29 Best Indie Games for Linux

Papers, Please or also known as Papers, Please: A Dystopian Document Thriller is a Puzzle video game by an Indie video game developer named as 3909. The game focuses on the Emotional Life of a character who works as an Immigration Officer. Set in the Dystopian country of Arstotzka, the protagonist goes through the Emotional toll every day while deciding about who to let in the country and whom to stop. The ultimate task of the player is to check the documents of people by using various tools and stop the Criminals, Smugglers, and Terrorists from entering the country. When certain discrepancies are discovered in the documents, the players investigates the individuals and tries to collect data about the ones with faulty or suspicious documents. The further investigation includes Full-body Scan, Fingerprint verification, demanding more information, and the decision of denying the entrance, etc. The full day shift of the player doing all the things goes on in real-time and the players does all every day in the game. At the end of every day, players get rewarded with money based on his performance (Less Penalties, Bribes Collected, Items Confiscated, etc.). The players are allowed to use the earned money on daily life expenses such as paying the rent, buying food, and other necessities. The game kind of looks like a Life-Simulation but it is a bit different from that. With a remarkably addictive and involving gameplay, cool 3D visuals and all the amazing benefits of working as an Immigration Officer, Papers, Please offers a brilliant Puzzle and Interactive experience to enjoy.

Braid is a cool Action-Adventure and Puzzle-Platform video game Created by Hothead Games, Braid is available on multiple platforms such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Steam, XBox 360 and PS3 and offers a number of cool upgrades and stuff. Although the gaming environment is quite similar to Super Mario but, the puzzles and game-play is quite like Limbo, Badland and Contre Jour etc. Another great feature included in the game is the ability of the player to reverse the time. For example. If you die in the game you can always reverse the time and save yourself whenever you reach the same point where you died previously. This feature alone attracts the players a lot. Six different playing scenarios, everyone with a unique set of challenging puzzles to solve and twisted structure of the game gets you to the whole new level of excitement and Adventure-based Puzzle-Platform gaming. Braid is a wonderful alternative to a lot of games of the same genre. Do give it a try and enjoy the ultimate fun.

Kerbal Space Program or also known as KSP is a Single-player Space Flight, Building and Construction and Simulation video game by Squad. The game is built using the updated Unity Engine and offers playability on Multiple Platforms including Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii. The game allows the players to control a whole Space Mission Program named as Kerbal Space Program, Have a Crew of Humanoid Aliens known as Kerbals and enjoy Exploring the Space. Game’s Complex and realistic Orbital Physics helps players learn about the Hohmann Transfer Orbits (Start from a Lower Orbit and end up in a Higher Orbit) maneuvers and enjoy piloting the ship. According to the gameplay and game story, the game tasks the players to head a Nascent Space Program, Control the Kerbals (Intelligent Humanoid Aliens from an Earth-like planet Kerbin) and enjoy learning to maneuver into Space. Kerbal Space Program gameplay is divided into two main parts such as Construction and Flight, and it allows the players to construct various types of Rockets, Aircraft, Rovers, etc. Once the ships are created, the players can simply launch them into Space from in-game launch Pad, explore the Space and complete various objectives of the game. The game offers various types of mission such as Reaching to a Certain Height, Escape the Atmosphere, Reach Stable Orbit, Capture Asteroids, Create Space Stations, Visit different Planets and collect information about them, etc. With all the Space Exploration fun, Unique game Physics and mechanics, and interesting gameplay, Kerbal Space Program is a fun Space Simulation to enjoy.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth combines the elements of Rough-like, Dungeon Crawling, Shooter, Action-Adventure and Horror developed and published by Nicalis. The game supports both single and multiplayer modes and offers an exciting story of the Binding of Isaac inspired by the childhood of McMillen growing up in a religious family. You take on the role of the young boy known as Isaac whose mother locks the protagonist in his room and convinced she is doing the job of god. His mother wants to sacrifice Isaac to prove here faith, Isaac becomes scared and escapes to the basement and lock himself. The game takes place in the fictional underground world full of monsters, and strange creatures. Explore the game world, fight against monsters, and other creatures to complete several missions and earn points that you can use to unlock upgrades. You have to gather items and power-ups to enhance your abilities and take down foes. With addictive gameplay, superb mechanics, and brilliant visuals, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is the wonderful game to play and enjoy.

