Whenever I search for story-driven indie games, there are some recommendations that I inevitably come across: Firewatch, Kentucky Route Zero, Oxenfree, Night in the Woods, and What Remains of Edith Finch, just to name a few. They’re all fantastic games, but if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve already played them. (And if you haven’t, check them out, too!)

There are mountains of other indie games with great stories, but finding recommendations can take a bit more digging. So to give you a jumping-off point, here is my list (in no particular order) of lesser-known indie games with great stories. If you haven’t played these story-driven games, you should check them out now!

Mutazione

Mutazione is a quiet adventure game where you play as Kai, a teenager who travels to the island of Mutazione to care for her sick grandfather. Over the course of the game, Kai befriends the islanders and helps them with their problems. She also tends to a garden: As the garden blooms, her relationships with the islanders deepen.

Knights and Bikes

Knights and Bikes is an action-adventure game where you play as two new friends, Nessa and Demelza, as they explore a British island in search of a lost treasure. You can play this game in a solo mode, switching between characters, or in a co-op mode, where each player controls a character.

Wandersong

Wandersong is the sort of game that will make you feel like your heart has grown three sizes larger. It’s a musical puzzle platformer where you are a bard on a journey to save the world through song. It’s a game about kindness and joy in the face of a pending apocalypse and about small people doing their best to change the world. If that doesn’t immediately win you over, well, there’s also a great cast of characters to interact with as you travel. And you can dance!

The Gardens Between

The Gardens Between is a puzzle game where you explore dreamlike islands as best friends Arina and Frendt. As you move through each island, you manipulate time to solve puzzles. This game is a bit of a standout on this list in that it doesn’t include any dialogue at all, and tells its story entirely through the environment. The game is an atmospheric experience about childhood, friendship, and nostalgia that will likely stick with you.

Blackwood Crossing

Blackwood Crossing is an emotional adventure game that explores the relationship between two orphaned siblings, Scarlett and her younger brother Finn. As Scarlett, you wake to find yourself inexplicably on a moving train populated by magical creatures. In this game, you navigate the mysteries of the train ride while also examining your relationship with your brother Finn.

Have you added any of these games to your “must-play” list? What do you think of any you’ve already played? Leave a comment below and let me know!