Best indie games made with GameMaker

Summary

  • GameMaker produces some of the best indie games, such as Hotline Miami and Undertale.
  • Hotline Miami is a fast-paced, gory game that requires players to learn levels through multiple deaths.
  • Undertale promotes compassionate gameplay, with a hidden genocide race for a challenge.



GameMaker is one of the most popular video game engines that is easy to get into and allows players to create amazing 2D games. It's easy to see why many indie developers prefer to use this engine for their games, making the most of its robust and accessible tools.

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Some of the best indie games gamers can get their hands on are made in GameMaker, which shows how flexible this tool is. It's highly likely that people who have played their fair share of indie games might have enjoyed a title made with the GameMaker engine.


8 Hotline Miami

A fast-paced Top-Down Shooter that is violent and entertaining

Released
October 23, 2012

Developer
Dennaton game

Hotline Miami is one of the biggest indie hits of all time, with fast-paced gameplay as players blast everything in their path. A single mistake can lead to their death, forcing players to understand how a level works over multiple deaths before finally completing a stage.


Turning into a whirlwind of death and tearing apart enemies is a big part of what does Hotline Miami so special. For a 2D game, the gore is surprisingly gruesome and brings the fast-paced action of this title to life.

7 Undertale

A revolutionary RPG that is full of charm

Released
September 15, 2015

Developer
Toby Fox

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

Undertales success is something fans are familiar with. Toby Fox has become a household name after his charming anti-RPG turned into an indie darling that fans can't stop raving about to this day.

Players love interacting with memorable characters in beautiful environments where you are encouraged to be compassionate and talk down enemies instead of killing them outright. Ignoring the game's message and wiping out everything in their path will unlock a Genocide Run that features some of the game's most challenging encounters.


6 Katana Zero

A hardcore side-scrolling action title where repetition is somehow engaging

Katana ZERO

Released
April 18, 2019

Developer
Askiisoft

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

Players who love fast-paced action games with engaging gameplay will love what Katana Zero takes to the table. The player character uses drugs that allow them to visualize a combat encounter first before figuring out the best way to kill everyone and survive, which serves as a convenient excuse to let players replay a tough combat challenge over and over again before finally completing the level.

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Katana Zero is perfect for players who want a challenge, with its story surprisingly engaging as it ties the levels together in a neat little arc. Players who complete things in a certain order will be treated to a secret final boss that is easily the toughest encounter in Katana Zero of a land mile.


5 OTXO

Combines fast-paced shooter with roguelike elements

Otxo

System

PC-1

OTXO is the perfect game for players who loved Hotline Miamis gameplay loop but wanted it to be more fleshed out. The top-down shooting is as rewarding as ever, with the roguelike design ensuring players will create satisfying builds in no time as they make their way through challenging levels and tough bosses.

It's the perfect game for players who want to enjoy a simple, violent moment as they use an array of weapons to tear apart their enemies. As the builds get crazier, the player can transform into a dealer of death, able to cut through bosses that at one point seemed impossible.

4 Downwell

A unique Roguelike title perfect for phones


Released
15 October 2015

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

A game tailored for mobile devices, Downwell has such a simple yet impressive gameplay loop that it was eventually ported to other major consoles in no time. It is a vertical scrolling shooter where players go down a well and use their gun boots to shoot enemies.

This makes it important for players to be mobile at all times and jump around to damage enemies. The levels become increasingly chaotic as players go deeper into this endless abyss, encountering tougher enemies and challenges along the way.

3 Delta rune

The long-awaited sequel to Undertale that is just as engaging

Released
31 October 2018

Developer
Toby Fox

Undertales sequel has thoroughly impressed gamers with two chapters that are poised to be a huge improvement over the first game. The game's expansion of the first title's combat combined with memorable characters makes it clear why Delta rune has become popular in no time.


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Best indie game with multiple endings

The following indie games don't saddle players with just one ending. There are a variety of conclusions based on the player's actions.

Gamers can't wait to get their hands on the full package, which will comfortably turn this title into a worthy sequel to one of the best indie games ever made. As you'd expect, this sequel is also being developed on the GameMaker engine to ensure its 2D gameplay is as engaging as possible.

2 Faith: The Unholy Trinity

An underrated horror game that feels nostalgic but oppressive at the same time

System

PC-1

Released
21 October 2022

Developer
Airdorf game

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

Publisher
New Blood Interactive

A masterpiece of horror design that uses a player's nostalgia to scare them, Faith: The Unholy Trinity is a clever video game with a unique art style that makes it a must-have for fans of the horror genre. The nostalgic visuals lull players into a false sense of security before scaring them with effective jump scares that don't feel cheap or undeserved.


Controlling a priest as he uses his crucifix to protect him is a simple yet enticing gameplay loop, with the atmosphere of this game driving players to experience all three chapters and see why indie horror fans can't get enough of this title.

1 Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaiden

One of the most bizarre yet entertaining RPGs gamers can get their hands on

Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden

System

PC-1

Released
January 22, 2008

Developer
Tales of Game's Studios

Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden is one of the most ridiculous video games gamers can get their hands on. The game is an over-the-top sequel to Space Jam where the world is forever changed in the aftermath of a Chaos Dunk that led to the banning of basketball.

It's a ridiculous premise, but so what Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden What makes this title so captivating is how it takes this setting seriously and manages to get players invested in the story as well. It's a fantastic RPG that must be experienced at least once by fans of the genre who want to check out the very definition of a bizarre video game.

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