Top 10 Indie Games That Made it BIG!

we’re living in a time when indie games

we’re living in a time when indie games are becoming just as popular as high

are becoming just as popular as high

are becoming just as popular as high budget triple-a games and these

budget triple-a games and these

budget triple-a games and these creations prove it

creations prove it

creations prove it welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 indie games that made it big

for this list we’re looking at those

for this list we’re looking at those independently produced video games that

independently produced video games that

independently produced video games that became immensely popular in the

became immensely popular in the

became immensely popular in the mainstream we’re basing our decision

mainstream we’re basing our decision

mainstream we’re basing our decision both on the games as critical acclaim

both on the games as critical acclaim

both on the games as critical acclaim and most importantly its popularity in

and most importantly its popularity in

and most importantly its popularity in the mainstream market we won’t be

the mainstream market we won’t be

the mainstream market we won’t be counting indie games that were

counting indie games that were

counting indie games that were distributed by mainstream companies such

distributed by mainstream companies such

distributed by mainstream companies such as no man sky and journey in order to be

as no man sky and journey in order to be

as no man sky and journey in order to be eligible the game must have been

eligible the game must have been

eligible the game must have been developed and distributed completely

developed and distributed completely

developed and distributed completely independently number 10 FTL faster than

independently number 10 FTL faster than

independently number 10 FTL faster than light what’s amazing about FTL is that

light what’s amazing about FTL is that

light what’s amazing about FTL is that it was developed by only two people

it was developed by only two people

it was developed by only two people Matthew Davis and Justin mom both

Matthew Davis and Justin mom both

Matthew Davis and Justin mom both ex-employees of 2k games who became

ex-employees of 2k games who became

ex-employees of 2k games who became disillusioned with mainstream gaming and

disillusioned with mainstream gaming and

disillusioned with mainstream gaming and sought out the independent market what

sought out the independent market what

sought out the independent market what resulted from their curiosity was one of

resulted from their curiosity was one of

resulted from their curiosity was one of the finest indie games of the year

the finest indie games of the year

the finest indie games of the year complete with punishingly difficult

complete with punishingly difficult

complete with punishingly difficult imaginative situations and gorgeous

imaginative situations and gorgeous

imaginative situations and gorgeous music even winning major industry awards

music even winning major industry awards

music even winning major industry awards for the latter

FTL is also notable for being one of the

FTL is also notable for being one of the first games released with the help of

first games released with the help of

first games released with the help of Kickstarter raising over $200,000 and

Kickstarter raising over $200,000 and

Kickstarter raising over $200,000 and proving that this method could be

proving that this method could be

proving that this method could be beneficial to both gamers and indie

beneficial to both gamers and indie

beneficial to both gamers and indie developers alike number 9 Fez Fez is

developers alike number 9 Fez Fez is

developers alike number 9 Fez Fez is perhaps best known for its dramatic

perhaps best known for its dramatic

perhaps best known for its dramatic production led by its outspoken lead

production led by its outspoken lead

production led by its outspoken lead designer phil fish and covered in the

designer phil fish and covered in the

designer phil fish and covered in the film indie game the movie after quitting

film indie game the movie after quitting

film indie game the movie after quitting his job and dedicating his time fully to

his job and dedicating his time fully to

his job and dedicating his time fully to Fez fish became known as a temperamental

Fez fish became known as a temperamental

Fez fish became known as a temperamental perfectionist and even discussed killing

perfectionist and even discussed killing

perfectionist and even discussed killing himself should he be unable to finish

himself should he be unable to finish

himself should he be unable to finish the game if this if this fails I don’t

the game if this if this fails I don’t

the game if this if this fails I don’t think I’m home working games again

think I’m home working games again

think I’m home working games again however after countless irritating

however after countless irritating

however after countless irritating delays finish it he did and Fez was

delays finish it he did and Fez was

delays finish it he did and Fez was released to positive reviews mostly due

released to positive reviews mostly due

released to positive reviews mostly due to its charming retro style and it has

to its charming retro style and it has

to its charming retro style and it has since sold over 1 million copies the

since sold over 1 million copies the

since sold over 1 million copies the game capitalized on the public’s

game capitalized on the public’s

game capitalized on the public’s newfound interest in indie games and

newfound interest in indie games and

newfound interest in indie games and it’s one of the most successful because

it’s one of the most successful because

it’s one of the most successful because of it number 8 undertale

led by one man in one man only undertale

led by one man in one man only undertale was not only one of the best indie games

