Best Difficult indie games under $20
These are the best difficult indie games you can buy for under $20. indielist lists 165 paid difficult games with a list price at or below $20, ranked by Steam review count so the most-validated picks lead. The average list price here is $14.41, and the cheapest is Muse Dash at $2.99. The most reviewed is Geometry Dash with 608,638 Steam reviews. Beyond the budget end, this wider list adds 118 mid-price picks between $10 and $20 that a stricter under-$10 list leaves out. Every price is the tracked Steam list price, not an estimate, and each game links to a white-box sales estimate you can open and audit rather than a black-box number. This is a value list: a sensible price crossed with real player validation, so you can find a difficult game that is actually good, not just affordable. Free-to-play titles are excluded here; this is about paid games that punch above their price.
Games
165
Avg list price
$14.41
Cheapest
$2.99
- G
Geometry Dash
2014 · Action
$4.99 608,638 reviews · 93% positive
- H
Hollow Knight
2017 · Action
$14.99 507,072 reviews · 97% positive
- T
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
2014 · Action
$14.99 393,010 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Don't Starve Together
2016 · Action
$14.99 377,538 reviews · 95% positive
- C
Cuphead
2017 · Action
$19.99 200,544 reviews · 96% positive
- B
Balatro
2024 · Casual
$14.99 162,155 reviews · 98% positive
- C
Celeste
2018 · Action
$19.99 133,667 reviews · 97% positive
- M
Muse Dash
2019 · Action
$2.99 117,019 reviews · 91% positive
- T
The Long Dark
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 112,347 reviews · 89% positive
- H
Hotline Miami
2012 · Action
$9.99 110,606 reviews · 97% positive
- M
My Summer Car
2025 · Indie
$14.99 109,459 reviews · 95% positive
- O
Outlast
2013 · Action
$14.99 105,281 reviews · 96% positive
- D
Don't Starve
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 97,202 reviews · 97% positive
- N
Noita
2020 · Action
$19.99 81,754 reviews · 95% positive
- E
Enter the Gungeon
2016 · Action
$14.99 79,600 reviews · 95% positive
- A
A Dance of Fire and Ice
2019 · Indie
$5.99 79,398 reviews · 94% positive
- P
Papers, Please
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 73,662 reviews · 97% positive
- H
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
2015 · Action
$14.99 70,086 reviews · 94% positive
- B
Beat Saber
2019 · Indie
$19.99 69,875 reviews · 95% positive
- D
DEVOUR
2021 · Indie
$9.99 68,921 reviews · 90% positive
- P
Pizza Tower
2023 · Action
$19.99 66,697 reviews · 98% positive
- K
Katana ZERO
2019 · Action
$14.99 66,594 reviews · 98% positive
- F
FTL: Faster Than Light
2012 · Indie
$9.99 63,006 reviews · 95% positive
- P
Plague Inc: Evolved
2016 · Casual
$14.99 59,754 reviews · 94% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's
2014 · Indie
$4.99 53,932 reviews · 94% positive
- G
Golf With Your Friends
2020 · Casual
$14.99 51,047 reviews · 87% positive
- S
Skul: The Hero Slayer
2021 · Action
$19.99 50,925 reviews · 93% positive
- T
The Binding of Isaac
2011 · Action
$4.99 49,343 reviews · 95% positive
- S
SANABI
2023 · Action
$14.99 42,009 reviews · 97% positive
- L
LIMBO
2011 · Action
$12.49 40,891 reviews · 92% positive
- G
Game Dev Tycoon
2013 · Casual
$9.99 40,403 reviews · 95% positive
- B
Banished
2014 · Indie
$19.99 37,944 reviews · 90% positive
- H
Hero Siege
2014 · Action
$7.99 36,967 reviews · 67% positive
- C
Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
2021 · Action
$19.99 36,357 reviews · 96% positive
- R
Return of the Obra Dinn
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 32,723 reviews · 97% positive
- W
Who's Your Daddy?!
2016 · Action
$9.99 32,021 reviews · 80% positive
- C
Chants of Sennaar
2023 · Adventure
$19.99 31,306 reviews · 98% positive
- G
Golf It!
