What is the best indie game of 2026?

2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for indie gaming with ambitious titles across every genre. Vote for the indie game you're most excited about or think is the year's best.

1. 1
   Slay the Spire 2

   The long-awaited sequel to the genre-defining roguelike deck-builder, bringing new cards, characters, and mechanics to one of indie gaming's most beloved formulas.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Escape From Ever After

   A fairy-tale turn-based RPG inspired by Paper Mario and Ocarina of Time, praised for its clever puzzles and vibrant boss encounters.
   647pts
3. 3
   Demon Tides

   An open-world 3D platformer from Fabraz where players explore oceans and biomes as the protagonist Beebz to uncover the dark secrets of a mysterious kingdom.
   366pts
4. 4
   Pathologic 3

   A harrowing psychological horror game where a plague-stricken town forces the player into impossible moral choices with no clean answers.
   284pts
5. 5
   Love Eternal

   A psychological platformer that shares thematic DNA with Celeste, prioritizing emotional resonance and mechanical precision in a narrative-driven experience.
   284pts
6. 6
   Mina The Hollower

   A 2D action-adventure platformer by Yacht Club Games starring a mouse named Mina, lauded for its expert game design and classic Zelda inspirations — Metacritic's highest-rated game of 2026.
   183pts
7. 7
   SAROS

   A critically acclaimed indie title from 2026 that earned high marks from both critics and players for its distinctive visual style and gameplay.
   52pts
8. 8
   Alruna: End of History

   A Metroidvania celebrated as a tour-de-force of game design, featuring world-class temples and dungeons that push the genre forward.
   52pts
9. 9
   Tearscape

   A February 2026 indie release praised for its atmospheric world-building and emotional storytelling.
   1pts
10. 10
    Darwin's Paradox

    A quirky platformer with strong Oddworld energy that puts players in control of a clever cephalopod escaping a strange industrial complex.
    1pts