Best games
Best Indie games of 2017
The 91 best Indie games released in 2017, ranked from 17,428 critic and player ratings.
The best Indie game of 2017 is Doki Doki Literature Club!, with a critic score of 94/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2017.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 17,428 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 50
01
Doki Doki Literature Club!
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
94
/100
02
Finding Paradise
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.
93
/100
03
SteamWorld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig 2 takes you on a platform mining adventure forged in Metroidvania flames. When an old trading town is struck by mysterious earthquakes, it’s up to a lone steambot and her unlikely companion to uncover what trembling terrors lie beneath. Dig your way underground and explore vivid worlds riddled with treasure, secrets and traps. Combat dangerous enemies at every turn of the underworld’s twisted paths, including shadowy creatures and the haunted remains of an ancient electrical threat. Upgrade your gear to forge deeper into the earth and take on bigger challenges. Swing across large chasms with your Hookshot and fly through caves with the Jet Engine! And finally, learn the truth about your long lost friend…
89
/100
Doki Doki Literature Club!
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
94
/100
02
Finding Paradise
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.
93
/100
03
SteamWorld Dig 2
SteamWorld Dig 2 takes you on a platform mining adventure forged in Metroidvania flames. When an old trading town is struck by mysterious earthquakes, it’s up to a lone steambot and her unlikely companion to uncover what trembling terrors lie beneath. Dig your way underground and explore vivid worlds riddled with treasure, secrets and traps. Combat dangerous enemies at every turn of the underworld’s twisted paths, including shadowy creatures and the haunted remains of an ancient electrical threat. Upgrade your gear to forge deeper into the earth and take on bigger challenges. Swing across large chasms with your Hookshot and fly through caves with the Jet Engine! And finally, learn the truth about your long lost friend…
89
/100
04
Nex Machina
From the collaboration between Housemarque (Resogun, Alienation, Matterfall), and Robotron and Smash TV legendary creator Eugene Jarvis comes Nex Machina, an explosive arcade experience created with competition in mind.
89
/100
05
Figment
89
/100
06
Night in the Woods
Night In The Woods is an adventure game heavily focused on story, characters and exploration, with some platforming to get around town. Mae's a cat so the roofs and ledges and powerlines are all her playground, and she's not the only one up there by a long shot. You'll also be doing various activities and interacting with the world in different ways, getting to know the townspeople, hanging out with friends, exploring Possum Springs inside and out, and venturing into the surrounding areas.
88
/100
07
A
Hollow Knight
A 2D metroidvania with an emphasis on close combat and exploration in which the player enters the once-prosperous now-bleak insect kingdom of Hallownest, travels through its various districts, meets friendly inhabitants, fights hostile ones and uncovers the kingdom's history while improving their combat abilities and movement arsenal by fighting bosses and accessing out-of-the-way areas.
88
/100
08
West of Loathing
Say howdy to West of Loathing - a single-player slapstick, stick-figure comedy adventure role-playing game set in the wild west of the Kingdom of Loathing universe. Traverse snake-infested gulches, punch skeletons wearing cowboy hats, grapple with demon cows, and investigate a wide variety of disgusting spittoons.
88
/100
09
B
Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional cel animation (hand drawn & hand inked!), watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves, and discover hidden secrets. Cuphead is all action, all the time.
87
/100
10
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of short stories about a cursed family in Washington State. Each story offers a chance to experience the life of a different family member with stories ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. The gameplay and tone of the stories are as varied as the family members themselves. The only constants are that each is played from a first-person perspective and that each story ends with that family member's death. It's a game about what it feels like to be humbled and astonished by the vast and unknowable world around us. You'll follow Edith Finch as she explores the history of her family and tries to figure out why she's the last Finch left alive.