was not only one of the best indie games

was not only one of the best indie games of 2015 but it’s quite possibly one of

of 2015 but it’s quite possibly one of

of 2015 but it’s quite possibly one of the best indie games ever released

undertale was developed written and

undertale was developed written and scored solely by toby fox who was barely

scored solely by toby fox who was barely

scored solely by toby fox who was barely even experienced in developing video

even experienced in developing video

even experienced in developing video games at all aside from a few RPGs he

games at all aside from a few RPGs he

games at all aside from a few RPGs he made with his brothers on RPG Maker 2000

made with his brothers on RPG Maker 2000

made with his brothers on RPG Maker 2000 however he proved to be unnatural and

however he proved to be unnatural and

however he proved to be unnatural and through the game’s terrific writing

through the game’s terrific writing

through the game’s terrific writing relatable and well-rounded characters

relatable and well-rounded characters

relatable and well-rounded characters and unique combat system undertale

and unique combat system undertale

and unique combat system undertale quickly caught on with mainstream

quickly caught on with mainstream

quickly caught on with mainstream audiences and has since sold over 1

audiences and has since sold over 1

audiences and has since sold over 1 million copies on Steam creating one of

million copies on Steam creating one of

million copies on Steam creating one of the most dedicated fan bases we’ve seen

the most dedicated fan bases we’ve seen

the most dedicated fan bases we’ve seen in recent years

number 7 rocket league developer

number 7 rocket league developer psionics released a game in 2008 for the

psionics released a game in 2008 for the

psionics released a game in 2008 for the ps3 annoyingly titled supersonic

ps3 annoyingly titled supersonic

ps3 annoyingly titled supersonic acrobatic rocket powered battle cars and

acrobatic rocket powered battle cars and

acrobatic rocket powered battle cars and although it’s sold relatively well it

although it’s sold relatively well it

although it’s sold relatively well it wasn’t considered a big success by

wasn’t considered a big success by

wasn’t considered a big success by changing its name to the far more simple

changing its name to the far more simple

changing its name to the far more simple rocket League and tweaking the gameplay

rocket League and tweaking the gameplay

rocket League and tweaking the gameplay which included adding the now signature

which included adding the now signature

which included adding the now signature neon art style psionics had a

neon art style psionics had a

neon art style psionics had a masterpiece in multiplayer gaming on

masterpiece in multiplayer gaming on

masterpiece in multiplayer gaming on their hands

praised for its fast-paced simple

praised for its fast-paced simple gameplay and addictive nature rocket

gameplay and addictive nature rocket

gameplay and addictive nature rocket League became a runaway success selling

League became a runaway success selling

League became a runaway success selling over 6 million copies in one year

over 6 million copies in one year

over 6 million copies in one year earning more than a hundred million in

earning more than a hundred million in

earning more than a hundred million in revenue and becoming an officially

revenue and becoming an officially

revenue and becoming an officially sponsored eSport by joining the ESL

sponsored eSport by joining the ESL

sponsored eSport by joining the ESL sometimes it’s the simplest games that

sometimes it’s the simplest games that

sometimes it’s the simplest games that are the most fun believable play and

are the most fun believable play and

are the most fun believable play and that is going to solidify your MLG

that is going to solidify your MLG

that is going to solidify your MLG season one champions number six shovel

season one champions number six shovel

season one champions number six shovel knight serving is the first video game

knight serving is the first video game

knight serving is the first video game released by Yacht Club games shovel

released by Yacht Club games shovel

released by Yacht Club games shovel Knight is a loving nostalgia ridden ode

Knight is a loving nostalgia ridden ode

Knight is a loving nostalgia ridden ode to the NES era coming equipped with

to the NES era coming equipped with

to the NES era coming equipped with beautiful old-school graphics gameplay

beautiful old-school graphics gameplay

beautiful old-school graphics gameplay and music announced alongside a

and music announced alongside a

and music announced alongside a Kickstarter campaign as many indie games

Kickstarter campaign as many indie games

Kickstarter campaign as many indie games are shovel knight eventually raised over

are shovel knight eventually raised over

are shovel knight eventually raised over three hundred million dollars and even

three hundred million dollars and even

three hundred million dollars and even when that amount ran dry they were still

when that amount ran dry they were still

when that amount ran dry they were still able to continue development out of

able to continue development out of

able to continue development out of dedication alone

players and critics alike greatly

players and critics alike greatly enjoyed the nostalgia trip and the game

enjoyed the nostalgia trip and the game

enjoyed the nostalgia trip and the game is sold over 1.2 million copies with ps4

is sold over 1.2 million copies with ps4

is sold over 1.2 million copies with ps4 and Xbox one versions getting Kratos and

