Indie and AA games are often underestimated because they typically don’t generate as much hype as your average AAA title. They’re frequently overlooked, especially when a major AAA game is launching in the same month. Personally, I’m not a fan of this, as there are plenty of AA and indie games that, in my opinion, are far better than many AAA releases.
As if AAA wasn’t already enough in the gaming industry, publishers like Ubisoft even started labeling some of their games as “AAAA.” I was honestly shocked when I first heard Ubisoft refer to Skull and Bones as a AAAA game. It was considered the first-ever AAAA title in the industry.
Skull and Bones underwent significant development turmoil, and after over a decade, the game was finally released. I played it, but it completely failed to excite me. I ended up dropping it after just a few hours. That’s never been the case with the indie or AA games I’ve played.
It’s fair to say that indie and AA games have truly dominated 2025 so far, and I’m absolutely loving it.
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Indie And AA Games Rocked This Year
If you have only played AAA games this year, then my friend, you are missing out on some of the best games. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Blue Prince, and Schedule 1 are some of the games that absolutely dominated this year.
Of course, there were major releases like Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. I am not saying that there wasn’t a single good AAA game this year. In fact, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is among my top three favorite games of 2025. However, the impact indie and AA games had this year was something that I have never witnessed.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Is The Best Game I Have Played In 2025
Anyone I know who has played Expedition 33 has done nothing but sing praises for it. The game is a masterpiece. Its story, characters, world-building, soundtrack, and everything seem perfect to me.
It launched to nearly 150,000 players on Steam despite The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion being shadow-dropped two days before its launch. Do note that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was also available on Game Pass Day one, and it still managed to attract a higher count on Steam.
Not only does it have a metascore of 91, but it is the highest-rated game by fans on the same platform. That is an achievement you don’t see in years.
Other than that, Hollow Knight Silksong exceeded all expectations on launch. The game launched to nearly 600,000 players, and the majority seemed to have enjoyed it. There were some concerns regarding the difficulty, but people got over that quickly.
Hades 2, Blue Prince, and Schedule 1 were also quite prominent releases this year. Blue Prince was released earlier this year, but it didn’t attract a high player count. However, it is a brilliant game through and through. Hades 2 has been in early access for quite a long time, so its success doesn’t really surprise me.
Schedule 1, however, was quite surprising. The game exploded on launch and attracted around 460,000 players.
The Era Of Indie And AA Games Is Upon Us
I don’t believe every game needs to be developed by thousands of developers in order to be good. Well, of course, a game with a scale comparable to GTA 6 can’t be made with just a few dozen people. However, that isn’t the point. The point that I am trying to make is that not every game needs a massive team and hundreds of thousands of dollars in budget.
Every now and then, sure, but why need to go all out with the resources when a small dedicated team can do the unthinkable? If you have played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, then you would know that it doesn’t feel like a AA game.
That looks like a AAA game, no matter how you see it. However, its development budget is way beyond what you would think. Sandfall Interactive COO and producer François Meurisse even mentioned that even if you get 10 people to guess the budget, none of them would be able to do so. He even said that the development cost was less than Mirror’s Edge and Vanquish.
Similarly, Hollow Knight Silksong was developed by just a team of three people. They did take a lot of time, but the development cost wasn’t high.
The era of indie and AA games is finally upon us. I am sure many developers would be motivated by what a team of 33 and three people can do.
An Indie Or AA Title Is More Likely To Take The GOTY Award Home
I am a huge fan of AAA games, but I don’t think 2025 is their year. An indie or a AA game is most likely to take away the most prestigious award home this year. At The Game Awards, I wouldn’t be surprised to see if Hollow Knight Silksong or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets the award.
There are many Game of the Year contenders this year, and most of them are indies or a AA title. I think the game that is most likely to win the award is none other than Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. You may have already guessed it, given that I have been continuously showering it with praises.
That said, the event will not be just about the GOTY award. There are going to be many awards, and the underdogs are most likely to dominate. It would surely be one of the biggest upsets if the GOTY award is given to a AAA game, but I am hopeful.
It should also be noted that there is one more noteworthy indie game set to release in just over a week. I am talking about Little Nightmares 3. The game’s hype is through the roof, so it could be another indie that surprised everyone. If it does, the year will just get even better for the underdogs.
Below you can find some more interesting news and features:
- KCD2 Developer, Warhorse Studios Potentially Shifting To Unreal Engine
- Major Changes Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass: Price Hike & Ad-Supported Plans
- Extreme Cost Cutting And Layoffs Expected Following EA Acquisition
- 7 Games Like Hollow Knight
- Upcoming Indie Games in July 2025
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.
