GamesBeat reporter Stephanie Chan’s best indie games of 2017

It’s been painful for me to choose the “best” indie games I’ve played this year, mostly because calling something the “best” is a somewhat nebulous concept to begin with. So I’ve chosen a handful that have stuck with me. They’re ones that I think about from time to time for various reasons, whether it’s because of the ideas they explored, or because of the sheer visual spectacle, or because of an incredible soundtrack with hooks that sink in and don’t let go.

Indie games excel at presenting short experiences packed with emotional meaning. Sometimes they’re raw autobiographical tales that elicit a wince of sympathy and feel borderline voyeuristic to play. Or they explore mechanics that seem wacky on paper but end up being tons of fun when put to the test with a gamepad or mouse and keyboard. Others offer tiny glimpses into another world or perspective — like MadameBerry’s 3am, which is about making a cup of tea during the stillness of the deep night, or Coyan Cardenas’s peaceful farm game Where the Goats Are about the coming apocalypse.