Summary
Aspiring developers who want to get into the art of creating video games will need to learn how these game creation engines work, with mainstream ones like Unreal Engine and Unity being pretty popular in their own right. However, these engines can be extremely challenging to understand, which is why easier engines likeGameMakerare arguably better instead.
These engines allow players to learn the art of video game design in a more accessible manner without compromising on the quality of these titles. The fact thatso many great indie titleswere made in theGameMaker engineis a testament to how malleable this tool really is, and players can have a great time checking out the many games that push this engine to its very limits.
Updated on July 21, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:There are many great engines that aspiring developers can strive to learn if they want to break into the industry. GameMaker is one of the more approachable and beginner-friendly engines that many indie developers have used to great effect. The sheer number of fun and imaginative games made with this engine is a great argument for why game development should be as accessible as possible, and players will have a great time checking out some of the best games ever made with this engine.
9Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaiden
Metacritic: N/A
Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaidenmay be a freeware title, butdon’t let that take away from its truly bizarre and entertaining nature. The game takes the sport of basketball very seriously, with the entire world being plunged into an apocalypse after the protagonist, Charles Barkley, unleashes a Chaos Dunk that is so powerful that it kills many spectators and causes basketball to be banned.
After another Chaos Dunk is unleashed in Manhattan, Barkley must go on a quest with his family and friends to clear his name and figure out the mystery behind this attack. It’s a truly ridiculous game that is made even more bizarre by the fact that the developers called this title a sequel toSpace Jam!
Hotline Miamiis certainly a great game that was important for the rise of indie gaming, but it’s far from a perfect title. There are certain impossibilities that players need to make peace with, and getting shot off-screen is always a pain, especially in the second game.
All of this is rectified byOTXO, a game that perfects the frenetic top-down shooting action ofHotline Miamiwith a roguelike twist. It’s extremely satisfying to master the combat of this game and take out bosses in a flash who were giving players a tough time.
Many people frown upon mobile gaming as an inferior medium that is littered with half-baked cash grabs and microtransaction-littered experiences that are pretty vapid. However, while the market does need some regulations to prevent any developer from releasing the laziest games ever,there are gems likeDownwellthat deserve all the praise in the world.
The title makes the most of the mobile medium, combining shooting gameplay with platforming to make for a fun experience in every way. Players who want to mess around with an entertaining game on their phones can’t go wrong withDownwell!
Another game whereplayers only have one shot to clear an entire level isKatana Zero, where players control a mysterious katana-wielding assassin who slowly uncovers a scintillating plot that is presented in a unique manner. The gameplay is a thing of beauty, with players using slow-mo to make things more manageable as they clear rooms of enemies in each level.
The soundtrack is amazing and the combat is truly exhilarating when it hits its many highs. Players should be ready to die over and over again sinceKatana Zerotakes no prisoners and will force players to either improve their skills or give up altogether!
A poignant visual novel that allows players to take on the role of a bartender in a bleak cyberpunk world,VA-11 Hall-Ais a beautiful game that uses its pixel art visuals to great effect. Each and every character that players interact with in this game are all well-written and lovable in their own way.
Players looking for a totally unique experience wherethey don’t have to play the role of a hero— a rare occurrence — will love whatVA-11 Hall-Abrings to the table. It’s a one-of-a-kind title that most people will find to be a powerful experience in many ways.
The idea of combining fast-paced action-packed gameplay with elements fromThe Legend of Zeldaseries is a winning combination thatHyper Light Drifterexecutes with great panache. The game’s difficulty can be slightly overbearing at the start, but it won’t take long for players to get used to the groove of this title.
Dodging enemy attacks and landing powerful counters will become second nature for the player, with exploration being a key focus ofHyper Light Drifter’s gameplay as well. This, coupled with a striking art style, shows why this game became so popular upon launch.
Hotline Miamiis a violent, tough-as-nails top-down shooter where players control a contract killer who decimates hideouts full of maniacs, strategizing their attempt to clean up a room without taking damage. A single hit is enough to kill players, forcing them to learn with each failed attempt to kill every hostile enemy in a level.
The game was a smash hit, with players loving the surreal story and excellent gameplay. The title was so big that a sequel was developed for the same, but it lacked a lot of what made the first game so special.
Players wanting to go through a roguelike full of non-stop action will findNuclear Throneto be right up their alley. Mastery in this game takes a while, with each death serving as a lesson for the player.
Once players understand how the game works, they’ll be able to breeze past enemies and take them out in stylish ways all the time. However, death is always mere moments away, andNuclear Throneloves to punish players who aren’t focused during each run.
An indie gem that fans still can’t stop talking about to this day,Undertaleabsolutely blew up on launchbecause of its charming story and unique gameplay. The title deconstructed many tropes present in the role-playing genre, with players being encouraged to not kill any monster in the game and to solve conflicts by talking instead.
It’s this insistence on treating everything in the world with kindness that makesUndertalesuch a marvelous example of what indie games can achieve if they’re creative enough. The game spawned a massive fandom that is highly active and can’t wait for its sequel to be released in its entirety.
