Last year, indie games absolutely dominated, and that has shifted the industry’s focus somewhat to them. That is a good thing, as most of the time, indie developers are the ones who provide us with innovation and creativity. I am not saying that AAA developers do not offer that, but indie developers usually think more outside the box, mainly because they have a short budget and they have to cater to a fandom, so they tend to be pretty creative.
As the industry has somewhat shifted to indie games, you may want to give them a try, too. Or you may be trying to find which good indie games came out in January 2026 that you may have missed. If that is so, then you have arrived at the right spot. Here, I will tell you about some games you may have missed in January 2026, and that are fun to play.
Disclaimer
This is not a ranking of the games mentioned below. I am not ranking them in any order, as this is simply a list of games that I believe are underrated and that many people may have missed. You may have already played some of the games on this list, but that is most likely not the case for everyone. Due to that, the list is completely based on my own experience and knowledge of the indie games released in January 2026.
Escape From Ever After
Escape From Ever After, for me, is arguably the best game released in January. This is such a fun game, inspired by the Paper Mario titles and the likes of Ocarina of Time. If you are a fan of any of the aforementioned titles, please give Escape From Ever After a go.
The game features a story of Flynt Buckler and Tinder, two fairytale characters, but a massive organization has taken over all of the storybooks. You will have to climb up the corporate ladder to fight this conglomerate and win against it. The humor, story, and characters are all pretty solid, so it is definitely worth trying out.
It is a turn-based game and launched to just over 1k concurrent players on Steam. So, I highly recommend giving it a try, as currently it is on a 20 percent discount. Also, you can check out my complete walkthrough of the game if you need any help anywhere.
MIO: Memories In Orbit
Another game that is an absolute banger is MIO: Memories In Orbit. It is a hand-drawn Metroidvania that features intense combat and platforming. The environmental storytelling is immensely good, and the emotion you feel throughout the journey is something to cherish.
If you are someone who fancies a game with a good hand-drawn art style, solid progression and exploration, and polished combat mechanics, then MIO: Memories In Orbit is the right title for you. In this game, you play as MIO, a small robot. With this character, you are tasked to explore a massive decaying spaceship, The Vessel.
The game has a positive rating on Steam, and it launched to over 2k concurrent players on Steam. I highly recommend giving it a try. Also, if you are stuck anywhere in the game, feel free to give our complete walkthrough a read.
Blightstone
Blightstone is among the solid games released in January 2026. However, you should note that this game is in Early Access. So, if you don’t want to face bugs that most EA titles have, you should wait for the full release. That said, this will highly interest those who like games with a dark setting.
It is a turn-based roguelike RPG set in a dark fantasy world. The thing that I like, aside from its setting, is that in this game, your positioning, terrain, and even weather matter when in combat. You can use the environment to your advantage, which is something that I find extremely cool.
That said, the progression is roguelike, so if you do not like resetting runs, this may not be the game for you. However, if you do not mind the fact that it is in Early Access and the runs are procedurally generated with roguelike progression, give it a go.
Craftlings
Another solid game released in January was Craftlings. This is a side-scrolling strategy and resource management game where you have to build, expand, train, and fight. While the game does not offer that much content, I think it is a great release and is worth giving a try if you like city builders.
However, if managing resources and strategy is not your thing, then this game is most likely not for you. There are even bosses that can be fought in this game. You will have to train your warriors to fight them, so it’s a lot of fun. So, if you are a fan of games like Lemmings and The Settlers, I recommend giving Craftlings a go.
Craftlings is actually a very underrated game, as it launched to less than 400 concurrent players on Steam. However, the majority of those who tried it left a positive review. If you decide to give it a go, check out our complete walkthrough to help you with your journey.
Cairn
Cairn, a survival climbing adventure game developed by The Game Bakers, is another game that you should try if you have not already. In this game, you play as a professional mountain climber, Aava, whose goal is to reach the top of Mount Kami. This is actually a pretty solid title, but if you are someone who prefers constant action, then this game may not be for you.
However, if you like games where movement, planning, and survival are far more important, then I recommend giving it a go. The visuals, story, and almost everything you see in this game are genuinely impressive. Carin was just released recently, so many players may not have already heard about it yet. Regardless of its current player count, it is still a very solid and well-made game.
For more interesting news and features, please check out the links below:
- Hollow Knight Silksong Nominated For Best Self Published Indie Game At Golden Joystick Awards
- Players Appear to Be Cancelling Black Ops 7 Pre-Orders After Beta
- The Best Horror Games of 2025 – Indies, Blockbusters, and Everything in Between
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Deserved The Best RPG Award At TGA 2025
- Expedition 33 Wins All Its Nominations At The Golden Joystick Awards
Obaid Ur Rehman is a lifelong gaming enthusiast with a deep passion for writing about video games. While he enjoys all genres, he specializes in RPGs and Soulslike titles. After tackling some of the toughest bosses, he often unwinds with a cozy game to relax. Outside of gaming, Obaid enjoys watching anime, bingeing TV series, or staying active at the gym.
