We made it to 2026! Happy New Year! 2025 was a killer year for indies, and we got some really novel, interesting, and fun experiences throughout the whole year. As AI continues to destroy humanity in the arts and our environment, and AAA gaming struggles to find itself, indies have pulled us through.
Indies aren’t able to save the games industry. But they can definitely provide a shining light in a sea of AI gunk, and half-hearted remasters of old classics. That was true of 2025, and I’m expecting no different in 2026. There are some killer indies coming this year, and I can’t wait to share them with you all.
There are people out there who would have you believe that new games are bad. People who, for one reason or another, broadcast that modern games are dying and that the best games are already behind us. I can’t get behind that pessimistic bullshit, because every single month since I started writing these articles, I’ve found something to be excited for.
I’m sorry, but if you can’t find a modern game to get excited about, you’re just not looking. And I know it’s tough with the lower barrier to entry, allowing both finished and incomplete games to arrive on the storefront. That’s what I’m trying to help with, to guide those lost souls to some novel and interesting games that have been brought to my attention.
So here are six, really cool-looking indies, that I hope guide you into a new experience that’ll at least get you talking about.
Feed the Reactor
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 1/6/2026 | Steam Store Page
Feed the Reactor, at first blush, feels like your standard idler game. As I dug into the demo, the strategy slowly began to reveal itself, and I started to have a really great time playing it. Upgrades unlock, new features begin to reveal themselves, and the game has a solid cycle of ebbs and flows.
The end of the demo dropped a little bit of information about the story, and that pulled me in. I have so many questions. What is the reactor for? Am I feeding this reactor from a spaceship in some distant galaxy? Feed the Reactor has the potential to be so much more than just an idler game.
Feed the Reactor releases on January 6th, 2026, for PC via Steam. Add the game to your wishlist if you even have a passing interest in idler games, and make sure to give the demo a shot, available on the Steam page.
Pathologic 3
Platforms: PC (consoles later) | Release Date: 1/9/2026 | Steam Store Page
You are a doctor with only 12 days to save a town from a mysterious plague. If you haven’t played Pathologic or Pathologic 2, it’s worth it to give either game a shot. No pressure, though, because Pathologic 3 is an excellent place to start.
Pathologic 3 is a triple threat, focusing on a rich narrative, psychological horror, and immersive sim/management sim elements. The Town is the stage, and all the players are looking for ways to save The Town. A remote settlement in the Eastern steppe, The Town is composed of deeply scientific, religious, and supernatural figures.
It’s a miracle that Pathologic 3 is releasing on January 9th, 2026, for PC via Steam with console releases set at a later date. If even a whiff of Pathologic 3 sounds interesting, I encourage you to wishlist the game and check out the demo, available on the Steam page, for a small slice of what Ice-Pick Lodge is cooking.
Big Hops
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5 | Release Date: 1/12/2026 | Steam Store Page
Hop is merely trying to escape the forest when he’s deceived and gets sucked into a dark portal. Merely trying to escape and get back to the forest, presumably to resume escaping the forest, Hop gets pulled into all sorts of adventures.
Big Hops is a 3D platformer with hopping, climbing, and tongue tricks to help navigate the worlds he finds himself in and solve puzzles to make his way back. A very charming game that’s both beautiful and fun to play. Definitely a game worth checking out for the 3D platformer sickos.
Big Hops releases on January 12th, 2026, on PlayStation 4/5 and PC via Steam. Don’t forget to add the game to your wishlist if you’re interested, and check out the demo available on the Steam page, if you can’t wait.
Nova Roma
Platforms: PC | Release Date: Delayed ‘Til March | Steam Store Page
Nova Roma is a city builder developed by the team behind Kingdoms & Castles. During the final days of Rome, a small band sails out in search of new lands. Find a place on an island to build your outpost and set up your new civilization.
Nova Roma has a unique tech tree that involves completing tasks to make and keep the gods happy. Don’t forget your citizens, though; keeping people happy is just as important. Set up jobs, farms, and tax offices, and start building your own new Rome.
Nova Roma releases on January 22nd, 2026, on PC via Steam. If you’re into city builders, you’re going to want to wishlist this game and check out the demo available on the Steam page. Lion Shield has a strong history of ongoing support for their games.
Perfect Tides: Station to Station
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 1/22/2026 | Steam Store Page
Perfect Tides was released early in 2022 as a point-and-click adventure game following Mara, a teen in the early 2000s. It’s a great first attempt from a cartoonist turned game dev and has resonated with a niche audience.
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a Three Bees follow-up to Perfect Tides. Moving away from the idyllic island life, an 18-year-old Mara is now in the big city, and life is moving fast. Not only are these games fun and engaging, I also particularly like the art style. Perfect Tides: Station to Station looks like an excellent follow-up to the original game.
Perfect Tides: Station to Station releases on January 22nd, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch and on PC via Steam. Fans of point-and-click adventure games, take note, and I encourage you to wishlist the game if it seems at all interesting to you.
Cairn
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5 | Release Date: 1/29/2026 | Steam Store Page
It certainly feels like I’ve been waiting for this game to release forever. Cairn was originally supposed to be released in November but was delayed to January, and it seems like this is the final release date.
Cairn is a simulation game where you take the role of Aava, embarking on an ascent of Mount Kami, a summit that has never been reached. The art is stunning, the mechanics are a little wonky but tight, and there’s a fair bit of backpack management and sightseeing on your trip up the mountain.
Cairn is releasing on January 29th, 2026, for PlayStation 4/5 and PC via Steam. A demo is available on the Steam page if you’re still unsure, and once you’re confident, The Game Bakers have another hit on their hands. Give it a wishlist.
There we go, welcome to the new year! It’s 2026, baby, and that means 12 more months of strong indie titles. Homemade. Farm to PC. Right in your lap. I say, we take an optimistic look at this year in gaming. We have some excellent years of gaming behind us, but the best is yet to come.
Don’t forget to wishlist a game if you’re interested, check out the demo if one is available, and talk about games with your friends. I can only reach so many people, and more eyes on indies is usually a good thing.
Of course, if there’s a game coming up you want to see covered, feel free to email us at will@monstervine.com or ping our BlueSky account. You can also email me or ping me on BlueSky. I love hearing from devs. We’re always scoping out games to cover, so we appreciate the help. See you next month!
