Anticipation is building as numerous indie titles are set to launch in 2025 and later. A diverse range of adventures awaits, spanning first-person shooters, romantic simulations, puzzles, roguelikes, and much more. With such a variety, you’re bound to discover some exciting new additions for your gaming collection.
We’ve already seen some remarkable indie titles released this year. Just glance at our enthusiastic reviews of Wanderstop and Blue Prince for a taste of the standout experiences thus far. Furthermore, our ongoing Indie Spotlight series highlights the extensive array of unforgettable indie games that have graced us in the year’s initial half, with plenty more yet to come.
Featuring indie games from numerous genres across all platforms, we’ve compiled a list of highly anticipated future releases that you won’t want to miss. Dive in below as we explore some of the most notable indie games set to arrive soon.
2025 Releases
Skin Deep
Scheduled Release: April 30, 2025
Skin Deep, by Blendo Games, marries first-person shooting with immersive simulation. Players step into the shoes of Nina Pasadena, who works for an insurance company on a starship populated by cats, as she battles against pirates. The game is anticipated to be filled with humor, evidenced by the positive reception of its demo during Steam Next Fest, and it’s sure to rank high on many players’ wishlists.
Date Everything
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Date Everything, developed by Sassy Chap Games, presents a comedic sandbox dating simulation with an array of 100 fully voiced characters. Players, equipped with magical “dateviators” glasses, can bring inanimate objects in their vicinity to life for potential romance, friendship, or rivalry, as each character comes with its own narrative. It’s a unique twist on dating with an emphasis on storytelling.
Tales of the Shire
Scheduled Release: July 29, 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
If you’ve dreamed of experiencing the cozy life of a hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, Tales of the Shire can make that wish come true. Created by Weta Workshop, this upcoming life simulation game allows players to create and embody their personal hobbit character in the Shire, engaging in activities like home decoration, gardening, fishing, cooking, and interacting with the local community.
Not Yet Dated – 2025
Winter Burrow
Expected Release: TBC 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
In Winter Burrow, players will immerse themselves in a charming survival storyline reminiscent of Wind in the Willows. Developed by Pine Creek Games, you’ll assume the role of a small mouse returning to restore their childhood home. Despite confronting frigid environments and dangerous creatures while gathering materials, you’ll always find comfort back in the burrow where you can craft, bake, and sew.
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
Release Date: TBC 2025
Platforms: PC
Developer Happy Broccoli Games brings us Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping, the latest adventure featuring the esteemed gumshoe Eugene McQuacklin. Continuing the legacy of the previous Secret Salami mystery, players will explore a luxurious campsite beset by eerie occurrences. As this feathered detective, players will sift through clues and question suspects to unravel the mystery.
The Mermaid’s Mask
Release date: TBC 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
The Mermaid’s Mask continues the story from the acclaimed 2019 murder-mystery, Tangle Tower, by SFB Games. Taking players through a new investigation involving the murder of Magnus Mortuga, the former captain of an enigmatic submarine, the game welcomes back beloved characters Detective Grimoire and Sally as they seek to uncover the truth amidst strange occurrences that hint at a possible curse. Engage with a variety of 3D objects to solve puzzles and interact with the gameplay in a fresh and immersive manner. A demo is currently available on Steam, promising to reignite our detective passion.
Slay the Spire 2
Release date: TBC 2025
Platforms: PC
Following the success of the original game, Slay the Spire 2 by Mega Crit promises an exciting return to the Spire with a range of new slayers, adversaries, events, treasures, and bosses. Developed on a new engine, the sequel introduces fresh strategies and deck-building options, and it will initially launch in Early Access. Developers are hinting at novel gameplay mechanics, leaving fans eager for further information.
Wheel World
Release Date: TBC 2025
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
Wheel World, previously referred to as Ghost Bike, is an imaginative project from Messhof, creators of Nidhogg. Players will traverse the world as a city kid capturing Ghost Bikes—legendary couriers rumored to traverse between the realms of the living and the dead. Featuring races and numerous challenges in a distinctive semi-open world, custom bike part collection adds a unique spin to this striking action-adventure.
