The annual Triple-I Initiative showcase has landed once again to exhibit an impressive lineup of upcoming indie game titles for 2025 and beyond. If you want to know which ones stood out most among the pack, here's a guide to our selection of the best games shown and everything we know about them so far.
With the help of creative minds from Celeste and TowerFall, and a soundtrack from Disasterpeace to match, Coldblood Inc's debut game seeks to put an eerily creepy twist on beloved life sim IPs like Stardew Valley. You step into the shoes of Fiona, a young woman who quits her dead-end job and settles at a farm. However, her new start isn't what it seems when she ends up becoming the immortal herald of a dead god.
Developed by the creative minds behind Barotrauma, this game puts an exhilarating spin on the usual open-world survival craft formula by having a traveling steam train as the means to your survival. Make pit stops in a post-apocalyptic frozen tundra to explore ruins and scavenge materials, all while coping with worse dangers lurking in the shadows. Features both solo and co-op gameplay.
This absolutely colorful and charming base builder comes from the developers of Dorfromantik and the animators of Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell. First announced nearly a year ago, this game is sure to be a truly enjoyable follow-up to its base-building predecessor by taking players to the stars. Play as a flock of space-traveling birds (or Star Birds, rather), oversee resource management and build bases on various asteroids.
The highly anticipated sequel to the debut Speedrunners IP is finally set to drop this year, with a new announcement trailer showing off its speedy parkour gameplay. Dubbed by publisher tinyBuild as the "Mario Kart of 2D platformers", this game is sure to get plenty of wishlists leading up to its release.
From the development studio behind Farewell North and Lost Ember, this game takes players to a surreal and desolate island in the Arctic. A moving coming-of-age story that puts you in the shoes of a boy named Sam who must do his best to survive while stranded alongside his canine companion Ellie. The reveal trailer alludes to mythical dangers that lurk in the frigid landscape, and this may turn out to be one of the most intuitive, story-driven survival games in a while.
Described by the developers at Weird Beluga as a "love letter to classic 3D action platformers", Duskfade centers on the story of a young boy named Zirian and his sidekick Cuckoo. Equipped with a unique sword that bears a charming resemblance to a keyblade, he must brave various fantasy-inspired landscapes to save his sister from the Clock Tower that looms above and threatens life everywhere.
For those who enjoyed vibrant 3D platformers growing up, Duskfade is sure to scratch a heartfelt itch that feels almost forgotten in the current era of gaming.
First announced two years ago, The Alters is the latest ambitious survival game from the developers at 11 Bit Studios. If you've played their previous games, such as the notoriously difficult Frostpunk franchise and This War of Mine, then you'll have an idea of what you're in for. This time, however, you're tasked with surviving and escaping a hostile planet while contending with a crew that may prove to be the biggest challenge of all.
First announced during last year's Summer Games Fest, Tears of Metal is a vibrant hack-and-slash adventure set in the wartorn countryside of Scotland. Take control of your own battalion to repel enemy invasions and discover the truth behind the Dragon Meteor scorching the land.
Joining Weappy Studio's ever-growing portfolio is The Eternal Life of Goldman, an incredibly creative Metroidvania-style 2D adventure game. With animated environmental and monster designs hearkening to other notable IPs such as Cuphead, this game not only looks visually striking and challenging, but promises a heartfelt story as you traverse a strange world through the eyes of Goldman.
Described as a "demonic lovechild of Balatro and Buckshot Roulette", this so-called "roguelite slot machine nightmare" features entertaining gameplay that's sure to appeal to players who've enjoyed its inspirational predecessors.
That concludes our list of the 10 best games from Triple-I Initiative for 2025. You can also check out the full list of games revealed at Triple-I Initiative right here on Pro Game Guides.
