Oh, indie games. I’m so happy you guys exist. With the big gaming companies not being able to take risks and having practices like microtransactions and expansion after expansion, the world of indie games feels fresh. That is where you can find the crazy and wild games. It also feels like with the smaller teams in the indie space, it is easier to pour so much more passion into a game than when hundreds or thousands of different people work on the game.
I’m looking forward to the following games based on the trailer, screenshots, and the idea behind the game, as I haven’t played any of those games. Two other side notes are that games can be delayed (which is a good thing, they can only make a first impression once. So if more cooking in the oven is needed, I hope every developer feels the freedom to take that time) and might not have achievements when they launch or maybe they will never get them. However, I really hope all of them will have achievements <3.
The following list is sorted in alphabetical order, click on the name or the picture of the game to go to the Steam store page to wishlist the game. You help out the developers behind the games so much if you wishlist their games. So please wishlist the games that look fun to you!

The first PC game I owned as a child was Rollercoaster Tycoon. This game reminds me a lot of that, and I love the look and feel of it.
The idea of a tycoon game in which you also have a sneaky motive to be naughty and secretive sounds amazing! This sounds like a tycoon game combined with the indie game series “Party Hard” which I love so much.


A game in which you kill monsters, clear dungeons, and renovate them! Count me in. This sounds like the perfect game for me. I also love the graphics so much!
Running your own shop is something I love to do in games, so this sounds right up my alley. And look at how gorgeous it is!


Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
The first Duck Detective was amazing! It was a game full of humor and clever secrets. I’m really looking forward to the sequel!
Look at how gorgeous this management colony sim looks! It is inspired by Studio Ghibli’s classic pictures and it looks like a world I would love to spend hours in.


It is a creature collection game made by one of the developers behind Minami Lane. It looks cute and adorable, and its vibe reminds me of Pine Hearts, another lovely 2024 indie game.
It’s a cute-looking puzzle game with stealth elements. I’m a bit scared about how heartbreaking this might be (based on the kinda sad music in the trailer), but it looks so beautiful and cute.


It’s a game in which you clean areas and rescue cute but crazy-looking creatures; yes, yes, please sign me up. I’m a bit scared of the first-person view and whether it will give me motion sickness, but I really hope it doesn’t, as this looks adorable.
I’m a massive fan of the Cloudpunk world. I thought it was so intriguing. Add to that the world life sim mechanisms, and I’m totally sold. I’ve been super hyped for this game since it was announced.


I love platformers, though they can be scary as achievement hunter because of the possibility of time trials. I hope Paperklay will have no or very doable time trials, as it looks just beautiful.
I love love love The Sims, even achievement hunting in it is awesome. However, in my opinion, EA ruined the series with way too much (and expensive) DLC. Having a game like The Sims but made by indie developers sounds perfect!


I can’t wait to explore and trade in this cute-looking world. Look at how awesome those flying ships look! In this wonderful indie game, you’ll also fish, farm, and mine.
Look at how gorgeous this narrative cozy game looks. Please, can I live in this world? It looks so so beautiful. I can’t wait to explore it! This one and the next game are my most anticipated games of 2025!


I’ve been sold on this game since the first trailer a few years ago. It’s a goofy stealth game full of humor! And the fact that you do all this handyman work to save animals in the animal shelter makes it even better!
I’m such a sucker for life sims, and this one looks so cute! Due to that, and my love for witches and fairytales, this game sounds perfect to me!

This was the list. I’m pretty sure I forgot many amazing upcoming indie games, but it is so hard to see all the release dates, and many of them will not be released for months.
Many of the games on this list have a cozy vibe. If that is what you love, I highly recommend checking out Cozy Gaming Club‘s monthly YouTube videos, in which she tells you which cozy games will be released that month.
I’ll close this list with an extra reminder that if you see a game you like, please wishlist it on Steam. Wishlisting (and reviewing after playing it) helps developers with getting visibility on the Steam store and will have a snowball effect. Every single wishlist helps indie games get closer to being discovered by many other gamers.
I hope we all will have a wonderful 2025 in which all your hopes and dreams for this year may come true!