Best Indie of 2023

It’s that time of the year when we award the Best Indie title of 2023. These past months, we had some surprising releases, from a Metroidvania that combines farming and diving to an RPG that serves as an homage to JRPGs of old to the biggest internet sensation of this year. Players who like following smaller studios had a lot of things to experience, and it was a big challenge for us to pick the best. But, after careful consideration, we can say we have a clear winner who gets the crown of the Best Indie of 2023.

Honorable Mention: Dredge

Ethan Webb, Lead Guide Editor: While Dave The Diver showed us the visual and thrilling wonders of deep-sea exploration, Dredge limits you to the sea’s surface—at an uncanny tentacle arms-length. It is an indie ship exploration game at heart paired with an inventory-management fishing minigame. Whether you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror, the primary bait of the game’s lure is neither exploring nor angling; it’s the eerie story and extremely stylized atmosphere. Whether you’re reeling in an unnatural, eldritch anomaly or speaking to one at a fishing village, Dredge will draw you in with its story, lore, and oddly mesmerizing gameplay loop.

Regardless of how many times you upgrade your ship or profit from a haul, the world of Dredge will make you feel small, alone, and helpless from the sinister horrors that reside under the murky surface of the deep. While simplistic at its core, this story-rich fishing indie will draw you in, immersing you in its gloomy yet fascinating world.

Fourth Place: The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

Jordan Moyer, Freelance Writer: Return to Moria‘s success was no surprise. Even being an indie game, it truly blew me away. Whether you’re spending time with friends, mining your way through a couple of ore veins by song, or even just taking out the enemies on your way to Moria, Return to Moria has all the best aspects of one of the big titles.

We experienced a great deal of excitement and frustration, accomplishment and failure as we played as one of the cutest little dwarves around. Return to Moria was well-crafted and had some gorgeous graphics, especially for being an indie game. We hope Free Range Games will bring us more great experiences in the coming years.

Third Place: Sea of Stars

Julio La Pine, Freelance Writer: Of all the indie titles that launched in 2023, Sea of Stars was one of the best. This game was clearly a homage to games like Chrono Trigger and Xenosaga. However, what made Sea of Stars so great was how it remained fun for veterans and newcomers to the genre. With a dynamic combat system that requires player inputs and some of the flashiest animations done in pixel art, this was a treat.

The reason why it didn’t make it to the top spot is that it suffers the same as many other modern RPGs. Its story starts off strong and keeps rising with good pacing all the way to the second act; sadly, it rushes to reach the end and never feels like a true conclusion. Still, it is a plot that any fan of epic stories will enjoy, especially those who like franchises like Final Fantasy or Tales.

Second Place: Dave the Diver

Ethan Webb, Lead Guide Editor: In a landscape where AAA releases often shoehorn every known mechanic into their gameplay experiences, Dave The Diver offers variety but on both a palatable and digestible level. This indie gem by MINTROCKET markets itself as a deep-sea exploration roguelike paired with restaurant sim mechanics. However, just like the Blue Hole, there is much to discover below the surface. Minigames galore, along with memorable animations and characters, make your progression feel novel and refreshing every time you return to your sushi bar to serve your catch of the day. In other words, despite possessing a rather basic and straightforward premise for an indie experience, Dave The Diver does its best to ensure you’re never bored and does this swimmingly well.

Unlike action-adventure shop sim RPGs like Moonlighter or Recettear, Dave The Diver mixes up the monotony of fishing and diner management with farming, boss battles, environmental puzzles, seahorse racing, and much more. Image a deluxe platter of delectable, hand-made sushi — that’s the experience Dave The Diver offers. This charming indie will always give you something to work towards or pleasantly surprise you with new gameplay mechanics that will keep you immersed for hours.

Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3

Julio La Pine, Freelance Writer: The winner for Best Indie of 2023 is, undoubtedly, Baldur’s Gate 3. Of all indie and AAA games this year, there is no other that lets you do what Larian Studios’ latest entry can. The permutations of all your actions, the player-driven story, and the hundreds of branching paths to reach a goal are some of the features this game has. Combine that with a lovable cast of characters, a fun D&D-based combat that is beginner-friendly, and one of the best soundtracks of the year, and you have a recipe for success.

The fact that Larian let this game in the oven for so long is the reason for its imminent success. Besides, the team has listened to fans and improved upon almost every aspect of it, from kiss scenes to adding a grand epilogue to give your adventure the closure it deserves. It is strange to see a game like this with no pay-to-win aspects, a battle pass, or some similar shenanigans. Baldur’s Gate 3 raised the bar for the videogame industry, and we can’t wait to see what more is coming to this adventure.

As we finish this list, saying goodbye to such great games feels nostalgic, but it isn’t the end. The indie game landscape keeps growing, and there’s always a new title that grabs us, hooks us, and becomes the year’s biggest title. Whether it is a game made by one person or a small team, we’re glad indie games keep demonstrating higher quality than AAA games, and here at The Nerd Stash, we are grateful to have experienced all of them.