Undertale is a Single-player Role Playing and Puzzle sgame by Toby Fox. The game offers a Top Down perspective and allows the players to control a Child’s character who falls in the underworld. This large secluded region under the Earth’s surface is separated by a very thin Magic Barrier. After falling to the Underworld, the game tasks the player to explore the world, meet monsters on your way up the surface, engage into epic combats with the monsters and keep on going up while reigning a Bullet hell over the enemies. Undertale offers a choice-based gameplay and allows the players to either kill the monsters or spare them and the decisions that the players makes, directly affect the ending of the game. There is also brief Dialog included in the game, and that feature allows the player to interact with various characters in the game, know the directions and get info about safe passageways, etc. Undertale offers Puzzle elements as well in the game and allows the players to solve some of the most complex puzzles while exploring the world and finding the way up. With the Scripted events, Bullet hell combats, loads of obstacles, Boss fights, an epic journey to complete, and Challenging puzzles, Undertale offers quite a unique experience of Action, RPG and Puzzle gaming elements to enjoy.

Prison Architect combines the elements of Construction and Management Simulation created and published by Introversion Software. The game offers top-down gameplay and deals with city-building genre. The main objective of the player is to build and run a prison to earn money and experience points. It offers the similar gameplay like Theme Hospital, and the player has to build different units, rooms, cages, and office. Hire staff such as a warden, workers, and guards and train them. There are two types of roles that the player can assume such as Governor and Architect. It has a set of levels, and the player will rank up as he completes the objectives. The player can enjoy two different types of modes offering different challenges, story and gameplay such as Escape mode and Story mode. Navigate the world, complete tasks and expand the prison further and further to earn lots of money and points and compete against rival NPCs. With superb gameplay, addictive soundtracks, and brilliant visuals, Prison Architect is the best game as compared to other Business Simulations.

To the Moon is an Adventure, Role-playing, and Single-player video game developed and published by Freebird Games. The game takes place in the randomly generated world and offers an exciting story in which Sigmund Corp develop a technology that creates artificial memories. The Corporation offers their service to people on their beds. The game lets you get into the role of the protagonist and explore the memories of Johnny to locate items and gather energy from them to strengthen his memory and connect to his old age to go back his childhood. You must explore the areas where Johnny lived to find clues. Complete a series of challenging levels, interact with NPCs and earn points. Unlock new areas using your points and fulfill your missions. You must help the Johhny to fulfill his wish of going to the moon. With the best mechanics, addictive gameplay, superb visuals, and exciting story, To the Moon is the best game to play and enjoy.

Dwarf Fortress is an Open Ended RTS, Roguelike, Construction, management and City-Building video game. The game is set up in a procedurally generated game world in which you control two different groups of dwarfs. Your objective is to make the two dwarf groups work and build an underground fortress and all the buildings required. The open world is full of continents, oceans, and beastly civilizations and allows you to gather up resources by fighting and defeating your enemies. Text based game interface, Turn-Based Strategy and Roguelike game elements make this game a bit different than others but quite addictive and engaging. Dwarf Fortress features dwarfs with different mood swings and skills, for example, you can make a dwarf craft super beautiful and legendary artifacts or you can just task them to go search for resources etc. Dwarf Fortress features best 3D graphics, a lot of exciting objectives to complete, a huge amount of objects/resources to collect and much more. Do try it out.

Limbo is an award winning Puzzle-Platform and Action-Adventure video game by PlayDead. The game offers wonderfully immersive game-play and lets you enjoy a Side-Scrolling marvel in which your task is to be a little kid, travel through a dark jungle, solve a number of puzzles in order to carry on your way and defeat some nasty monsters to survive. Huge Spiders, Bear Traps, Dark passages, machine enemies and anti-gravity guns are some of the obstacles that you are destined to go through, remain on your course and get out of this God-forsaken world and eventually find your missing sister. With a mesmerizing and amazing environment, brilliant visuals and an addictive and challenging game-play, Limbo is quite fun to play.