and Xbox one versions getting Kratos and

and Xbox one versions getting Kratos and the Battletoads to appear as cameos and

the Battletoads to appear as cameos and

the Battletoads to appear as cameos and the Wii U version getting its own amiibo

the Wii U version getting its own amiibo

the Wii U version getting its own amiibo credible new shovelknight amiibo from

credible new shovelknight amiibo from

credible new shovelknight amiibo from Yacht Club games is not only so dang

Yacht Club games is not only so dang

Yacht Club games is not only so dang cool you’ll scream aah

cool you’ll scream aah

cool you’ll scream aah it will also unlock a brand new mode in

it will also unlock a brand new mode in

it will also unlock a brand new mode in shovelknight for the Nintendo Wii U

shovelknight for the Nintendo Wii U

shovelknight for the Nintendo Wii U number 5 breed arguably the game that

number 5 breed arguably the game that

number 5 breed arguably the game that started at all braids brought indie

started at all braids brought indie

started at all braids brought indie gaming to the mainstream and provided

gaming to the mainstream and provided

gaming to the mainstream and provided players with one of the most unique

players with one of the most unique

players with one of the most unique gaming experiences of the late 2000s

gaming experiences of the late 2000s

gaming experiences of the late 2000s developed by Jonathan Blow with the help

developed by Jonathan Blow with the help

developed by Jonathan Blow with the help of David Hellman providing the game’s

of David Hellman providing the game’s

of David Hellman providing the game’s beautiful artwork braid was praised for

beautiful artwork braid was praised for

beautiful artwork braid was praised for its mature story transcendent music and

its mature story transcendent music and

its mature story transcendent music and challenging but ultimately rewarding

challenging but ultimately rewarding

challenging but ultimately rewarding puzzles blow wanted to deconstruct video

puzzles blow wanted to deconstruct video

puzzles blow wanted to deconstruct video game trends with braid but in the

game trends with braid but in the

game trends with braid but in the process he may have started a trend

process he may have started a trend

process he may have started a trend himself braid caught everyone’s

himself braid caught everyone’s

himself braid caught everyone’s attention and is now rightfully

attention and is now rightfully

attention and is now rightfully considered to be the game that

considered to be the game that

considered to be the game that kick-started the mainstream indie

kick-started the mainstream indie

kick-started the mainstream indie movement number 4 terraria

designed by the three men who form real

designed by the three men who form real logic terraria is a two dimensional

logic terraria is a two dimensional

logic terraria is a two dimensional survival adventure game with a heavy

survival adventure game with a heavy

survival adventure game with a heavy emphasis on exploration crafting and

emphasis on exploration crafting and

emphasis on exploration crafting and combat complete with retrospective SNES

combat complete with retrospective SNES

combat complete with retrospective SNES era graphics and exploration based

era graphics and exploration based

era graphics and exploration based gameplay terraria harkens back to the

gameplay terraria harkens back to the

gameplay terraria harkens back to the Golden Age of Nintendo bringing to mind

Golden Age of Nintendo bringing to mind

Golden Age of Nintendo bringing to mind oldies but goodies like Super Metroid

this blend of adventure and nostalgia

this blend of adventure and nostalgia seemed to please gamers as terraria was

seemed to please gamers as terraria was

seemed to please gamers as terraria was a massive success and has sold over 18

a massive success and has sold over 18

a massive success and has sold over 18 million copies and Counting those

million copies and Counting those

million copies and Counting those numbers would be staggering for a

numbers would be staggering for a

numbers would be staggering for a triple-a title let alone an

triple-a title let alone an

triple-a title let alone an independently produced one proving

independently produced one proving

independently produced one proving paradoxically that indie games are now

paradoxically that indie games are now

paradoxically that indie games are now the mainstream as our next three entries

the mainstream as our next three entries

the mainstream as our next three entries will definitely prove as well

after his previous game was deemed

after his previous game was deemed unintentionally terrifying developer

unintentionally terrifying developer

unintentionally terrifying developer scott cawthon went with a more

scott cawthon went with a more

scott cawthon went with a more intentional approach and by god he

intentional approach and by god he

intentional approach and by god he succeeded in scaring the pants off a lot

succeeded in scaring the pants off a lot

succeeded in scaring the pants off a lot of people like Weezy and film or is

of people like Weezy and film or is

of people like Weezy and film or is usually done right when taken in the

usually done right when taken in the

usually done right when taken in the most basic primitive direction the cheap

most basic primitive direction the cheap

