Best games
Best Indie games of 2019
The 51 best Indie games released in 2019, ranked from 11,688 critic and player ratings.
The best Indie game of 2019 is Disco Elysium, with a critic score of 91/100 — 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: 2019.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 11,688 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 50
01
C
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It is set in the fictional city of Revachol, where players assume the role of an amnesiac detective investigating a murder case. The game emphasises dialogue and skill-based choices, with character attributes represented by internal voices that influence decisions and interactions. Its narrative explores themes of politics, philosophy, and personal identity, and it is known for its unconventional gameplay and deep storytelling.
91
/100
02
Slay the Spire
We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!
86
/100
03
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where you can change the rules by which you play. In every level, the rules themselves are present as blocks you can interact with; by manipulating them, you can change how the level works and cause surprising, unexpected interactions! With some simple block-pushing you can turn yourself into a rock, turn patches of grass into dangerously hot obstacles, and even change the goal you need to reach to something entirely different.
86
/100
C
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It is set in the fictional city of Revachol, where players assume the role of an amnesiac detective investigating a murder case. The game emphasises dialogue and skill-based choices, with character attributes represented by internal voices that influence decisions and interactions. Its narrative explores themes of politics, philosophy, and personal identity, and it is known for its unconventional gameplay and deep storytelling.
91
/100
02
Slay the Spire
We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!
86
/100
03
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where you can change the rules by which you play. In every level, the rules themselves are present as blocks you can interact with; by manipulating them, you can change how the level works and cause surprising, unexpected interactions! With some simple block-pushing you can turn yourself into a rock, turn patches of grass into dangerously hot obstacles, and even change the goal you need to reach to something entirely different.
86
/100
04
Katana Zero
Katana Zero is a fast paced neo-noir action platformer, focusing on tight, instant-death acrobatic combat, and a dark 80's neon aesthetic. Aided with your trusty katana, the time manipulation drug Chronos and the rest of your assassin's arsenal, fight your way through a fractured city, and take back what's rightfully yours.
85
/100
05
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop. The newest member of the space program in a small village on the planet Timber Hearth, the player navigates a space shuttle and travels across their solar system to get to the bottom of its mysteries by exploring the cosmos and gathering the knowledge hidden within each of the system's planets, left behind by another civilization in the distant past.
85
/100
06
Ape Out
Ape Out is a wildly intense and colorfully stylized smash ‘em up about primal escape, rhythmic violence, and frenetic jazz. Build up nearly unstoppable momentum and use your captors as both weapons and shields to crush everyone on your procedurally generated path to freedom.
84
/100
07
Manifold Garden
Manifold Garden is a game that reimagines physics and space. Explore a world of beautiful Escher-esque architecture where the laws of physics are different. Geometry repeats infinitely in every direction and falling down leads you back to where you started. Manipulate gravity to change your perspective and see the world in new ways. Master the rules of the universe and restore a barren world with vegetation and life. Key Features - An expansive and visually striking world filled with mind-bending puzzles. - Manipulate gravity to gain new perspectives and walk on any visible surface. - Experience space in new ways as you explore infinitely repeating Escher-esque architecture.
84
/100
08
Wargroove
Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game for up to 4 players, in which each player takes control of an army and its commander unit to wage war on their enemies! Wargroove is extremely easy to pickup, with accessibility at the forefront of its design, and very difficult to master, with deep gameplay mechanics that complement strategic play.
83
/100
09
Children of Morta
Children of Morta is a narrative driven hack and slash roguelike. Take on the role of a member of the Bergson family, the Guardians of Mount Morta, as you fight desperately against the Corruption. Experience not only what it means to be a hero, but to be part of a family that bears the weight of the mountain together.
83
/100
10
Untitled Goose Game
It's a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose. Untitled Goose Game is a slapstick-stealth-sandbox, where you are a goose let loose on an unsuspecting village. Make your way around town, from peoples' back gardens to the high street shops to the village green, setting up pranks, stealing hats, honking a lot, and generally ruining everyone’s day.
82
/100
11
ISLANDERS
82
/100
12
Observation
82
/100
13
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
82
/100
14
Sayonara Wild Hearts
81
/100
15
MORDHAU
81
/100
16
Superliminal
80
/100
17
Blasphemous
78
/100
18
Yuppie Psycho
78
/100
19
LEGO Builder’s Journey
78
/100
20
Deliver Us the Moon
78
/100
21
Trover Saves the Universe
78
/100
22
A Short Hike
78
/100
23
Blazing Chrome
77
/100
24
Oxygen Not Included
77
/100
25
Inmost
77
/100
26
B
My Friend Pedro
76
/100
27
Gato Roboto
76
/100
28
Pikuniku
75
/100
29
Ion Fury
75
/100
30
The Jackbox Party Pack 6
75
/100
31
Pikuniku
75
/100
32
Erica
74
/100
33
The Beast Inside
74
/100
34
Afterparty
74
/100
35
Astroneer
73
/100
36
Draugen
73
/100
37
Blair Witch
72
/100
38
Assemble with Care
72
/100
39
Boneworks
72
/100
40
Cooking Simulator
71
/100
41
missed messages.