2023 · Casual
$8.99 31,176 reviews · 90% positive
- S
Super Meat Boy
2010 · Indie
$14.99 30,178 reviews · 94% positive
- P
Paint the Town Red
2021 · Action
$19.99 29,374 reviews · 96% positive
- H
Hatred
2015 · Action
$5.99 26,100 reviews · 84% positive
- J
Just Shapes & Beats
2018 · Action
$19.99 24,199 reviews · 98% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
2014 · Indie
$7.99 24,003 reviews · 94% positive
- P
PICO PARK
2021 · Action
$4.99 23,789 reviews · 91% positive
- C
Crypt of the NecroDancer
2015 · Action
$14.99 23,634 reviews · 95% positive
- B
Baba Is You
2019 · Indie
$14.99 21,114 reviews · 98% positive
- R
Risk of Rain (2013)
2013 · Action
$9.99 20,778 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Salt and Sanctuary
2016 · Action
$17.99 20,165 reviews · 89% positive
- S
Spelunky 2
2020 · Action
$19.99 19,823 reviews · 93% positive
- W
Wizard of Legend
2018 · Action
$15.99 17,345 reviews · 91% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 4
2015 · Action
$7.99 17,091 reviews · 93% positive
- H
Hacknet
2015 · Indie
$9.99 16,956 reviews · 94% positive
- C
Cat Goes Fishing
2015 · Casual
$6.99 16,639 reviews · 94% positive
- C
CrossCode
2018 · Action
$19.99 16,473 reviews · 92% positive
- G
Gold Mining Simulator
2017 · Indie
$19.99 16,442 reviews · 73% positive
- C
Changed
2018 · Adventure
$4.99 16,107 reviews · 86% positive
- H
Hyper Light Drifter
2016 · Action
$19.99 15,650 reviews · 93% positive
- N
Nuclear Throne
2015 · Action
$11.99 15,104 reviews · 96% positive
- C
Clustertruck
2016 · Action
$14.99 14,830 reviews · 94% positive
- 1
100% Orange Juice
2014 · Indie
$6.99 14,805 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Spelunky
2013 · Indie
$14.99 14,692 reviews · 92% positive
- K
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
2015 · Indie
$14.99 14,377 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Surgeon Simulator
2013 · Action
$9.99 13,879 reviews · 82% positive
- T
Touhou Luna Nights
2019 · Action
$17.99 13,841 reviews · 97% positive
- O
Overcooked
2016 · Action
$16.99 13,595 reviews · 90% positive
- B
Barony
2015 · Action
$19.99 12,930 reviews · 91% positive
- M
Mini Metro
2015 · Indie
$9.99 12,844 reviews · 96% positive
- E
Exanima
2015 · Action
$14.99 12,761 reviews · 80% positive
- J
Jump King
2019 · Action
$12.99 12,403 reviews · 90% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
2016 · Action
$7.99 11,530 reviews · 90% positive
- F
Furi
2016 · Action
$19.99 11,284 reviews · 90% positive
- G
Granny
2018 · Adventure
$7.99 11,194 reviews · 94% positive
- A
Across the Obelisk
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 10,772 reviews · 80% positive
- R
Rabi-Ribi
2016 · Action
$17.99 10,767 reviews · 95% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
2015 · Action
$7.99 10,434 reviews · 90% positive
- T
Trombone Champ
2022 · Casual
$14.99 10,362 reviews · 98% positive
- K
Kindergarten
2017 · Adventure
$4.99 10,314 reviews · 97% positive
- T
Tiny Rogues
2022 · Action
$9.99 10,297 reviews · 96% positive
- R
Rabbit and Steel
2024 · Action
$14.99 10,241 reviews · 97% positive
- S
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
2018 · Action
$19.99 10,125 reviews · 94% positive
- E
EVERSPACE™
2017 · Action
$19.99 9,827 reviews · 78% positive
- D
Dungeon of the ENDLESS™
2014 · Adventure
$11.99 9,423 reviews · 85% positive
- D
Death Road to Canada
2016 · Action
$14.99 9,162 reviews · 93% positive
- O
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
2014 · Action
$14.99 9,128 reviews · 94% positive
- E
Elin
2024 · Indie
$19.99 8,509 reviews · 93% positive
- 5
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel
2020 · Indie
