What is an Indie Game? A Complete Guide in 2025

Ever played a small game that lingered in your memory more than any triple-A title? Probably an indie game.

In 2025, indie games have taken the centre stage. Some are hilarious. Some will hit you hard with emotion. Some are just downright strange—in all the right ways.

They aren’t put together by big studios. No million-dollar publicity campaigns. They’re made by small teams. Or sometimes, only one. One individual with an idea and the desire to see it realized.

This article aims at shining some light on the world of indie games: what makes indie games, how they are made, and how you, too, can begin creating one.

Indie Means Independent

“Indie” is an abbreviation of “independent”. It is a term as old as music or film, a designation for persons not associated with big organizations.

During the ’90s, some developers would copy their game onto floppy disks or CDs and have them mailed off to strangers anywhere in the world. Early 2000s saw the rise of browser games and small downloadable titles available on Newgrounds and Kongregate.

Then digital platforms took hold. Steam. itch.io. Xbox Live Arcade. All platforms that gave indie games good exposure. Indie games entered the limelight towards 2010 with Braid, Fez, and Minecraft certainly being some of the finest examples of how you do not need 200 people in a studio to make a masterpiece.

Today, it is free to start with Unity and Unreal. With just a few clicks, you can publish your title to nearly every country in the world. Indie developers are out there; well, the players adore their creations.

What Makes an Indie Game… Indie?

Let’s clear one thing up: being indie isn’t about genre or art style. It’s about how the game is made and who’s behind it. That said, indie games do often share a few qualities:

• Unique ideas: Indie devs aren’t afraid to get weird. A goose causing chaos? A frog detective? A one-hour game about grief? All indie hits.
• Personal touch: These games often reflect the creator’s personal experiences, interests, or philosophy. You can feel when it’s made by someone, not a boardroom.
• Smaller teams: Many indie projects are built by 1–5 people. Some by one person entirely.
• Limited budgets: Without millions to throw at graphics, devs get creative with design and storytelling.
• Community connection: Indie devs often talk directly to players via Twitter, Discord, or livestreams. Feedback goes both ways.

How to Learn Indie Game Development

There’s a ton of info out there, which is both a blessing and a curse. YouTube tutorials are great—but if you want structure, mentorship, and industry-ready skills, check out these programs from MAGES Institute!

• Indie Game Development Short Course – Learn the Fundamentals of Game Development using Unity and C#, supported by AI tools and guided by Industry-Experienced Game Developers.
• Unreal Engine Foundation Course – Build a solid foundation in Unreal Engine while discovering how it’s used to create games and real-time 3D content.
• Diploma in Game Design and Technology – Become a Game Developer in 12 Months and Learn How to Design, Develop, Publish & Monetize Your Games!
• Advanced Diploma in Game Design and Tech – Dive deep into Game Development with Industry Professionals & Unreal Engine Authorised Trainers
• Advanced Diploma in Interactive Media and Production – Get equipped with specialized skills in Game Development, Game Art, and AR/VR & excel in the immersive technology industry
• 3D Modelling & Game Art Diploma – Establish strong fundamentals in 3D Design & Development for Entertainment Industry
• Concept Art & Entertainment Design Diploma – Establish a career in Concept Art Design while learning the key fundamental skills from Industry leading professionals

How Indie Games Are Made (Step by Step)

Making a game from scratch can seem overwhelming, but when you break it down, it’s a series of small steps. Here’s how most indie games are built:

Step 1: Dream It

Every game starts with an idea. It might be a mechanic (“What if the player could rewind time?”) or a vibe (“Let’s make a game that feels like a bedtime story”). Start scribbling. Write down anything that excites you.

Step 2: Scope It Down

Here’s the hard truth: your first game won’t be a 100-hour open-world RPG. And that’s okay. The goal is to finish something. Focus on one mechanic or a short, replayable experience.

Step 3: Choose Your Tools

If you want to build in 2D or simple 3D, Unity’s a solid choice. For more cinematic 3D, Unreal Engine is top-tier. Both have free versions and tons of tutorials.

Step 4: Make a Prototype

Don’t aim for perfect. Just make something playable, even if it looks terrible. Prototypes help you test ideas early—before spending hours on polished graphics.

Step 5: Build Assets

This is where the art, sound, and writing come in. You can create everything yourself or use placeholder assets from free libraries to test things first.

Step 6: Playtest Constantly

Let others try your game. Watch them struggle, smile, or rage-quit. Their reactions are gold. Use that feedback to fix bugs, smooth out levels, and tweak your design.

Step 7: Launch and Learn

Put your game out there. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You’ll learn a ton, and each project will be better than the last.

Popular Tools and Engines for Indie Games

To get started with game development, you don’t need fancy equipment. A decent laptop, internet connection, and time are enough. Here are some tools indie devs use:

• Unity: Flexible, popular, and beginner-friendly. Great for 2D or 3D.
• Unreal Engine: More advanced visuals, especially for 3D environments. It’s worth learning if you want to go AAA eventually.
• Godot: Lightweight and open-source. Perfect for small 2D games.
• Blender: Free 3D modeling software. Essential for building characters and props.
• Aseprite or Photoshop: Great for pixel art and 2D textures.
• Reaper or Audacity: Audio tools for music, sound effects, and voiceovers.

Why Indie Games Matter

1. The Indie Market Is Worth Billions

According to Mordor Intelligence, the global indie game industry is valued at USD $5.42 billion, and that number is projected to nearly double to $10.71 billion by 2030. The indie business is growing with a compound annual rate of 14.6%, with high year-over-year momentum.

2. Indie Games Are Selling—A Lot

Indie market growth continues to increase, as noted by Video Game Insights. The quantity of titles released enhanced by 7% since 2021, sales enhanced by almost 20%, to 295 million units, and full-game revenue enhanced from 16% in 2021 to 81% in 2024, amounting to $4 billion.

On platforms like Steam, penetration is even greater. Independent games make up over 95% of all available games, and they account for about 40% of all units sold on the platform. More impressive yet? They make up 28% of Steam’s total revenue.

3. Indie Devs Are Scoring Big Wins

2024 saw a few indie games go boom in terms of popularity. Black Myth: Wukong, the action RPG made by an indie studio, earned over 20.6 million copies and achieved a 96% positive review score. Pal world, another indie hit game, clocked 20.1 million sales with a 94% rating, according to 80.lv.

Even smaller studios are being heard. The medieval strategy game Manor Lords, developed by one person, made more than 1 million sales in the first 24 hours of being made available on Steam, Upptic reports.

Final Words

The indie world in 2025 is more exciting than ever. The tools are out there. The people are nice. And the need for new voices and wild ideas? Still increasing.

Whether you’re sketching characters on a bus ride, testing code after class, or dreaming up mechanics in the shower, remember: every big game started small. Yours can too!