The joy of working with indies is that you never know what you’ll encounter next. Every year brings something unexpected and delightful, no matter what genre you prefer. The indie teams at Sony Interactive Entertainment have put together some of their favorite indie games from the past year. Here are some of the games that surprised, charmed and tickled us in 2025.
Baby steps
Developer: Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch and Bennett Foddy
Publisher: Digital return
An irreverent, physics-based adventure about going through life built on that deliciously punishing physics that made Bennett Foddy’s “Get Over It” so iconic.
Why we love it: After playing this game, we had a really demanding time explaining what an elevator looked like to our friends – it’s one of those games that you just have to feel to understand. When we handed the controller over to SIE’s Sid Shuman and his character immediately slid helplessly off the top in the most dramatic way possible, he burst out laughing with tears in his eyes. And it went on for some time. Then it hit us: chaos, tenderness, humor – everything makes sense the moment you take that first clumsy step.
X Pit Ball
Developer: Kenny Sun
Publisher: Digital return
A messy, neon-drenched arcade game where everything moves swift, deafening and slightly uncertain.
Why we love it: Several of us had experienced this game from Devolver before, and we knew it was sticky when several members of our team felt compelled to play it long after they had already finished writing the review. It’s pure, happy chaos – the kind of game that grabs you immediately and doesn’t want to let go. For me personally, seeing Kenny Sun made it even better. I’ve followed his work since my early days as an editor and loved his 2016 platformer Circa Infinity. Watching it evolve from its minimalist, stunning roots to something so deafening, fun and polished – all from one creator – is incredibly chilly.
Blue Prince
Developer: Banana Bird Studio
Publisher: Raw Fury
A surreal puzzle with a moving room which constantly reinvents itself as it is discovered.
Why we love it: There’s nothing better than a hypnotic, mysterious puzzle game that doesn’t play by the rules, and Blue Prince lives up to that feeling. Several of us had the same unexpected experience with it – even though it’s a single-player game, it became a game we played with our partners or friends at home. We compared notes, exchanged theories, and brainstormed solutions to puzzles together as if we were part of some shared secret. That sense of tranquil discovery, of discovering something strange and elegant piece by piece, is exactly what makes this piece so special. It’s stylish, clever, and stays with you long after you’ve finished playing.
Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
Developer: Interactive Sandfall
Publisher: Interactive Kepler
A striking, painterly RPG about breaking the prophecy and claiming a future that was never meant to be yours.
Why we love it: The art direction immediately captivated us, and the fight hits that fine sweet spot between thoughtful and cinematic. Such a attractive game with amazing acting, addictive gameplay, and possibly the best soundtrack in gaming history. The Montpellier-based team at Sandfall Interactive wears their influences on their sleeves, from European illustration traditions to the emotional plot and iconic gameplay of your favorite RPGs. You can feel these influences in every character, creature and brushstroke. It’s bold, attractive and exactly the innovative vision we love.
Desperate
Developer: Julián Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena
Publisher: Panic
A grounded true-life adventure set in Quito in the early 21st centuryphotographing the district – and country – that took part in Ecuador’s historic 2002 World Cup qualifier.
Why we love it: Despelote captures a cultural moment that meant so much to many Ecuadorians, and does so through compact, everyday details that feel incredibly personal. We were struck by how intimate it felt. The narrative is a step back in time, drawn from the creators’ childhood memories in Quito. The art style adds a fine, dreamlike quality to the effect that makes the world feel both real and surreal. It is a balmy, human and heartfelt celebration of their people.
Get it done
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Publisher: AdHoc Studio
A witty, episodic comedy about superheroes in the workplace where you are not the hero, but the one who sends them.
Why we love it: From the very beginning, Dispatch had us hooked: enticing us with its energetic art style, razor-sharp writing, and versatile mechanics that seamlessly transition from thoughtful narrative choices to challenging puzzles and the chaos of superhero shipping management. What sets it apart, however, is how quickly these unique characters develop over the course of the game. Beneath the coats and theatrics, there’s a surprising warmth, messy emotion, and a delightful streak of pettiness that fuels the hilarious office drama. It’s a refreshing change from the narrative-driven adventure games and superhero content we’re all used to. Dispatch finds his own unique voice in this space, which is a superhuman feat in itself, and focuses on unmasking unique personalities to explore the flawed people behind the costumes. AdHoc reminds us why this genre remains so fascinating.
Hollow Knight: Silk Song
Developer: Team Wiśnia
Publisher: Team Wiśnia
The long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knightproviding sharper movement, richer combat and a haunting modern world.
Why we love it: Few newfangled indie games have achieved the cultural impact of Hollow Knight – the game has become a touchstone of precise platforming, atmosphere and handcrafted design. Silksong builds on this legacy with the same attention to detail that made the original so beloved. Team Cherry’s craftsmanship is extraordinary for a studio of this size, and once again we found ourselves completely lost in their world. It’s elegant, ambitious, and a reminder of how far great craftsmanship can go.
Lumins are created
Developer: Increase
Publisher: Increase
A newfangled evolution of the classic rhythm puzzlepolished into a hypnotic little gem.
Why we love it: Enhance has created some of the most transcendent puzzle games ever created – from Rez Infinite to Tetris Effect – and Lumines Arise has the same pedigree of arcade, synesthetic brilliance. They are simply the best at what they do. When the visuals, music and patterns come together, you enter a unique state of flow where your brain finally exhales. It’s stylish, soothing, and one of those games we “accidentally” play for an hour.
Pipistrello and the damned Yo-Yo
Developer: A pocket trap
Publisher: Studio PM
Stylish, fast-paced action platformer built around a surprisingly deep yo-yo based moveset.
Why we love it: This is one of those games that is fun the first time you play it. The movement is expressive, the combat is really energetic, and the whole thing oozes personality. We were impressed with how they took such a uncomplicated mechanic and stretched it into something with real depth and scope.
Sword of the Sea
Developer: Giant squid
Publisher: Giant squid
A leisurely sand surfing adventure from Matt Nava and the team behind Journey, Abzû and The Pathless.
Why we love it: Watching Navy’s artistic evolution over the years has been a joy, and Sword of the Sea felt like a culmination of everything it does best – movement, atmosphere, emotional peace. It’s already gorgeous and calming on its own, but what really elevated our experience were the subtle, pioneering touches he put so many layers into. The DualSense haptics in particular add that fine, tactile dimension to dune surfing – you feel the world in a way that can’t be described until the controller is in your hands. It’s thoughtful, engaging, and one of those experiences that stays in your mind long after you’ve finished playing.
Honorary distinctions
- Sleeping Citizen 2
- Demon School
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
- Hotel Infinity
- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
- Lost Bloom & Rage records
- Furious Ninja Gaiden
- Promise mascot agency
- Revenge
- Altera
- Night walk
- To T
- Hiking stop
- World of Circles
These games represent just a fraction of the incredible creativity happening in the indie gaming world. We’re thrilled to support such innovative, genre-crossing work and can’t wait to see what comes next.
