There’s nothing better than the anticipation of a new video game. From those produced by massive developers to small independent ‘indie’ projects, video games have become a massive medium worldwide. But while some fans believe that amazing games only come from established developers like BioWare, Ubisoft or Bethesda, many indie releases last year proved that line of thinking to be flawed, demonstrating that even game studios operating with little to no budget can prevail on the market. With that in mind, The Omega has compiled the biggest indie successes of 2025.
Title: Schedule 1
Developer: TVGS (Tyler’s Video Game Studio)
Rating: 8/10 by IGN
Platform: PC (Steam)
Released on March 24, Schedule 1 quickly built a massive fanbase, where players start as a small-time drug dealer and work their way up to a kingpin, almost like if Grand Theft Auto included a chemistry lesson where players manufacture their own narcotics by creating recipes and building relationships with regular ‘customers’ across the city. Thereby building their empire and expanding their clientele.
Throughout the game, players are confronted by police officers creeping around every corner, forcing them to stick to the shadows to narrowly escape the long arm of the law and complete successful deliveries. Trying to run a digital drug empire is no easy task.
Fortunately, Schedule 1 features an online co-op mode for players to game with friends, making this indie game a highlight in a fully stacked year of gaming.
According to Steam, Schedule 1 has earned more than US$182 million since its release.
Title: No, I’m not a Human
Developer: Trioskaz
Rating: 9/10 by Gaming.net
Platform: PC (Steam)
Released on Sept. 15, “No, I’m not a Human” is a first-person horror game located in a post-USSR era town, where the streets are filled with danger, and terror lurks around every corner.
In this world, players encounter beings known as “The Visitors”. Are they aliens, new zombies, or maybe a group of mad humans? No one knows, but that’s for you to find out. They look, speak and even smell like humans, yet they are something else entirely.
Players are forced to observe the “Visitors” carefully, analyzing whether they’re really human or something else. Saying ‘no’ is not an option, making trust and paranoia key to survival.
Eventually, players will slip up and let the wrong crowd in. They now must interrogate their ‘guests’ and decide who is really human and who is not. For the outliers, players must remove them before they are removed.
No, I’m not Human features a perfectly eerie story that takes players through a journey filled with paranoia, conspiracy and monsters. What’s not to love?
Title: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Rating: 10/10 by Forbes
Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox, PlayStation 5
Released on April 24, with overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 follows Gustave (Charlie Cox, Netflix’s Daredevil) and Maelle (Jennifer English; Baldur’s Gate 3) in a fantasy world inspired by the Belle Epoque of France.
Once a year for 66 consecutive years, the Paintress, a mysterious, godlike being worshipped and feared for her control over life and death, has woken up to paint a number on her monolith, a countdown that started at 100. At that time, those who have reached the age she paints turn into ash and fade away. This year, when she eventually paints the number 33, Gustave and Maelle, alongside other expeditioners, depart on a mission of a lifetime to finally destroy the mysterious being and stop her reign of terror for good.
Expedition 33 takes form as a turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics, including dodging and parrying, making each battle feel fresh. With innovative game mechanics, amazing storytelling and breathtaking environments, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 takes players through an emotional story.
Title: Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games
Rating: 4.5/5 by PCmag.com
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Released last September, Hades II is the worthy successor of Supergiant Games’ 2020 roguelike hit Hades, which followed Zagreus, the rebellious son of the Greek god of the dead, as he fights his way out of the Underworld. Now, players step into the role of Melinoë, Zagreus’s sister and the Princess of the Underworld, as she explores an ever-expanding and new, strange interpretation of Greek mythology.
Players are tasked with fighting the forces of Chronos, the father of the Gods and Titan of Time, using ancient magic to infuse weapons, collect unique power-ups and build up new abilities, all in hopes of finally stopping the dark forces that have overrun the underworld.
Hades II is crafted as a roguelike, a mode built around short, repeating “runs” where failure is expected, and each run is completely different from the last. This forces players to start over, adapt and slowly learn how to progress. Each new “run” has new locations, challenges and upgrades available, plus a few surprises to keep players on their toes as the world continuously shifts around.
By building and improving on the mechanics that made its original so great, Hades II manages to be even more punishing and still compelling for new and returning players. It’s the kind of game that will push players to the edge of rage-quitting, while making it feel nearly impossible to stop playing.
Title: Dispatch
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Rating: 4/5 by TechRadar
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Released on Oct. 22, Dispatch took the world by storm, selling over three million copies worldwide in 2025. With its diverse choice-based narrative that can completely change the story, its amazing voice acting and incredible world-building, Dispatch delivers an immersive experience that has hooked players since its launch
Players experience the story through Robert Robertson, a former superhero known as MechaMan. However, after a few bad decisions, Robert is left powerless. With all hope lost, he is given a second chance as he’s recruited to work at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), a company comprised of former superheroes and normal people tasked with dispatching superpowered individuals to deal with crime around the city.
However, Robert gets the short end of the stick and is left dispatching a group of misfit former supervillains; nevertheless, he must prevail. Players must now juggle dispatching the correct ‘heroes’ to the right crimes, manage their interpersonal relationships and ultimately find the villainous Shroud.
The game is filled with diverse gameplay mechanics, such as mini-games, quick-time events and decision-making, that tailor each playthrough to each player.
Title: R.E.P.O (The Retrieve, Extract & Profit Operation)
Developer: Semiwork Studios
Rating: 10/10 on Steam
Platform: PC (Steam)
Released on Feb. 26, 2025, R.E.P.O (The Retrieve, Extract & Profit Operation) is an online co-op horror game for players to enjoy with up to six friends.
Players act as “employees” under a mysterious artificial intelligence known as the Taxman, who sends teams into abandoned, monster-filled locations to recover valuable artifacts from a long-lost human world. To serve their master, players have to track down these objects, handle them with care and extract them safely, all while narrowly dodging the monsters wandering the nightmarish locations.
Players must communicate appropriately but know when to stay quiet, as doing so may attract enemies to their location. With their hard-earned virtual cash, players can purchase upgrades and weapons to help them navigate in this mysterious, eerie world as they attempt to please their insatiable master.
This low-budget indie project has left its mark on the gaming landscape, giving players a new horror co-op experience to obsess over. Perfect for creating some incredible memories for players and their friends.
R.E.P.O is already an award-winning game, claiming the Golden Joystick Award for Best Early Access Game.
Title: Hollow Knight: Silk Song
Developer: Team Cherry
Ratings: 9.4/10 by IGN
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, XBOX
Released on Sept. 4, with very positive reviews on Steam, Hollow Knight: Silk Song is the well-anticipated sequel to Hollow Knight. This time, we follow the lethal hunter, Hornet, as players adventure through a kingdom that’s run by‘silk and song,’ a strange, unfamiliar land where silk powers tools and movement and music shapes the culture, all while danger lurks in the shadows.
Players can expect adventure, as Hornet is captured and taken into this strange world, and must prepare to fight epic battles with mighty foes and solve ancient mysteries that only thrust you even deeper into this kingdom’s deadly history.
As the titular character, players must engage in incredible acrobatic action, craft powerful tools, solve quests and face up to 200 different types of enemies. Hollow Knight: Silk Song’s anticipation crowded the streets in the world for years, and it didn’t disappoint, delivering a story-rich, challenging adventure for players to dive deep into and never want to come out.
Have you played any of these games and have thoughts you’d like to express? Are there any other indie games on the market that we haven’t covered and you’d like us to know about? Drop a comment or email us at editor@theomega.news to share your opinions.