Best Difficult indie games under $20
These are the best difficult indie games you can buy for under $20. indielist lists 137 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 $14.40, and the cheapest is Muse Dash at $2.99. The most reviewed is Geometry Dash with 561,151 Steam reviews. Beyond the budget end, this wider list adds 95 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
137
Avg list price
$14.40
Cheapest
$2.99
- G
Geometry Dash
2014 · Action
$4.99 561,151 reviews · 93% positive
- H
Hollow Knight
2017 · Action
$14.99 488,027 reviews · 97% positive
- V
Valheim
2021 · Action
$19.99 453,292 reviews · 94% positive
- D
Don't Starve Together
2016 · Action
$14.99 367,610 reviews · 95% positive
- T
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
2014 · Action
$14.99 358,838 reviews · 97% positive
- C
Cuphead
2017 · Action
$19.99 189,840 reviews · 96% positive
- B
Balatro
2024 · Casual
$14.99 155,829 reviews · 98% positive
- C
Celeste
2018 · Action
$19.99 127,326 reviews · 97% positive
- M
Muse Dash
2019 · Action
$2.99 115,288 reviews · 91% positive
- T
The Long Dark
2017 · Adventure
$19.99 110,320 reviews · 89% positive
- M
My Summer Car
2025 · Indie
$14.99 105,569 reviews · 95% positive
- H
Hotline Miami
2012 · Action
$9.99 104,386 reviews · 97% positive
- O
Outlast
2013 · Action
$14.99 101,977 reviews · 96% positive
- D
Don't Starve
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 96,238 reviews · 97% positive
- E
Elite Dangerous
2015 · Action
$19.99 81,272 reviews · 77% positive
- T
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition
2012 · RPG
$19.99 80,847 reviews · 90% positive
- N
Noita
2020 · Action
$19.99 79,689 reviews · 95% positive
- E
Enter the Gungeon
2016 · Action
$14.99 78,499 reviews · 95% positive
- A
A Dance of Fire and Ice
2019 · Indie
$5.99 76,341 reviews · 94% positive
- G
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
2017 · Action
$7.99 74,168 reviews · 82% positive
- P
Papers, Please
2013 · Adventure
$9.99 72,119 reviews · 97% positive
- D
DEVOUR
2021 · Indie
$9.99 68,110 reviews · 91% positive
- H
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
2015 · Action
$14.99 67,390 reviews · 94% positive
- K
Katana ZERO
2019 · Action
$14.99 65,441 reviews · 98% positive
- P
Pizza Tower
2023 · Action
$19.99 65,366 reviews · 98% positive
- F
FTL: Faster Than Light
2012 · Indie
$9.99 62,132 reviews · 95% positive
- P
Plague Inc: Evolved
2016 · Casual
$14.99 56,431 reviews · 94% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's
2014 · Indie
$4.99 52,730 reviews · 94% positive
- S
Skul: The Hero Slayer
2021 · Action
$19.99 50,456 reviews · 93% positive
- G
Golf With Your Friends
2020 · Casual
$14.99 49,281 reviews · 88% positive
- T
The Binding of Isaac
2011 · Action
$4.99 48,753 reviews · 95% positive
- D
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT
2020 · Action
$19.99 43,477 reviews · 93% positive
- S
SANABI
2023 · Action
$14.99 40,755 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Game Dev Tycoon
2013 · Casual
$9.99 40,080 reviews · 95% positive
- L
LIMBO
2011 · Action
$12.49 39,812 reviews · 92% positive
- C
Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
2021 · Action
$19.99 38,415 reviews · 96% positive
- B
Banished
2014 · Indie
$19.99 37,741 reviews · 90% positive
- H
Hero Siege
2014 · Action
$7.99 35,933 reviews · 67% positive
- R
Return of the Obra Dinn
2018 · Adventure
$19.99 34,267 reviews · 97% positive
- T
The Escapists 2
2017 · Indie
$19.99 33,458 reviews · 91% positive
- P
Paint the Town Red
2021 · Action
$19.99 32,028 reviews · 96% positive
- W
Who's Your Daddy?!
2016 · Action
$9.99 31,689 reviews · 80% positive
- C
Chants of Sennaar
2023 · Adventure
$19.99 31,275 reviews · 98% positive
- G
Golf It!
