Best free "indie" games

In gaming, “indie” usually means games created by individuals or small teams without the deep pockets of a major publisher. Freed from corporate committees and endless meetings, indie developers can experiment with unusual ideas, quirky gameplay, strange stories, and distinctive art styles that bigger studios might consider too risky. The result can be anything from a tiny puzzle game made in someone’s spare bedroom to a surprisingly ambitious RPG that somehow took over five years to finish. Indie games often rely on digital distribution, crowdfunding, early access, or community support rather than traditional publishing. They may be rough around the edges, but that’s often part of their charm: behind many indie games is a very personal creative vision, for better or occasionally much, much worse.