Which are the most successful indie games of all time?

Thanks to modern technology, a lot of gamers around the world have access to indie games and developers. A few decades ago this wouldn’t be possible, but now we get to enjoy the product of others who are passionate enough to create a game despite multiple restraints. A lot of the AAA titles we enjoy today were once indie games as well with their developers relatively unknown. This list showcases games that have proven themselves both financially and critically.

One of the things that games can take advantage of is the use of digital platforms. Games can now be available through paying for them online and downloading them. This lessens the amount of money needed to make a profit from creating a video game as there is no longer a need for a physical release. There are extremes however, as some games prove too expensive for their worth, while others are worth every penny you spend. If you’re a console gamer, then you should check out the 10 best PS4 and Xbox games for the money.

For this list of most successful indie games of all time, we take into account both the financial success of a video game as well as its critical acclaim, a similar method people use to rate films. All of the games on this list are available through the platform Steam, which is why we can use statistics websites such as Steam Spy to get the information on how many copies of each game have been purchased. The more units sold, the higher the amount of money a video game company earns.

For the other metric, we take into account how good the reviews are for each game. While there are many review articles and videos available online, we have the website Metacritic that compiles reviews and weighs them accordingly. This gives us a more accurate rating of each video game. If multiple ratings are available, then we take the average of all of them. Now that we’ve settled that, let us head to the list of 11 most successful indie games of all time:



11. Kerbal Space Program

Units Sold: 1.5 million

Metacritic Score: 79.67

In Kerbal Space Program, you are tasked with your own space program, hoping to create your own spacecraft that can fly into space without killing its crew. You are given various parts which you have to assemble to create a ship. There are numerous things to discover in the game both in building your ship, and exploring space. The game also offers various game modes, such as Career mode which you are given missions to complete.

10. Prison Architect

Units Sold: 1.7 million

Metacritic Score: 79

Prison Architect ranks 10th in our list of most successful indie games of all time. It is a simulation game created by Introversion Software. In the game, you construct and manage your own prison, controlling various aspects of the structure. You hire staff, guards, workers, and hope to control the prisoners. The game was successfully crowdfunded which is a testament to its popularity among gamers.

9. Hotline Miami

Units Sold: 1.6 million

Metacritic Score: 85.67

If there was one word to describe Hotline Miami, it would be crazy. From the plot, to the fast paced action, Hotline Miami that’s up next in our list of most successful indie games of all time is the definition of a short yet sweet experience. It is also quite unforgiving as when you die you have to repeat the entire level all over again. The game is set in 1989 Miami and has a very surreal treatment coupled with influences from the 1980s.

8. Mark of the Ninja

Units Sold: 1.1 million

Metacritic Score: 90.5

We are continuing our list of most successful indie games of all time with Mark of a Ninja, that is a side-scrolling stealth game where you play a nameless ninja at present times. This game does great justice to the mostly ignored stealth genre in video games. It got a lot of critical acclaim, with reviews citing praise for various aspects including graphics, audio, and gameplay. The game also does a great job of mixing modern technology to the ancient ways of the ninja.

7. Papers, Please

Units Sold: 1.3 million

Metacritic Score: 88.5

Who knew becoming an immigration officer would become an exciting experience in video game form? In Papers, Please, you play an immigration offer from the fictional country of Arstotzka, and you are tasked to check the papers of various people trying to get into the country. The pressure of trying to work a decent amount to feed the family, while trying to keep your humanity is done to great effect in the game.

6. Don’t Starve

Units Sold: 3.5 million

Metacritic Score: 79

Don’t Starve is a survival video game with one goal, to not starve. The game features roguelike elements meaning that once you die you have to repeat the game all over again. The goal of the players is to survive the longest possible, gathering materials, crafting items, and hopefully surviving the harsh elements. Creatures also lurk in the area, adding to the game’s theme. Don’t Starve is one of the indie games with the highest number of units sold making it deserving of a spot at the 11 most successful indie games of all time.

5. The Binding of Isaac

Units Sold: 2.5 million

Metacritic Score: 84

Another roguelike, The Binding of Isaac is inspired by biblical themes and stories. In the game, you play Isaac, who must fight to survive the monster-filled basement after he tries to run away from his religiously delusional mother. The game features a lot of unlockable content and multiple combinations of items can be made. The success of this game prompted a remake which was released in 2014. And now, let’s see the top four entries in our list of most successful indie games of all time.

4. The Stanley Parable

Units Sold: 1.8 million

Metacritic Score: 88

This game ranks 4th in our list of most successful indie games of all time. It started out as a free mod for Half-Life 2. It had gotten so much popularity that they created a new stand-alone game which featured new story elements and a lot more content. The Stanley Parable is one of the games that popularized a more narrative style instead of typical gameplay. Humor was also one of the biggest factors that contributed to this game’s success.

3. Super Meat Boy

Units Sold: 2 million

Metacritic Score: 86.25

Up next in our list of most successful indie games of all time is Super Meat Boy, that is probably one of the earliest video games to have successfully broken into the mainstream market. It was originally an Internet Flash game entitled Meat Boy before it was developed into a console and PC game. In the game, you control Meat Boy, a cube-shaped character that attempts to save his girlfriend from an antagonist. The game features levels which the player has to avoid hazards to get to the next area.

2. Undertale

Units Sold: 1.7 million

Metacritic Score: 92

Undertale was created to be a parody of role-playing games. Despite that, it is a very in-depth RPG on its own, gathering critical acclaim for its play on mainstream video games. In the game, you control a human child that’s trapped in a region filled with monsters that are not entirely bad. Undertale has won numerous Game of the Year awards from various publications.

1. Limbo

Units Sold: 2.2 million

Metacritic Score: 88.5

Limbo starts off as a very mysterious game, in that you have to keep playing to truly understand the game and the story. It is a puzzle game, wherein the player controls a boy tackling various obstacles before moving to the next area. The game features a black and white theme coupled with an eerie atmosphere. Limbo was so successful that it was named the third highest selling game on Xbox Live during the year of its release, a great feat for an indie game. With its success financially and critically, there is no doubt of its position at the top of the 11 most successful indie games of all time.