Indie games empower developers to liberate themselves from the rigid conventions of AAA titles, allowing them to prioritize creativity and authentic gameplay experiences. This sector has emerged as a bastion of innovation, presenting unique mechanics, artistic styles, and compelling narratives that resonate with gamers over the past 15 years.
If you’re seeking an exceptional gaming experience that offers substantial playtime, indie games provide a spectrum of gameplay durations—from engaging 30-minute runs to expansive immersive adventures lasting over 100 hours. Today, we spotlight the best indie games that guarantee extensive hours of content. The following selections are ranked from the shortest to the longest gameplay experiences, excluding titles without a definitive endpoint, such as Mount and Blade: Warband and Space Engineers.
For reference, all playtime estimates are sourced from How Long To Beat.
10 FTL: Faster Than Light
111 Hours
FTL: Faster Than Light is a captivating roguelite set in the depths of space, where you command a diverse crew of humans and aliens. Your mission is to traverse eight distinct sectors, each hosting approximately 20 waypoints, while navigating the unpredictable nature of space. Engaging in strategic battles when confronted by enemies transforms gameplay into a real-time strategy experience, where managing the ship’s resources and crew dynamics is crucial.
The challenge escalates with each encounter, and if you fail, it means starting anew with a different ship and crew. Successfully completing the game demands mastery of its steep learning curve, combined with the ability to unlock 10 unique ships and numerous achievements, making 100+ hours of gameplay achievable.
9 Stardew Valley
168 Hours
In Stardew Valley, after becoming weary of the corporate grind, you inherit your grandfather’s farm and set out to restore it to its former glory. The game offers a variety of enriching activities ranging from farming and fishing to mining and establishing social connections with the local community.
From seasonal festivals to developing relationships and even a touch of magic, the game is richly layered yet manages to remain approachable. Committing over 150 hours is generally necessary to explore its vast content, though true farming enthusiasts may find the metaphorical work just beginning.
8 Baldur’s Gate 3
173 Hours
Yes, Larian Studios is indeed an independent developer, and their work on Baldur’s Gate 3 showcases exceptional production values. This RPG adventure rivals traditional tabletop experiences with its intricate storytelling, where every choice—from combat tactics to romantic pursuits—shapes your journey, leading to four distinct endings and countless variations.
With the introduction of Patch 8 featuring 12 new subclasses, now is an ideal moment to jump into this enthralling universe. Expect to invest well over 150 hours, especially when you delve into the exciting realm of community mods.
7 Slay The Spire
185 Hours
Slay The Spire invites you to guide one of four heroes through a roguelike journey filled with deckbuilding elements, boasting over 730 cards to discover. Over the course of three acts and 51 floors, you’ll battle through countless enemies, collecting various cards, powerful potions, and unique relics to enhance your strategy.
While the main campaign can be completed in approximately 12 hours, unlocking the full breadth of what the game offers—including various difficulty settings and challenges—can easily exceed 185 hours of engaged play.
6 Terraria
200 Hours
Terraria is a sandbox-style game where players explore a vibrant, procedurally generated 2D world, gathering resources, defeating enemies, and constructing villages with NPCs. Despite its open-ended nature, progression is tied to defeating bosses, unlocking new biomes, and increasing game difficulty.
Adding RPG elements, players can enhance their character’s health and mana through equipment in a world that allows almost limitless exploration. Players may need between 50 to 200 hours to reach the endgame, depending on their objectives.
5 Factorio
218 Hours
In Factorio, players find themselves crash-landed on an alien planet, tasked with rebuilding their spacecraft by constructing complex factories. As you manipulate the environment to your advantage, alien creatures appear, necessitating the establishment of defenses ranging from personal firearms to automated sentries.
While it is possible to complete the game within 50 hours, the pursuit of efficiency and achievement will see players investing over 200 hours in optimizing their operations and surpassing challenges.
4 Balatro
233 Hours
Balatro offers a unique twist on poker, where players aim to score specific points using a deck of Joker cards that introduce various effects and multipliers. Special cards, including Tarot and Planet cards, add depth to gameplay with their own synergies.
Single runs take less than an hour, but to unlock all Joker cards and reach the game’s ultimate challenge at level 38—which includes an unwinnable point due to a code overflow—players should prepare for over 200 hours of strategic play.
3 RimWorld
313 Hours
RimWorld places players in control of a colony on the edges of civilization. Rather than directly commanding colonists, you assign tasks while the game’s AI generates diverse story events based on decisions and difficulty settings. From constructing defenses to managing resources, every game unfolds uniquely.
Players can choose from multiple objectives, determined by installed DLC, and complete the game in anywhere from 60 to over 300 hours based on the chosen path and challenges encountered.
2 Bloons TD 6
584 Hours
The popular Bloons series continues with Bloons TD 6, a tower defense game where players deploy monkey towers to stave off waves of colorful Bloons. This sixth installment has evolved to a 2.5D format, incorporating new gameplay elements like Paragons and a roguelike DLC mode.
With 68 maps and various difficulties offering multiple gameplay restrictions, the game provides ample opportunities to explore. Gamers can easily rack up over 500 hours of engaging content, with consistent updates that introduce new features.
1 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
597 Hours
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a uniquely challenging roguelike shooter that lets players control Isaac—or one of 34 other characters—navigating procedurally generated dungeons in a quest to confront his mother. With over 719 items available, each playthrough offers drastically varying experiences.
The game boasts an impressive scope, with numerous expansions from Afterbirth to Repentance, featuring 22 possible endings and nearly 600 hours of potential content. This level of variability and replayability keeps players returning for more.
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