Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dominated all of last year - it won all the praise, all of the awards and everyone's attention, but in spite of its universal acclaim one issue remained... did it deserve to win the title of best indie game? Furthermore, what the hell IS an indie game?
The Architect has been on a massively delayed adventure to find out, what, exactly, makes a game Indie and has discovered the shocking truth that what we thought was a gaming world split in two might actually be something much more complex and much more interesting...
Support the channel on Patreon!: patreon.com/ArchitectofGames
Follow me on bluesky!: https://bsky.app/profile/architectofgames.bsky.social
Check out How To Market A Game!: howtomarketagame.com
You Saw:
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - 2025
Sifu - 2022
Scorn - 2022
Pacific Drive - 2024
BG 3 - 2024
Divinity: Dragon Commander - 2013
ARK: Survival Evolved - 2017
Star Citizen - HAHAHAHAHA
Starfield - 2023
Umurangi Generation - 2020
Stray - 2022
Mixtape - 2026
Lego Voyagers - 2025
Lego Fortnite - 2023
PUBG - 2017
Redfall - 2023
Concord - 2024
Balatro - 2024
Undertale - 2015
Death Stranding 2 - 2025
MGS 3 Remake - 2025
Warframe - 2013
Satisfactory - 2024
Dave The Diver - 2023
Silksong - 2025
Bubsy 4D - 2026
Palworld - N/A
Wilmot's Warehouse - 2019
Paradise Killer - 2020
Dredge - 2023
007 First Light - 2026 (received for free from Keymailer!) https://game.page/007firstlight/Adam%20Millard%20-%20The%20Architect%20of%20Games
FF 7 - 1997
FF 7 Remake - 2020
Crisis Core Reunion - 2022
TR-49 - 2026
Super Meat Boy - 2010
Braid - 2008
Viewfinder - 2023
Portal 2 - 2011
No Man's Sky - 2016
Tiny Bookstore - 2026
Vanquish - 2007
Another Crab's Treasure - 2024
Dark Souls - 2011
Snacktorio - 2026
Deadlock - N/A
The Hex - 2018
Hi-Fi Rush - 2023
Returnal - 2021
Uncharted 4 - 2016
Superliminal - 2019
Lies of P - 2023
RDR 2 - 2018
Horizon Forbidden West - 2022
Prey - 2017
CoD: MW 2 - 2009
Hitman 3 - 2021
Witchfire - N/A
Echo Point Nova - 2024
Tears of the Kingdom - 2023
GoW: Ragnarök - 2022
The Last of Us 2 - 2020
Overwatch - 2016
CP 2077 - 2022
Fortnite - 2017
Zenless Zone Zero - 2024
GTA 5 - 2013
Bioshock Infinite - 2013
Avengers - 2020
Spiderman 2 - 2023
Forza Horizon 6 - 2026
FF7 Rebirth - 2024
Elden Ring - 2022
Alien Isolation - 2014
Split Fiction - 2025
Yakuza 0 - 2015
Control - 2019
KCD 2 - 2025
Age of Empires 4 - 2021
Sekiro - 2019
Lords of the Fallen - 2023
Remnant 2 - 2023
Jedi Fallen Order - 2019
Crusader Kings 3 - 2022
Humankind - 2021
Civilization 7 - 2025
Back 4 Blood - 2021
40k Darktide - 2022
Helldivers 2 - 2024
Marathon - 2025
Arc Raiders - 2025
Astrobot - 2024
DK Bananza - 2025
Sonic Frontiers - 2022
Doom - 1993
Half Life - 1998
Halo 1 - 2001
DOOM - 2016
Space Marine 2 - 2024
Alan Wake 2 - 2023
Callisto Protocol - 2022
Dead Space - 2023
Legends of Runeterra - 2020
Smash Ultimate - 2018
Fall Guys - 2020
Deep Rock Galactic - 2020
MIO: Made In Orbit - 2026
9 Sols - 2024
Steamworld Dig 2 - 2017
Deltarune - Not Out Yet
Subnautica 2 - N/A
MENACE - N/A
Disco Elysium - 2019
Pyre - 2017
Dead Cells - 2018
Spelunky 2 - 2020
Plate Up! - 2022
Overcooked 2 - 2018
DUSK - 2018
ULTRAKILL - N/A
Metal Hellsinger - 2022
40k Boltgun - 2023
Outer Wilds - 2019
Slay The Spire 2 - N/A
Hades 2 - 2025
Gods of Asgard - 2023
Don't Starve - 2013
Valheim - N/A
