Indie Power Rankings – 2025

The 2025 Indie Power Rankings feature the eligible indie games reviewed by The Single Player Experience that year. Games are ranked by their SPE Review Score out of 10, with the Passion Score out of 100 serving as the tiebreaker when multiple games share the same Review Score. Only fully released games reviewed by SPE are eligible.
Click here for more information on the review and passion score system.

The Big Three

01
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Dispatch

Dispatch Review Youtube Thumbnail
SPE 9.0 Review Score
A-Tier
Adventure Interactive Simulation Superhero
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2
AdHoc Studio
93 / 100

Why It Ranks

Dispatch stands out as a superb example of character-driven storytelling, blending the humor and emotional complexity of modern superhero fiction with the interactive structure of classic narrative adventures. Its memorable cast, outstanding performances, and expressive animation make the Z-Team feel like a group worth spending far more time with, while the dispatching system gives the story a satisfying interactive layer. Although its branching choices are more limited than they initially appear, the strength of its characters and emotional storytelling makes it one of the most memorable narrative experiences in its field.

02
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Ball x Pit

Ball X Pit Youtube Thumbnail
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Roguelite
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2 Xbox (Series, One)
Kenny Sun
87 / 100

Why It Ranks

Ball x Pit delivers an endlessly satisfying gameplay loop powered by creative upgrades, smart pacing, and brilliant mechanical synergy.

03
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - SPE Review
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
RPG Strategy Turn-Based
PC Ps5 Xbox (Series, One)
Sandfall Interactive
85 / 100

Why It Ranks

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a remarkable RPG that combines a beautiful, surreal world with tactical turn-based combat, memorable characters, and some of the most emotionally affecting storytelling in recent gaming. Its real-time defensive mechanics add an engaging layer of skill to traditional turn-based encounters, while its soundtrack and art direction give the adventure a personality all its own.

Rest of the Top 10

04
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9 Kings

9 Kings Review Thumbnail
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Auto Battler Roguelike Roguelite Strategy
PC
Sad Socket
85 / 100

Why It Ranks

9 Kings is a clever, addictive roguelike kingdom builder that turns simple mechanics into endlessly replayable strategic chaos. Its addictive gameplay loop and wildly flexible build synergies make every run feel fresh and rewarding.

05
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The Alters

The Alters - SPE Review
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Adventure Base Management Sci-Fi Survival
PC Ps5 Xbox (Series, One)
11 bit studios
83 / 100

Why It Ranks

The Alters is a brilliant example of what can happen when a developer combines a compelling science-fiction premise with gameplay systems that reinforce the story rather than compete with it. Its base-building mechanics are addictive, its survival loop creates genuine tension, and its alternate versions of Jan give the narrative a level of personality and emotional depth that few games manage to achieve.

06
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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Citizen Sleeper 2 Review Thumbnail
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Adventure RPG Strategy Visual Novel
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2 Xbox (Series, One)
Jump Over the Age
76 / 100

Why It Ranks

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Review – A Thought-Provoking Space Odyssey I never played the first Citizen Sleeper. It wasn’t due to a lack of interest—I simply hadn’t heard of the game when it was released. Over the years, I saw it receive high praise,...

07
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Absolum

Absolum Review Youtube Thumbnail
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Beat Em Up Roguelite
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2 Xbox (Series, One)
Dotemu, Gamirror Games
74 / 100

Why It Ranks

Introduction From the very first moments, Absolum understands the importance of a strong first impression—and it absolutely nails it. The opening cutscene, which lays out the brutal persecution of magic in the land of Talamh, is immediately striking. Its somber, mythic tone is reinforced by...

08
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Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight Review Thumbnail
SPE 8.0 Review Score
B-Tier
Action-Adventure Metroidvania Souls-like
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2 Xbox (Series, One)
Team Cherry
40 / 100

Why It Ranks

Hollow Knight: Silksong represents the kind of independent development that can compete with the biggest releases in the industry without losing its distinct identity. Team Cherry's world design, animation, soundtrack, and tightly integrated combat and traversal systems demonstrate an extraordinary level of craft, while its $19.99 price makes the scale of the accomplishment even more impressive. Its demanding design will not appeal to everyone, but its confidence and execution make it an important release in the indie landscape.

