What are the best indie games on PS4? It's an almost impossible question, as there are so many great ones to choose from. Indies are incredibly diverse, and the PS4 plays host to hundreds of excellent experiences.
What do we mean by indie games, exactly? It's a term that's had its meaning shift over time, but most people use it to refer to lower budget games from small teams. Indies really hit their stride with PS4, and the result is countless fascinating titles trying something a little different from the heavy hitters.
To name a few examples, there are some relatively well-known games like Hotline Miami, Bugsnax, and Journey that fall under the indie label. However, there are so, so many to consider. Slay the Spire, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, The Witness — the list goes on and on.
Selecting a handful of the best indie games on PS4 is a tricky task, and that's why we need your help. All the games featured on this list are ranked and rated by Push Square readers like you. You have a direct impact on this page by leaving a user rating on indie titles, shaping the order of games and which ones appear. To do so, you can click the star icon next to each game and pick a rating, or do the same via individual game pages.
The below search bar will allow you to easily locate PS4 indie games you want to rate:
Note: Games need a minimum of 20 individual ratings to be included in this guide. If a favourite of yours is missing from the page, odds are it just needs more ratings before it shows up.
Without further ado, below is a list of the best indie games on PS4, ranked and rated by the Push Square community.
30. Bugsnax (PS4)
Oooooh, it's Bugsnax! Yes, the theme song is catchy as heck, but the game itself is a treat, too. Playing as an investigative journalist, you venture to a mysterious island, where an expedition has gone awry. It turns out there's more to the titular Bugsnax than everyone thought, so it falls to you to capture them, feed them to your friends, and unravel the mystery. Utterly bizarre with a surprisingly emotional story, this is a game well worth experiencing.
29. Untitled Goose Game (PS4)
This game hardly needs an introduction; it spread like wildfire online, and remains a beloved little experience. Untitled Goose Game is about embodying the chaotic life of an antagonistic goose, living near a quaint English village. Each location has a selection of objectives to meet, and working those all out using a wide range of interactive objects is a constant delight. It may only be a few hours long, but few games are able to keep you grinning constantly from start to finish, and this is one of them.
28. Gang Beasts (PS4)
Gang Beasts is a hilarious party brawler that banks on its shonky physics to produce sheer chaos. You and up to three others attempt to knock each other out in a variety of creative stages, controlling colourful, wobbly men as they deliver haymakers and hoist each other up. It's very simple but often results in hysterics, making for a brilliant game to bring out with a few buddies over.
27. Donut County (PS4)
Donut County is the name of this game's sleepy locale, but it's less about the place and more about raccoons than you might first think. Telling a silly story about a lazy raccoon and his friends, you play as a hole in the ground, slowly expanding each time you let something fall inside. It's sort of like Katamari Damacy, but instead of creating giant balls of stuff, you're wiping the surface clean by sending things into a void. It sounds mad, but it's a surprisingly compelling little adventure.
26. Fall Guys (PS4)
While most free-to-play multiplayer games have players killing each other for kicks, Fall Guys is all about silly, clumsy platforming challenges. As a result, it really stands out, and it helps that it's super fun. Dozens of players are grouped together, and the number is whittled down as they compete in a series of short, madcap stages. The one left standing at the end is crowned the victor, and by playing you steadily unlock all kinds of neat cosmetics. Fun for all ages, whether you play alone or with a team.
25. Rogue Legacy (PS4)
Developed by Cellar Door Games, Rogue Legacy is a pioneer of the rogue-lite, which adds permanent progression to a game otherwise filled with random elements. This is a rapid paced, 2D action platformer that starts off super challenging, but through slowly building up your characters, you'll find runs become easier and easier. The loop is extremely addictive, and the randomly generated heroes keep things fresh every time with different classes and unique traits. Its direct sequel is the better game, but this remains a compelling rise to power.
24. Unravel Two (PS4)
One of EA's first "indie" games was Unravel, a cutesy puzzle platformer that quickly became a cult hit. Unravel Two offers more of that same charm and whimsy, only this time with optional two-player co-op. The result is a lovely, straightforward game with some nifty co-op puzzles to overcome. It doesn't offer up much of a challenge, but the sweet Yarny characters and well-rendered natural environments make this a good one to play with younger family.
