Hidden Gems: Indie Platformers You Shouldn't Miss

29 June 2025

So, you think you’ve played all the best platformers out there, huh? Mario? Check. Ori and the Blind Forest? Check. Celeste? Of course. But hold on—there’s a whole treasure chest of indie platformers just waiting to steal your heart and challenge your reflexes.

These games may not have the AAA marketing budget, but what they lack in flash, they make up for in creativity, charm, and gameplay that sticks with you like glue on your controller. Let's dive into some of the most underrated, overlooked, and downright magical indie platformers that deserve a spot on your radar.

Why Indie Platformers Deserve Your Time

Let’s be real—indie devs pour their souls into their games. Unlike big studios, indie teams (sometimes just one person!) make design choices based on love, not market research. That means you're getting pure, undistilled creativity.

In platformers especially, where precision, atmosphere, and storytelling go hand-in-hand, indie games often shine brighter than their blockbuster cousins. Whether you're into pixel-perfect jumps, quirky characters, or stories that tug at your heartstrings, there's an indie platformer out there with your name on it.

1. A Hat in Time – A Whimsical 3D Adventure

If you ever wished for a new Banjo-Kazooie or Super Mario 64, this game is the answer to your prayer. Developed by Gears for Breakfast (how cool is that name?), A Hat in Time offers a delightful mix of bright visuals, creative levels, and quirky humor.

You play as Hat Kid, a time-traveling girl with an adorable top hat and attitude to match. The platforming is tight, the environments are imaginative, and the boss fights? Chef’s kiss.

What really makes it shine? Its variety. One level has you solving a murder mystery on a train. Another, you're sneaking through a spooky forest. It's just... fun. Remember fun?

Play it if you like: Super Mario Sunshine, Psychonauts, bright colors, and big smiles.

2. Hollow Knight – Dark, Deep, and Absolutely Stunning

Okay, maybe calling Hollow Knight a hidden gem is a tiny stretch (it’s fairly well-known), but if you haven’t tried it yet—stop sleeping on it!

Team Cherry crafted something special here: a moody, atmospheric platformer that blends exploration, pixel-perfect combat, and rich lore. You’re a tiny knight in a giant, decaying insect kingdom. Sounds weird? It is. But in the best way possible.

It’s a tough game—oh yes, it’ll humble you. But the controls are buttery smooth, and the sense of accomplishment after beating a tough boss? Pure dopamine.

Play it if you like: Metroidvanias, Souls-like challenges, and hand-drawn art that looks like it belongs in a gallery.

3. The Messenger – 8-Bit, 16-Bit, All Bits of Awesome

Ever wondered what it would be like to play Ninja Gaiden if it had a modern twist? Well, meet The Messenger. What starts off as a retro-inspired 8-bit action platformer suddenly transforms—literally—into a 16-bit Metroidvania halfway through the game.

You read that right. The game shifts art styles mid-game, and it’s absolutely mind-blowing when it happens.

Beyond the clever mechanics, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, super self-aware, and the soundtrack will stay stuck in your head for weeks.

Play it if you like: Ninja Gaiden, time travel, sharp swords, and sharper dialogue.

4. Fez – Think Outside the Box (Literally)

Some games make you jump. Some make you think. Fez does both, and then tosses in a reality-bending mechanic that’ll twist your brain into spaghetti.

At its core, Fez is a 2D platformer... in a 3D world. You rotate the entire environment to explore new paths and solve puzzles that are as satisfying as they are complex. It’s like Rubik’s Cube meets Mario.

Made by just one guy (Phil Fish), Fez feels like it came from another dimension. It’s peaceful, thought-provoking, and oddly poetic. And hey, who doesn’t love a game that rewards you for just stopping and staring at the stars?

Play it if you like: Puzzles, retro visuals, and trippy mechanics that make you feel like a genius when solved.

5. Celeste – A Mountain Worth Climbing

Let’s get vulnerable for a minute. Celeste isn’t just a game about climbing a mountain—it’s about climbing your own mental health hurdles.