$11.99 8,142 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Slender: The Arrival
2013 · Action
$19.99 7,944 reviews · 88% positive
- K
Kingdom Rush Origins - Tower Defense
2018 · Indie
$14.99 7,634 reviews · 96% positive
- M
Melatonin
2022 · Action
$14.99 7,594 reviews · 94% positive
- T
Turbo Overkill
2023 · Action
$19.99 6,466 reviews · 94% positive
- U
UnderRail
2015 · Indie
$14.99 6,424 reviews · 86% positive
- R
Rift of the NecroDancer
2025 · Action
$19.99 6,403 reviews · 94% positive
- T
Tales of Maj'Eyal
2013 · Adventure
$6.99 6,398 reviews · 94% positive
- O
Overgrowth
2017 · Action
$19.99 6,308 reviews · 81% positive
- S
Shogun Showdown
2024 · Indie
$14.99 6,268 reviews · 95% positive
- O
Opus Magnum
2017 · Indie
$19.99 6,074 reviews · 97% positive
- O
One Step From Eden
2020 · Action
$19.99 6,049 reviews · 93% positive
- A
Axiom Verge
2015 · Action
$19.99 5,864 reviews · 90% positive
- L
Long Live The Queen
2013 · Indie
$9.99 5,837 reviews · 95% positive
- H
Hot Lava
2019 · Action
$19.99 5,343 reviews · 93% positive
- C
Cave Story+
2011 · Action
$14.99 5,263 reviews · 93% positive
- P
Patrick's Parabox
2022 · Casual
$19.99 5,033 reviews · 99% positive
- M
Mr.President!
2016 · Action
$9.99 4,974 reviews · 83% positive
- W
World of Goo
2008 · Indie
$14.99 4,847 reviews · 94% positive
- T
Tattletail
2016 · Action
$7.99 4,677 reviews · 95% positive
- N
NEO Scavenger
2014 · Indie
$14.99 4,448 reviews · 90% positive
- E
Electrician Simulator
2022 · Adventure
$17.99 4,120 reviews · 80% positive
- 2
20XX
2017 · Action
$14.99 3,989 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice
2021 · Indie
$19.99 3,987 reviews · 93% positive
- H
Heavenly Bodies
2021 · Action
$19.99 3,781 reviews · 95% positive
- S
SHENZHEN I/O
2016 · Indie
$14.99 3,759 reviews · 95% positive
- G
GemCraft - Chasing Shadows
2015 · Action
$9.99 3,673 reviews · 95% positive
- P
Peaks of Yore
2023 · Action
$18.99 3,629 reviews · 97% positive
- E
Exit the Gungeon
2020 · Action
$9.99 3,415 reviews · 74% positive
- T
TIS-100
2015 · Indie
$6.99 3,399 reviews · 97% positive
- Z
Zombie Night Terror
2016 · Action
$12.99 3,367 reviews · 93% positive
- V
Void Stranger
2023 · Adventure
$11.99 3,360 reviews · 91% positive
- F
Freedom Planet
2014 · Action
$14.99 3,319 reviews · 95% positive
- T
The End Is Nigh
2017 · Action
$14.99 3,313 reviews · 94% positive
- O
Ostranauts
2026 · Indie
$19.99 3,204 reviews · 77% positive
- S
Star of Providence
2017 · Action
$14.99 3,195 reviews · 97% positive
- W
Welcome to the Game II
2018 · Indie
$9.99 3,187 reviews · 84% positive
- M
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
2024 · Action
$16.99 3,099 reviews · 92% positive
- B
Bio Inc. Redemption
2018 · Indie
$12.99 3,086 reviews · 87% positive
- I
Intravenous
2021 · Action
$19.99 2,895 reviews · 90% positive
- G
GemCraft - Frostborn Wrath
2020 · Action
$12.99 2,700 reviews · 89% positive
- S
ScourgeBringer
2020 · Action
$16.99 2,655 reviews · 86% positive
- S
SpaceChem
2011 · Indie
$9.99 2,635 reviews · 92% positive
- I
Ikaruga
2014 · Action
$9.99 2,210 reviews · 95% positive
- S
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
2022 · Adventure
$9.99 2,152 reviews · 95% positive
- T
The Chef's Shift
2025 · Casual
$12.99 2,100 reviews · 98% positive
- L
La-Mulana
2013 · Action
$14.99 2,083 reviews · 80% positive
- Z
ZeroRanger
2018 · Action
$11.99 2,059 reviews · 96% positive
- S
Slackers - Carts of Glory
2024 · Action
$12.99 2,000 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
2015 · Action
$19.99 1,851 reviews · 93% positive
- T
Timelie
2020 · Adventure
$17.99 1,789 reviews · 94% positive
- T
The Void Rains Upon Her Heart
2018 · Action
$12.99 1,672 reviews · 99% positive
- T
Touhou Fuujinroku ~ Mountain of Faith.