TowerFall Ascension is one of the best games of this specific genre. This brilliant Action, Fighting, Archery and Combat masterpiece allows you to enjoy a game-play inspired by the classics and takes you to a whole new level of entertainment plus the quality gaming. TowerFall Ascension lets you engage yourself in epic Duels and Versus matches, use your abilities and special skills to defeat your enemies/opponents and master all the techniques of the pros. TowerFall Ascension offers insane amounts of treasures to loot, loads of power-ups, and abilities to catch the arrows mid-air while fighting with the enemies, monsters and other players. With Co-Op quests, and Multiplayer Support, TowerFall Ascension offers over 120 unique game maps, 50 hardcore battles, cool power-ups, 4 main and more unlockable player characters, loads of new stuff to discover and an immersive game-play to enjoy.

Firewatch is a First-person Action, Adventure and Mystery video game. The game takes the players back to the year 1989 and leaves them right in the middle of the Shoshone National Forest and lets them be Fire Lookout named as Henry. The game revolves around two main characters, Henry and Delilah, Henry’s Supervisor and tells the story of a mystery that formed over a Conspiracy. Firewatch is full of mysterious incidents, happenings, and all the pondering situations. According to the storyline, Henry works as a Fire Lookout, Delilah Assists him as a Supervisor and the story is about finding the roots of mystery that rocked the minds of the characters of the game. It all starts when Delilah Calls on Henry to investigate an illegal Firework at a Lake. Henry reaches to the spot only to find out two teenage girls Skinny Dipping who blame him for leering. On his way back to his watch tower, Henry finds a Cave locked and sees the shadows of a shrouded figure, returns to his Watch Tower and finds it completely ransacked. Next day, Henry gets to Communication line where he finds it cut along with a note from the girls. He plots to scare them away but finds their Camp abandoned. Some time later, on another location, Henry finds a Disposable Camera that belongs to Brian, son of Ned, the outdoorsman, and a fellow Fire lookout. Brian and Ned are both missing. This is where player’s character gets into the play. The game tasks the players to search for Brian, and Ned and the mission Girls, and solve the Mystery that’s bothering Henry big time. Firewatch is all about mysteries and amazing happenings that lead to an epic open world gameplay. With a great story, plenty of room for the gameplay, open world environment, fantastic characters and their own stories, Firewatch offers a remarkable and kind of twisted gameplay to enjoy. For all those who love playing mystery games, Firewatch would definitely be a great source of entertainment.

Rust is a Multiplayer Action-Adventure and Horror-Survival video game by Facepunch Studios. Currently, in the Alpha phase, Rust offers early access to the game on Steam. Set in a massive Open World, Rust allows you to survive in an unfriendly environment by simply crafting different items, exploration and by finding the supplies such as Food, Water, Shelter, loot, Weapons and medical Supplies, etc. It spawns you right in the middle of other online players and lets you use your wit to find ways in which you can survive. You must stay well fed to avoid starvation and drink plenty of water in order to eliminate the threat of being dehydrated. Encounters with the creatures will definitely result in your demise of win so you decide what to do. All the deadly creatures, harsh weather conditions, and all the obstacles must not defeat you if you want to survive. Rust with all the wonderful mechanics, visuals and immersive game-play is a fantastic game to play and enjoy.

Gone Home is a First-person Indie Action-Adventure and Interactive Fiction Simulation developed by The Fullbright Company. The game takes place in the year 1995 and allows you to explore a mansion after coming back home after one long year. Every member of your family is vanished and you are left clueless about their sudden disappearance. In order to find them you must find clues, interact with objects and solve a number of challenging puzzles and mysteries. The game lets you be Kaitlin and allows you to explore the game world from a First-person Perspective, complete various game objectives in order to earn rewards, open up new areas and search for messages scattered all around the game world. Gone Home is an interactive video game that allwos you to look at objects, interact with them and keep on collecting the clues, objects and open up new game world areas to enjoy the game.

