Rarely do we come across a game that refuses to rely on overused and outdated mechanics while only changing a handful of aspects, and rarer still are those games free to play. In order to showcase fresh experiences that are safe for your wallet we have gathered a collection of free indie games with unique gameplay styles, all of which are currently available on Steam.
Crypt
On the surface, Crypt appears like a standard, pixelated, 3d, dungeon crawler. The only light you have is from your torch, creating a unique, if spooky, atmosphere. However, on closer inspection, the game hints that there is more to it than looting keys and exploring a crypt. The options menu contains unique toggles such as “teddy”, “italian voice acting” and “smell-o-vision”, and after playing for a while, it’s clear this game was truly meant to drive you insane, revealing useless levers, unsolvable puzzle blocks and keys that don’t open the way out.
Crypt was originally created by the YouTuber Valefisk, who made the game to torture his friends. After avid encouragement from his viewers to release it to the public he updated it and released it to Steam where it can now be beaten.
The One Who Pulls out the Sword Will Be Crowned King
While this game seems simple at first. In versus mode, you and a hidden lobby of other players race to pull the sword free from the stone inches at a time by hovering your cursor over it and dragging upwards. Every time someone in the lobby wrenches their sword free before you, it causes your sword to grow a little longer and a little heavier. If enough people pull their sword free before you do then your sword could end up stretching dozens of feet into the air, still sunk into the stone. Eventually, the sword is pulled free, and the player is rewarded with an extended animation crowning them as king. Though a laborious and tedious task, the satisfaction of freeing the sword is truly worth the effort.
We Become What We Behold
Made by Nicky Case, a content creator, writer and game designer, this game features short but impactful gameplay centered around a field of circles and squares. Taking pictures of their activities and displaying them on the “news” is how the player solves the puzzles between each stage, eventually leading to a point of no return that teaches the player hard lessons about the dangers of fear-mongering and the importance of examining our own ignorance. Despite being a short game it’s one that can stick in your memory for quite some time.
The Supper
Despite being free to play, The Supper is a visually and narratively impressive game. Made by Octavi Navarro, the game centers around Ms. Appleton, an older woman who runs a soup kitchen in a unique fantasy world filled with interesting characters. The pixel graphics and writing add a ton of charm, and the story leads to a twist ending that is better played then spoiled. The majority of the gameplay is a point-and-click adventure with unique animations for each interaction which puts more popular point-and-click adventures to shame, though with a roughly 30 minute playtime.
Doki Doki Literature Club
Made widely known by YouTubers such as Game Grumps and Markiplier, the mystique of DDLC has largely worn off for most people familiar with the name. However, for those fortunate enough to have abstained, this visual novel contains a mind-boggling story that is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Despite a care-free and cutesy style on the surface, even its Steam page gives the warning “This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.” And if you decide to experience it for yourself you will see why. Because of this clash of genres, DDLC has grown a cult following, garnering over 15 thousand positive reviews, and led to Team Salvato releasing Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Which contains hours of additional content, music and art.
Deepest Sword
This side-scrolling platformer with charming pixel graphics has a unique take on the genre. There is no jumping, crouching, or combat, but rather the player must maneuver their tiny knight by swinging their sword, eventually reaching a dragon resting on her horde. Though you soon discover that your sword isn’t quite large enough to do the job, causing you to replay sections and unlock new ones, each time with a longer sword, making the levels progressively more challenging while revealing new obstacles in familiar areas.
Matthew has been a lifelong lover of video games since he could first hold a controller, and among his favorites are narrative-heavy, singleplayer games like; Divinity: Original Sin 2, Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Hollow Knight. Matthew also plays tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and Call of Cthulu. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s in Sociology and minored in English.
