Indie

Video game concept

Developed without financial backing from large companies or non-private investors. Shares similar design philosophies as art games, but on gameplay rather than artistic value. Often self-published as well.

5665
games
31
platforms

Alternate name: Independent game development

Covers two varieties: independent games and independent game development.
* `Indie games´ are games published outside of mainstream outlets (e.g. only via digital distributors, post order, or other limited availability channels) – digital only distribution is no longer valid since that is actually one of mainstream outlets nowadays (it used to not be).
* `Indie game development´ is games developed without aid from external financial backers (producers/publishers) that demand their cut on the game's sales and, sometimes, demand changes to the game.

This is NOT for amateur games (most free games), nor does indie mean the game isn't commercially released (indie ≠ freeware).
Quoted from Alex May:
... if you look around on indie game sites, you’ll see people (developers and consumers alike) complaining that (for example) "all indie games are crap" or "all indie games are unrefined" or "all indie games are arty nonsense". All this proves, apart from that people are stupid (and we knew that already), is that indie games are diverse, which makes sense because the only creative barriers around an independent game are that there are none. They don’t fit into any one market by definition. They’re just games, and some are good and some are bad and some of them will appeal to you and some won’t.

All that said, there will be a small minority who are interested and any indie game just because it is indie – idealistic consumers and pursuers of creative freedom or pretentious art hipsters? It’s your choice.

- source

The first Indie video game was released in 1983.

Spiderweb Software, Sekai Project and Choice of Games published most of these games.

Parent group

Game production & development

Related groups

Other
Art game, IGF finalist nominee

Related site

Platforms

Linux 4668
Windows 495
Mac OS X 323
X360 24
PS4 20
iOS 19
Android 18
PS Vita 14
PS3 14
Switch 11
Xbox One 7
Mac OS Classic 7
Flash 5
Internet Only 5
Win3.1 4
BSD 4
Wii U 4
Ouya 3
Amiga 3
MS-DOS 2
Solaris 2
C64 2
Mega Drive 2
TizenOS 2
Stadia 1
Dreamcast 1
Leapster 1
Unix 1
Wii 1
GB 1

By year

8385878991939597990103050709111315171921 197249398614790 ABCDE
A2002 - Steam announced and beta launched
B2008 - IndieGoGo launched
2008 - Xbox Community Games launched
C2009 - Kickstarter launched
D2010 - First Desura client launched
E2012 - Humble Store widget launched

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