Why Indie Games Are Dominating 2025 - From Clair Obscur to Farming Simulators

Isn’t it great how the tables have turned for indie gaming in 2025?

Indie video games, once overshadowed, are no longer just a humble addition to an industry dominated by big AAA releases. Although the creators of the latter benefit from impressive budgets and resources, something doesn’t feel right about the final forms of their creations. Not to mention that they are often unfinished on release day. Meanwhile, indie developers like to stay in touch with their fan base, getting inspired by players' suggestions and, in the long run, winning their hearts and minds.

Interested in the top indie games from 2025 and before? You’ll find them at great prices on G2A.COM. But before we all jump straight to that option, let’s explore how the rise of indie studios has conquered the industry in recent years.

Clair Obscur and the new indie ambition

The recent shining indie star, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, sold a million copies within three days of its launch. As if that wasn’t enough (yes, there’s still more!), the title is now a strong contender for GOTY 2025. And to make things even worse, the game earned the title of the highest user-rated video game of all time on Metacritic in just two weeks of its release, surpassing the most popular titles like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Baldur’s Gate 3.

Why worse? Because Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur developer) achieved the unimaginable - they made turn-based RPGs appealing in 2025. While the genre was extremely popular in the 90s, no AAA publisher would have believed it could resonate with gamers today. The creators' courage, combined with outstanding artistic design, high production quality, real-time elements, and a fresh narrative, made it surpass the generic and safe solutions favored by AAA executives. Ultimately, players seek an emotional connection with titles they engage in, looking for experiences created with passion rather than a desire for profit.

Recent indie success stories

This change in the industry didn’t start with the release of Clair Obscur, and its origins reach deeper. Take Disco Elysium, a CRPG that won four awards at The Game Awards 2019, multiple prizes for exceptional writing, and top scores from critics. The game impressed an audience with its narrative depth, often lacking in generic AAA titles.

Another one - Dave the Diver. This 2023 indie game didn’t shy away from blending two seemingly incompatible genres - action-adventure and management. To everyone’s surprise, it became the fifth best-selling title on Steam just two days after its release.

And have you ever heard of Dredge? Believe it or not, the title is a unique merge of horror, role-playing, and fishing sim. Somehow, this idea worked, as the game sold over 100,000 copies within 24 hours of its release and won the title of Best Indie Game at the IGN Awards 2023.

You've probably heard of Palworld, also known as Pokémon with Guns. The game sold eight million copies in its first six days of early access to become the third-highest-played title in the platform's history. Impressive, right?

Simulation Games

Another noteworthy foundation for the success of indie video games is the simulator genre. The recently released Schedule I proves the craziest ideas bear the sweetest fruits. This incredibly addictive drug dealer simulation surpassed titles like Avowed, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, and Civilization VII, becoming the second most popular game on Steam in 2025.

But there is still more: PowerWash Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator, Stardew Valley, Golf with Your Friends, Kerbal Space Program, and Uboat. These are just a tiny sample of indie simulators consistently conquering the world, proving that players seek farming, management, or military sims that offer rewarding experiences.

Why do players love indie?

Gamers love indie video games for reasons often absent in AAA releases. They’re much cheaper than their AAA counterparts and don’t demand the most powerful hardware. Their creators aim to make their dreams come true by releasing the best version of their idea, but that requires funding. Therefore, developers often launch crowdfunding campaigns and interact with players to deliver the best product possible. This player-developer bond and active involvement make the fan base more invested in the development process. That works both ways, as the developer can ultimately create an even better version of their dream game using fan suggestions.

Meanwhile, large companies have gotten into the habit of launching unfinished video games, so many gamers avoid buying them on release day. Why pay for a full, overpriced game if it still requires months of fixes? Indie developers often rely on community feedback to complete their titles, while AAA studios prioritize release dates over quality.

Conclusion

All these numbers and reasons lead to one conclusion - the rise of indie studios in 2025 didn't come out of nowhere. Gamers see and feel that playing these titles is a much better and fair deal. They can actively participate in the development process, provide their creators with constructive feedback, pay less, and enjoy a finished product born of passion. After many years of experiencing the AAA games' repetitive content, the community is gladly turning to the bold innovation of indie studios.

Tired of the most overhyped titles' stale content? You can find a safe and entertaining refuge on G2A.COM, where popular indie games await cheaper than anywhere else. There is no better way to witness how the genre has evolved - it's now innovative, stylish, and ready to shape the future of all gaming.