71
/100
42
Forager
70
/100
43
My Time at Portia
70
/100
44
DARQ
70
/100
45
Sea of Solitude
68
/100
46
Layers of Fear 2
68
/100
47
Close To The Sun
66
/100
48
Outward Definitive Edition
65
/100
49
Pathologic 2
63
/100
50
Little Misfortune
61
/100
Katana Zero
Katana Zero is a fast paced neo-noir action platformer, focusing on tight, instant-death acrobatic combat, and a dark 80's neon aesthetic. Aided with your trusty katana, the time manipulation drug Chronos and the rest of your assassin's arsenal, fight your way through a fractured city, and take back what's rightfully yours.
85
/100
05
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop. The newest member of the space program in a small village on the planet Timber Hearth, the player navigates a space shuttle and travels across their solar system to get to the bottom of its mysteries by exploring the cosmos and gathering the knowledge hidden within each of the system's planets, left behind by another civilization in the distant past.
85
/100
06
Ape Out
Ape Out is a wildly intense and colorfully stylized smash ‘em up about primal escape, rhythmic violence, and frenetic jazz. Build up nearly unstoppable momentum and use your captors as both weapons and shields to crush everyone on your procedurally generated path to freedom.
84
/100
07
Manifold Garden
Manifold Garden is a game that reimagines physics and space. Explore a world of beautiful Escher-esque architecture where the laws of physics are different. Geometry repeats infinitely in every direction and falling down leads you back to where you started. Manipulate gravity to change your perspective and see the world in new ways. Master the rules of the universe and restore a barren world with vegetation and life. Key Features - An expansive and visually striking world filled with mind-bending puzzles. - Manipulate gravity to gain new perspectives and walk on any visible surface. - Experience space in new ways as you explore infinitely repeating Escher-esque architecture.
84
/100
08
Wargroove
Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game for up to 4 players, in which each player takes control of an army and its commander unit to wage war on their enemies! Wargroove is extremely easy to pickup, with accessibility at the forefront of its design, and very difficult to master, with deep gameplay mechanics that complement strategic play.
83
/100
09
Children of Morta
Children of Morta is a narrative driven hack and slash roguelike. Take on the role of a member of the Bergson family, the Guardians of Mount Morta, as you fight desperately against the Corruption. Experience not only what it means to be a hero, but to be part of a family that bears the weight of the mountain together.
83
/100
10
Untitled Goose Game
It's a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose. Untitled Goose Game is a slapstick-stealth-sandbox, where you are a goose let loose on an unsuspecting village. Make your way around town, from peoples' back gardens to the high street shops to the village green, setting up pranks, stealing hats, honking a lot, and generally ruining everyone’s day.
82
/100
11
ISLANDERS
82
/100
12
Observation
82
/100
13
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
82
/100
14
Sayonara Wild Hearts
81
/100
15
MORDHAU
81
/100
16
Superliminal
80
/100
17
Blasphemous
78
/100
18
Yuppie Psycho
78
/100
19
LEGO Builder’s Journey
78
/100
20
Deliver Us the Moon
78
/100
21
Trover Saves the Universe
78
/100
22
A Short Hike
78
/100
23
Blazing Chrome
77
/100
24
Oxygen Not Included
77
/100
25
Inmost
77
/100
26
B
My Friend Pedro
76
/100
27
Gato Roboto
76
/100
28
Pikuniku
75
/100
29
Ion Fury
75
/100
30
The Jackbox Party Pack 6
75
/100
31
Pikuniku
75
/100
32
Erica
74
/100
33
The Beast Inside
74
/100
34
Afterparty
74
/100
35
Astroneer
73
/100
36
Draugen
73
/100
37
Blair Witch
72
/100
38
Assemble with Care
72
/100
39
Boneworks
72
/100
40
Cooking Simulator
71
/100
41
missed messages.
71
/100
42
Forager
70
/100
43
My Time at Portia
70
/100
44
DARQ
70
/100
45
Sea of Solitude
68
/100
46
Layers of Fear 2
68
/100
47
Close To The Sun
66
/100
48
Outward Definitive Edition
65
/100
49
Pathologic 2
63
/100
50
Little Misfortune
61
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Indie game of 2019?
Disco Elysium currently tops the ranking with a score of 91/100 across 1,350 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.