The most exciting indie games for 2025 from Citizen Sleeper 2 to WanderstopAdam StarkeyPublished January 2, 2025 1:00am Get ready for a stack of sleeper hits (Jump Over The Age)GameCentral names the most promising indie games which should be on your radar in 2025, including big sequels and stop-motion nightmares.While Astro Bot, Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree, and other blockbusters led the gaming conversation in 2024, indie games arguably deserved the spotlight more. Balatro, Animal Well, UFO 50, Lorelei And The Laser Eyes, Minishoot Adventures, Sorry Were Closed, and The Rise Of The Golden Idol, were just some of the highlights, and offered more novel variety than the big-hitters.Everything about 2025 suggests itll be a banner year for the big dogs, with GTA 6 and the new Nintendo console leading the way, but the expansive gaming landscape today means a hit can strike out of nowhere. Nobody anticipated Helldivers 2s success or Palworlds sudden grip on the conversation (for good and bad) for a solid month.Based on what we can predict, weve collated a 2025 indie game selection box where every title could potentially rival a Crunchie whether through a unique concept, being an anticipated sequel, or based on the developers past work. Citizen Sleeper 2 is kicking off the indie highlights (Jump Over The Age)Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward VectorFormats: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCRelease date: January 31Citizen Sleeper was one of the best surprises of 2022, blending tabletop role-playing mechanics and a meditative sci-fi landscape. The sequel looks like a natural evolution of the originals highs, with more meaningful choices and a larger expanse to navigate.Trying to market its compulsive dice-throw loop through a trailer feels about as effective as skimming a novel, but another dive into developer Gareth Damian Martins creative dystopia is an easy sell for anyone who fell for the originals magic.Demon TidesFormats: PCRelease date: 2025If youre a fan of platformers, Demon Turf was one of the genres unsung gems in recent years. It was stylish, packed a killer soundtrack, and was expressive in its movement, something which only evolved in its refined, bitesize sequel Neon Splash.For this follow-up, lead character Beebz has been fully realised in 3D, in a vibrant open world. The switch to a softer art style is a clear push for wider appeal, but all the charm and variety appears intact in this ambitious refresh. A deckbuilder like no other (Mega Crit)Slay The Spire 2Formats: PCRelease date: 2025 (early access)If youre wondering where all these roguelike deckbuilding games like Balatro, and the sorely neglected Midnight Suns, have come from in recent years, Slay The Spire was the catalyst. Six years after its full release, developer Mega Crit is now looking to reclaim its dominance with a sequel.Slay The Spire 2 might struggle to have the same impact, but the sequel certainly seems to have a bigger budget and has had plenty of time to come up with new ideas. Its set to enter early access in 2025, so while it will likely be a couple years before its released on other formats its still going to be attracting plenty of attention right from the start.MorselsFormats: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PCRelease date: February 2025Annapurna Interactive has always been a very reliable stable of indie hits, and while the games division has undergone a dramatic overhaul behind the scenes, the publishers slate for 2025 looks just as strong, as evidenced by this roguelite headlined by a hungry mouse.Morsels looks like The Binding Of Isaac crossed with a nightmare vision of Pokmon, as you rotate through different monsters with special abilities throughout each run. The striking art style is by Toby Dixon, who previously worked on Nidhogg 2 and Atomicrops. Skate Story will hopefully come out this year (Devolver Digital)Skate StoryFormats: PCRelease date: 2025A delayed leftover from our 2024 list, Skate Story is a skateboarding sim set in the underworlds demonic streets. Two years after its reveal, the psychedelic, crystallised visuals and unnerving setting have kept this one firmly in our minds.Skateboarding games were on the upswing a few years back, between Tony Hawks Pro Skater and OlliOlli World, but the absence of a big-hitter since then feels like a prime opportunity for Skate Story to steal some thunder.Bionic BayFormats: PlayStation 5 and PCRelease date: March 13A physics-based platformer with a whiff of