most basic primitive direction the cheap approach to this game such as having

approach to this game such as having

approach to this game such as having minimal music ends up helping it in the

minimal music ends up helping it in the

minimal music ends up helping it in the long run as the game relies on the ever

long run as the game relies on the ever

long run as the game relies on the ever increasing tension to generate scares

increasing tension to generate scares

increasing tension to generate scares rather than a more high budgeted

rather than a more high budgeted

rather than a more high budgeted in-your-face approach like we see in

in-your-face approach like we see in

in-your-face approach like we see in triple-a horror games the game was a

triple-a horror games the game was a

triple-a horror games the game was a wild success becoming a major hit with

wild success becoming a major hit with

wild success becoming a major hit with YouTube lets players generating for

YouTube lets players generating for

YouTube lets players generating for sequels and a lifelong fear of chucky

sequels and a lifelong fear of chucky

sequels and a lifelong fear of chucky cheese number two

cheese number two

cheese number two Angry Birds it’s not often that mobile

Angry Birds it’s not often that mobile

Angry Birds it’s not often that mobile games spawned pop-culture phenomenon but

games spawned pop-culture phenomenon but

games spawned pop-culture phenomenon but Angry Birds pulled it off

Angry Birds pulled it off

Angry Birds pulled it off becoming one of the most profitable and

becoming one of the most profitable and

becoming one of the most profitable and popular video games of the 21st century

popular video games of the 21st century

popular video games of the 21st century the game holds the record for the most

the game holds the record for the most

the game holds the record for the most days atop the Apple paid apps chart at

days atop the Apple paid apps chart at

days atop the Apple paid apps chart at 275 and had been downloaded 50 million

275 and had been downloaded 50 million

275 and had been downloaded 50 million times within its first year of release

like a popular movie the success of the

like a popular movie the success of the video game led to merchandising like

video game led to merchandising like

video game led to merchandising like toys and cookbooks and other forms of

toys and cookbooks and other forms of

toys and cookbooks and other forms of media including a feature film and a

media including a feature film and a

media including a feature film and a television series suffice to say this

television series suffice to say this

television series suffice to say this indie game made more than a few waves in

indie game made more than a few waves in

indie game made more than a few waves in the pop culture scene of the 2010s

before we unveil our top pick here’s a

before we unveil our top pick here’s a look at a few honorable mentions

at first glance minecraft might seem

at first glance minecraft might seem like an unfinished version of a better

like an unfinished version of a better

like an unfinished version of a better game especially due to its blocky

game especially due to its blocky

game especially due to its blocky primitive graphics however this didn’t

primitive graphics however this didn’t

primitive graphics however this didn’t deter players from experiencing the most

deter players from experiencing the most

deter players from experiencing the most popular indie game of all time

popular indie game of all time

popular indie game of all time originally designed by one man and

originally designed by one man and

originally designed by one man and released without advertising minecraft

released without advertising minecraft

released without advertising minecraft spread through simple word-of-mouth and

spread through simple word-of-mouth and

spread through simple word-of-mouth and became a phenomenon over a hundred and

became a phenomenon over a hundred and

became a phenomenon over a hundred and six million copies of Minecraft have

six million copies of Minecraft have

six million copies of Minecraft have been sold making it the best-selling PC

been sold making it the best-selling PC

been sold making it the best-selling PC game and the second best selling video

game and the second best selling video

game and the second best selling video game of all time

game of all time

game of all time second only to Tetris again with the

second only to Tetris again with the

second only to Tetris again with the blocks it’s amazing what simple

blocks it’s amazing what simple

blocks it’s amazing what simple word-of-mouth and eventually YouTube can

word-of-mouth and eventually YouTube can

word-of-mouth and eventually YouTube can do but when you have a game that’s this

do but when you have a game that’s this

do but when you have a game that’s this much fun it’s easy to understand the

much fun it’s easy to understand the

much fun it’s easy to understand the success that its accumulated do you

success that its accumulated do you

success that its accumulated do you agree with our list what do you think is

agree with our list what do you think is

agree with our list what do you think is the most successful indie game for more

the most successful indie game for more

the most successful indie game for more start up top 10s published every day be

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