Proteus is a great Action-Adventure, Puzzle Platform and Exploration-based video game by Twisted Tree. The game takes you to an amazing dream-like world and leaves you on an island where you as the player will have to interact with objects, explore and solve some challenging puzzles in order to complete the game objectives. Proteus offers a procedurally generated game map and lets you experience traveling through the superbly designed valleys, ruins and a lot of other amazing wonders. With super fine graphics, amazing story and an immersive and engaging game-play, Proteus is one of the best Action-Adventure and Puzzle-Platform video games.

Bastion is a Wonderful Action-RPG video game developed by Supergiant Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game lets you control The Kid, move though floating platforms in a fantasy-based environment, fight enemies, collect Shards of Rocks, Use magical powers and different weapons (Swords, Hammers, knives etc.) in epic enemy encounters, explore and solve puzzles in World of Caelondia and enjoy the ultimate fun. With wonderful graphics, and challenging game-play, Bastion is a wonderful game to play. One brilliant feature of the game is the Dynamic Voice-over presented in a beautiful 2D environment and the Isometric Camera view makes it even more involving. For all the hardcore Action-RPG enthusiasts, Bastion offers hours of pure entertainment, so do try this one out.

Defcon is a Real-time Strategy and Multiplayer video game developed by Introversion Software. The game takes place in the vector graphics of old computer themed the world and offers a variety of nuclear weapons. It comprises different nations and it allows you to select your nation and get into the game world where you have to destroy as much population of enemies as possible to score the highest points. Protect your land by defeating enemies and other players and gain experience points. The game rewards you with 2 points as you defeat your enemies and can lose one point as you lose or death in the game. There are different levels in the game and each level has its own time challenge. The game includes six different countries such as Latin America, Africa, North America, Russia, Europe and Asia. All countries contain over 1 billion population. It has a set of modes such as Offline mode, Diplomacy mode, Multiplayer mode as well as units. Nuclear missiles, aircraft, ships, and ground units are also features in the game. Try it out and you’ll enjoy it.

Soma is a mixture of Science Fiction, Horror-Survival, First-person Perspective, and Exploration elements developed and published by Fictional Games. The story revolves around the protagonist named as Simon Jarret, who finds himself at the facility under strange circumstance, struggling to unearth his past. According to the story, the world in threatened by strange creatures, trying to taking over humanity. The player assumes the role of the protagonist and his primary goal is to explore the facility from first-person perspective, encounter various creatures and struggle to solve puzzles. During exploration, the protagonist discovers a huge array of clues including audio tapes and notes, which creates atmosphere and progresses the plot. There is no combat system like other games by Fictional Games, and instead the player can use stealth elements, and can explore the environment, and solve puzzles to progress through the game. Players can manipulate the underground world, interact with NPCs, and objects to solve puzzles and earn experience points. Soma offers prominent features, immersive gameplay, and highly detailed environment. Try it out.

Evil Labs is a Strategy, Base Building, and Single-player Building Simulation developed and published by Mirabilis Studios. The game offers the fantastic gameplay that you have never experienced before. The gameplay is about building and managing the evil laboratory, where you research and develop multiple diseases, infect inhabitants of the city, sell your product and get rich. At the beginning of the game, you have to build your lab with dozens of structure types and upgrades such as bedrooms, security offices, laboratories, power generator, and more. You must effort to improve your laboratory by completing several tasks and earn enough money to unlock upgrades. During the gameplay, after completing the evil empire, you have to hire staff to assist the construction of your laboratory, produce medicines, and more. You have to research new technologies to enhance and unlock new building upgrades, increase the ability of your staff, and find new elements to develop the disease. Research Technologies, Develop Diseases, Hire Staff, Infect People, Build your Lab, etc. are prominent features in the game.

Gladiator School is a 2D Action, Role-playing, Strategy, and Single-player Management Simulation published and developed by Raptor Claw Games for multiple platforms. The game offers a deep management simulation gameplay with hand-drawn environment and characters. In the game, you as the protagonist have decided to build a school. You needs to recruit fighters and command your fighters to train. Every decision you make in the game will matter. You must select the weapons, skills, and items wisely to advance through the game. Before sending your troops to battle you must train and equip them with weapons to survive in the brutal environment and defeat the opponents. Keep an eye on your fighters and make sure they perform well in battlefield. The ultimate task is to clear the field from enemies, make your fighters famous in the arena and earn as much coins as you can to become the master. Gladiator School includes prominent features such as Build and Run your School for Fighters, Acquire Slaves, huge Arsenal of Weaponry, Rewards, Hire Staff, and more.

