Throughout the years, the video gaming industry has massively evolved. If we look at the data provided by Statista, we can see that the revenue from the gaming market globally hit almost the bar of 347 billion dollars. And this is in 2022 alone. This number perfectly shows how popular video games and gaming products are among people. It also explains why there are so many new directions and types of games we can play today.

From the times of playing slot machines at brick-and-mortar gambling venues to current times of online casinos with instant cash out, there has been a lot of change, indeed. The same goes for video games as well. During several decades, we became witnesses of the shift from disk to the cloud, welcomed new 2D games with unique features, and so on.

The Indie Game industry is also a part of this game development. It is famous for a variety of 2D games that gamers around the world like to play even today. In this article, we have highlighted some of the best Indie 2D games worth checking out. So, get comfortable and let’s begin.

Dead Cells

• Year of Release – August 7, 2018
• Developer – Motion Twin

Developed by Motion Twin, Dead Cells is a 2D Metroidvania-style game that is perfect for players who prefer roguelike options (games where difficulty is the key attraction). In this game, players take the form of gross-looking cells that possess old corpses to escape a huge prison. Along your journey, you will come across a couple of interesting characters who will help you with your mission and assist you in fighting a bunch of monsters.

As mentioned above, Dead Cells is a roguelike game, so like playing any other title in this category, you will need a lot of patience. Precisely, once you die during the gameplay, you will need to restart it and play from the beginning again. What’s more, you will also lose all your weapons or loot you have acquired along your way. The good thing is, while starting everything all over again, you won’t feel bored.

The first factor making the game less repetitive is the soundtrack. It perfectly fits the pace of the game and doesn’t distract you from your mission. Next, the combat feels nice and fluid. Thus, once you get the hang of the controls, you will just enjoy the process of moving forward and won’t want to put them down.

Last but not least, the huge set of various primary weapons (bows, swords), utility weapons (grenades, shields, and skills), as well as talismans make sure that each run will develop differently from the previous one. Additionally, for players seeking even more variety, the inclusion of captivating 3D Slots enhances the gaming experience.

The reviews of Dead Cells on Steam are overwhelmingly positive – 97% of 124,738 players recommend this game as one of the best ones.

Evil Wizard

• Year of Release – June 30, 2023
• Developer – Rubber Duck Games

The next name in our list belongs to Evil Wizard, a humor-packed action RPG game. What makes this platformer so different is that instead of the hero, you play the role of the villain and have the mission to recapture the castle from the heroes. Seems intriguing, right?

Overall, gameplay is a mixture of combat, exploration, and a little light puzzle-solving. You will get to use elemental magic to solve the puzzles and utilize your combat skills to fight the enemy. As for exploring, you will need to learn some specific spells in order to gain access to secret places and areas. For example, with the cast of the ice spell, which is used to freeze the water, you can make an impassable waterway accessible. Controls are also easy to pick up using the controller.

Enemies come in a huge diversity, from rogues, mages, and melee fighters to more obscure encounters like tree golem and chiefs. So, if you like challenging adventures, this game will surely satisfy you. For example, opponents will often come in mass waves, which require some instant reflexes to dodge and select the perfect moment to fight back.

Another aspect of the game is the generous save points, which you can typically get before a boss battle. In addition, you can see accessibility features that let you adjust enemy damage and health. This surely makes the Evil Wizard less evil.

On Steam, Evil Wizard has an overall 9/10 rating.

Stardew Valley

• Year of Release – February 26, 2016
• Developer – Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone

Have you ever dreamt about your own farm? Then, your desire can become a reality in Barone’s Stardew Valley, the plot of which revolves around the farm you get as an inheritance from your grandfather. Here, you will get a few coins and a set of hand-me-down tools to begin your new life.

The main goal of the game covers creating your own dream farm the way you want. Then, you can also go fishing, raise animals, craft items, and tend to crops. One notable thing about Stardew Valley is that you are not alone on your farm doing your daily activities. There are almost 30 residents in Pelican Town you can befriend. You may even find someone suitable to date with.

Another thing is the customization options. You can choose from a diversity of character, and home decoration offers to build your preferred farm life.

Also, as you travel deeper underground, you will meet new and dangerous monsters and explore valuable gemstones, new environments, and powerful weapons. All these help you to turn the old farm into a beautiful and thriving home.

Overall, if you like open-ended games, you will surely not be disappointed by Stardew Valley. The game has a very high rating on various review sites. On Steam, almost 98% of 124,738 players enjoyed the experience and described it as a “heartwarming game with rich and never-ending content.”