2023 · Casual
$8.99 30,802 reviews · 90% positive
- 1
100% Orange Juice
2014 · Indie
$6.99 29,948 reviews · 91% positive
- R
Risk of Rain (2013)
2013 · Action
$9.99 29,811 reviews · 93% positive
- P
PICO PARK
2021 · Action
$4.99 29,765 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Super Meat Boy
2010 · Indie
$14.99 29,347 reviews · 94% positive
- H
Hatred
2015 · Action
$5.99 28,741 reviews · 84% positive
- C
Crypt of the NecroDancer
2015 · Action
$14.99 26,329 reviews · 96% positive
- H
Hacknet
2015 · Indie
$9.99 25,934 reviews · 94% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
2014 · Indie
$7.99 25,744 reviews · 94% positive
- J
Just Shapes & Beats
2018 · Action
$19.99 25,513 reviews · 98% positive
- F
Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
2015 · RPG
$9.99 24,772 reviews · 94% positive
- B
Baba Is You
2019 · Indie
$14.99 24,169 reviews · 98% positive
- 9
9 Kings
2025 · RPG
$19.99 22,009 reviews · 93% positive
- P
PAYDAY™ The Heist
2011 · Action
$9.99 21,753 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Spelunky 2
2020 · Action
$19.99 21,712 reviews · 93% positive
- S
Salt and Sanctuary
2016 · Action
$17.99 21,646 reviews · 89% positive
- W
Wizard of Legend
2018 · Action
$15.99 20,951 reviews · 91% positive
- N
Nuclear Throne
2015 · Action
$11.99 19,584 reviews · 96% positive
- F
FINAL FANTASY® XIII
2014 · RPG
$15.99 19,513 reviews · 75% positive
- H
Hyper Light Drifter
2016 · Action
$19.99 18,743 reviews · 93% positive
- C
Changed
2018 · Adventure
$4.99 18,290 reviews · 86% positive
- C
Clustertruck
2016 · Action
$14.99 18,244 reviews · 94% positive
- C
CrossCode
2018 · Action
$19.99 18,083 reviews · 93% positive
- K
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
2015 · Indie
$14.99 16,877 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Surgeon Simulator
2013 · Action
$9.99 16,857 reviews · 82% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 4
2015 · Action
$7.99 16,658 reviews · 93% positive
- K
Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense
2014 · Strategy
$9.99 16,599 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Spelunky
2013 · Indie
$14.99 16,597 reviews · 92% positive
- M
Mini Metro
2015 · Indie
$9.99 16,532 reviews · 96% positive
- O
Overcooked
2016 · Action
$16.99 16,345 reviews · 90% positive
- G
Gold Mining Simulator
2017 · Indie
$19.99 16,185 reviews · 73% positive
- C
Cat Goes Fishing
2015 · Casual
$6.99 16,118 reviews · 94% positive
- B
Bomber Crew
2017 · Simulation
$15.99 15,371 reviews · 88% positive
- B
Barony
2015 · Action
$19.99 15,028 reviews · 91% positive
- T
Touhou Luna Nights
2019 · Action
$17.99 14,771 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Dungeon of the ENDLESS™
2014 · Adventure
$11.99 14,002 reviews · 85% positive
- F
Furi
2016 · Action
$19.99 13,881 reviews · 90% positive
- S
Subsistence
2016 · Action
$13.99 13,700 reviews · 72% positive
- E
Exanima
2015 · Action
$14.99 13,624 reviews · 80% positive
- J
Jump King
2019 · Action
$12.99 13,211 reviews · 90% positive
- S
SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
2018 · Action
$19.99 13,055 reviews · 94% positive
- A
Across the Obelisk
2022 · Adventure
$19.99 12,910 reviews · 81% positive
- C
Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander
2022 · Simulation
$19.99 12,655 reviews · 94% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
2016 · Action
$7.99 12,516 reviews · 90% positive
- M
Monster Sanctuary
2020 · Action
$19.99 12,472 reviews · 91% positive
- R
Rabi-Ribi
2016 · Action
$17.99 12,216 reviews · 95% positive
- S
STAR WARS™ - The Force Unleashed™ Ultimate Sith Edition
2009 · Action
$19.99 12,066 reviews · 76% positive
- B
Bloons TD 5
2014 · Action
$9.99 11,872 reviews · 95% positive
- S
Styx: Master of Shadows
2014 · Action
$19.99 11,590 reviews · 83% positive
