There are so many upcoming indie games to look forward to in the coming months. With everything from open-world adventures and cozy life sims to intriguing puzzlers and creative roguelikes, there's not shortage of fantastic new games headed our way to keep an eye out for.
We've seen some truly stellar indie games in past months - you just have to check out our Animal Well review or Dungeons of Hinterberg review to see just how many great releases we've been treated to. Happily, there's so much more to come, with a vast selection of indie gems to add to your wishlist across a variety of different platforms. And if you're looking for something to tuck into right now while you wait for these upcoming indie games to arrive, you can see all of the games we've been enjoying in our Indie Spotlight series.
Below, you'll find a roundup of some of the most exciting upcoming indie games on the horizon - all in release date order to so you know what to look out for first.
Recent updates
This list of upcoming indie games was updated on December 17, 2024 to remove games that have released and add some more indie games to our list.
2025
Date Everything
Release date: February 14, 2025
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Date Everything from developer Sassy Chap Games looks like a riot. Described as a sandbox dating simulator, it features 100 full-voiced dateable characters. And as the name implies, you really will be dating everything, with magic glasses known as "dateviators" bringing all manner of objects in your home to life and making them dateable. What's more, they all have their own stories to tell, and it'll be up to you decide whether they become your lover, friend, or even enemy.
Wanderstop
Release date: March 11, 2025
Platform(s): PC
Wanderstop is new narrative game from the creator of The Stanley Parable that looks as cozy as it sounds. You take on the role of Alta, a former fighter who opens up her own tea shop in a magical forest... but rather curiously, it's not something she wants to do. As a management experience, you'll grow your own ingredients for tea and brew them together as you serve and meet travelling customers who pass through. It sounds a little bit like Coffee talk in the sense that you'll learn the stories of those you meet and try to make the right cup of tea for them.
Tales of the Shire
Release date: March 25, 2025
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
If you've ever wondered caught yourself wishing you could live out the cozy life of a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings, then Tales of the Shire is to make that a reality. Developed by Weta Workshop, the upcoming life sim will see you make and play as your very own hobbit in the Shire, where you can decorate your own hobbit hole, garden, fish, cook, and get to know the community.
TBC 2025
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC
Developer Happy Broccoli Games is back with a fresh case to quack as the one and only gumshoe, Eugene McQuacklin. Yes, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping brings us a new mystery to solve following the Secret Salami caper, which promises to bring us to a luxury campsite that's been hit by some unexplained spookiness. As the feathered investigator, we'll have to search for clues by inspecting evidence and make de-duck-tions as we question suspects.
Blue Prince
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC
Blue Prince is set to bring us to the setting of Mt Holly, a manor said to have shifting rooms, where we'll set out to solve a mystery. The new adventure from developer Dogubomb promises to deliver a blend of strategy and puzzles as we embark on an "unpredictable journey" that's shaped by the doors you choose to open in the manor as you search for room 46. How curious, indeed.
The Mermaid's Mask
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
The Mermaid's Mask is a follow-up to the excellent 2019 murder-mystery detective game, Tangle Tower from developer SFB Games. Bringing back main sleuths Detective Grimoire and Sally, you'll set out with the pair set to investigate the murder of Magnus Mortuga, who was the captain of the "world's strangest submarine".
Strange things are evidently going on, with the mention of a possible curse. How intriguing. As you hunt for clues, you'll be able to once again interact with a variety of objects, which are all now in 3D, and try to complete puzzles as you try to get to the bottom of the case. With a free demo currently on Steam, the new detective adventure looks set to scratch our gumshoe itch.
Afterlove EP
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
Afterlove EP is described as a mixture of narrative adventure, dating sim, and rhythm game that will explore an emotional story. Taking place in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, After Love EP follows Rama, a young musician dealing with the loss of their girlfriend, Cinta, who recently passed away. With beautiful art that's brought to life by artist Soyatu and original music from Indonesian band L'alpahalpha, the upcoming adventure is said to feature multiple possible endings and story paths based on the choices you make.
Slay the Spire 2
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC
As a follow-up to the stellar roguelike deckbuilder released in 2019, Slay the Spire 2 from developer Mega Crit will see you return to the Spire in the sequel, with new slayers, enemies, events, treasures, and bosses to face. With various strategies to try out and decks to build, the sequel has been built on a new engine and is set to release in Early Access. The devs are even teasing new ways to play, but we'll have to wait and see just what those are.
TBC
Curiosmos
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Curiosmos is an upcoming space sim from developer Celine & The Silly Stars that looks every bit as cozy and whimsical as it promises to be. In it, you can build your very own solar system, putting together planets and moons by combining asteroids with stardust, and even create the gravity and atmosphere. As you go, you'll discover how to create weather, mold landscapes with everything from volcanoes and mountains, and eventually even bring life to your universe.
