Indie games over the last 20 years have really shaped the industry and have not only changed it but also the way gamers view indies themselves have changed.

Gone are the days when indie games were seen as nothing but mere little fun side projects as now thanks to many success stories clearly the indie scene is a part of the industry that not only demands the same respect as double and triple A does but also many argue could be the future for the medium (however that's for another article)

Today here at Inviox to celebrate the greatness of indie games we are going to be going over five great success stories that come from the indie scene.

GAME ONE - STARDEW VALLEY

Having sold over 41 MILLION COPIES (yes, you read that right), we start off this list with what many call the magnum opus of the cosy game genre, Stardew Valley.

Being a game which came from just one person at the time, Eric Barone, Stardew Valley has gone on to be a giant in the gaming industry, gripping people with its cosy charm and simple yet dangerously addicting gameplay.

Stardew Valley was created by Eric Barone, as he had always loved Harvest Moon but always thought he could improve on it, so after working on the game for 4 years, working 60-hour-long workweeks, Eric not only built on what Harvest Moon created but also, many would argue, took the genre to new heights and new boundaries, in fact that same statement can also be applied to what Stardew has done for the indie scene.

Game Two - Minecraft

No list would be complete when it comes to talking about indie games without mentioning the juggernaut that is Minecraft.

Having now sold over 350 million copies worldwide, it's easy to forget that this now massive game was once just a simple little indie game created by one developer, Notch, but yeah, it really was.

Having come out in 2009, when you look at what this indie game started off as and now has become, it is mind-blowing, simply put, and is a constant reminder of just how far this industry allows creativity and passion to go.

Game Three - Hollow knight

It feels like a common thing to say in this article now, but yet again it is easy to forget, with how big Team Cherry's name has become, that Hollow Knight, which is the third game on our list, was once a small, unknown indie darling (not for long, mind you).

Having been released in 2017 and now having sold over 15 million copies, Hollow Knight, for many, is an indie that people point to constantly as not just being one of the best indie games ever made but also one of the best games ever made.

This indie has no doubt pushed the boundaries for what people think indie games can do with its brave take on storytelling, expansive world and really just beautiful atmosphere the game creates.

Game Four - Hotline Miami

Now it would be an injustice to create a list such as this without mentioning one of the first games to really put Indies on the map in recent times and sort of start the upwards trajectory that the indie scene has now found itself on and of course we are talking about Hotline Miami.

Hotline Miami, which released back in 2012, has not only sold over 5 million copies and won at least five major awards, plus so many minor awards it’s actually impossible to track, but all of this would be amazing for any game to achieve, and to top it all off, it’s also hailed as arguably the greatest indie game of all time.

This indie game is a true pinnacle of art from its visual style, music, gameplay and even amazing story. This game really shows two things: not only a beautiful success story for the developers but also a beautiful progression for the medium on so many levels.

Game Five - Undertale

Now many people would be left in anger and confusion if we didn't include this last game on our list, as many point to this as one of the greatest indie success stories of all time, and that game is, of course, Undertale.

Created by one man by the name of Toby Fox, Undertale, which was released in 2015, has gone on to sell over 6 million copies and has more impressively garnered a cult following, the likes of which have maybe never been seen ever in the gaming industry, like Undertale.

Undertale is praised for its witty yet charming dialogue, its simple yet eye-catching visual style and its incredible story. However, Undertale should also be praised for another important reason.

Undertale tells the success story of what hard work and a dream can do in the gaming world, and whilst only one person worked on this game, it has gone on to mean so much to millions and even inspire many game developers, and that in and of itself is priceless.

Finishing thoughts

And that just about wraps up our list that highlighted just some of the best indie game successes. We here at Inviox wanted to create a list like this because it's not only important to highlight just nice stories like this, but we here at Inviox believe in the creativity and beauty that comes from not only these games but the stories behind them! So we just couldn't help but want to share these beautiful games and stories.