Upcoming Titles – TBC
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories invites players to manage a small-town convenience store set in the early ’90s. As college student Makoto Hayakawa, players will handle deliveries, manage sales items, and restock shelves while encountering various characters and unravelling their narratives.
Is This Seat Taken?
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Is This Seat Taken? by Poti Poti Studio is an engaging puzzle game that requires you to find the perfect seating arrangements for characters with unique preferences. The game is designed to be low-pressure and cozy, providing players with a charming art style as they place characters in various scenarios, from public transport to social gatherings.
Curiosmos
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Curiosmos is a future space simulation game from Celine & The Silly Stars that promises a delightful blend of coziness and whimsy. In this game, players can construct their own solar systems by merging asteroids with stardust, creating gravity, and crafting atmospheres. As you build, you’ll learn about weather systems, shape landscapes, and ultimately breathe life into your universe.
Crescent County
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
Crescent County is set to present an open-world delivery sim where players will navigate on a motorbroom, filled with vibrant colors. Tasked with delivering packages, players can also participate in races and assist locals, while customizing their broom and living space. The game encourages building relationships with characters met along the way, and potentially experiencing romantic developments.
Wylde Society
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Wylde Society is the forthcoming life sim from the makers of Wylde Flowers. Players will follow Vivian, a witch and socialite, as she manages her own magical boarding house, coordinating events, matchmaking visitors, and engaging in witchy antics along the way.
Toem 2
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Toem 2 by Something We Made is the anticipated sequel to the beloved photo adventure game from 2021. Players will once again explore the world in the role of a photographer, capturing images while uncovering hidden secrets, solving puzzles, and assisting friends on their journey. The original game’s charming and tranquil vibe has fans excited for this follow-up.
Blippo+
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Blippo+ is a mysterious new title from Panic, the publisher behind Untitled Goose Game and Thank Goodness You’re Here. This intriguing game promises to deliver an FMV, text-based “television experience” inspired by ’80s and ’90s media, and it looks wonderfully eccentric.
The Gecko Gods
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC, Switch
Searching for a calming puzzle experience? Look no further than The Gecko Gods. Players will embody a small gecko exploring a mysterious island, making use of agile movements to scale cliffs and munch on insects. The game’s compelling quest revolves around saving a friend, and features puzzling challenges within ancient ruins and uncovering the lore of its enchanting world.
Map Map
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Map Map is a delightful endeavor by Pipapo Games that revolves around the art of cartography. Drawing inspiration from Breath of the Wild, players will become a cartographer roaming islands and marking crucial locations on their maps. It invites players to fill the empty spaces of the map with landmarks and ancient ruins while also searching for hidden treasures.
Loose Leaf
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Loose Leaf is an inventive tea simulation game by Kitfox Games, the studio behind Boyfriend Dungeon. As players manage a tea room, they will engage with a highly detailed tea brewing experience, controlling variables like temperature and steeping time. Players will gather ingredients and craft the perfect cup for guests while lending an ear to their guests’ problems and using tarot readings to assist them.
I Am A Caterpillar
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC
Revealed during the Wholesome Direct 2023, I Am A Caterpillar from DevFatigued invites players to take control of a caterpillar determined to thwart its transformation into a butterfly. As players guide this charming creature through vivid environments, they’ll interact with various woodland denizens in a quest to carve their own destiny.
Way to the Woods
Release Date: TBC
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox Game Pass)
Way to the Woods narrates the tale of two deer navigating through a deserted world as they strive to return home. Garnering attention since its teaser in 2019 due to its visually stunning setting and the companionship of its deer protagonists, the game derives inspiration from beloved titles like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and The Last of Us. The recent showcase during Wholesome Snack reignited excitement among fans.
Henry Halfhead