There was a time in gaming when the largest releases defined the landscape. Now, with a renaissance in indie development, smaller titles are making waves like never before - no longer padding out the release schedule but adding vital nuance to the conversation in ways that are exciting to see. And so the question remains; what’s the secret to making a splash?

For those of us who remember the Zelda  days of yore, when the world of gaming was a little younger, it’s difficult to imagine how any modern game could compete with that sense of mystery and wonder. 

Then came Hollow Knight, by Team Cherry, a game that uses that same sweet melancholia to lull players into a false sense of security before challenging them with sadistically crushing combat that goes toe-to-toe with any gargantuan release by Fromm Software.

For those gamers who tend toward the avantgarde, there is Undertale. An unassuming title that’s easily overlooked due to its prosaic style. It’s difficult to talk about Undertale without spoiling its conceit, but let’s just say it plays upon gaming convention itself to tell its story.

It’s rough around the edges, but that is to be expected from a one-man developer. If auteur theory can be applied to gaming, then Toby Fox is one for our era.

Crafting has become something of a punchline in recent years. So, it is doubly impressive that developer Thunder Lotus Games utilised this mechanic to create Spiritfarer. 

This is a game so lovingly crafted (excuse the pun) that it manages to turn a metaphysical farming simulator into a majestic musing on grief, loss and closure. 

Not only that, but  a pet cat joins you on your travels. Who could ask for more?

Roll7’s achingly fun skateboarding platformer OlliOlli World is a testament to how indie games can run with a tried-and-true formula (in this case, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater) and remix this into something just as addictive, but with a fresh take as well. 

Like its sister title from the same studio, Rollerdrome, these types of games break down the wall between sports and adventure gaming, allowing the player to blur the lines between genres, resulting in an experience that is satisfying on many levels.

ICHI was lucky enough to collaborate with Roll7 on the launch of OlliOlli World and being part of that journey was definitely not a grind for us (excuse the pun).

Frictional Games creates spine-tinglers like no other. In 2015, they released Soma, a deep-sea survival horror set at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The themes it explores are just as deep, with echoes of Philip K Dick’s darker fever dreams.

This indelible playing experience haunted players long after they came up for air. One of those players was William Eubank, director of big-budget Hollywood film ‘Underwater’ starring Kirsten Stewart. Eubank is on record as citing Soma as one of his main influences for the film. 

With larger developers finally now basking in the glow of successful screen adaption, it is wonderful to see the ripple effect that smaller ones have on the wider culture as well.

The above list is by no means exhaustive – which is kind of the point. The beauty of this era in gaming is that such titles are no longer few and far between in a sea of ever-expanding larger franchises. Independent gaming is blossoming, and here at ICHI, we love being along for the ride. 

To be clear, it’s a wonderful thing that so many AAA games are also thriving in today’s increasingly competitive market. But it’s nice to see that, in the end, all ships do indeed rise with the tide.