2020 · Action
$14.99 1,646 reviews · 98% positive
- R
Rusted Moss
2023 · Action
$19.99 1,632 reviews · 89% positive
- 1
14 Minesweeper Variants
2022 · Casual
$6.99 1,612 reviews · 97% positive
- T
Touhou Kanjuden ~ Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom.
2019 · Action
$14.99 1,533 reviews · 98% positive
- E
EXAPUNKS
2018 · Indie
$19.99 1,380 reviews · 95% positive
- T
Topple Tactics
2023 · Action
$9.99 1,374 reviews · 88% positive
- S
Scrutinized
2020 · Indie
$9.99 1,320 reviews · 89% positive
- I
Infectonator 3: Apocalypse
2018 · Indie
$12.99 1,269 reviews · 84% positive
- M
Moonscars
2022 · Action
$19.99 1,245 reviews · 83% positive
- J
JUMP KING QUEST
2026 · Action
$14.99 1,243 reviews · 88% positive
- T
Those Who Rule
2025 · Indie
$17.99 1,137 reviews · 90% positive
- P
Paquerette Down the Bunburrows
2023 · Adventure
$11.99 1,126 reviews · 96% positive
- T
Touhou Kikeijuu ~ Wily Beast and Weakest Creature.
2019 · Action
$14.99 1,039 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Ghost Song
2022 · Action
$19.99 997 reviews · 83% positive
- T
The Doors of Trithius
2021 · Indie
$14.99 988 reviews · 94% positive
- S
SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding
2025 · Action
$11.99 953 reviews · 96% positive
- S
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
2019 · Action
$14.99 930 reviews · 94% positive
- B
BLUE REVOLVER
2016 · Action
$14.99 839 reviews · 98% positive
- L
Lingo
2021 · Adventure
$9.99 799 reviews · 94% positive
- X
XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION
2024 · Action
$19.99 780 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Savara
2025 · Action
$19.99 565 reviews · 88% positive
- 3
3dSen PC
2025 · Action
$14.99 524 reviews · 91% positive
- L
Lingo 2
2025 · Adventure
$9.99 451 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Sonny Legacy Collection
2024 · Action
$9.99 348 reviews · 91% positive
- A
Abathor
2024 · Action
$14.99 338 reviews · 90% positive
- G
Gentoo Rescue
2025 · Casual
$19.99 243 reviews · 100% positive
- M
MEMOLITH: Forsaken by Light
2026 · Indie
$19.99 222 reviews · 77% positive
- L
Lost Flame
2026 · Indie
$13.99 172 reviews · 97% positive
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best difficult indie games under $20?
- indielist lists 165 paid difficult indie games priced at or below $20, ranked by Steam reviews, led by Geometry Dash (608,638 reviews). The cheapest is Muse Dash at $2.99.
- How is this "under $20" list built?
- By a data filter, not opinion: a paid difficult game qualifies if its tracked Steam list price is at or below $20. The list is ranked by review count and updates as prices and the catalog change. Free-to-play games are excluded.