Back in 2009, the gaming world was about to be changed significantly with the founding ofDevolver Digital. Over several previous years (and two previous publishers), its founders had a dream of creating a publishing model that would allow developers to focus on their games independently and keep the rights to their games while the publisher would handle the business side of things.
It wasn’t exactly the best model when physical gaming was still the norm, but with digital distribution finally starting to take off, Devolver found its place in the gaming world, starting with a small niche. And from that small niche, we would eventually get a ludicrously successful indie game publisher who helped bring us several legendary titles, and one who would become the gold standard for future indie publishers as well (or foranygame publisher, really).
Devolver Digital To Have Exciting New Reveals During a Surely Twisted Birthday Party
The chaos continues as Devolver celebrates Volvy’s 15th birthday. Expect lots of new indie game announcements as well!
One of the things that made Devolver Digital stand out compared to any other publisher was its image, working alongside its output. There’s a quote from Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw that I tend to think of a lot: “It takes a lot of care to make a game thatlookscompletely carefree.”
Devolver select and treat every game they publish with the utmost care and professionalism, seeing them as some of the most interesting games possible that need to be shared with the world. And so, for their 15th anniversary (and Volvy’s 15th birthday party), it only seems fitting to highlight fifteen of their best games, ones that resulted from all of that care. Cheers, you delightful maniacs!
The criteria for this list is that every game included had to be an original game published by Devolver Digital, and not any of the remasters or remakes that they have put out. So something like, sayMetal Wolf Chaos XDwould be ineligible. In addition, to keep things fair and varied, only one game per franchise and/or developer was included.
Finally, all Volvy games were disqualified due to them being just so amazing and legendary that it would have been unfair to all of the others. (Volvy Vasectomywould have been number one, for the record).
Be a Clown, Be a Clown, Be a Clown…
Release Date
August 08, 2025
Metacritic Score
Given Devolver’s aforementioned image being associated with anarchy, surreal antics, satire, insane action games, and a wild style in general, it’s a bit amusing that one of their most underrated games is about a non-ironic clown who tries to be everyone’s friend and gives big hugs. Not only is Jay Tholen’sDropsya very unique and charming point-and-click adventure game about our titular hero going on fun adventures, but it also wound up being oddly ahead of its time, coming out years before the trend of more cozy and wholesome indie games.
It still has its more twisted elements as well, but its emphasis on friendliness and positive vibes still end up making this a truly feel-good game more than worth checking out. Also, you have an adorable dog sidekick that you can hug as well, which alone is probably enough to get the game on this list.
14Children of the Sun
A True Cult Hit (Or a Hit On a Cult)
June 03, 2025
This might be the newest game on this list, having come out earlier this year, but it’s still deserving of a spot just for its uniqueness alone. WithChildren of the Sun,René Rother has crafted a truly twisted puzzle game like no other, one where you string together sniper shots while telekinetically altering a bullet’s direction with each kill in order to get revenge on a cult.
It’s like aSniper Elitegame mixed with the world’s most twisted connect-the-dots puzzles and designed by Suda51, all meant in the best way possible. Accompanying the gameplay are some equally unique visuals, with a story about getting revenge on a cult depicted with glowing gold figures, shades of purple, comic book-styled interludes, and other surreal touches that make for a memorable massacre. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, and it’s easy to see why it caught Devolver’s eye.
Dreamlike Platforming
June 11, 2025
There is no shortage of indie games out there these days that deal with themes such as grief and loss in unique ways, but Nomada Studio certainly delivered one of the most beautiful and breathtaking ones with their puzzle-platformerGris.It’s the type of game where any screenshot from it looks like an absolute masterpiece, thanks to its dreamlike visuals and watercolor aesthetics.
And all of that is before you see it in motion, where you’re then treated to some absolutely dazzling animation. Of course, beneath the surface, the game also has some fun puzzles, unique abilities via our heroine’s dress, and a story involving a mysterious journey guaranteed to leave players hooked until the very end, with a few nightmarish and surreal scenarios to help create further delights for your peepers. Truly a beauty, in many different ways.
12Downwell
Way Down We Go
July 05, 2025
Devolver have been no strangers to working with Japanese developers, nor have they ever been afraid to publish mobile games despite any stigma people consider such games to have, and Ojiro Fumoto’sDownwellis arguably the best example of both. While there was a simultaneous PC release, it was clearly a game made for mobile devices, given its classic arcade gameplay and vertical screen orientation.
It’s just you, a pair of gunboots, and an extremely deep and procedurally generated descent, all presented with eye-catching, minimalist, monochrome pixel art. Properly evoking the classics of yore, and winding up an award-winning classic itself, it is a testament to the phrase “genius in its simplicity.” Plus, again, gunboots. How can you not love a game where your feet are guns?
