There are such a lot of video games that I performed and I’m actually unsure which I’d placed on the highest. However I do have a high Indie expertise of 2024.
I actually hate the thought of “high video games of 2024”. In a yr when solely 15 % of Steam video games performed have been from 2024, it simply feels form of foolish to have high video games for the yr.
Additionally, the tip of 2023 was onerous for the video games trade, diving proper into an especially tough 2024. It was a yr of layoffs, funding decreases, and the tip of numerous firms. AI began rapidly changing issues and immediately the tip of lockdown appeared to not be the beginning of hope. 2024 was tough for everybody.
That stated, I discovered a lot of areas the place indies have been stuffed with hope and adapting to the altering local weather. I spent the yr attending occasions – one thing I haven’t performed beforehand. I went on a sequence of talks in Scotland the place I noticed a lot of college students and younger builders absorbing info and feeling good about their futures. There was a lot hope!
I then discovered myself at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki the place I noticed a handful of indies showcasing, excited to indicate off their initiatives. I used to be operating the Large Indie Pitch the place I obtained to listen to about indies speaking about IPs and build up their model in a brand new manner, clearly adapting to the altering local weather of the video games trade. Although there are tons of people that may actually use funding and are in search of it, there are lots of people nonetheless targeted on creating video games.
Indie Dev Day actually opened my eyes to how unbelievable an indie gaming occasion might be. You see, the place I reside in England, there haven’t been many video games showcases. 2024 noticed the tip of Insomnia, AdventureX moved to digital, WASD had its final exhibiting and EGX mixed with MCMComiccon (and turned out to be fairly disappointing). There simply weren’t very many locations left for video games to showcase, and the rationale gave the impression to be due to excessive venue prices and lack of curiosity.
Nevertheless, Indie Dev Day confirmed an enormous, indie-only showcase – no large AAA video games prompting the complete occasion up – which was stuffed with video games, trade members, and most of the people. They even had two annuals the place you could possibly accumulate thriller sticker packets after which fill out the books. I’ve truly by no means seen an indie-focused occasion so properly accepted by the general public. I obtained the possibility to fulfill so many unbelievable indie builders and canopy their video games.
This was such an enormous turning level for me and my look on the indie video games house. In fact, GDC and Gamescom have been a consistant option to meet indie builders and see their video games, however seeing an occasion that was simply indie targeted was unbelievable. Dann, Quang and I ran Sensible Indie Treasures in the midst of the yr. It was a free-to-showcase-at, free-to-attend occasion throughout Develop: Brighton. It was unbelievable to offer again to the indie neighborhood and assist present a spot to showcase for them.
In 2025, I do really feel we’re over the worst of the worst and are heading in direction of a greater yr for indies. I’m excited to host one other free-to-showcase, free-to-attend occasion and create extra alternatives for indie builders in 2025. I additionally can’t wait to see what new video games come out of 2025 and what occasions present up out of the ashes of 2024. I wouldn’t have a finest video games of 2024 record, however with these experiences, I do have numerous hope for the video games of 2025.
About The Writer
Jupiter Hadley
Jupiter is a prolific indie sport journalist, writing for Metro UK, Large Boss Battle, AlphaBetaGamer, and lots of extra, all with a deal with smaller indie gems. She covers 1000’s of sport jams and indie video games on her YouTube channel, letting each sport have a second within the highlight. She runs indiegamejams.com, a calendar of all the sport jams happening on the planet, judges many jams and occasions.