87
/100
11
Pyre
86
/100
12
Oxygen Not Included
86
/100
13
Monument Valley 2
85
/100
14
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
84
/100
15
Thimbleweed Park
84
/100
16
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
83
/100
17
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
83
/100
18
Detention
83
/100
19
The End Is Nigh
83
/100
20
Cat Quest
83
/100
21
Gorogoa
82
/100
22
Tooth and Tail
82
/100
23
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
81
/100
24
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
81
/100
25
Hand of Fate 2
81
/100
26
Rising Storm 2: VIETNAM
81
/100
27
Battle Chef Brigade
81
/100
28
EVERSPACE
80
/100
29
Faeria
80
/100
30
Nidhogg 2
80
/100
31
A Hat in Time
80
/100
32
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
79
/100
33
Last Day of June
79
/100
34
Heat Signature
79
/100
35
Stories Untold
78
/100
36
RiME
78
/100
37
Tacoma
78
/100
38
Pit People
78
/100
39
A
Little Nightmares
78
/100
40
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
77
/100
41
Observеr
77
/100
42
Old Man's Journey
77
/100
43
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder
77
/100
44
Ruiner
76
/100
45
S
Outlast 2
76
/100
46
The Escapists 2
75
/100
47
Brawlhalla
75
/100
48
Bomber Crew
75
/100
49
Get Even
75
/100
50
CAYNE
75
/100
Nex Machina
From the collaboration between Housemarque (Resogun, Alienation, Matterfall), and Robotron and Smash TV legendary creator Eugene Jarvis comes Nex Machina, an explosive arcade experience created with competition in mind.
89
/100
05
Figment
89
/100
06
Night in the Woods
Night In The Woods is an adventure game heavily focused on story, characters and exploration, with some platforming to get around town. Mae's a cat so the roofs and ledges and powerlines are all her playground, and she's not the only one up there by a long shot. You'll also be doing various activities and interacting with the world in different ways, getting to know the townspeople, hanging out with friends, exploring Possum Springs inside and out, and venturing into the surrounding areas.
88
/100
07
A
Hollow Knight
A 2D metroidvania with an emphasis on close combat and exploration in which the player enters the once-prosperous now-bleak insect kingdom of Hallownest, travels through its various districts, meets friendly inhabitants, fights hostile ones and uncovers the kingdom's history while improving their combat abilities and movement arsenal by fighting bosses and accessing out-of-the-way areas.
88
/100
08
West of Loathing
Say howdy to West of Loathing - a single-player slapstick, stick-figure comedy adventure role-playing game set in the wild west of the Kingdom of Loathing universe. Traverse snake-infested gulches, punch skeletons wearing cowboy hats, grapple with demon cows, and investigate a wide variety of disgusting spittoons.
88
/100
09
B
Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional cel animation (hand drawn & hand inked!), watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves, and discover hidden secrets. Cuphead is all action, all the time.
87
/100
10
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of short stories about a cursed family in Washington State. Each story offers a chance to experience the life of a different family member with stories ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. The gameplay and tone of the stories are as varied as the family members themselves. The only constants are that each is played from a first-person perspective and that each story ends with that family member's death. It's a game about what it feels like to be humbled and astonished by the vast and unknowable world around us. You'll follow Edith Finch as she explores the history of her family and tries to figure out why she's the last Finch left alive.
87
/100
11
Pyre
86
/100
12
Oxygen Not Included
86
/100
13
Monument Valley 2
85
/100
14
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
84
/100
15
Thimbleweed Park
84
/100
16
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
83
/100
17
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
83
/100
18
Detention
83
/100
19
The End Is Nigh
83
/100
20
Cat Quest
83
/100
21
Gorogoa
82
/100
22
Tooth and Tail
82
/100
23
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
81
/100
24
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
81
/100
25
Hand of Fate 2
81
/100
26
Rising Storm 2: VIETNAM
81
/100
27
Battle Chef Brigade
81
/100
28
EVERSPACE
80
/100
29
Faeria
80
/100
30
Nidhogg 2
80
/100
31
A Hat in Time
80
/100
32
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
79
/100
33
Last Day of June
79
/100
34
Heat Signature
79
/100
35
Stories Untold
78
/100
36
RiME
78
/100
37
Tacoma
78
/100
38
Pit People
78
/100
39
A
Little Nightmares
78
/100
40
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
77
/100
41
Observеr
77
/100
42
Old Man's Journey
77
/100
43
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder
77
/100
44
Ruiner
76
/100
45
S
Outlast 2
76
/100
46
The Escapists 2
75
/100
47
Brawlhalla
75
/100
48
Bomber Crew
75
/100
49
Get Even
75
/100
50
CAYNE
75
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Indie game of 2017?
Doki Doki Literature Club! currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 521 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.