With the rise of the indie game market, gamers are given a surplus of alternatives to triple-A game studios like Nintendo, Sega, or EA. So much so that it's easy for great games to get overlooked like Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.
It's a weird premise but indie games allow creators to bring to life odd concepts that wouldn't normally be approved. Resulting in hit games that few could have predicted would turn out as well as they did. These must-play indie games are worth checking out.
10 Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Is A Deceptively Cute Romp
Having a title that stands out is a good way to garner interest in a game and Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion does a top-notch job. As the title suggests, Turnip Boy is charged with tax evasion and must work off his debt to Mayor Onion by fetching items around the world.
On the surface, it's a short but fun romp packed with puzzles and top-down gaming similar to Legend of Zelda. But as the title suggests, there is more to this world of cute, living fruits and veggies than meets the eye. More serious than tax evasion, if you can believe it.
9 Cuphead Brings Hand-Drawn Animation To Video Games
Not all video games need complex stories with thought-provoking messages or satirical elements critiquing modern games. It can be as simple as two anthropomorphic cups gambling their souls away to the Devil and risking their lives to collect the souls of other debtors to save their skin.
It's a challenging game consisting mostly of boss fights and run-and-gun levels that demand players to meticulously study the level and boss patterns. It's a game that rewards the patience of players with an unforgettable gem of a game with a stellar jazzy soundtrack and hand-drawn animation. Well worth waiting for after spending years in development.
8 Kindergarten Is the South Park of Indie Games
At first glance, Kindergarten seems harmless enough as it follows a boy attending his first day of Kindergarten. However, it doesn't take long to discover that he is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again, more often than not meeting a gruesome end.
Players have to unravel a conspiracy going on at the school by assisting classmates and faculty in missions that will grant them items they can use to help others. With dark humor on brand with South Park, players will be left astounded as they solve the mystery behind the disappearing kids. Just make sure not to let any actual kindergarteners play this game or the sequel.
7 Underhero Puts the Minion in The Role of the Hero
Underhero is a game that dares to ask what would happen if one of the meager minions to a video game boss succeeded in killing the hero for good. In this case, it's up to said nameless minion to (reluctantly) take their place and team up with the hero's talking hilt.
Venturing to the lairs of different bosses to hand out magical stones on behalf of Mr. Stitches. With a distinct one-on-one combat system, it's a surprisingly challenging adventure with a rich world of lore and a story that puts an interesting twist on video game tropes. Just don't go expecting to save any princesses any time soon.
6 Monster Prom Is A Delightfully Quirky Dating Sim With Hours of Replayability
Anyone who thinks that Monster Prom is just another dating simulator but with monsters will be sorely mistaken. It's a hilariously dating simulator with monsters that has players romancing their pick of six quirky characters and the chance to unlock a plethora of alternate endings.
The game sessions are short and with over 1000 different events to experience, this game has hours of replayability and endearing characters. With the release of Monster Prom XXL, all of the DLC comes included with the game. Just be prepared to spend a lot of hours learning the ropes and which choices correspond to which stats.
5 Shovel Knight Is An Epic Sidescroller Told Through Multiple Perspectives
It's not often a game comes along like Shovel Knight that continues to evolve and grow long after its release. Initially, the game was about Shovel Knight traveling across the land defeating the knights from the Order of No Quarter in hopes of reaching the Tower of Fate and finding his lost companion, Shield Knight. Since then, additions have been made that allow players to replay the game from the perspective of Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight.
While nearly identical, each playthrough offers different game mechanics for players to master, new layouts, endings, and a better understanding of the world. Best of all, they are all packaged as one in Shovel Knight Treasure Trove.
4 Going Under Showcases the Drudgery of Internships and the Fun of Dungeon Crawlers
It doesn't get more indie than Going Under, an indie game about start-up companies. More precisely, it's about an intern named Jackie whose job is to delve into ruins of failed start-ups, retrieve artifacts, and fight off the monster employees below.
Without any weapons, she has to utilize whatever she can to defend herself like staplers, pencils, laptops, water coolers, hockey sticks, money guns, body pillows, and more. It requires plenty of trial and error but once players get the hang of it, they will be clearing out dungeons with ease. Along with a chair or mallets.
3 Binding Of Isaac Is the Roguelike To End All Roguelikes
While it's best not to judge a book by its cover, The Binding of Isaac is an exception considering its morbid content. The game centers around Isaac as he dwells deeper into the basement beneath his house to escape his deranged mother using only his tears to fight off the monsters below.
As disturbing as this game is, it is also incredibly addictive with each playthrough lasting about half an hour to an hour, and each time, the maps, enemies, and items are randomized. Forcing players to adapt to new surroundings, learn which power-ups are the best, and progressively unlock new sections and endings. Just don't expect to 100% complete it anytime soon.
2 The Henry Stickmin Collection Is A Must-Have For Fans of Flash Games
Those who grew up playing flash games on Newgrounds should be familiar with the series. The Henry Stickmin Collection compiles the first games from PuffballsUnited, who also developed Among Us, and includes a new chapter that serves as a conclusion. The game centers around the eponymous Henry Stickmin as he executes over-complicated plans based on the player's choices that are almost always doomed to fail.
While the art style is minimal and gameplay limited, the wacky humor behind each choice entices players to go down every route and find every failure and ending. Anyone feeling nostalgic for flash games should check this out.
1 Undertale Remains A Masterpiece
There's not a list long enough that can cover all the reasons why Undertale is so beloved. It's a simple story of a child trapped underground that must navigate a kingdom of human-hating monsters but players must choose whether to use wits and kindness or strength and ruthlessness.
Everything about this game is memorable from all the multifaceted characters players face along the way, the dialogue and story, and the catchy music. Most importantly, it challenges players to rethink their choices and how they play video games. This game is without a doubt a must-have that knows how to test a player's determination.
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