Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2026 | Part 1

This Friday Follow-UP #50 is the first part of my most anticipated indie games coming in 2026. Get your wishlists ready because I have 50 upcoming games coming your way!

Dec 12, 2025

With all the showcases over the past months and weeks, 2026 is shaping up to deliver a fantastic lineup of indie games. I’ve curated the upcoming titles that are firmly on my radar, and there’s a good chance several of them will be reviewed on the channel. Get ready to dive into some amazing trailers—and don’t forget to wishlist your favorites! Let me know which ones stood out to you in the comments. This is part 1 of a 2-post series totaling 50 games!

50. Kejora

Kejora is a hand-drawn puzzle platfoirmer where the protagonist releazises that her peaceful village has been reliving the same day over and over. Kejora and here friends try to unvcopver the origin of the mysterious time loop.

🎮 Kejora | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | January 7th 2026 (demo out now)

49. Big Hops

Tongue-swing, free climb, and build your own path forward in a new kind of 3D platformer! Plant veggie bounce pads, tightropes, hookshots, and much more. Find a way home through huge Desert, Ocean, and Mountain worlds and collect bugs, upgrade your backpack, and meet animal friends along the way.

🎮 Big Hops | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | January 12th, 2026 (demo out now)

48. Cassette Boy

All you see is all there is—Cassette Boy: a Puzzle RPG where what exists depends on you. We’re still in development and plan to add tons of new mechanics, monsters, and puzzles. Stay tuned!

🎮 CASSETTE BOY | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | January 14th, 2026 (demo out now)

47. Cairn

Reach a summit never climbed before in this survival-climber from the creators of Furi and Haven. Climb anywhere and plan your route carefully, managing pitons and resources to survive unforgiving Mount Kami. Discover what Aava is willing to sacrifice to achieve the ascent of a lifetime.

🎮 Cairn | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | January 29th, 2026 (demo out now)

46. Tearscape

As a hunter, you explore a dark, interconnected world filled with dungeons, relying on precise combat to survive. Battle grotesque monsters, expand your arsenal, and uncover hidden paths in a non-linear, pixel art journey.

🎮 Tearscape | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | February 2nd, 2026 (demo out now)

45. Lil Gator Game: In The Dark DLC

Make way for Lil Gator Game: In the Dark. Lil Gator is back with an all new BIG DLC Expansion, doubling the size of Lil Gator Game.

🎮 Lil Gator Game: In the Dark | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | February 12, 2026

44. Demon Tides

Explore the open seas and uncover the kingdom’s dark secrets as you expressively platform your way across dozens of locales, upgrading your gear every step of the way!

🎮 Demon Tides | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | February 19th, 2026

43. Slay The Spire 2

The iconic roguelike deckbuilder returns. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, and discover relics of immense power in Slay the Spire 2!

🎮 Slay the Spire 2 | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | March 2026

42. Alruna: End of History

Alruna; now in wide-screen! A different kind of Metroidvania, a tour-de-force of game design, with world-class temples and dungeons. Dead men yearn for Heaven, but Elysium remains out of their grasp.

🎮 Alruna: End of History | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (demo out now)

41. Lovish

Lovish is an outrageous 8-bit action-adventure game! Quest with Sir Solomon through a series of bite-sized rooms, as he attempts to free Princess Tsuna, the woman he loves, from the Devil Lord’s clutches!

🎮 Lovish | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (demo out now)

40. Garbage Country

Garbage Country is a post-apocalyptic exploration sim from the creator of Cloud Gardens and Kingdom: New Lands. Drive across a handcrafted wasteland. Repel waves of enemy bots in tense tower-defense battles. Upgrade your car to travel further into the forgotten world buried under the dust.

🎮 GARBAGE COUNTRY | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

39. Map Map: A Game About Maps

In this game YOU make the maps! Embark on a treasure hunt as cartographer of an adventure crew. Orientate yourself on uncharted islands and measure distances to mark locations as accurately as possible.