You play as Madeline, a young woman determined to reach the summit of Celeste Mountain. The challenge? Besides the pixel-perfect platforming that’ll make you break a sweat, she also deals with anxiety, self-doubt, and fear—just like the rest of us.

The story is beautiful. The music is haunting. And the gameplay? Brutal in the best way. But don’t worry—it’s never unfair, and every death teaches you something.

To say this game is emotional is an understatement. It’s a platformer with heart, and it’ll stay with you long after the credits roll.

Play it if you like: Meaningful stories, precise platforming, and games that make you feel things.

6. Gris – A Gorgeous Platforming Poem

Gris isn’t merely a game—it’s an experience. A visual poem wrapped inside a platformer.

You’re not here for high-score chasing or combo-killing. You’re here for the vibes. Think watercolor artwork come to life, with subtle puzzles and gentle platforming woven into a story about loss, grief, and self-discovery.

Everything, from the soundtrack to the color palette, evolves as you play. It’s minimalist, sure, but every pixel is dripping with purpose and emotion.

Play it if you like: Artistic games, emotional narratives, and platforming that’s more about feeling than finesse.

7. Rain World – Survival of the Cutest

Now this one's for the brave.

In Rain World, you play as a fragile little “slugcat” trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic ecosystem that wants you dead. It’s brutally tough, often unfair, and refuses to hold your hand.

But wow, it’s rewarding. The AI is dynamic. The world feels truly alive. And that sense of isolation? Chilling and beautiful all at once.

It’s not for everyone, but if you like your platformers punishing and your stories subtle, Rain World is worth the grind.

Play it if you like: Hardcore survival, emergent gameplay, and feeling like a small creature in a big, scary world.

8. Pizza Tower – Wacky Energy Meets Sonic Speed

Imagine if Wario Land and Looney Tunes had a love child—that’s Pizza Tower. This game is bonkers in the best way.

Fast-paced movement, over-the-top animations, chaotic stages, and a protagonist (Peppino Spaghetti) who screams louder than your Italian uncle at Thanksgiving.

Every level feels like a wild cartoon episode, and the flow of the gameplay is almost hypnotic. You’ll mess up, restart, and somehow love every second of it.

Play it if you like: Wario Land, nostalgia-fueled chaos, and platformers that don’t take themselves seriously.

9. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove – Retro Royalty

Okay, confession time. Shovel Knight is fairly well-known, but the Treasure Trove edition, with its multiple campaigns and storylines, often flies under the radar.

You start digging (literally) as Shovel Knight, but soon enough you’re playing as his former rivals, each with totally different mechanics and stories. It's like getting four separate games for the price of one.

Yacht Club Games not only nails retro vibes—they elevate them. The gameplay is tight, the humor is sharp, and the sprite work? Oh man, it’s top-tier pixel art.

Play it if you like: Mega Man, DuckTales, and NES-style platforming done to perfection.

10. Iconoclasts – Science, Religion, and Giant Wrenches

This one’s a thinker.

Iconoclasts mixes action-platforming with a surprisingly deep narrative about authority, belief, and rebellion. You play as Robin, a mechanic with a wrench big enough to fix power lines—and bust heads.

It’s got puzzle-solving, boss fights, and emotional storytelling all wrapped in a gorgeous pixel art style. The relationship between gameplay and story is tight, and the twists? You won't see 'em coming.

Play it if you like: Deeper themes, strong female protagonists, and stories that pack a punch.

Final Thoughts: Dive Deeper Into the Indie Scene

So, did any of these catch your eye? Or maybe you’ve already played a few and want more?

The beauty of the indie world is that it never stops growing. There’s always another hidden gem waiting around the corner—developed with love, packed with creativity, and often overlooked by the mainstream. These games might not always top the sales charts, but they sure know how to win hearts.

Next time you’re scrolling through your digital store of choice wondering what to play, give one of these underappreciated masterpieces a shot.

You might just find your new favorite game.