Gaming
Games
Here's what you voted as the 10 best indie games of 2017
We’ve counted the votes, and here are your top 10 indie games of 2017.
2017, for all its faults, has been a truly great year for indie gaming. Whether you've been marvelling/tearing your hair out at the beautifully frustrating Cuphead, hitting the links with the brilliant Golf Story, or investigating just What Remains of Edith Finch, this has been a year to savour. While it almost feels like a shame to pick favourites, the results of our indie game of the year poll are in, and here's what you chose as your top 10 indies for the past 12 months.
10. Night In The Woods
Slinking in at tenth with 3.40 percent of the vote, Night In The Woods is the beautifully written (and often downright beautiful) Kickstarter adventure from developers Infinite Fall. The game follows the story of college dropout Mae as she returns to her hometown, where existential malaise isn't the only thing afoot. Night In The Woods sidesteps what could have been a gratingly twee story, instead offering something immersive, surreal and genuinely moving. It's not often you get games willing to ask the sort of huge questions posed in Night In The Woods, and for that, we're glad to see it in the top ten.
9. Flinthook
A slight change of pace from number ten, Flinthook cements its place in the list with 4.20 percent of your votes. The roguelike platformer is an anarchic blast from start to finish, with players taking on the role of the eponymous Flinthook, a space pirate busying himself with looting, plundering and fighting his way across different spaceships. With slow motion moves and a thoroughly enjoyable blasma pistol/hook combo, Flinthook offers gamers a genuinely grin-worthy time, and is a worthy entrant at number nine.
8. What Remains of Edith Finch
Giant Sparrows' What Remains of Edith Finch is an astonishing experience. By turns sweet, strange and genuinely chilling, the game tells the story of a cursed family, with the player having the chance to explore each member's story as one would a short story. It's a wonderful idea, brilliantly conceived, and makes for a thrilling mystery with a deep, contemplative, emotionally nourishing core. We're big fans of it here, and it seems you are too, with the game claiming 4.80 percent of the vote. With this and The Unfinished Swan already under their belts, we can't wait to see what Giant Sparrow get up to next.
7. Figment
Figment, in which Dusty and his friend Piper explore the two-sides of a brain fighting depression, has a unique take on tackling serious issues. Unlike, say, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Figment is a bright, musical and often amusing puzzler that faces up to depression and trauma with a lightness of touch, but no little emotional heft. Short and sweet, Figment took 6.70 percent of the vote and with good reason: it's serious, without taking itself too seriously. It's also, thankfully, a blast to play.
6. Golf Story
During our chat with Sidebar Games, the Australian studio responsible for Golf Story, we found that from great things can come from humble beginnings. Golf Story was initially a small game but grew and grew in development, eventually landing on the Nintendo Switch to rave reviews. The rest, as they say, is history. Golf Story is a golfing RPG that manages to do both. As an RPG, it's complex enough to devour hours of your time, and as a golfing sim, it's addictive enough to get players returning to the green for one more swing. Golf Story has bags of humour and makes the most of the Switch's hands-on experience. Its strong showing in this list, with 7.30 percent of the vote, comes as no surprise.
5. Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is the brilliant Metroidvania from Thomas Happ Games. Already available since 2015 on PC and major consoles, its place on the list with 7.70 percent of the votes shows just how beloved this indie is. Released on the Nintendo Switch this year, its crisp, sprite-based visuals, deeply addictive gameplay and spot-on score mean that this 2D side-scroller is bound to endure.
4. SteamWorld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig was a great game, but pretty much flew under the radar after its release in 2013. Dig 2, however, fixed that. Developers Image & Form blend Metroidvania and Minecraft to create a silly, amusing, and deeply addictive platform adventure. Happily embracing the addictive exploration of underground mines from its predecessor, Dig 2 came away with 8.20 percent of the votes. With devious enemies, unexplored dungeons and well-hidden secrets, Dig 2 will be keeping players busy well into 2018.
3. Hollow Knight
Metroidvania with a twist, Hollow Knight is undoubtedly one of the indie success stories of the year. Delivering a Tim Burton-esque journey through the seemingly deserted town of Dirtmouth, you play as an insect warrior fighting his way into the underground world of Hallownest to find out just why Dirtmouth is abandoned. It looks beautiful, has a haunting soundtrack and lives up to its influences of Castlevania, Zelda 2 and Super Metroid. In our chat with developers Team Cherry, we were told that they hoped to achieve the feeling of setting off on a grand adventure with Hollow Knight. With 8.20 percent of the vote, we can safely say they delivered.
2. RiME
With 12 percent of the vote, RiME has clearly made quite the impression since its release in May. The utterly charming and long-awaited third-person puzzle adventure game tells the story of a young boy, washed ashore on a mysterious island, who must reach and climb the tower at its centre. Aided by a magical fox, the player embarks on a stunning journey which, according to the developers in our interview, aims to deliver real emotional resonance. With a reliance on brain rather than brawn, and some incredible design, RiME shows that sometimes, long-gestating titles really can be worth the wait.
1. Cuphead
Your indie game of the year, and runaway winner with 19.30 percent of the vote, is Studio MDHRs' strange, frustrating and completely enthralling Cuphead. With a visual style that mirrors 1930’s animation, Cuphead looks absolutely incredible, and has undoubtedly lured many players in who perhaps didn't realise just how fiendishly difficult this run 'n' gun really is. Despite this, Cuphead has proved a huge hit both critically and commercially, with players lapping up the challenge posed by the monstrously tricky bosses standing in your way. Cuphead caps a memorable year for indies, and deserves its place as your indie of the year.
