Best First-Person Indie Games

There is a diverse abundance of first-person indie games on the market, and while many of them are FPS titles, others use the first-person perspective for other means. The first-person perspective allows for an experience that’s typically more immersive, allowing for some tremendously atmospheric titles.

These games are not typical first-person shooters, and many of them aren’t shooters at all. Instead, they cover a broad variety of genres. From first-person survival simulators to immersive-sims, there’s something here for all kinds of players.

8

Subnautica

First-Person Survival Under Alien Waters

This wildly popular first-person indie game is a survival-focused experience that takes place in a unique underwater setting. Though not a horror game, Subnautica excels with its deep and quiet atmosphere and the rising tension of its oxygen system and unsettling underwater creatures.

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The familiar survival-game loop of Subnautica is immediately unique thanks to the underwater setting and the aforementioned oxygen system, giving players a clear limit to their exploration right from the start. This provides players with an immediate incentive for progression, which is quickly rewarded with new environments.

7

The Long Dark

Deeply Atmospheric Hardcore Survival

The Long Dark is a first-person survival simulator that’s fairly hardcore in its design, featuring a variety of systems that must be managed carefully in order to survive. The harsh cold of its environments and the scarcity of food and resources keeps the gameplay tense, but The Long Dark also succeeds with its moments of tranquility and reprieve.

These brief moments of calm are facilitated by a contemplative atmosphere built from quiet ambiance and careful sound design. Furthermore, the sheer brutality of its environments makes finding and securing shelter all the more rewarding, resulting in a strangely addictive ebb and flow.

6

Outer Wilds

Immersive Exploration From The First-Person

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Released

May 28, 2019

Developer(s)

Mobius Digital

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An immersive title from the very start, Outer Wilds is a first-person spacefaring adventure like no other. This title features a beautifully melancholic soundtrack, charming characters, and a minimalist game design that champions player agency and exploration.

This player freedom and the open nature of the game’s world allows for a consistent sense of discovery. Combined with a mysterious atmosphere bolstered by the time-loop structure of the game, Outer Wilds is truly one of a kind.

5

Firewatch

A Memorable Adventure That Puts The Player In The Protagonists’ Shoes

Firewatch won’t be for everybody. It’s primarily a walking simulator, but this title is elevated by its stylized graphics, excellent writing, and talented voice actors. The performances on display here are truly memorable, and it’s a good job, because much of the game hinges around the relationship between its two primary characters.

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The tragic narrative and immersive setting of the Wyoming wilderness makes for an experience that’s particularly memorable. More importantly, the first-person perspective puts players in the shoes of the game’s protagonist, arguably making the frequent emotional beats all the more personal.

4

Neon White

First-Person Speed-Running That Emphasizes Fast Thinking

Neon White is a first-person shooter that’s much more about speed and quick-thinking than it is about acing shots and maneuvering through combat arenas. For one, Neon White’s brisk levels are linear gauntlets that run from A to B, made nuanced through the addition of shortcuts big and small that allow for expression.

More importantly, Neon White encourages speed-running via its medal system that consistently rewards players with unique hints. This gives players clear incentive to replay levels, and gives them the necessary tools to beat their previous time.

3

Pacific Drive

An Immersive, Surreal Road Trip

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Released

February 22, 2024

Developer(s)

Ironwood Studios

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Pacific Drive is a first-person driving game that’s all about the car and its relationship with the player. The supernatural setting (heavily inspired by Roadside Picnic) and well-tuned ambiance is the icing on the cake, resulting in deeply atmospheric and highly immersive road-trips through surreal environments.

The car maintenance and customization that drives the gameplay forward is particularly engaging. However, Pacific Drive is made all the more addictive through its extraction-shooter gameplay loop, tasking players with exploring efficiently and getting out before things get too dangerous.

2

Lethal Company

Co-Op Chaos That Balances Horror With Comedy

​​​​​​​Lethal Company is a co-operative horror game that manages to balance chaotic comedy with genuine terror in near-equal measure. The dark and creepy environments and variety of horrifying creatures make for a truly unsettling experience. Furthermore, the unique behaviors of the game’s enemies ensure that surprises are constant, keeping tensions high.

The first-person perspective only makes Lethal Company more terrifying, and some enemies are even designed around the player’s limited vision. Combined with the ingenious addition of proximity voice-chat, Lethal Company is an immersive horror game that’s perfect for larger groups.

1

Gloomwood

A Horror-Tinged Immersive-Sim

​​​​​​​Gloomwood is a first-person indie game that combines survival-horror mechanics and ambiance with the deep systems of an immersive-sim. The result is a tense and stealth-focused experience that champions player agency and creative thinking, facilitated by detailed hand-crafted environments that project a scale larger than their stature.

The variety of tools and weapons, as well as the intuitive stealth mechanics and freedom of exploration, allow players to maneuver through each environment however they see fit. Complete with an unsettling undertone, a grim Victorian setting, and survival-horror elements such as limited ammunition and save points, Gloomwood is able to offer a distinctive first-person experience.

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