Crescent County
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S
Crescent County promises to let us into an open-world on the back of a motorbroom. Dripping with colorful style, the upcoming "delivery life sim" will see you take on the role of a courier who drops off packages. You can even get stuck into some racing, and help out the locals. As you find jobs to occupy your time, you'll have many different ways to customize both your broom and your apartment. Along the way, you can get to know the people you meet and make some friends - and maybe even find love, with the promise of romance, too.
Wylde Society
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Wylde Society is the new period drama life sim from Wylde Flowers developer Studio Drydock. While the studio's previous adventure saw us take on the role of a witch in a small town who raises a farm, Wylde Society will instead put us in the shoes of Vivian, who also happens to be a witch, but is also socialite and host. You'll be running your own magical boarding house, from planning and hosting events, to matchmaking others - and you can also get up to some witchy goodness, of course.
Toem 2
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Toem 2 from developer Something We Made is the sequel to the wonderful 2021 photo adventure. Once again taking on the role of a photographer, the follow-up will see you set off on a new journey snapping pictures to uncover hidden secrets, solve puzzles, and help out friends along the way. The first game was truly a charming gem with a relaxing, laid back feel, and we have no doubt Toem 2 will be just as delightful.
Blippo+
Release date: TBC
Plaform(s): PC
Blippo+ is a bit of mystery of a game, but an intriguing one at that. Coming from Untitled Goose Game and Thank Goodness You're Here publisher, Panic, it looks set to be a sort of FMV, text-based "television experience" that draws inspiration from '80s and '90s on a channel known as Blippo+. It certainly seems wonderfully weird, and we're here for it.
Wheel World
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
Wheel World (formerly known as Ghost Bike) is a new adventure from Nidhogg developer, Messhof. Playing as a streetwise kid from Freehub City, you set out to bring back Ghost Bikes, who are said to be magical couriers that rode between the world of the living and the world of the dead. With races along with a variety of different challenges to take on, you can explore what is described as a "semi open-world" and discover bike parts to customize your pair of wheels. It looks like one very stylized, intriguing action-adventure with a unique concept at its heart.
The Gecko Gods
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC, Switch
If you're looking for a relaxing puzzle-based experience, The Gecko Gods might just be one to add to your wishlist. Playing as a little gecko, you can explore a mysterious island and make the most of the lizard's agile movements to climb cliffs and yes, even eat bugs. Setting out on a quest to save their friend, The Gecko Gods sees you solve puzzles across crumbling ruins and discover the lore of the land as you explore. There's no way we can pass up the chance to play as a little gecko protagonist.
Map Map
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Map Map, is as the title says, is a game about maps from developer Pipapo Games. With some Breath of the Wild vibes to its world, you take on the role of a cartographer who sets out to explore islands and map them out by setting down markers in relevant locations. It's up to you to fill up the empty map with landmarks and ruins you come across by putting your sense of direction and adventurer skills to the test. Plus, you can also try and hunt for hidden treasure.
Loose Leaf
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Loose Leaf is an upcoming tea witch simulator from Boyfriend Dungeon developer Kitfox Games. As you manage a tea room, you'll get to grips with what promises to be the most "in-depth" tea simulator, which puts you in control of elements such as the temperature and timing of your brews. As you pick ingredients and place them in your chosen cup, you'll work to unlock more recipes as you go about trying to make just the right cup of tea for your guests. But all of your visitors have troubles of their own to share, and as a witch, you'll also be able to do tarot card readings as you try to help them with their worries.
I Am A Caterpillar
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
During the Wholesome Direct 2023 we got to see I Am A Caterpillar, which is a new indie adventure coming to us from DevFatigued. You play (as you might have guessed) as a caterpillar, only this wriggly friend is quite content as they are, and doesn't want to become a butterfly. On the day your transformation is supposed to happen, you set out to do everything you can to stop it. Yes, you're going to be a bug who wants to shape their own destiny. It looks adorable, with the chance to climb across colorful environments and meet and befriend a whole host of forest inhabitants.
Way to the Woods
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox Game Pass)
Way to the Woods is an upcoming adventure that follows the journey of two deer in an abandoned world that head out to find their way home. A trailer for the game back in 2019 quickly captured attention thanks to its beautiful, intriguing backdrop and the companionship of the deer and fawn protagonists at the heart of the experience. Said to draw inspiration from Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and The Last of Us, Way to the Woods happily made an appearance towards the end of 2022 during the Wholesome Snack showcase to enchant us all over again.
Henry Halfhead
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Henry Halfhead is an upcoming sandbox adventure from Lululu Entertainment that sees you become a character with a rather peculiar ability. As Henry, you can possess and control any object from an apple to a toaster. In fact, you can even become the bread in the toaster or the plug that powers it. Essentially, you can become anything within your reach and experiment to find creative solutions to complete challenges. With over 150 objects to play around with and a variety of mini-games to try out, it looks like a lot of fun - and also supports local co-op as an added bonus.
Keep track of all of the releases on the horizon with our roundups of upcoming Switch games, upcoming PS5 games, upcoming Xbox Series X games, and upcoming PC games.
