Check out our list of upcoming indie games to see the full lineup.
1. Eastward
Pixpil and Chucklefish’s indie title puts you into the shoes of two unlikely characters making their way around its strange world. Set in a post-apocalyptic society, assume the role of a Miner who encounters a mysterious little girl deep underground in a secret facility. Together, they embark on a journey and uncover the secrets of their now-corrupted world. Meet the quirky cast of characters with their own fascinating tales.
Solve complex puzzles using its dual character adventure RPG and explore its eye-popping pixel art style coupled with a stellar soundtrack. It’s the perfect title to start the list and it comes out sometime this 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and Steam.
2. 12 Minutes
It’s no secret Indie games continue to push the boundaries of storytelling despite its limited resources. Published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by Luis Antonio, this interactive thriller takes place inside an apartment room that’s stuck in a twelve-minute time loop.
Its top-down perspective gives you more room to make decisions based on the clues found throughout their story. As a point-and-click title, there are multiple ways to approach each scenario and it’s up to you to put a stop to this unbreakable curse.
It takes inspiration from notable dream-like movies like The Shining, Rear Window, and even Christopher Nolan’s fragmented narrative structure of Memento. It’s slated for a 2020 release as a Microsoft exclusive.
3. Spiritfarer on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC
To call this game gorgeous is an understatement. A title from Thunder Lotus Games, sail around in the fable-like fantasy world as you build, explore, and gather resources for your journey. What's most striking about it is its seeming exploration of loss amidst its vibrant 2D art style.
The whole world of Spiritfarer is oozing with charm. Although it deals with highly emotional themes, Spiritfarer is a resource management game at its core. Customizing your boat and characters is a must to brave the somber seas. Throughout your voyage, make your own choices in its endlessly mystical waters.
It’s coming to the PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC sometime this 2020.
4. Carrion on PC and Xbox One
Dubbed as ‘reverse horror’, Carrion is a different kind of indie game where instead of running against supernatural threats, you’re the one doing the haunting and killing. Published by Devolver and developed by Phobia Game Studios, play as a living monstrosity assuming the form of a tentacle. Your goal is to stalk and consume those that are trapped within your grasp.
It combines high-octane physics-based platformer with Metroidvania elements. Mass is an important feature in the game. Your size matters as it unlocks important abilities that help you traverse unknown locations and proceed to the next level.
A 1-hour demo was released last month and most players enjoyed the feeling of gobbling up people. It comes out sometime this 2020 for the PC and Xbox One.
5.Little Nightmares 2 on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch
The Maw is ready to eat you once again in this sequel to Tarsier Studios’ horrifying puzzle-platformer. Announced at Gamescom 2019, there is little information we know about the game so far aside from its reveal trailer. One thing’s for sure, we know that Six, the iconic girl with the yellow raincoat, makes a return but she no longer remains playable.
The game’s main character centers around Mono, which was a protagonist from the previous title. This sequel will further explore the harrowing atmosphere of The Maw and what lies beyond this demented dimension. It’s coming out sometime this 2020 for the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Switch.
6. Streets Of Rage 4 on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One
25 years later and the legendary series comes back with a brand new episode. This is a sequel to SEGA’s iconic arcade brawler. Known for its ridiculous fights and jamming ‘90s beats, Streets of Rage 4 lets us relive the street-angst behind this cult classic.
Packed with non-stop action and groovy electronic music, follow the lives of Axel, Blaze, and Adam Hunter as they start picking fights wherever they go. Building upon the original gameplay with new mechanics, it also adds more fun to the skull-bashing and chicken-chomping delight by encouraging group beat-ups with friends! Coming this 2020 for the PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
7. Cris Tales on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
A Love-Letter to classic JRPG titles like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Valkyrie Profile, this time-bending adventure takes us into the life of the courageous Crisbell as she stops a powerful Time Empress from messing up the future. Master turn-based combat as you use the power of time to smack your enemies and warp them to the past, present and even future. Simply looking at its gameplay it feels like a game with potential, especially with its unique art style.
A Demo is currently available for download if you want to get a taste of what this game is really all about. No release date yet, but it’s said to come out sometime this 2020 for the PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.
8. Pathless on PC and PlayStation 4
Revealed last year, this mythic adventure game from the creators of the beloved Abzu tells a whole new story about a lone archer with her pet Eagle. Giant Squid Studios’ use of nature is as breathtaking as it was in their previous game. Compared to Abzu’s underwater paradise, Pathless takes you to a vast forest slowly corrupted by darkness.
Throughout your journey, explore and uncover the secrets of the forest. Solve puzzles, test your skills in epic battles similar to Shadow of the Colossus and bond with your eagle. It’s bound for release sometime this 2020 on the PC and PS4.
9. Kerbal Space Program 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One
The sequel to the critically acclaimed space-flight simulation game from Star Theory. Get ready for some more engineering feats as Kerbal Space Program 2 is fully redesigned from the ground up to create a more immersive and ‘realistic’ physics-based creations.
Your space program is about to get a whole lot easier and complicated with the addition of new features such as building and maintaining colonies. Interstellar travel is also overhauled with more options and technology to take you to various celestial bodies.
Modding also makes a return and it gives even more player freedom to do whatever they want. Not to mention the long-requested multiplayer has finally arrived. KSP2 prepares for take-off sometime this 2020 for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
10. SkateBIRD on PC and Switch
The kind of games we never knew we needed. SkateBIRD is… well… a bird doing showing off some moves with its skateboard. Glass Bottom Games’ most-anticipated SkateBIRD-ing game is ready to revolutionize videogames as we know it.
Grind on bendy straws, kickflip over staplers and perform some killer lines through cardboard and sticky tape parks. There are no questions here, it’s just skateboarding, dude. Make every second of this bird’s live fun after his menial 9-5 job. Give him more purpose and teach him the ways of shredding. Jam through some low-fi bird tunes and continue the grind.
It comes out this Late 2020 for the PC and the Nintendo Switch.