Abiotic Factor - 2025
Face of the Killer - 2024
Game Dev Tycoon - 2013
Trailmakers - 2019
Restory - Not Out Yet
Dreamquest - 2014
The Stanley Parable 2 - 2020
Funi Raccoon Game - 2026
Cruelty Squad - 2021
Hollow Knight - 2017
Stardew Valley - 2016
Gone Home - 2013
Tunic - 2022
Project Zomboid - N/A
Blue Prince - 2025
The Binding of Isaac - 2011
The Witness - 2016
Celeste - 2018
Consume Me - 2025
Terraria - 2011
Vampire Survivors - 2022
Edith Finch - 2017
Return of the Obra Dinn - 2018
Crow Country - 2024
Rise of the Golden Idol - 2024
Look Outside - 2025
Nightreign - 2025
Botany Manor - 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - 2025
Planetary Annihilation - 2014
AC Black Flag - 2013
Black Flag Resynced - N/A
Silent Hill 2 Remake - 2024
Sea of Stars - 2023
Haunted Lands - 2026
Mina The Hollower - 2026
Super Mario 64 - 1996
DKC 2 - 1995
Crash Bandicoot - 1996
Sonic Adventure 2 - 2001
Limbo - 2010
Ms Splosion Man - 2011
Fez - 2012
Spelunky - 2008
Mirror's Edge - 2008
Midnight Suns - 2022
Avowed - 2025
Outer Worlds 2 - 2025
Immortals of Aveum - 2023
Armored Core 6 - 2023
Witcher - 2007
Witcher 2 - 2011
Witcher 3 - 2015
Witcher 4 - N/A
Risk of Rain 2 - 2019
Splatoon 3 - 2022
Noita - 2020
Saros - 2026
Minecraft - 2011
Psychonauts 2 - 2021
INDIKA - 2024
The Looker - 2022
Borderlands 3 - 2019
Diablo 4 - 2023
Path of Exile 2 - N/A
No Rest For The Wicked - N/A
Grim Dawn - 2016
Chronicon - 2020
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - 2024
Zero Parades - 2026
South of Midnight - 2025
Hellblade- 2017
A Plague Tale: Requiem - 2022
Saints Row 4 - 2013
Nier Automata - 2017
TR Underworld - 2008
Lost Odyssey - 2007
Vampire Crawlers - 2026
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dominated all of last year - it won all the praise, all of the awards and everyone's attention, but in spite of its universal acclaim one issue remained... did it deserve to win the title of best indie game? Furthermore, what the hell IS an indie game?
The Architect has been on a massively delayed adventure to find out, what, exactly, makes a game Indie and has discovered the shocking truth that what we thought was a gaming world split in two might actually be something much more complex and much more interesting...
Support the channel on Patreon!: patreon.com/ArchitectofGames
Follow me on bluesky!: https://bsky.app/profile/architectofgames.bsky.social
Check out How To Market A Game!: howtomarketagame.com
You Saw:
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - 2025
Sifu - 2022
Scorn - 2022
Pacific Drive - 2024
BG 3 - 2024
Divinity: Dragon Commander - 2013
ARK: Survival Evolved - 2017
Star Citizen - HAHAHAHAHA
Starfield - 2023
Umurangi Generation - 2020
Stray - 2022
Mixtape - 2026
Lego Voyagers - 2025
Lego Fortnite - 2023
PUBG - 2017
Redfall - 2023
Concord - 2024
Balatro - 2024
Undertale - 2015
Death Stranding 2 - 2025
MGS 3 Remake - 2025
Warframe - 2013
Satisfactory - 2024
Dave The Diver - 2023
Silksong - 2025
Bubsy 4D - 2026
Palworld - N/A
Wilmot's Warehouse - 2019
Paradise Killer - 2020
Dredge - 2023
007 First Light - 2026 (received for free from Keymailer!) https://game.page/007firstlight/Adam%20Millard%20-%20The%20Architect%20of%20Games
FF 7 - 1997
FF 7 Remake - 2020
Crisis Core Reunion - 2022
TR-49 - 2026
Super Meat Boy - 2010
Braid - 2008
Viewfinder - 2023
Portal 2 - 2011
No Man's Sky - 2016