Unturned by Smartly Dressed Games is a Single and Multiplayer Indie Horror and Survival video game. The game offers a Zombie-themed gameplay in which it lets the players be lone wanderers in a Zombie infested game world. Unturned offers multiple maps for the game including Prince Edward Island, Russia, Washington and Yukon as well as loads of other custom built maps by the community. The game leaves the players right in the middle of Zombies without any item in their Inventory. The players must explore the world and find weapons and items such as medicines, water, and food not to get killed by Starvation, disease, or swear weather (in Yukon and other player created maps with winter weather). Unturned offers three different game difficulty levels and various game modes including Hardcore and Gold Mode. With the progress in the game, players are rewarded with experience points by killing Zombies, collecting Resources, and by Crafting various types of weapons and items. Furthermore, the game offers a Multiplayer mode in which players can play the game as a team of go against each other in PvP Combats and Arena-based matches. In Arena mode, the players are tasked to collect Weapons, and Supplies while keeping on moving towards the middle of the map. With all the amazingly fast-paced PvP matches, hardcore encounters with the Zombies and blasting Action; Unturned is a wonderful Zombie-themed Horror and Survival video game to play.

Evoland, developed by Shiro Games is a super addictive Action-Adventure, RPG, Puzzle and Indie video game like Torchlight 2. The game takes you to an amazing journey of history and lets you experience Action and Adventure filled game-play in which you are allowed to explore, unlock new technologies, solve different challenging puzzles and enjoy a beautiful combination of Puzzle, Platform, and RPG elements. Unlike a lot of other cult inspired video games, Evoland provides with superb 3D graphics, a great story and an unimaginably fun filled game-play. Epic boss fights and different types of enemies along with different environmental wonders are the real deal for the gamers. For an awesome Action-Adventure, Puzzle and RPG video game experience, you must play this game. With a wonderful plot, amazing quest based story and an immersive game-play, Evoland is one of the best games like Torchlight 2 to play and enjoy. Do try it out.

Axiom Verge is a fun Indie Action-Adventure and 2D Platform video game by Thomas Hepp Games. The game offers a Side-Scrolling view and allows the players to enjoy a delightful Metroidvania feel. With a brilliant backstory, Axiom Verge allows the players to control the character of Trace, a Scientist who after getting injured and a black out gets up in an unfamiliar High-tech Ancient World. Axiom Verge focuses on Hardcore Metroidvania Action and Exploration and tasks the players to traverse through an entirely new world where many fears are lurking in the dark shadows. The game lets you have weapons that you can use to overcome the enemies and enjoy upgrading your gear and stuff with all the available power-ups (over 60 different items). With an absorbing and addictive gameplay, beautiful 2D graphics, great mechanics and an overall feel of an amazing adventure, Axiom Verge offer elements borrowed from the biggest Metroidvania games such as Blaster Master, Contra, Bionic Commando and Metroid. For an excellent Action-Adventure and Platform gaming experience, do try it out.

Symphony, another Indie Rhythm and Puzzle game (packed with some cool Shoot em’ up elements) developed and published by Empty Clip Studios is an amazing video game. Being available on multiple platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, this game is played firing guns at other ships with patterns based on the analysis of the player selected music files. On every song’s completion, player gets cool upgrades and with every level cleared the game gets more engaging and difficult. This game looks more like a Shoot em’ Up type, but it is basically is a music creation game. Player gets points on every enemy defeated by producing music and by following the steps necessary to be in pace with the game. If a player fails to follow the pattern of the game, he loses his ship and the game ends. Symphony features superb 3D graphics and quite intriguing game-play along with a friendly user interface. Try it out, you’ll like it a lot.

