How to Find Hidden Indie Gems Yourself

The store charts are dominated by whatever spends the most, which means genuinely lovely small games sink fast. Finding them takes a bit of effort, but the payoff is worth it.

Start by ignoring the top charts entirely. Browse by 'new' in genres you like, check the developer's other releases, and read the middle reviews — the three-star ones are usually the most honest.

We also lean on word of mouth. Half the games on this site came from a reader tip or a friend's offhand mention. A small community that trades recommendations beats any algorithm.

Give odd little games a chance. The ones with strange screenshots and no marketing budget are exactly where the surprises hide. Hollow Lantern was one of those for us.