🎮 Map Map - A Game About Maps | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (demo out now)

38. Townseek

Take to the skies on a whimsical voyage across Explora and uncover the lost legacy of Sir Reginald Sharkingston! Trade, fish, mine, and farm, meet a unique cast of characters and explore vibrant towns along the way. The whole world is your sea now, so set sail and see all it has to offer!

🎮 Townseek | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (demo out now)

37. MOONSHIRE

Embark on a journey to save MOONSHIRE as you navigate through a mysterious world filled with dungeons, weapons, upgrades, and fast-paced combat!

🎮 Moonshire | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

36. Bogdan’s Cross

Experience the journey of Bogdan, a shepherd turned legendary Templar knight, in Bogdan’s Cross. Traverse stunning landscapes, battle fierce foes, and uncover the hidden tale that shapes the destiny of the Templar Order. Become the hero of your own legend in this action-packed adventure!

🎮 Bogdan’s Cross | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

35. over the hill

Explore the world in the golden age of offroading. Drive iconic vehicles from the 60s to 80s by yourself or with friends through challenging trails and beautiful scenery.

🎮 over the hill | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

34. Ikuma - The Frozen Compass

Embark on a haunting journey into the cold in this narrative adventure - either alone or with a friend. IKUMA tells the story of Sam, a teenage boy who finds himself stranded in the Arctic with his dog. He must face not only its harsh environment, but also something lurking deeper in the shadows.

🎮 IKUMA - The Frozen Compass | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

33. The Backworld

Slip between the cracks of reality into a world where danger awaits at every turn. Survive with strategy, battling when necessary or fleeing when the odds are stacked against you. Collect strange items, unlock new abilities, and recruit unique companions. Forge your own path; every choice matters.

🎮 The Backworld | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

32. Blighted

Battle through a psychedelic western nightmare in this Metroidvania action RPG from the creators of Guacamelee! and Nobody Saves the World.

🎮 Blighted | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

31. Rootbound

A physics-based action adventure about a plantling’s quest to save its home from a mysterious blight. Equipped with your sentient backpack, you venture into a broken world. Meet lost souls, solve ancient puzzles, fight dangerous monsters, and uncover the secrets of a long-forgotten civilization.

🎮 Rootbound | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (playtest available)

30. Restory: Chill Electronics Repair

Run a quaint electronics repair shop in mid-2000s Tokyo. Grow your business by carefully restoring iconic video game consoles, cell phones, music players, and other nostalgic devices. Talk to customers, hear their stories, and see how your decisions impact both their lives and your shop.

🎮 ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026 (playtest available)

29. Serial World

Something strange is happening in Bricktown, and Milo’s on a mission to get to the bottom of it! Leave your home behind as you explore a series of dungeons with the help of your Anima - unusual creatures with unique personalities, abilities, and evolutions - to solve this mystery once and for all.

🎮 Serial World | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

28. Good Boy

A cozy, heart-warming, creature-collecting PET-roidvania! Pilot a LAIKA Canine Space Rover and explore the vibrant world of Terra II. Capture and research alien creatures, complete quests for your fellow canine crew, and forge a bond with your new human friend in a charming sci-fi adventure.

🎮 Good Boy | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

27. D-topia

Step into the world of D-topia in this gentle-paced puzzle adventure. In D-topia, life is curated by artificial intelligence to maximize happiness. As the newest Facilitator, it’s up to you to solve puzzles to keep the D-topia residents happy and the facility running.

🎮 D-topia | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

26. SUPER ADVENTURE

Turn around to parry and block! Equipped with a shield on your back, jump your way through vivid levels, meet funny characters, and face challenging bosses. Fight using a quick-firing Alien Blaster or a melee-focused sword! Choose the path you want to go in this SUPER ADVENTURE!

🎮 SUPER ADVENTURE | Steam
🗓️ Release Date | 2026

Thanks for checking out part 1 of a group of way too many games! Here is Part 2!