Limbo, Bionic Bay is a gravity-manipulating, time-stopping, and body-shifting leap through a biomechanical world.The combination of mechanics screams like a speedrunner paradise, so hopefully the game pushes its potential for extraordinary acrobatics to the extreme. Theres also a mode where you can race against the ghosts of other players, if you fancy a ragdoll giggle. Ninja Gaiden is being revived (Dotemu)Ninja Gaiden: RageboundFormats: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCRelease date: 2025The developers behind Blasphemous have been given the keys to Ninja Gaiden, in whats pitched as a mash-up between the series side-scrolling roots and the 3D entries. Based on the stylish, throwback trailer, it certainly appears to skew towards the former.There hasnt been a mainline game in the series since 2012s Ninja Gaiden 3, so this quais-reboot is certainly welcome. Developer The Game Kitchen has made its name on Metroidvanias, so itll be interesting to see how they handle a more traditional action game.WanderstopFormats: PlayStation 5 and PCRelease date: March 11A former warrior seeks to heal her trauma by maintaining a tea shop in this narrative-driven adventure. Its billed as a cosy game, but considering this is from the same designer behind The Stanley Parable and The Beginners Guide, expect some subversive twists.Even without the promise of sharp writing, Wanderstop is visually comparable to a lost Pixar movie from the studios peak. Of all the games on this list, this one has awards contender written all over it. A new footy contender (Sloclap)RematchFormats: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCRelease date: Summer 2025You might think theres little room for reinvention in the realm of video game football, but Sifu developer Sloclap is giving it a shot. Rematch looks to blend the intricate systems of its brawler predecessor with the presentation of Rocket League in online 5v5 matches.The crucial change is the third-person perspective and your singular control over one player, so its all about perfecting your individual ball skills while coordinating with others. Whether it captures the minds of casual EA Sports FC 25 players remains to be seen, but it certainly looks like a creative shake-up for a genre thats long been stuck in the mud.CuffbustFormats: PCRelease date: 2025The developer behind viral hit Choo-Choo Charles may strike Twitch gold again with Cuffbust, a multiplayer ruckus where you coordinate a prison breakout as a group of Koala bear-looking aliens, aptly called Jailiens.It looks primed for goofs, with proximity chat and chaotic destructible environments, but there appears to be some strategic depth beneath the hijinks, with the ability to hijack intercoms, dig tunnels with spoons, and even gang up on opposing teams within the same prison. A bewitching mix (Riffraff Games)Sleight Of HandFormats: Xbox Series X/S and PCRelease date: 2025A former witch infiltrates her old coven in this third person stealth noir game where you wield a deck of magical cards. The card abilities echo the tricks of Dishonored, allowing you to set up traps, teleport through smoke, or abduct enemies from afar.The flexibility in its mechanics might be the deciding factor in its success, but this looks to be a homage to espionage at large. Sleight Of Hands lead character, Lady Luck, is voiced by Debi Mae West, who you may know as the voice of Meryl in Metal Gear Solid.The Midnight WalkFormats: PlayStation 5 and PCRelease date: 2025Moonhood Studios, founded by the creators of Lost In Random, is championing claymation horror for its first game. Every asset in The Midnight Walk was first sculpted in clay before being 3D-scanned and animated in a stop-motion style, hence why it looks so unsettlingly tactile.While little is known about the gameplay itself (other than its also compatible with PlayStation VR2), the production alone looks to be a monstrous treat.Baby StepsFormats: PlayStation 5 and PCRelease date: 2025The developers behind the excellent Ape Out have swapped gorillas for unemployed men in their thirties, in this literal walking simulator. You play as Nate, a lazy, disappointing son who suddenly discovers the power to walk, albeit with more than a few stumbles.More TrendingGameplay-wise, it appears to hit comedic beats seen in other games hinged around limb control, but the wit in its presentation might elevate this into something special. More importantly, it could be a breakout moment for the stained grey onesie.Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy