Solo Developer Games
Solo Indie Games
Indie games made largely by one person — solo developers and self-published Steam and itch.io creators, not studios. Browse the newest solo and one-dev releases below, each with its developer, release date, tags, current price, and a link to the store page.
Solo projects are where a lot of indie experimentation happens — unusual mechanics and personal, hand-made games a big studio wouldn’t greenlight. They also tend to be cheaper and shorter, so they’re easy to try. The list refreshes as new solo titles launch, so check back for what’s just released.
Solo developer games to explore
Marianara Deep
Dive into the exciting aquatic-themed space world of Marianara Deep! A vigorous shoot 'em up bullet hell, filled with area-denying bullet patterns to challenge players! Join one of our crew members to shoot 'em all!
Beyond Horizon
Battle across the galaxy, defeat powerful bosses, and uncover the mystery of Kuma's missing sister in this fast-paced top-down space shooter.
Creepy Support
Save people from terrible paranormal dangers as a support operator of a secret SCP-like organization! Ask questions, give advice and watch the consequences of your choices... multiple endings in each story ;-)
Greedy Up
Greedy Up is a heart-pounding vertical parkour game. Climb higher to accumulate unbanked wealth! But beware, one mistake could send you plunging into the abyss, losing all your gains. How greedy can you get in this beautiful yet brutal ascent?
Stopping Move
Stopping Move is an exciting 2D game with pixel graphics that takes you to a unique world where time and space are subject to your decisions.
Vellar
Vellar is a first-person psychological horror game where a family is dead… but the recordings they left behind slowly reveal a version of events that doesn’t match reality. Explore a shifting house filled with impossible rooms, distorted corridors, and uncover a truth that refuses to stay buried.
Yet Another Incremental Game (but this time about coding)
Yet Another Incremental Game (But This Time About Coding) is an idle clicker about... coding (thanks, Captain Obvious). Smash your keyboard, spawn code, and discover the questionable joy of programming. No actual skills required.
Alchemickal
A skill-based action roguelite where you imbue your weapons with chemickals to exploit enemy weaknesses on the fly. Scour dungeons, upgrade your arsenal, and master alchemy to thwart an arcane invasion!
Arensia
A competitive falling-block puzzle game where emotions spread through blocks. Battle AI rivals worldwide, master emotional chain reactions, and climb from Rank 50 to Rank 1.
Areteion
Explore the world of Greek mythology with this deeply strategic board and card game. Discover 600+ cards and countless strategies. Build your deck for solo or multiplayer, or embark on the roguelike Hero's Journey!
What counts as a solo indie game?
On smallcrate, a game is tagged solo when its store listing credits a single developer and is either self-published or published under that same developer's name. It's how we separate one-person and very-small-team projects from studio releases — though it isn't perfect, since some solo developers still hire out music, art, or a port.
Solo work spans every genre — pixel-art RPGs, narrative adventures, tight arcade games, indie horror, cozy sims, and oddball experiments. If you're after a specific style, the RPG, casual, and free indie collections overlap heavily with solo and one-dev games.
Everything here is pulled from live Steam and itch.io data and ordered by release date, so the list leans toward what's new. Open any title for its developer, tags, current price, and a link straight to the store page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best solo developer games?
Famous solo-developer hits include Stardew Valley (ConcernedApe), Papers, Please (Lucas Pope), and Axiom Verge (Tom Happ) — each built almost entirely by one person. smallcrate focuses on new and recent solo releases rather than a fixed best-of list, so the games above refresh as the latest titles launch.
Is a solo game the same as an indie game?
Not quite. "Indie" describes independent funding and publishing and can include teams of dozens; "solo" means essentially one person made the game. Every solo game here is indie, but most indie games aren't solo — if you want the wider net, browse the genre collections like RPG, casual, or adventure.
Where can I find cheap or free solo games?
Solo developers tend to price below studios, with many titles in the $5–15 range, and itch.io has plenty that are free or pay-what-you-want. Each listing shows the current price; for discounts check the Steam indie deals collection, and for no-cost picks see the free indie games list.
Should I play solo indie games on Steam or itch.io?
Both are worth checking. Steam has the larger catalog plus automatic updates and refunds; itch.io skews more experimental and has more free and name-your-price releases. smallcrate aggregates solo games from both so you can compare in one place before heading to whichever store hosts the game.
Made by solo developers
Find indie games from single developers and self-published creators on Steam and itch.io.
Hidden indie gems
Discover smaller games that may be overlooked in larger storefront catalogs.
Fresh catalog data
smallcrate uses Steam and itch.io catalog data to surface new releases, deals, and solo indie games.