- E
EVERSPACE™
2017 · Action
$19.99 11,429 reviews · 78% positive
- F
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
2015 · Action
$7.99 11,165 reviews · 90% positive
- R
Rabbit and Steel
2024 · Action
$14.99 11,102 reviews · 97% positive
- T
Trombone Champ
2022 · Casual
$14.99 10,971 reviews · 98% positive
- O
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
2014 · Action
$14.99 10,616 reviews · 94% positive
- T
Tiny Rogues
2022 · Action
$9.99 10,587 reviews · 96% positive
- K
Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense
2016 · Strategy
$9.99 10,451 reviews · 97% positive
- D
Death Road to Canada
2016 · Action
$14.99 10,279 reviews · 93% positive
- K
Kindergarten
2017 · Adventure
$4.99 10,276 reviews · 97% positive
- G
Granny
2018 · Adventure
$7.99 10,238 reviews · 94% positive
- S
Slender: The Arrival
2013 · Action
$19.99 9,278 reviews · 88% positive
- C
Curse of the Dead Gods
2021 · Action
$19.99 9,123 reviews · 84% positive
- O
Overgrowth
2017 · Action
$19.99 8,976 reviews · 81% positive
- E
Elin
2024 · Indie
$19.99 8,900 reviews · 93% positive
- 5
5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel
2020 · Indie
$11.99 8,867 reviews · 97% positive
- C
Cave Story+
2011 · Action
$14.99 8,082 reviews · 93% positive
- T
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth
2015 · Action
$10.99 8,073 reviews · 93% positive
- M
Melatonin
2022 · Action
$14.99 8,072 reviews · 94% positive
- S
STAR WARS™: The Force Unleashed™ II
2010 · Action
$19.99 7,897 reviews · 63% positive
- K
Kingdom Rush Origins - Tower Defense
2018 · Indie
$14.99 7,818 reviews · 96% positive
- T
Tales of Maj'Eyal
2013 · Adventure
$6.99 7,327 reviews · 95% positive
- T
Turbo Overkill
2023 · Action
$19.99 7,302 reviews · 94% positive
- O
Opus Magnum
2017 · Indie
$19.99 6,950 reviews · 97% positive
- Z
Zuma Deluxe
2006 · Casual
$4.99 6,588 reviews · 96% positive
- A
Axiom Verge
2015 · Action
$19.99 6,522 reviews · 90% positive
- R
Rift of the NecroDancer
2025 · Action
$19.99 5,703 reviews · 95% positive
- P
Patrick's Parabox
2022 · Casual
$19.99 5,545 reviews · 99% positive
- M
Mr.President!
2016 · Action
$9.99 5,489 reviews · 83% positive
- G
GemCraft - Chasing Shadows
2015 · Action
$9.99 4,367 reviews · 95% positive
- H
Heavenly Bodies
2021 · Action
$19.99 4,349 reviews · 95% positive
- E
Electrician Simulator
2022 · Adventure
$17.99 4,224 reviews · 80% positive
- V
Void Stranger
2023 · Adventure
$11.99 3,418 reviews · 91% positive
- S
Star of Providence
2017 · Action
$14.99 3,326 reviews · 97% positive
- M
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell
2024 · Action
$16.99 3,149 reviews · 92% positive
- L
La-Mulana
2013 · Action
$14.99 2,602 reviews · 80% positive
- D
Darkest Dungeon®: The Crimson Court
2017 · Indie
$9.99 2,348 reviews · 62% positive
- Z
ZeroRanger
2018 · Action
$11.99 2,168 reviews · 96% positive
- S
Slackers - Carts of Glory
2024 · Action
$12.99 2,062 reviews · 91% positive
- T
The Chef's Shift
2025 · Casual
$12.99 1,743 reviews · 98% positive
- R
Rusted Moss
2023 · Action
$19.99 1,610 reviews · 89% positive
- I
Infectonator 3: Apocalypse
2018 · Indie
$12.99 1,325 reviews · 83% positive
- P
Paquerette Down the Bunburrows
2023 · Adventure
$11.99 1,240 reviews · 96% positive
- S
SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding
2025 · Action
$11.99 882 reviews · 97% positive
- S
Sonny Legacy Collection
2024 · Action
$9.99 360 reviews · 91% positive
- M
MEMOLITH: Forsaken by Light
2026 · Indie
$19.99 198 reviews · 78% positive
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best difficult indie games under $20?
- indielist lists 137 paid difficult indie games priced at or below $20, ranked by Steam reviews, led by Geometry Dash (561,151 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.