Best INDIE

A quiet, devastatingly beautiful debut from Celine Song, 'Past Lives' follows two childhood friends who are reunited decades later. The film explores the concept of 'In-Yun'the idea that connections b...

Sofia Coppolas Lost in Translation is a quiet, atmospheric meditation on loneliness and connection. Set in the neon-lit sprawl of Tokyo, the film follows an aging actor and a young woman who form an u...

After Yang is a quiet, meditative exploration of what it means to be human in a world where AI is integrated into daily life. When a family's robotic companion, Yang, malfunctions, the father attempts...

This film flips the 'backwoods slasher' trope on its head by making the supposed killers two incredibly kind, socially awkward hillbillies. When a group of judgmental college students arrives for a ca...

Hades is a critically acclaimed roguelike dungeon crawler where you play as Zagreus, the Prince of the Underworld, attempting to escape his father's realm. Its defining feature is its narrative integr...

The Lunchbox is a quiet, beautiful film about an unlikely connection formed through a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famous dabbawala system. It is a masterclass in minimalism, relying on subtle perfor...

Greta Gerwigs directorial debut is a perfect, heartfelt coming-of-age story that captures the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. Saoirse Ronan shines as the titular character, a high sc...

The Battle of Polytopia is a brilliant, minimalist 4X strategy game that distills the genre down to its most essential elements. You choose a tribe and compete to dominate a procedurally generated map...

Dwarf Fortress is a notoriously complex and rewarding simulation game where players manage a dwarven colony in a procedurally generated world. The games depth is unparalleled, simulating everything fr...

Disco Elysium is a revolutionary isometric RPG where your detective's personality and actions drastically shape the narrative. The game boasts an astonishing number of potential endings, ranging from...

The final ascent of Celeste is a perfect marriage of mechanical difficulty and emotional narrative. As the player climbs the mountain, the level design evolves to reflect the protagonist's internal st...

It Follows is a unique, atmospheric horror film that turns a simple premise into a relentless nightmare. After a sexual encounter, a young woman is pursued by a supernatural entity that can take the f...

Balatro is a hypnotic deck-building roguelike where players create powerful synergies by playing poker hands enhanced by unique Joker cards and other modifiers. It transforms traditional poker into a...

Stephen's Sausage Roll is a notoriously difficult puzzle game that challenges players to cook sausages evenly on all sides. The games minimalist graphics and deceptively simple premise hide a complex...

One Cut of the Dead is a brilliant, meta-commentary on the filmmaking process disguised as a low-budget zombie movie. The film begins with a seemingly amateurish, one-take zombie flick, but quickly sh...

Masaan is a deeply moving and poetic film set in the holy city of Varanasi. It weaves together two parallel stories about individuals struggling to overcome the weight of their pasts and the rigid soc...

Mark of the Ninja is arguably the best 2D stealth game ever made. It perfectly translates the tension of stealth into a side-scrolling format by visualizing sound and line-of-sight. You play as a ninj...

George A. Romeros Night of the Living Dead is the foundational text of the modern zombie genre. Shot on a shoestring budget, the films stark black-and-white aesthetic and claustrophobic setting create...

Lethal Company is a unique blend of corporate satire and terrifying co-op horror. Players work as scavengers for a mysterious company, exploring abandoned moons to collect scrap while avoiding deadly...

Cult of the Lamb is a unique hybrid that combines top-down action roguelite combat with cult management simulation. You play as a possessed lamb saved by a mysterious stranger, and you must build a lo...

Hi-Fi RUSH is a vibrant, rhythm-based action game that feels like a Saturday morning cartoon. Every attack, parry, and movement is synced to the beat of the music, creating a unique and addictive comb...

Sufjan Stevens 'Javelin' is a deeply moving and emotionally resonant folk album that explores themes of loss, grief, and faith. The album features Stevens signature intricate instrumentation and heart...

Doki Doki Literature Club! is a deceptive masterpiece that subverts the visual novel genre. What starts as a cute dating simulator quickly descends into a disturbing, meta-horror experience that break...

Richard Linklater's 1995 film follows two strangers who meet on a train and spend a magical day and night wandering the streets of Vienna. While technically not *in* Paris, the film's romantic and con...

Guacamelee! 2 is a vibrant, high-energy Metroidvania that blends platforming with deep, combo-based brawler combat. Set in a world inspired by Mexican folklore, you play as a luchador fighting to save...

Factorio is a unique blend of factory building and resource management. Players must automate the production of increasingly complex items on an alien planet, battling hostile creatures and expanding...

Filmed in beautiful black and white, this indie gem captures the spirit of youth and rebellion during a student strike in Mexico City. It follows a group of friends on a journey to find a legendary mu...

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is the game that popularized the modern 'run and hide' horror genre. Set in a dark, oppressive castle, players must navigate the environment while avoiding terrifying creatur...

Axiom Verge is a love letter to the original Metroid, featuring a unique 'glitch' mechanic that allows players to manipulate the environment and enemies in unexpected ways. The game offers a vast, ali...