It is not possible to remember the best titles for the PlayStation 4 without mentioning indie games. This category may not have explored the full hardware power of the console, but it included memorable games with unique gameplay proposals, remarkable narratives and great visual inspirations.
Games are categorized as indie when they are developed or published by independent companies, without the support of the big companies in the industry. Therefore, it is not a game genre, but a creation method. In summary, these are titles that are not considered AAA releases, that is, with a large budget and greater consumption of resources.
It is possible to find good examples in the styles of adventure, action, puzzles and many other segments of games. THE canaltech prepared a list of 10 of the best indie games that can be found on PlayStation 4
The best indie games for PS4
10. Rocket League
Racing and football simulation games are some of the most popular styles in video games. Put both concepts together and you have rocket league. The Psyonix title launched for free for PlayStation Plus subscribers in 2015 and quickly became a multiplayer hit on the console.
The idea is simple: each player controls a car and needs to score goals in individual matches or divided between teams with up to five participants. Quick matches and dynamic gameplay are the highlights of the game, which still maintains a large returning player base.
9. Outer Wilds
Exploration is the highlight of Outer Wilds. The game, developed by Mobius Digital, brings a solar system doomed to destruction in a 22-minute loop. That is, at each attempt in that time interval, the player can explore new locations and try to avoid this catastrophe.
Each planet in this solar system has its own characteristics and can be changed under different circumstances. The objective is to know each location and solve puzzles without worrying about a progression of levels or abilities. The design and narrative form of Outer Wilds ranked it as one of the top indie PS4 games.
8. Undertale
Undertale uses a retro look and conventional elements of the RPG genre to explore whether or not you forgive your enemies. In each battle, it is possible to flee, kill, save or make friends with the opponent. In this way, the game allows you to finish the main story without killing any characters, for example.
Each decision made in battles can alter the behavior of other characters and lead to one of three possible endings to the story. The game developed by Toby Fox arrived on PS4 in 2017 with charismatic characters, hints of humor and a soundtrack that players can’t get out of.
7. Cuphead
The art direction of Cuphead it would be enough to draw attention to the game. All the scenes and controls were hand-drawn, and the levels have a setting that reminds us of the first animations in cinema. In addition, the game still features iconic bosses, challenging levels and dynamic gameplay.
Cuphead was created by brothers Chad Moldenhauer and Jared Moldenhauer. The launch took place in 2017, but only reached the PS4 years later, in 2020. In the lullaby of the game’s popularity, the game’s charismatic characters even won a series on Netflix in 2022.
6. Hollow Knight
Released in 2017 by Team Cherry, Hollow Knight is one of the best indie games for the PS4. In the style of metroidvania, the game has a beautiful visual environment, hand-drawn. Exploring Hollownest is worth it not just for the battles, but also for the rich details of each region.
But don’t be fooled by the look: Hollow Knight it is consistently mentioned among the hardest games of this console generation. During much of the story, it is not possible to view the map of the kingdom and, with each death, the player is forced to return to the last save point and fight his own shadow to recover the progress.
5. heavenly
Released in 2018 and developed by Extremely OK Games, Heavenly is a platform title that portrays the journey of the protagonist Madeline, in an attempt to climb a mountain that bears the same name as the game. It manages to combine a beautiful visual identity, challenging stages and a narrative that involves overcoming personal traumas and mental health issues of the main character.
Despite the difficulty of the levels, the game creates a rhythmic balance with Madeline’s story, in which each barrier overcome by Madeline also brings a sense of achievement to the player. The successful launch of Heavenly was so impressive that it earned four nominations at The Game Awards, including for “Game of the Year”.
4. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
the release of Disco Elysium for PC was enough to generate critical acclaim. A year later, ZA/UM released the version Disco Elysium: The Final Cutwith support for consoles and more options for dialogues, missions and decision-making freedom.
Inspired by a tabletop RPG, the open-world game features a detective who suffers from amnesia. In addition to investigating a crime, it is also possible to interact with all the people in the city and make any decision you deem conventional, regardless of morality.
3. Hades
This rogue-like from Supergiant Games puts you in control of Zagreus, the son of Hades, on a mission to escape the Underworld of Greek mythology. Each escape attempt has unique aspects and can unlock new enemies, characters or environments for exploration.
During hades, the player meets various gods from Greek mythology and can acquire special abilities from each of them. The game lets you create countless combinations of powers, weapons, and combat items to defeat the god of the dead.
2. Inside
Before talking about Insideit is necessary to talk about Limbo. That title was released in 2013 by Playdead and quickly became one of the most iconic indie titles of that generation. Inside, the company’s next release, took what was already good and made it even better.
The game is a platform puzzle whose protagonist is a boy who needs to escape experiments. The art direction is a big highlight, with a minimalist world and a dark environment. The gameplay, in turn, brings even more creative challenges than its predecessor.
1. Journey
It’s hard to talk about indie games without mentioning Journey. It was originally released for the PS3 in 2012, but the success yielded a remastered version for the PlayStation 4. Thatgamecompany’s production is usually among the lists of best games on the console and is practically a mandatory title for anyone who wants to know the games in the category.
Journey features a short campaign, without any dialogue, of the protagonist in a desert. However, the multiplayer mode brought an unprecedented factor for the time: during the crossing, it is possible to receive help from a partner, but without any form of communication. Even so, both must work together to solve the puzzles of this experience. Even with a short story, the setting and daring gameplay turned the game into a classic.
