for the faint of heart. It's not quite a terrifying experience, but it still manages to get under your skin with haunting imagery and it's avoidance of definitive answers.

Inside is a puzzle-y side scroller of sorts, but it's main draw is your slow progression through its atmospheric dystopian landscape, which features a faceless government, brutalist architecture, and a mind-control conspiracy. It's never entirely clear what your character is trying to accomplish as he marches deeper into the heart of enemy territory, but the game holds your attention nonetheless with it’s sinister art design and edge of your seat enemy encounters. Your take away from Inside's ending may depend on how open minded you are, but it's guaranteed to occupy your thoughts for long after it's short four hours.

2. Night in the Woods (2017)

Night In The Woods Mae and Bridge

This is the story of an anthropomorphic cat dropping out of college, returning to her rust-belt hometown, and reconnecting with her old friends who have done their best to try and grow up. That's Infinite Fall’s Night in the Woods in a nutshell. It looks like a cute little game, but it features some of the most profound story moments ever seen in gaming.

As the Fall progresses, Mae floats through life, hanging with friends and interacting with townsfolk who all have more serious things to worry about. It’s a takes sympathetic look at the people in Possum Springs, with each moment in the game tackling mature themes like loss of innocence or the failed promises of the American dream. It may not offer much in the way of a challenge, but it's affecting story makes Night in the Woods resonate strongly with so many players.

1. The Outer Wilds (2019)

Mobius Digital's Outer Wilds is terrifying. You have 22 minutes to explore a solar system before the sun goes nova, leaving you back where you started. It's a time loop that forces you to repeatedly venture into the unknown in order to solve its central mystery. The game isn't scary in the traditional sense - there aren't any enemies -it's scary because it captures the fear of being powerless in space. You can be crushed by a planet in orbit, lose your bearings and fly into the sun, slip into a black hole and slowly run out of oxygen. The enemy is the inevitability of nature.

But if you take a deep breath and return to space at the start of each time loop, you can discover the secrets of the worlds you visit. Everything has a purpose, and it's up to you to piece together the mystery of your solar system. Sticking with Outer Wilds will blow your mind: it's an experience like no other.

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