09
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Mark of the Deep

Mark of the Deep Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Action-Adventure Metroidvania Souls-like
PC Ps5 Switch/Switch 2 Xbox (Series, One)
Mad Mimic
75 / 100

Why It Ranks

Mark of the Deep Review Introduction Before jumping into Mark of the Deep, I only knew about it from the trailer, which immediately gave me strong Hades meets Death’s Door vibes. Those are two of my favorite indie games from the last five years, so...

10
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Lessaria: Fantasy Kingdom Sim

Lessaria Fantasy Kingdom Sim Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Real-Time Strategy Strategy
PC
Rockbee Team
69 / 100

Why It Ranks

Introduction: For players who grew up on real-time strategy classics like Age of Mythology, the craving for a rags-to-riches kingdom builder never truly goes away. There’s something deeply satisfying about starting with a fragile settlement, slowly building economic stability, erecting defenses, and eventually daring the...

Rest of the Top 25

11
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Tower Dominion

Tower Dominion Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Base Building Real-Time Strategy Roguelike Strategy Tower Defense
PC
Parallel 45 Games
68 / 100

Why It Ranks

Tower Dominion is a smart, addictive evolution of tower defense that adds just enough innovation to stand out without overcomplicating the genre.

12
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Nunholy

Nunholy Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Action Roguelike
PC
Chowbie
67 / 100

Why It Ranks

Introduction When I first saw Nunholy, I’ll be honest—I absolutely thought it was a “don’t-play-this-when-anyone-else-is-in-the-room” kind of game. The anime-inspired cover art, the character designs, and the general vibe screamed this is going to get you some looks. But then I saw two things that...

13
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The Precinct

The Precinct Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Action Open-World Simulation
PC Ps5 Xbox (Series, One)
Fallen Tree Games Ltd.
67 / 100

Why It Ranks

The Precinct offers something different from the usual action-adventure formula by making routine police work a meaningful part of its gameplay loop. You can spend your time handling minor traffic offenses, respond to more dangerous criminal incidents, and gradually unlock the tools needed to manage increasingly chaotic situations. The '80s atmosphere and dynamic crime system help make the experience feel unique, and there is plenty of fun to be found in simply patrolling Averno and seeing what happens next.

14
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Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands Review Thumbnail
SPE 7.0 Review Score
C-Tier
Action-Adventure
PC Ps5 Xbox (Series, One)
Yellow Brick Games
59 / 100

Why It Ranks

Eternal Strands is a game with ambitious ideas, but it struggles to execute them effectively. It blends mechanics from several beloved titles but doesn’t refine any of them to excellence. The climbing and combat systems feel inconsistent, the story fails to leave a lasting impact, and the pacing drags due to excessive dialogue and fetch quests. While the elemental interactions and open-ended exploration offer some enjoyment, the overall experience lacks polish. If you enjoy third-person action games that emphasize player freedom and creative combat approaches, Eternal Strands is worth checking out—especially on Game Pass. However, don’t expect a perfectly refined experience. With some post-launch patches, it could become a stronger title, but in its current state, it falls short of its full potential.

15
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Blood Bar Tycoon

blood bar tycoon Review Thumbnail
SPE 6.0 Review Score
Mid-Tier
Base Building Life Sim Simulation
PC
Clever Trickster Studio
61 / 100

Why It Ranks

Solid Building, Life Sim, Simulation, andManagement Game that is Fun and has a unique vampire concept, addictive gameplay loop, variety of bar themes, dark humor and charm.

16
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Twilight Monk

Twilight Monk Review Thumbnail
SPE 6.0 Review Score
Mid-Tier
Action Metroidvania
PC Switch/Switch 2
Aquatic Moon Games
61 / 100

Why It Ranks

The visuals are gorgeous, the soundtrack is a highlight, and the combat has enough weight and variety to make fighting enemies enjoyable throughout the campaign.

17
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Warlords Under Siege

Warlords Under Siege Review Thumbnail
SPE 5.0 Review Score
Mid-Tier
Action Base Building Roguelike RTS
PC
Redkar Devs
58 / 100

Why It Ranks

Warlords Under Siege is a rough, ambitious, and undeniably addictive strategy game. Its blend of roguelike progression, RTS combat, base building, and deckbuilding is genuinely compelling, and when everything clicks, it delivers moments of intense satisfaction that few games in the genre can match.

18
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Age of Darkness

Age of Darkness Review Thumbnail
SPE 5.0 Review Score
Mid-Tier
Action Base Building RTS
PC
Redkar Devs
53 / 100

Why It Ranks

If you enjoy survival RTS games that emphasize strategic planning and intense combat, Age of Darkness: Final Stand is worth playing.