Looking for a new indie game to play? Not necessarily a cozy game, because that is too sleepy. Rather, something easygoing. A game that still requires some use of the brain, but not too much. Our top indie games with casual gameplay span multiple genres and feature some of the most unique gameplay mechanics out there. So be sure to give them all a try.

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, developed by Northway Games, is a visual novel-style game with a straightforward battle system. A lot of the game relies on dialogue and how you choose to spend your time, as sometime in the future, there’s an unspecified doomsday event that you need to prevent. Utilizes a deck of cards, your main objective is reaching a number – which varies depending on how strong your opponent is – with five card slots. Matching numbers, colors, and types also play a role by providing bonuses. No time limit exists, so you can take your time with each hand. The gorgeous art style, strategy-based combat, and inevitable replayability make it the perfect game to chill with. But be prepared to shed some tears.

Thank Goodness You’re Here

Brought to you by UK-based Coal Supper, Thank Goodness You’re Here is a casual game with a standout color palette, cartoon-style animation, and some simple puzzle-solving. Most of the gameplay involves running around and helping people – poorly. Fix a fish fryer, unstick a man from a manhole, give a rat some cheese, and more. And be sure to take a moment to listen in on conversations between residents of the English town of Barnsworth. The dialogue alone is enough to entertain for hours. 

Chants of Sennaar

Chants of Sennaar is RUNDISC’s second game after their debut in 2018. Although some sections involve stealth gameplay, you’ll mainly be deciphering several different languages to solve puzzles to advance a tower, inspired by the Tower of Babel. What makes this game unique is that there are no English instructions to work with. You’ll have to use context clues, interactions with NPCs, and your trusty journal to figure it all out.

In Stars and Time

In Stars and Time is a time-looping RPG by solo creator insertdisc5. It ties the concept of rock-paper-scissors with a battle system inspired by games like Undertale and Tales of Symphonia. The main character, Siffrin, must decipher why their party is stuck in a time loop while storming the House of Change – destined to attempt and fail to save the country from the terror of King. Each time, you’ll learn more about your travel companions and how the world ended up this way. Since combat is not time-based (haha), you can take your time deciding how to defeat enemies with rock-paper-scissor logic.

Undertale

If you’ve played Undertale before, you may argue that it features some very stressful boss fights. True, but hear me out. Toby Fox, the sole developer, created a masterful music score, an atmospheric game world, and one of the most unique combat systems out there. As the only human lost in a world of monsters, you can either befriend each one of them or fight them to the death. If you choose a pacifist route, you’ll still need to make your way through mini-encounters that feel like classic Galaga levels – avoid the onslaught of pixels until your opponent gives up thanks to the power of friendship. If you choose to go in gus-blazing, it will be much harder for you. Overall, the game feels very otherworldly and peaceful – until you get to Muffet, that is. (If you’re going for a Pacifict run and you get stuck on that fight, try this.)

1000xRESIST

1000xRESIST requires 0 combat. It is extremely narrative-heavy with a few puzzles and only one flavor of minigame. As the debut game of sunset visitor 斜陽過客, 1000xRESIST takes place in a dystopian future where all of humanity has been wiped out – save for the clones of the sole survivor. Deemed immune, These clones worship the original ALLMOTHER, in hopes that one day they too can take their masks off without dying of the airborne virus that now clouds the whole globe. The world is immersive, and the desire to uncover more of the story makes it easy to get lost in the narrative. Aside from some clunky gameplay, this game is very simple, and a time-skipping function makes puzzle-solving feel fresh and new. It is also pretty emotional and deals with some heavy subjects, so be prepared for that.