11Loop Hero
Round and Round It Goes…
June 30, 2025
Time loop games have been quite the hot ticketin recent years among indie games,and Four Quarters came out with one extremely clever take on the subject withLoop Hero.Yes, technically it’s a timelessloop created by the Lich in an act of mass annihilation, but one would argue that it definitely still counts. Heck, it’s one of the few examples to utilize a literal loop, being a looping path where you construct all of the surroundings as your hero travels along it, rebuilding the world while making things more challenging along the way, even essentially rebuilding a game itself as you unlock more options, upgrades, and gameplay elements.
It’s a dazzling roguelike with a ton of depth to it and some unique twists, all of which paid off in the end as it was released to much acclaim, even winding up asone of our picks for the year’s best games.Definitely one to play over and over.
10The Messenger
8-Bit or 16-Bit? Why Not Both!
June 29, 2025
Some developers choose to make their debut by crafting an ode to a beloved generation of gaming past from their childhood. When Sabotage Studio made their debut, though, they decided to to craft an homage to two different generations.The Messengeris equal parts tribute to the NES and SNES, even drawing inspiration from classic games from both eras: Ninja Gaiden and Chrono Trigger.
Review: The Messenger: Picnic Panic
The Messenger: Picnic Panic serves as both a continuation as much a celebration of what made The Messenger such a fantastic outing in the first place.
Combining the action-platformer gameplay of the former and the time travel of the latter, and then intertwining them perfectly with a time travel mechanic that allows for both visual and gameplay upgrades, it’s a game that winds up as one of the most creative and fun throwbacks in recent years. It helps that it also has some great writing and good moments of humor as well, which all added up toanother GOTY candidate in our eyes,and paving the way forfuture successesfrom Sabotage.
9The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
A Different Kind of Deckbuilder
July 11, 2025
Leave it to a developer such as Deconstructeam to take the idea of telling fortunes with tarot cards and turn it into one of the best narrative-focused games of the past few years.The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhoodstarts with an exiled witch making a deal with an otherworldly being to help gain their freedom, and by the end, expertly swerves into a story of political intrigue with unexpected gameplay changes as our protagonist ends up having to decide the fate of their coven.
Along the way, she gains the ability to craft her own tarot deck, which itself makes for some incredibly engrossing stuff as you gain the elements needed to design the cards of your choice, before using your deck on various visitors. Fitting for a game about basically crafting a brand-new mythology, it ends up being a fascinating tale about the conflict between generations, alongside many other real-world parallels. Whatever you focus on here, it’s definitely some bewitching stuff.
8Stories Untold
An Anthology Not For The Faint of Heart
Jun 23, 2025
If you’ve ever wondered why developers No Code have been tappedto create a futureSilent Hillgame,look no further thanStories Untold.Taking the form of aTwilight Zone-style ’80s TV anthology series, each part consists of a unique graphic adventure game consisting of a single room and various monitors and technology that allow for some sweet genre shifts, ranging from an eerie text adventure on an old computer to machinery designed to examine a mysterious artifact.
Each are extremely effective at creating an unsettling, creepy atmosphere with just a few machines to work with, even as things get increasingly elaborate, leading up to one rather shocking finale that we dare not spoil here, and ended up giving this writer some definite chills. It truly finds the horror in the unknown and beyond, and hopefullySilent Hill: Townfallcaptures that spirit as well.
7Cult of the Lamb
The Most Adorable Batch of Kool-Aid Drinkers Possible
June 07, 2025
Even if this is Volvy’s birthday party that we’re celebrating, it can’t be ignored that Devolver may have found a more iconic mascot in Massive Monster’sCult of the Lamb.The game itself is amazing, being a captivating hybrid of roguelike dungeon crawlers and simulation games where you manage your own cult in between, and every journey out ends up being a way to help make said cult grow in one way or another, be it gathering resources, recruiting new members, or slaying massive bosses to advance the goal of the cult.
But while the action is well-crafted, addictive, and fun, it was the game’s colorful, cute, contrasting cartoon style that sealed the deal for many, especially with our adorable protagonist, who quickly became a massive hit among players. Merchandising, hordes of cosplayers, and even a crossover or two would follow, and as hinted at a while ago,there may be more lambs to come…
6Katana Zero
The Red Circle Has Nothing on This
July 22, 2025
Askiisoft’sKatana Zerowas originally set to be published by Adult Swim Games until they eventually moved away from original titles, so their loss ended up being Devolver Digital’s gain. And oh, what a gain it was. At a time in which demand for more action movies in the vein ofJohn Wickappeared to be at its highest,Katana Zerodelivered by basically letting players be the directors of their own adrenaline-soaked, neon-tinged, neo-noir action scenes.
Utilizing the framing device of an assassin planning out all of their moves, players could swiftly slice and smash enemies, slow things down, deflect bullets back at them, or use anything around as a weapon to help carry out their jobs, with lightning-fast and challenging 2D gameplay topped off with an impressive story. Forgive the awful pun (yet again), but it was definitely a cut above the rest.
