Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Indie Game of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. This category focuses on the best PS5, PS4 titles from indie developers not afforded the big marketing pushes and significant production budgets, and a fantastic experience has arisen in spite of that. At the end, we'll list some honourable mentions.
Bronze Trophy: The Talos Principle II
Eight years after the PS4's Deluxe Edition of the original game broke our brains with a puzzling masterclass, sequel The Talos Principle II has done it all over again with an even better sequel. With new ways to solve the returning light beam puzzles, the follow-up manages to still feel fresh, especially so when conversations introduce philosophical talking points to provide depth and meaning long past the credits roll. A game you might be thinking about for a while, The Talos Principle II is more than just a puzzle game masterclass.
Silver Trophy: Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars quickly gained traction on social media with its gorgeous pixel art visuals, but this retro-flavoured RPG proved to be much more than that. Set within a charming, original fantasy world, the game's winding story has players exploring cute seaside towns and beautiful natural environments as Zale and Valere fulfil their shared destiny. With an engaging, strategic combat system, a colourful cast of characters, and lots of great rewards and secrets to discover, it's little wonder Sea of Stars resonated so strongly this year.
Gold Trophy: Humanity
One of the quirkiest releases of the year, Humanity has you directing long lines of humans to magical doors as a dog. It is excellent. The concept becomes more and more complex as new twists and mechanics are introduced, but the core idea reigns supreme with imaginative stages and Goldy pick-ups for added challenges. Bundling in fascinating boss encounters on top, the latest game from Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect studio Enhance is an essential playthrough for puzzle enthusiasts.
Platinum Trophy: Cocoon
The debut title from Geometric Interactive is named the best PS5, PS4 indie game of 2023 thanks to its outstanding design in gameplay and mechanics, allowing you to seamlessly jump in and out of worlds to solve fun and creative puzzles. Playing just as good as it looks, Cocoon triumphs in every facet imaginable, presenting a genuinely unique, memorable experience that combines the satisfaction of puzzle-solving with the intrigue of a narrative that does not feel the need to verbalise a single word. A true indie great.
Honourable Mentions: A Space for the Unbound, Blasphemous 2, Chants of Sennaar, Jusant, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Venba, and Viewfinder.
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 indie game of 2023? Place a vote in our poll and then explain your personal pick in the comments below. For further Game of the Year coverage, click the link.
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 indie game of 2023? (375 votes)
- A Space for the Unbound
- Blasphemous 2
- Chants of Sennaar
- Cocoon
- Humanity
- Jusant
- Sea of Stars
- Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
- Tchia
- The Talos Principle II
- Thirsty Suitors
- Venba
- Viewfinder
- Other
Comments 27
Haven't played Cocoon or Talos but I agree with the other two being there. Personally my top 4 indies are,
1, Dredge
2, Sea of Stars
3, Humanity
4, Eternights
I didnt play many indies from this year (mainly last years as catch up) so for me Tchia would be the best. Alot of love went into it and it was fun exploring and using the powers. Heck there were some things i wasnt expecting to see in a family friendly game.
Only other on the list i played was Humanity. Didnt play it long but i did enjoy the bizarreness of it all. Got lost in the shuffle is all as most puzzle games do with me lol i do have Viewfinder to play but thats now backlog for 2024 XD
Sea of Stars for me.
Sea of Stars was great but I never finished it. A bit long for what it was. Dredge I just started and it has its hooks in me.
Other honorable mention: The Last Faith, which I also just started.
Eternights for me
👈
Don't need to add anything😂
Not able to vote for Dredge? That’s a shame.
Sea of Stars would be my pick from the list.
Cocoon was definitely the best one here but SCREW those damn prism shooting sections 🤣
Tchia & Humanity were the only ones I played this year, but I want to check out Viewfinder & Cacoon. Another great indie not mentioned was Killer Frequency 😬
Shadow Gambit gets some love, nice!
How is Dredge not on this list?
Sea of Stars is easily my indie GOTY.
It's gotta be Bomb Rush Cyberfunk for me!
I really need to get my hands on Sea of Stars, it looks so good.
Very happy to see Humanity get some love. Really cool game 🐕
blastphemous 2. shadow gambit the cursed crew.and sea of stars are the best indie games of that list.word up son
I practically agree with this list. If I were to have made it, I’d have tossed Viewfinder on there somewhere though. Not sure where, but I really liked it.
Man, Humanity is so good and then it just fumbles what's fun completely with the dark humans. Idk I just was having so much fun and then that mechanic sucks so hard
I tried the Sea of Stars.
Cute little game for children who can read, or learning to. I got to where the chef rejoins the two protagonist and then I thought: This is super boring. I wonder if the game opens up OG FF7-style?
Anyways, this is a great list. You have philosophy, retro-love and VR innovation which also are readily available through PLUS-subscription. The real surprise is Danish design at nr#1! Denmark! Denmark! Denmark!
Dredge not being here at all is bonkers to me.
I haven't played Sea of Stars yet (holding out for next year's physical release). The best indie I played this year is the one I've dubbed the Most Overlooked Tactical game of the year: Miasma Chronicles. The Bearded Ladies improve on everything from Mutant Year Zero (which I very much enjoyed). They even gave me a gut punch when I came across Farrow's grave in MC.
I think the others were more deserving, but honourable mention to the criminal ally overlooked ‘Goodbye Volcano High’ - sure, it looks like my childhood on Deviant Art, but it has a wonderful cast of characters, soundtrack and real heart to it that sticks with you.
Dredge was by far my favourite indie this, for it to no even be an option is ridiculous (it has been over looked before on here so not overly surprising).For those who are interested Dave the Diver is doing a Dredge linked/themed DLC
Really enjoyed Humanity too definite top 3 and I will be trying out Cocoon in the New Year.
Humanity esp. in VR is for me the biggest surprise of 2023 - a nearly perfect game in every aspect.
I haven't played cacoon, but I. Must say im happy to see it was anything other than sea of stars. It just didn't do anything for me personally.
My first reaction: where the h*ll is Stray..? But then I realized it was released in 2022. Time's flying when you're having fun playing videogames. Played Humanity for a couple of days. It's clever, but never really blew my mind.
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