Proof That Price Doesn’t Define Play
Sometimes, the games with the smallest budgets leave the biggest impressions. While blockbuster titles soak up attention with their cinematic trailers and sprawling worlds, a quiet tier of developers has mastered the art of doing more with less—crafting experiences powered by creativity instead of cash. Discover twenty budget releases that broke expectations, earned loyal followings, and reminded players that greatness doesn’t always come with a AAA label.
1. Undertale
In a gaming world obsessed with fighting, Undertale dared to ask: Do all monsters really need to die? This clever twist on RPG battles turned Toby Fox’s small $5,000 Kickstarter project into a huge hit after its 2015 release, selling over a million copies in five months.
UNDERTALE - Full Game 100% Walkthrough by BeardBear
2. Broforce
Stuffed with action movie parodies like Rambro and Brobocop, Broforce turns Hollywood heroes into explosive chaos. This run-and-gun platformer celebrates ’80s action excess as players rescue hostages and embrace over-the-top fun in a wild tribute to classic mayhem.
Broforce gameplay PC HD [1080p/60fps] by GameGrindZone
3. Celeste
Launched in 2018 by Matt Makes Games, Celeste evolved into a beautiful platformer about Madeline’s climb up Celeste Mountain—even hiding its original prototype inside as a nostalgic bonus. This was also a four-day game jam idea that became one of gaming’s most emotional stories.
4. Hollow Knight
Team Cherry’s 2017 gem Hollow Knight began small, crowdfunded by passionate fans. Its hand-drawn world of Hallownest and tight combat made a strong start, then grew through four free expansions, turning a modest project into one of the most haunting, complete adventures in indie gaming.
5. Dead Cells
Many games pick a lane, but Dead Cells combines roguelike and Metroidvania styles into a fresh 2018 hit with permadeath and random levels. Behind it stands Motion Twin, a rare worker-owned studio where every developer shares equal credit and even jumps between creative roles.
DEAD CELLS Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) No Commentary by Shirrako
6. Papers, Please
Papers, Please turns something as boring as document-checking into real drama. Lucas Pope’s 2013 indie hit makes bureaucracy thrilling, putting players in charge of a border booth in Arstotzka—where every passport stamp decides someone’s fate and every choice tests your sense of right and wrong.
Papers, Please [2013] | Full Game Playthrough (No Commentary) by Full Game Playthroughs
7. Stardew Valley
Behind a secret casino door waits the mysterious Mr. Qi—but that’s just one surprise in this cozy farming simulator. Released in 2016, Stardew Valley was Eric Barone’s solo project, built over four years as players revived their grandpa’s farm and made heartfelt small-town friendships.
A Beginner's Guide to Stardew Valley by Salmence
8. Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight proudly leans into goofiness with its hilarious cheat modes. Backed by an early Kickstarter, Yacht Club Games’ 2014 hit blended retro charm, modern polish, and a heroic shovel-wielder that turned a quirky idea into a beloved classic.
9. Terraria
Inspired by classics like Metroid and Castlevania, Terraria became something much bigger when it launched in 2011. Re-Logic’s sandbox adventure grew beyond its roots with random worlds, endless exploration, and an incredible collection of over 5,400 items waiting to be discovered or fought for.
Terraria | Gameplay Walkthrough Full Game 4K UHD - No commentary by Kari-Pekka
10. Risk Of Rain
Risk of Rain’s pixel art came from practicality, not nostalgia—but it worked perfectly. Created by Hopoo Games’ two-person team in 2013, its random levels and towering bosses built a roguelike experience that feels epic despite its humble, efficient beginnings.
Risk of Rain Gameplay [HD] [No commentary] by TheMuteGamer
11. Bastion
A closet in a New York apartment became the surprising birthplace of Bastion’s narration, recorded by Logan Cunningham. That intimate setup helped shape Supergiant Games’ signature storytelling style, with Darren Korb blending music and voice into the game’s reactive and emotional 2011 action RPG experience.
12. The Stanley Parable
Can a game about following orders become a reflection on free will? The Stanley Parable, which evolved from a Half-Life 2 mod into Galactic Cafe’s 2013 hit, dives into that question through branching storylines and Kevan Brighting’s witty narration that makes players question their choices.
13. Braid
At the heart of Jonathan Blow’s 2008 release, Braid, is its time-bending gameplay, turning platforming into brain-twisting puzzles. The mechanic didn’t just create challenges; it showed how indie games could completely reshape classic genres and helped spark a golden age for independent game developers.
Braid FULL GAME Walkthrough No Commentary (Longplay) by Noire Blue
14. Hotline Miami
Step into a neon-soaked nightmare where pounding synthwave and creepy animal masks rule the chaos. Released in 2012, Hotline Miami by Dennaton Games delivers brutal, fast-paced combat that channels pure 1980s energy. Its pulsing soundtrack and surreal story still hit hard today.
15. Oxenfree
Oxenfree changed storytelling in games with real-time dialogue that players can interrupt or steer. Night School Studio’s eerie teen thriller, drawing from The Goonies and Stand By Me, creates multiple endings shaped entirely by player choices and haunting, natural conversations.
OXENFREE Full Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) No Commentary by Hopezera Gaming
16. Night In The Woods
Born from a modest Kickstarter, Night in the Woods grew into a polished 2017 adventure from Infinite Fall. It follows Mae, a college dropout returning home to Possum Springs. The game blends rhythm mini-games, witty dialogue, and heartfelt storytelling into one unforgettable coming-of-age journey.
17. Fez
Indie Game: The Movie captured the rise of something special—Fez, a 2012 platformer from Polytron that broke rules by letting players rotate a 3D world to explore in 2D. Beneath that clever twist hid an even deeper mystery: a secret language fans eventually decoded.
FEZ - Full Game by Encrypted Duck
18. Katana Zero
This 2019 neo-noir action platformer from Askiisoft weaves time distortion through fast, one-hit combat and an unreliable story. It follows Subject Zero’s brutal missions and his haunting encounters with the mysterious figure known as Fifteen.
Katana ZERO - Full Game Playthrough (Edited) (No Commentary) by Indie Games
19. Don’t Starve
With its dark, Tim Burton-like art style, Don’t Starve turns survival into something eerie and whimsical. Released in 2013 by Klei Entertainment, it traps players in random worlds where they must manage hunger, health, and sanity by using clever items to delay the ever-present threat of death.
Don't Starve #1 | In the beginning... (No Commentary) by HexaChop
20. FTL: Faster Than Light
Climb into the captain’s seat and lead your crew across space in FTL: Faster Than Light, a 2012 roguelike where every fuel and weapon choice means life or destruction. Its tense, random battles and unforgettable soundtrack helped this indie hit reach cult-classic status.
FTL Faster Than Light Gameplay (No Commentary) Part 1 by Fly Floc