Tiny Bookstore - 2026
Vanquish - 2007
Another Crab's Treasure - 2024
Dark Souls - 2011
Snacktorio - 2026
Deadlock - N/A
The Hex - 2018
Hi-Fi Rush - 2023
Returnal - 2021
Uncharted 4 - 2016
Superliminal - 2019
Lies of P - 2023
RDR 2 - 2018
Horizon Forbidden West - 2022
Prey - 2017
CoD: MW 2 - 2009
Hitman 3 - 2021
Witchfire - N/A
Echo Point Nova - 2024
Tears of the Kingdom - 2023
GoW: Ragnarök - 2022
The Last of Us 2 - 2020
Overwatch - 2016
CP 2077 - 2022
Fortnite - 2017
Zenless Zone Zero - 2024
GTA 5 - 2013
Bioshock Infinite - 2013
Avengers - 2020
Spiderman 2 - 2023
Forza Horizon 6 - 2026
FF7 Rebirth - 2024
Elden Ring - 2022
Alien Isolation - 2014
Split Fiction - 2025
Yakuza 0 - 2015
Control - 2019
KCD 2 - 2025
Age of Empires 4 - 2021
Sekiro - 2019
Lords of the Fallen - 2023
Remnant 2 - 2023
Jedi Fallen Order - 2019
Crusader Kings 3 - 2022
Humankind - 2021
Civilization 7 - 2025
Back 4 Blood - 2021
40k Darktide - 2022
Helldivers 2 - 2024
Marathon - 2025
Arc Raiders - 2025
Astrobot - 2024
DK Bananza - 2025
Sonic Frontiers - 2022
Doom - 1993
Half Life - 1998
Halo 1 - 2001
DOOM - 2016
Space Marine 2 - 2024
Alan Wake 2 - 2023
Callisto Protocol - 2022
Dead Space - 2023
Legends of Runeterra - 2020
Smash Ultimate - 2018
Fall Guys - 2020
Deep Rock Galactic - 2020
MIO: Made In Orbit - 2026
9 Sols - 2024
Steamworld Dig 2 - 2017
Deltarune - Not Out Yet
Subnautica 2 - N/A
MENACE - N/A
Disco Elysium - 2019
Pyre - 2017
Dead Cells - 2018
Spelunky 2 - 2020
Plate Up! - 2022
Overcooked 2 - 2018
DUSK - 2018
ULTRAKILL - N/A
Metal Hellsinger - 2022
40k Boltgun - 2023
Outer Wilds - 2019
Slay The Spire 2 - N/A
Hades 2 - 2025
Gods of Asgard - 2023
Don't Starve - 2013
Valheim - N/A
Abiotic Factor - 2025
Face of the Killer - 2024
Game Dev Tycoon - 2013
Trailmakers - 2019
Restory - Not Out Yet
Dreamquest - 2014
The Stanley Parable 2 - 2020
Funi Raccoon Game - 2026
Cruelty Squad - 2021
Hollow Knight - 2017
Stardew Valley - 2016
Gone Home - 2013
Tunic - 2022
Project Zomboid - N/A
Blue Prince - 2025
The Binding of Isaac - 2011
The Witness - 2016
Celeste - 2018
Consume Me - 2025
Terraria - 2011
Vampire Survivors - 2022
Edith Finch - 2017
Return of the Obra Dinn - 2018
Crow Country - 2024
Rise of the Golden Idol - 2024
Look Outside - 2025
Nightreign - 2025
Botany Manor - 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - 2025
Planetary Annihilation - 2014
AC Black Flag - 2013
Black Flag Resynced - N/A
Silent Hill 2 Remake - 2024
Sea of Stars - 2023
Haunted Lands - 2026
Mina The Hollower - 2026
Super Mario 64 - 1996
DKC 2 - 1995
Crash Bandicoot - 1996
Sonic Adventure 2 - 2001
Limbo - 2010
Ms Splosion Man - 2011
Fez - 2012
Spelunky - 2008
Mirror's Edge - 2008
Midnight Suns - 2022
Avowed - 2025
Outer Worlds 2 - 2025
Immortals of Aveum - 2023
Armored Core 6 - 2023
Witcher - 2007
Witcher 2 - 2011
Witcher 3 - 2015
Witcher 4 - N/A
Risk of Rain 2 - 2019
Splatoon 3 - 2022
Noita - 2020
Saros - 2026
Minecraft - 2011
Psychonauts 2 - 2021
INDIKA - 2024
The Looker - 2022
Borderlands 3 - 2019
Diablo 4 - 2023
Path of Exile 2 - N/A
No Rest For The Wicked - N/A
Grim Dawn - 2016
Chronicon - 2020
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - 2024
Zero Parades - 2026
South of Midnight - 2025
Hellblade- 2017
A Plague Tale: Requiem - 2022
Saints Row 4 - 2013
Nier Automata - 2017
TR Underworld - 2008
Lost Odyssey - 2007
Vampire Crawlers - 2026