23. TowerFall Ascension (PS4)
TowerFall Ascension should be a staple of any local multiplayer session. This simple 2D archery game is fast-paced and deceptively deep, with a concise set of moves leading to some intense and super satisfying deathmatches. The game builds upon its brilliant core with various match types and alternate rules, as well as a range of co-op missions if you'd rather work together. Endlessly enjoyable, this is easily one of our favourite friendship-ending party titles.
22. The Witness (PS4)
Announced alongside the PS4 itself, Jonathan Blow's latest head-scratching puzzler is a modern classic. The Witness plops you down on a mysterious island dotted with hundreds of panels, each with a grid-based conundrum for you to solve. The non-linear design means you're free to tackle them in any order, but the real genius of the game is the way it subliminally teaches you its unique language. Masterfully designed, gorgeous, and totally original, this isn't just one of PS4's best indies, it's one of its best games full stop.
21. SUPERHOT (PS4)
It's hard to be original these days, but along comes Superhot with a genius twist on the first person shooter. Time only moves when you do in this clever indie game, meaning you can dodge bullets and land some crazy kills in slow-mo. It plays out almost like a puzzle game as you plan your movements and anticipate your enemies. Don't let the simplistic visual style fool you, this is one of the most creative shooters on PS4.
Comments 20
Streets of rage 4 and darkest dungeon is the 2 best indie games ever.word up son
No man's sky a worthy shout out.
My choice in year 2022.
I rated 8/10.
Lol no Cuphead?
Best Indie game of all time is Outer Wilds and it's on PS4... Not in the top 20?
Also Disco Elysium didn't make the top 20? Ouch.
Where's Subnautica? Again not in the top 20, seriously my tastes must be so niche.
I can see why Stardew Valley is tippy top, love that game but not my favourite.
Both "Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition" and "Guacamelee 2" failed to make this list. How is that possible? Is Drinkbox Studios not Indie enough?
Darkest dungeon ancestral edition and streets of rage 4 is the best indie games ever made.word up son
20 is not enough for all the shoutouts I'd want to give for this list.
Why do people love Journey so much? It’s not a proper game. It requires no thought or reflexes and can be completed in a couple of hours
For me:
Top 20 Indies on PS
1. Hollow Knight
2. What Remains of Edith Finch?
3. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
4. A Short Hike
5. Journey
6. Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
7. Shovel Knight
8. Cuphead
9. Firewatch
10. The Messenger
11. Kingdom: Two Crowns
12. Stray
13. Signalis
14. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
15. Celeste
16. Owlboy
17. Hyper Light Drifter
18. Alwa’s Legacy
19. Minoria
20. Crosscode
Love indies. I’ve got a log of indie titles in a spreadsheet that I’ve been updating the last decade or so… because I am very clearly a nerd. Always happy to share a list though!
any top list without cuphead on it is criminal. perhaps it was never reviewed for this site and omitted. fix that.
Is Cuphead indie tho?
@mohilrai Actually, #14 is the OG Guac! I would be bummed if they left both off as well. Maybe this needs to be a top 50, too many good games out there! I also want to see Transistor, Streets of Rage 4 and Tower Fall Ascension!
I would rate Hollow Knight as #1 and The Witness as #2.
And Journey is garbage. Critics' love for that game always makes me think of The Emperor's New Clothes. You can't admit to being the person who didn't "get it." Inside is sort of similar, although that game is at least more interesting to play. Just my opinion, of course.
@PVTHudson Outer Wilds is #14 on the list. That game is quite an experience! My kids watched me play through it and we were all glued to it for a week as I tried to figure everything out.
@sketchturner looks like it's been climbing since I commented, it's now up to 12. It should keep going up the more people dip in. If it went to PS Plus I bet it would breach the top 5.
As for Journey it was fine. Best thing about it was a skit done by Critical Miss at the time...
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/journey/
Well I've played more than half of them and have a few more currently installed so pretty happy with that.
Less happy that Enter the Gungeon doesn't get the love I clearly think it deserves, but that's just me.
half of these are not even as good as ender lilies
new 2d metroidvania soulslike ttailer always been compared to blasphemous by commenters on yt
This is inherently a very subjective subject. A lot of my favorites didn't make the list, and many overrated titles of course were on there. But I'm fine with it.
I enjoyed The Talos Principle, but my God it's long. After solving 90+ puzzles I had my fill and just wanted to see the end credits.
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