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2025 has been packed with creepy, clever, and totally unhinged indie games, and we’ve been paying close attention.
We’re constantly researching what’s out there, what creeps, clicks, and claws its way into players’ brains. Lately, a few of our marketing collaborators (the ones with Steam wishlists longer than their lifespans) have been diving into the weirder corners of horror gaming.
So here it is: their personal favorites from 2025. Just a few genuinely great games that deserve more bites.
Crow Country
We loved the atmospheric throwback to the classics in Crow Country, taking us all the way back to the PlayStation 1 era and hard jewel cases that cut your fingers when cracked from overuse.
Crow Country surprised us in almost every way possible, and we definitely recommend it. It gave us a bright idea for a cool, creepy theme park in Stay Dead... maybe.
No, I'm not a human
During the horrors of the night, your home is often your haven, until it isn't. NINH reminded us that good horror not only invades your personal space but also messes with your mental space. It fed our paranoia and totally made most of us jump whenever someone rang the doorbell.
Silly Polly Beast
A game quite similar to the vision we have for Stay Dead, SPB showed us that great art, gameplay, and a killer protagonist are sometimes what you need to get the ball rolling on a great horror game, with major Signalis vibes but less secretive. A great game that greatly inspires us.
R.E.P.O.
An indie that hit the world by storm. The way it combines usual horror elements with unconventional (and extremely cute!) character designs and comedy is a huge inspiration for the Stay Dead team. And while we're aiming for a full-on singleplayer experience, there's still a lot to learn about how to revitalize the genre.
Do No Harm
This indie project combines the gameplay of 'Papers, Please!' with lovecratfian nightmares and very-very-very dark humor, bringing new life (pun intended, since you play as a doctor) to the genre and forces the player to make constant hard choices and learn the routine quickly, or succumb to the madness. And while the gameplay is widely different from what we envision for 'Stay Dead', the unique art style and the combination of 2D and 3D models is something that we're doing with the Rottington family in our game!
Look Outside
While the premise is similar to another one we mentioned on this list ('No, I'm not a human'), we felt that it should be included, since it shows how different developers approach the same subject completely differently. It's a very unique blend of a turn-based RPG and survival horror that the fans of the genres should totally check out!
We hope to make it to your own list of favorite indie games you played in 2026!
Wishlist now!
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