Gamers, whether they prefer Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation, usually get most excited about games made by the console creators themselves – these games often define the year in gaming. While big-budget, high-profile games usually dominate the conversation, that’s not always true.
In 2025, everyone was talking about games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Now, will Mewgenics and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection generate the same buzz? Let’s explore some AA and indie games from the past that often deliver more impact than big-budget AAA titles, despite having smaller development budgets.
Scott Pilgrim EX
Beat Down In Toronto
Scott Pilgrim EX offers a fresh take on the series, bringing together characters from all the Scott Pilgrim stories to defend Toronto from an invasion. Each character boasts distinct abilities – Scott fights with punches and guitar-based attacks, while Ramona wields a hammer and can pull items from her seemingly endless purse. Players earn money by defeating enemies, which they can then spend in shops to buy items, accessories, and food to improve their characters’ stats.
The beautiful pixel art and fantastic music make Scott Pilgrim EX a standout brawler. Despite its simple gameplay, the game’s incredible detail and strong foundation mean it will likely remain enjoyable for years to come.
Pokemon Pokopia
Hanging Out With Nostalgia
Pokemon Pokopia has exceeded expectations for a Pokemon spin-off, especially one that combines it with life-simulation gameplay. The game features a unique twist: Ditto can transform into a human, allowing players to explore diverse environments and create welcoming homes for hidden Pokemon. Building these habitats is straightforward, and simply spending time with the Pokemon is a delightful experience.
Learning is simple in Pokemon Pokopia, ranging from basic tasks like collecting materials by breaking rocks to using unique skills, such as watering plants. Despite the absence of battles, it’s easily one of the best Pokemon games released in years – even better than some of the main series titles.
Mewgenics
Cat Tactics
Mewgenics is a highly engaging tactical game that’s easy to get hooked on – you’ll always want to play just one more round. Players collect and breed cats, combining them to create unique hybrids with randomly generated stats.
The game features runs where players control a team of cats in turn-based battles. Like classic roguelikes, repeated playthroughs lead to a rewarding sense of progress, even though it takes effort. And on top of everything, it’s hilariously funny!
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Age Of Dragons
Just like Final Fantasy, you can start playing Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection even if you’re new to the series. The game takes place in a fresh world where you’ll battle monsters in turn-based combat, teaming up with both human allies and monster companions – it’s similar to Pokemon, but also features human fighters.
With its bright, cartoon-like graphics, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection feels like stepping into an anime. It captures the charm of classic 90s RPGs while being more approachable than other Monster Hunter games. The difficulty is well-tuned and the gameplay is easier to learn, making it a fantastic game for newcomers and fans alike.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
A Bug’s Life
Hollow Knight: Silksong is an incredibly well-made game, excelling in its art style, world design, and fast-paced combat. Like many Soulslike games, it’s a challenging 2D Metroidvania that will test your skills. While difficult, overcoming these challenges is incredibly satisfying.
As you progress, the game will expand, letting you explore new locations and improve your character. You’ll even be able to revisit earlier areas with your enhanced abilities. It’s impressive how much content is included for an independently developed game, and it’s all meaningful – there’s no unnecessary fluff. Team Cherry deserves praise for their dedication to both the game and its community.
Baby Steps
Left Foot, Right Foot
Not everyone will enjoy Baby Steps, and while it’s jokingly called the Dark Souls of walking simulators, the comparison actually fits. The game puts you in the shoes of Nate, an outsider who suddenly finds himself in a fantasy world with limited control over his movement. Players must navigate by moving one foot at a time, which is surprisingly challenging.
Controlling the character Nate can be really difficult – it’s like trying to operate a tank as a worm! However, his conversations with other characters are fantastic, and the game features a wide variety of interesting environments. Because of this, Baby Steps is definitely worth playing.
Split Fiction
If Only AI Were This Good
Split Fiction is a great example of a small game development team achieving the quality and excitement of larger companies like Activision or Square Enix, but with even more dedication. This game is designed for two players and features the story of writers Mio and Zoe, who find themselves stuck in a simulator that transforms their creative ideas – blending fantasy and sci-fi – into playable VR mini-games.
Split Fiction keeps things fresh and fast-paced with constantly changing gameplay. One moment you might be water skiing, the next transforming into a magical creature and navigating platforming challenges. It’s a truly inventive game from Hazelight Studios.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The French Connection
It’s impressive that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was created by the small team at Sandfall Interactive as their very first game. While clearly inspired by classic RPGs like Super Mario RPG and Final Fantasy, it also feels modern and shares similarities with games like Persona 5.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a powerfully emotional story with engaging, turn-based combat that truly showcases the potential of RPGs. Every element of the game feels polished and complete, contributing to its award-winning success in 2025.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
A Knight’s Tale
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a large, open-world role-playing game played from a first-person perspective, and it’s comparable to beloved titles like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The game is set in 15th-century Bohemia and focuses on historical accuracy, meaning you won’t find any magic. Instead, it offers a very well-crafted experience with realistic exploration, combat, and interactions with characters.
In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you’ll truly feel the impact of combat – both when blocking attacks and landing your own. The characters you encounter will react realistically to your choices, making every decision feel significant. Sometimes, the game feels less like a traditional RPG and more like a detailed simulation, but this adds to the authentic and memorable experience.
Dispatch
Better Than Games AND Cartoons?
When playing Dispatch, it’s easy to get lost in the story and forget you’re even playing a game. You take on the role of Robert, a former superhero now tasked with training a group of new recruits and deciding if they have what it takes to become real heroes.
Robert is inexperienced and faces challenging clients who are often rude and erratic, requiring him to carefully consider how to respond. The new series, Dispatch, uses fantastic storytelling, voice acting, and animation, making it feel similar to popular animated shows like Invincible rather than a typical story-based game.
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2026-04-07 03:05