Hyper Light Drifter
Extremely complex and challenging, Hyper Light Drifter is a game that’s hard to explain. After playing it, you’ll find that you're left with just as many questions as answers. Calling upon classic 8-bit and 16-bit action titles for inspiration, Hyper Light Drifter is a grand and epic adventure.
The game is artistic, and while it's certainly a joy to look at, it's even more fun to play. Despite its lack of instruction, it isn't too difficult to jump in and begin your journey. Punctured by its memorable opening cutscene, Hyper Light Drifter’s tight controls and contemplative nature make it one of the best indie adventure games of 2016.
Stellaris
What indie games list would be complete without a masterful sci-fi title? This year, several notable planetary exploration games have been released, including the controversial No Man’s Sky. However, Stellaris is arguably one of the best examples of a well-rounded space game that’s boasts incredible depth and cohesive mechanics.
At the core, Stellaris is a hardcore 4X strategy game. However, once you dive into the game you’ll realize that interacting and exploring the universe distract you from the difficulty associated with the game’s 4X components. Stellaris is hands-down one of the best strategy games of 2016.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a dark breed of roguelike dungeon crawler. Not only will you explore the game’s mysteries, but you’ll try to prevent your band of Heroes from going insane in the process. Darkest Dungeon is a refreshing game in that it doesn’t always play fair, and you will undoubtedly have to make difficult decisions in order to progress forward in the game.
We feel the game is capable of earning the “horror” title, as the idea of losing your mind (and your life) is almost scarier than the instantaneous jumpscare deaths rampant within the modern horror genre. Darkest Dungeon is one of the most thought-provoking (and terrifying) indie games of 2016!
