Best games
Best Indie games of 2021
The 35 best Indie games released in 2021, ranked from 6,108 critic and player ratings.
The best Indie game of 2021 is Escape Simulator, with a critic score of 100/100 — 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: 2021.
- 35 games are listed on this page, carrying 6,108 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 35
01
Escape Simulator
Escape Simulator is a next-gen escape room experience: pick up and examine everything, move furniture, smash pots and melt locks! Play solo or with a friend to solve cryptic puzzles and riddles.
100
/100
02
Unpacking
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, you are given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy with a character you never see and a story you’re never told.
92
/100
03
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
Escape Simulator
Escape Simulator is a next-gen escape room experience: pick up and examine everything, move furniture, smash pots and melt locks! Play solo or with a friend to solve cryptic puzzles and riddles.
100
/100
02
Unpacking
Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. Over the course of eight house moves, you are given a chance to experience a sense of intimacy with a character you never see and a story you’re never told.
92
/100
03
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
04
D
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
05
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
06
Death's Door
Death's Door is an action-adventure game developed by Acid Nerve and published by Devolver Digital. Released in 2021, it follows a crow reaper tasked with collecting souls in a mysterious, atmospheric world. The game features exploration, fast-paced combat, and puzzle-solving.
87
/100
07
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Ender Lilies is a dark fantasy 2D Action RPG about unraveling the mysteries of a nation destroyed by a cataclysmic event. The fallen Kingdom of End is a tragic and beautiful world featuring a majestic castle, submerged forests and forbidden underground areas. On this sorrowful journey, encounter horrific enemies against whom a moment of inattention could be fatal. By releasing foes from their undying curse, you may gain their strength. Overcome the hardships of your journey and uncover the truth with the aid of the fallen knights.
86
/100
08
Loop Hero
The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never ending chaos. Wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.
85
/100
09
Road 96
Road 96 is a crazy, beautiful road-trip. The discovery of exciting places, and unusual people on your own personal journey to freedom. An ever-evolving story-driven adventure inspired by Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, and Bong Joon-ho. Moments of action, exploration, contemplative melancholy, human encounters and wacky situations. Set against a backdrop of authoritarian rule and oppression. A stunning visual style, a soundtrack filled with 90s hits, and a thousand routes through the game combine so each player can create their own unique stories on Road 96.
83
/100
10
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Welcome to the club! Write poems for your crush and experience the terror of school romance in this critically-acclaimed psychological horror story.
82
/100
11
The Riftbreaker
82
/100
12
Inscryption
82
/100
13
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
82
/100
14
Knockout City
82
/100
15
Dyson Sphere Program
80
/100
16
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
17
B
Subnautica: Below Zero
80
/100
18
The Artful Escape
80
/100
19
Eastward
80
/100
20
Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk
78
/100
21
Black Book
78
/100
22
Rain on Your Parade
78
/100
23
Omno
76
/100
24
Chorus
76
/100
25
Sable
74
/100
26
The Ascent
73
/100
27
Lake
73
/100
28
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
73
/100
29
Maquette
70
/100
30
Oddworld: Soulstorm
70
/100
31
Twelve Minutes
69
/100
32
Breathedge
66
/100
33
Poppy Playtime
66
/100
34
Bright Memory: Infinite
65
/100
35
Crab Game
52
/100
D
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
05
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
06
Death's Door
Death's Door is an action-adventure game developed by Acid Nerve and published by Devolver Digital. Released in 2021, it follows a crow reaper tasked with collecting souls in a mysterious, atmospheric world. The game features exploration, fast-paced combat, and puzzle-solving.
87
/100
07
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Ender Lilies is a dark fantasy 2D Action RPG about unraveling the mysteries of a nation destroyed by a cataclysmic event. The fallen Kingdom of End is a tragic and beautiful world featuring a majestic castle, submerged forests and forbidden underground areas. On this sorrowful journey, encounter horrific enemies against whom a moment of inattention could be fatal. By releasing foes from their undying curse, you may gain their strength. Overcome the hardships of your journey and uncover the truth with the aid of the fallen knights.
86
/100
08
Loop Hero
The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never ending chaos. Wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.
85
/100
09
Road 96
Road 96 is a crazy, beautiful road-trip. The discovery of exciting places, and unusual people on your own personal journey to freedom. An ever-evolving story-driven adventure inspired by Tarantino, The Coen Brothers, and Bong Joon-ho. Moments of action, exploration, contemplative melancholy, human encounters and wacky situations. Set against a backdrop of authoritarian rule and oppression. A stunning visual style, a soundtrack filled with 90s hits, and a thousand routes through the game combine so each player can create their own unique stories on Road 96.
83
/100
10
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Welcome to the club! Write poems for your crush and experience the terror of school romance in this critically-acclaimed psychological horror story.
82
/100
11
The Riftbreaker
82
/100
12
Inscryption
82
/100
13
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
82
/100
14
Knockout City
82
/100
15
Dyson Sphere Program
80
/100
16
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
17
B
Subnautica: Below Zero
80
/100
18
The Artful Escape
80
/100
19
Eastward
80
/100
20
Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk
78
/100
21
Black Book
78
/100
22
Rain on Your Parade
78
/100
23
Omno
76
/100
24
Chorus
76
/100
25
Sable
74
/100
26
The Ascent
73
/100
27
Lake
73
/100
28
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
73
/100
29
Maquette
70
/100
30
Oddworld: Soulstorm
70
/100
31
Twelve Minutes
69
/100
32
Breathedge
66
/100
33
Poppy Playtime
66
/100
34
Bright Memory: Infinite
65
/100
35
Crab Game
52
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Indie game of 2021?
Escape Simulator currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 89 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.