Everyone benefited from the rise of indie games, and a few even became incredibly popular, defining or creating entirely new types of games. Over the last decade, many indie titles have emerged, but which ones were truly groundbreaking when they first appeared, or still feel fresh and innovative today? If you’re a fan of indie games, these are all worth checking out. We’ll be ranking them based on their originality.
Founded in early 2017, Hololive has quickly become a leading force in live streaming. The Japanese company saw huge growth in the early 2020s, with creators like Gawr Gura and Kiryu Coco gaining massive popularity online. This success allowed Hololive to expand globally, creating branches in Indonesia and China and launching a popular English-speaking group. Now, fans can connect with their favorite Hololive streamers in a new indie life simulation game.
The story of One Piece is entering its final arc, meaning the Straw Hat crew is nearing its complete lineup. Currently, the crew consists of ten members: Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, and Jinbe. While already a large group, Luffy intends to add at least one more member, and possibly more, to his crew as they pursue their goal of becoming the Pirate King. Several characters are potential candidates to join the Straw Hats before the story concludes.
A recent study from Newzoo (March 2025) found that PC gamers primarily play older games – titles released six or more years ago make up over two-thirds of their total gaming time. Popular, long-lasting games like DotA 2 and League of Legends are a major reason for this, but players also spend time revisiting games they’ve previously purchased. Often, though, they aren’t sure which game to play next.
One possibility is that this marks the start of a new “Phantom” event, a complicated alternate reality game (ARG) that has appeared in several Battlefield games. These events usually involve players solving puzzles both within the game and on external websites, collaborating to unlock special cosmetic items or weapons, like the Phantom Bow. However, the appearance of an alien skull – instead of the usual split human skull linked to the Phantom group – suggests this could be a hint towards something different. Some players believe it might signal a new game mode based on aliens for Battlefield 6.
As a huge One Piece fan, I truly believe the Straw Hats aren’t just the core of the story, they’re probably the most iconic crew ever in manga and anime! It’s amazing to think about how far Luffy and his friends have come over the last twenty-plus years – from the East Blue all the way to the New World, even to the skies and underwater! They’ve overcome incredible obstacles – defeated powerful enemies, overthrown tyrants, challenged a corrupt system, and fought in huge wars. Through it all, they’ve shared so many laughs, tears, victories, and losses. The crew has grown over time, and some members have stepped away briefly, but the Straw Hats have always remained the heart and soul of One Piece.
Master of Command is a standout strategy game coming in 2025, offering a fresh take on the genre. It combines the historical setting of the Seven Years’ War with the unpredictable challenges of rogue-like gameplay. Players will lead historical armies, carefully manage supplies, and engage in difficult battles where every soldier lost is felt, but every win is incredibly rewarding. Successfully completing a campaign, especially defeating its challenging bosses, provides a truly satisfying sense of accomplishment. Unlike sprawling grand strategy games, Master of Command focuses on intense, tactical combat, and its procedurally generated campaigns ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same. For fans of games like Empire or Napoleon Total War who are looking for something new, this could be the perfect fit.
For players who truly love having complete freedom, these games are a dream come true, offering some of the most unpredictable and unusual experiences gaming has ever seen. If you try these titles, don’t worry about making ‘wrong’ choices – embrace your instincts and go wild! After all, a game world is the perfect place to explore the results of your decisions. Here’s a list of games with the most over-the-top and hilarious choices you can make.
Throughout the long run of One Piece, the author, Oda, has revealed many impressive powers. However, only two systems truly define strength within the series. The first, Devil Fruits, were introduced right at the start and continue to be a major source of power, even in the latest story arcs. The second is Haki, which has also remained crucial and become even more important as the series progresses.
People who grew up with classic consoles like the NES, PlayStation 1, and original Xbox have a unique perspective on older games. While websites like OpenCritic do have scores for retro games, it’s hard for them to truly capture what reviewers thought back in the 80s and 90s because many of those original reviews are gone. Considering this, it’s likely that many of the most beloved games of all time would have received scores of 95 or higher back then.