Snapshot, developed by Retro Affect is an Action-Adventure, Side Scrolling and indie Puzzle-Platform video game. The story of the game revolves around a lonely Robot wandering in an abandoned virtual world. The only object of the game is to solve different platform puzzles and make pictures of your great adventure. With the help of the camera, you can add or remove any part of the game world to solve the puzzles. You can achieve game rewards by collecting all the stars in a game level and complete the level to gain skill points that can be used to buy power-ups and upgrades. A game level completed in provided game time and the images captured are responsible for your game rankings so you must complete a task in not more than the given time. Snapshot offers a great fun filled game-play, a good story to follow, amazing 2D graphics, beautiful sceneries and game music.

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP is a Graphic Action-Adventure, Puzzle-Platformer and indie video game by Caypybara Games. The game revolves around the character of Scythia and allows you to be part of the two super amazing worlds, one is the real world and the other is a dream world. You can jump from one world to another according to your states. For example, if you want to visit the dream world, you must sleep and if you want to get back to the real world, you must wake up. You can explore a massive sandbox type game world and interact with objects, find out the passage ways or you can eat the Red Mushrooms to boost up your energy levels to continue your journey. You can go on different quests to find the Trigones by traveling through the passageways. The story of Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery seems kind of twisted one but it will surely engage you in some exciting Puzzles and Adventures and you will enjoy this game for sure. Do try it out.

Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun, developed by Big Fish Games is Match-3 Puzzle and indie video game that takes you to Japan and allows you to help Satsu save the ancient civilization. The game allows you to build a new Japanese village and everything in it by mixing-up 3 or more of the same kind of elements. You can start building from the smallest object and reach to the tallest buildings you can make. Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun provides with three exciting game modes and lets you win different challenges in every mode by matching up different elements and creating new ones. The relaxing background music, clean 3D graphics and a well written story-line are the best things included in the game. Tales of the Orient: The Rising Sun is one of the best Puzzle-RPG game that offers a unique combination of Puzzle and RPG elements with Turn-based game-play and enhanced mechanics. For a wonderful and challenging Puzzle and RPG experience, do try it out.

Starbound is an amazingly addictive Action-Adventure, RPG and Indie video game developed by Chucklefish Games. Starbounds fixes you up into the character of the protagonist who flies from his planet and crashes on another. The game takes you to an amazing 2D procedurally generated game world and allows you to explore, craft different items such as weapons, armors, and other objects, fight against the enemies and enjoy being part of a wonderful world. Starbound lets you craft different weapons and tools for survival and allows you to fight against the enemies using different types of skills and tactics. As the universe around you is kind of infinite, you’ll experience an amazing and quite addictive endless game-play along with great visual details and story of the game. With a number of challenging game levels, puzzles, quests, and missions, sandbox type layout, super cool 3D visuals and an immersive game-play, Starbound is a wonderful game to play.

Magicite is a Multiplayer, Action-Adventure, RPG, Turn-Based RTS, Platformer and a Roguelike Horror-Survival Indie video game with Permadeath Mechanics. This super addictive game by Smash games allows you to crawl or explore a huge number of underground dungeons, collect the valuables, and engage in combats against your enemies. The multiplayer feature of the game lets you make allegiances with your online friends and fight against the enemies together, explore the randomly generated dungeons together and use the resources together. You’ll get a lot of randomly generated game levels to play in which you’ll face different kinds of enemies, epic and brutal bosses, darkest dungeon horrors and much more. Magicite takes you on a magical journey and allows you to use your secondary abilities which are magic, potions and different abilities. Turn based game-play provides you with a much more strategy rich experience that you won’t forget ever. With a brilliant narrative, cool visual details, amazing Action, Adventure, RPG, Platform and Rogue Like elements, Magicite is a fun video game to play and enjoy.

World of Goo is a beautiful Action-Adventure and Puzzle-Platform video game by 2DBoy. This wonderful Mix up of Indie, Action-Adventure, Puzzle-Platform and Point and Click elements allows you to build massive structures with nothing but Goo Balls. The game offers five main chapters all filled up with challenging levels, with unique music, graphic themes and a totally unique environment. The amazing multiplayer feature allows the players from around the world to build amazing towers using goo balls and enjoy competing against each other. With a super engaging game-play, cool visuals and sounds etc., World of Goo is a brilliant game to play and enjoy. If you haven’t played it yet, you should definitely try it out. It’ll make you an addict.