Summary
UPDATE: Sea of Stars won Best Indie Game at The Game Awards 2023!
2023 has been an absolutely monumental year for video game releases, with tons of remakes of beloved classics, some sequels years in the making, and some brand-new IP from some major first-party studios. But while these huge releases have taken up a lot of the discussion this year, a bunch of excellent Indie games have been quietly released under the radar. But now, it’s finally their time to shine, withThe Game Awards 2023highlighting some ofthe year’s best Indie games.
It might not be quite as widely coveted as the bigGame of the Year award, but the Best Indie category is arguably just as important, letting the smaller gems stand out from the hulking AAA crowd. Just like the Game of the Year category, this year’s Best Indie section is packed with outstanding experiences, which makes predicting a winner extremely difficult, though there are one or two that might have an edge over the rest.
2023 Best Indie Game Nominees
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Cocoon
The most recent game in the category,Cocoonfinds itself in the running forThe Game Awards' Best Indie category in 2023. Developed by Geometric Interactive and published by Annapurna Interactive,Cocooncomes from the mind behindLimboandInside, and much like those last two games, it’s widely considered to be one of the best of its kind. A top-down, mind-bending puzzle game,Cocoonsees players enter a range of different worlds, solving puzzles using a set of unique mechanics in each.Cocooncurrently sits at an 88 on Metacritic for its PC version, and 92 and 89 for its PS5 and Xbox Series X versions respectively, putting it in a very good spot.
Dave the Diver
By far the most controversial nominee in this category, and maybe the entire2023 Game Awards,Dave the Diverinitially launched back in June for PC, and more recently for the Nintendo Switch.Dave the Diver’s gameplay loop is divided into two distinct, yet interweaving sections. The first half ofDave the Diver’s gameplay loop sees players head down into the watery depths of Blue Hole, a procedurally-generated fishing spot that changes each in-game day. Here, players try to catch as many fish as they can. The second half sees players manage a sushi restaurant in the evening.Dave the Diver’s lush pixel art style, charming writing, and addictive gameplay loop have earned it a 90 on Metacritic, making it a real contender.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of controversy holdingDave the Diverback this year. While the game itself is great, it technically wasn’t developed by an independent studio, instead being created by Mintrocket, a first-party developer of the South Korean company Nexon.Dave the Diverhas really thrown the whole Best Indie category’s future into question, along with what it actually means to be an Indie game.
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Dredge
The second nautical-themed entry in this Best Indie category,Dredgereleased back in March of this year. The core gameplay loop ofDredgesees players take their fishing boat out into uncharted waters and try to catch as many exotic fish as possible. With a boat full of fish in hand, players can then sell their load to merchants in exchange for various upgrades that in turn let them catch even bigger and better fish. It’s a simple loop, butDredgesets itself apart by havinga Lovecraftian twist, with players' livelihood becoming threatened by otherworldly monsters when it turns to night, an integral aspect that’s enhanced massively by the game’s gorgeous art style.Dredgereceived a bit of a lower Metacritic score than the rest, with its various ports ranging from 80 to 85.
Sea of Stars
Another drop-dead gorgeous game,Sea of Starsis the penultimate contender for this year’s Best Indie Game Award. Developed and published by Sabotage Studio, the same team behind Indie darlingThe Messenger,Sea of Starsis a top-down turn-based RPG designed as a deliberate throwback to classic titles likethe originalFinal Fantasy 7. With a simply excellent art style, great music courtesy of the legendary Yasunori Mitsuda, and some fun puzzle-solving and turn-based combat mechanics,Sea of Starsdeserves its 87-91 Metacritic score and potentially deserves the Best Indie spot to go along with it.
Viewfinder
A game that’s a tad tricky to explain,Viewfinderis the final game nominated for this year’s Best Indie category at the Game Awards. Developed by Sad Owl Studios,Viewfinderis a reality-shifting puzzle gamethat sees players use a camera and photographs to manipulate the environment around them. For instance, players can take a picture of a bridge, line it up with a large gap in the level, and place it in the environment, spawning a bridge in that exact spot. By all accounts,Viewfindergoes a long way in scratching thatPortalitch, but its short length and limited story might keep it from winning that Best Indie award.Viewfinderearned a more than respectable 84 on Metacritic for its PC port and a slightly lower 82 for its PS5 version.
Final Prediction
Just taking one look at this year’s Best Indie category shows just how great of a year it’s been for the independent game scene, delivering five outstanding games that are worthy of everyone’s time, even in spite of the sheer number of AAA games still overshadowing them this year. But with five excellent games nominated, it’s tough to narrow down a potential winner.
But when all is said and done, it seems likely thatSea of Starswill win the Best Indie category at The Game Awards 2023. With excellent music, a gorgeous art style, rich characters, an engaging narrative, and great gameplay mechanics,Sea of Starsreally feels like the full package, especially when compared to the rest of this year’s nominees. That being said,Cocoondoes seem like a likely candidate as well, though with it being the most recent nominee many voters might not have had the chance to play it to completion yet.
