Sony Interactive Entertainment’s indie team has compiled a list of their personal favorite indie games from the past year. The unpredictability and unpredictability of indie games are part of their appeal, and this year, a number of unique titles across a variety of genres have emerged, earning praise from gamers worldwide.
Baby Steps
Built on the signature challenging physics engine of Bennett Foddy’s Getting Over It, this physics-based adventure game is both heartwarming and hilarious. It was developed by Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy, and published by Devolver Digital.
The PlayStation team said it was “really hard to explain this game to my colleagues,” adding that it was “a game you had to experience for yourself to understand.” They shared an anecdote about how they laughed so hard they almost cried when they saw the character comically sliding down a mountain.
Ball X Pit
Created by solo developer Kenny Sun, this arcade blaster boasts stunning visuals, is frenetic, noisy, and even chaotic, offering a sense of complete disorientation. It’s been praised as a dizzying yet purely enjoyable experience that’s impossible to escape once you’ve gotten into it. Some team members reportedly still hold the controllers even after completing their review.
Blue Prince
Developed by Banana Bird Studios and published by Raw Fury, this is a surreal, shifting room puzzle mystery game that constantly reinvents itself as you explore.
“Despite being a single-player game, it’s become a game you play with a partner or friends at home,” the PlayStation team said. “You compare notes, exchange theories, and brainstorm puzzle solutions together.”
Claire Obscur: Expedition 33
Developed by Sandfall Interactive, this is a stunning and graphic role-playing game about breaking prophecy and exploring a future that was never meant to be yours.
Boasting stunning art that instantly captivates the viewer, the game also offers battles that seamlessly blend flamboyance and precision. It’s also considered one of the greatest game soundtracks in gaming history.
Dispatch
An episodic superhero workplace comedy game developed by AdHoc Studio, where gamers take on the role of deploying heroes into the field rather than fighting them themselves.
The team praised Dispatch, saying, “From the start, Dispatch captivated us. Its vibrant art style, sharp plot, and versatile mechanics seamlessly transition from thoughtful narrative choices to challenging puzzles and the chaos of managing a superhero dispatch.”
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developed by Team Cherry, the sequel to Hollow Knight features a magical new world and vastly improved animation and combat compared to its predecessor. The PlayStation team praised the game, stating, “No recent indie game has had quite the impact as Hollow Knight,” adding, “It sets a benchmark for precise platforming, atmosphere, and meticulously hand-drawn design.”
Lumines Arise
This modern evolution of the puzzle-rhythm classic developed by Enhance has been reimagined as a dreamlike puzzle game. Enhance, the team behind some of the most transcendent puzzle experiences, from Rez Infinite to Tetris Effect, continues that legacy with Lumines Arise, brimming with arcade and synesthetic fun. The team explains, “The visuals, music, and patterns harmoniously blend to draw you into a completely immersive flow.”
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo
Developed by Pocket Trap and published by PM Studios, this stylish, fast-paced action platformer features surprisingly deep yo-yo action. It manages to capture both depth and enjoyment with a simple yo-yo and platforming mechanic.
The team said it was “one of those games that just feels good from the moment you pick it up,” adding that they were “really impressed by how it manages to blend simple mechanics with real depth and immersion.”
Sword of the Sea
A tranquil sand surfing adventure from Matt Nava and the team behind Journey, Abzû, and The Pathless, developed by Giant Squid.
Dual sensor haptics allow you to vividly experience the subtle sensations of surfing in the desert, and the game has been praised for its delicate and immersive design that leaves an unforgettable impression even after you’ve finished playing.
The team said, “It’s been a real pleasure to watch Nava’s artistic evolution over the years, and Sword of the Sea feels like a culmination of everything he does best.”
Other recommendations
- Citizen Sleeper 2
- Demonschool
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist
- Hotel Infinity
- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
- Lost Records Bloom & Rage
- Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
- Promise Mascot Agency
- Rematch
- The Alters
- The Midnight Walk
- To a T
- Wanderstop
- Wheel World
The PlayStation team stated, “The works we’ve introduced today are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the incredible creativity emerging from the indie game scene,” and added, “We’re honored to be able to support works that break the mold of genres like this.”
source: https://blog.ko.playstation.com/2025/12/23/20251223-indies/
