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Top 10 Indie Game Publishers Every Developer Should Know

Top 10 Indie Game Publishers Every Developer Should Know

Indie games have become a big part of the gaming world and have grown significantly over the past decade. These games have changed the general landscape by bringing fresh ideas and creativity to the community.

However, the path is not always easy for indie game developers. They have to face various challenges, such as getting the funding, marketing, and distribution to reach players.

Despite having great ideas, it can be challenging for these games to succeed without the proper support.

That’s why Gamespublisher.com comes in. Our website helps bridge the gap between developers and the gaming market and provides all the resources you need to bring your games to life.

In this article, we’ll highlight 10 standout indie game publishers that significantly impact the industry and inspire and support countless developers.

The Role of Indie Game Publishers

If you’re an indie game developer, you can choose between self-publishing or working with indie game developers.

While self-publishing can give you complete control over every aspect of your game, it also means handling everything yourself, from funding to distribution.

You have to handle all of these, which might be overwhelming, especially for small teams or individuals with limited budgets.

That’s why you need indie game publishers to support you on this.

They assist in bringing your games to the gaming market while allowing developers to retain control over indie games. Unlike major publishers, who often limit creative freedom, take ownership of the game’s rights, and follow strict game development plans.

In other words, indie game publishers give developers a pleasant balance. While you receive funding, marketing, and distribution support, you still have the freedom to bring the vision to life.

Also, these indie game publishers already have relationships with distribution platforms, so they can help your games be visible to the right audiences.

Their connection with platforms like Steam, Nintendo eShop, and other digital stores helps showcase your game to broader people and gain visibility.

With suitable indie video game publishers, an indie game can change from being unknown to racing a global audience.

Take Supergiant Games’ breakout hit Hades, for example. It became a massive success with the help of its game publisher, Private Division.

The game was featured on major platforms like Steam and Nintendo eShop. It gained much attention and became one of the most popular indie games ever.

Criteria for Selecting Outstanding Indie Game Publishers

With hundreds of active indie game publishers today, you should narrow the field by examining some critical criteria.

Influence and Track Record

It’s always better for game publishers to have a reputation in the gaming industry.

The best indie video game publishers have been around for years and have a strong record of launching successful games.

They are known and respected in the gaming world. You will have to check out the games they have worked on to see if they have consistently helped indie games become popular hits across different platforms and genres.

If a publisher has a strong history of success, their name and influence can boost your game.

Support for Developers

Great indie publishers let developers keep creative control over their games.

They respect all developer’s visions and don’t force significant changes or own the rights to developers’ ideas.

They also offer fair money deals and flexibility so indie game developers can make the game they envision.

So, look for game publishers for indie games who are praised for empowering developers, not limiting you. The right publisher will help you succeed while letting you stay in charge of your game.

Diversity of Games

A top publisher works with many kinds of indie games, not just one style.

They help launch unique games with art, stories, gameplay, and technology.

No matter what your game is about, they will know how to make it stand out significantly in the crowded market.

They have their expertise in marketing, distribution, and industry connection, so your game will be noticed and reach its full potential.

Their past games should show they support fresh innovation and are not stuck on just certain kinds of games.

This demonstrates their commitment to indie creativity, as creativity means giving new and original concepts a chance.

10 Outstanding Indie Game Publishers

Indie game publishers are essential in helping creative games reach a global audience.

Over the past decade, several publisher startups have emerged to empower indie developers.

Here are 10 game publishers for indie games making a significant impact that you should not overlook.

1. Devolver Digital

Devolver Digital

Devolver Digital has earned a reputation for publishing quirky and innovative indie games.

Founded in 2009, Devolver allows developers to follow their creative visions without much oversight or restrictions.

They work with a wide range of genres, from action to artistic puzzle platformers, so there are various options for players to choose from.

Notable for their impressive visual styles and intense gameplay, Devolver’s games often become fan favorites. They connect developers to financing, marketing, and their massive fanbase.

Devolver is behind major indie hits like Hotline Miami, Gris, OlliOlli World, and Loop Hero.

Some other top Devolver titles include Serious Sam, Enter the Gungeon, The Talos Principle, Katana Zero, Reigns, My Friend Pedro, and Fall Guys.

2. Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive

Annapurna Interactive was started in 2016 and backed by the film studio Annapurna Pictures. They publish emotional, story-focused indie games like What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, Gorogoa, Florence, and Twelve Minutes.

One of their biggest hits that should be mentioned is Stray, where you play as a cat lost in an extraordinary cyberpunk world. It mixes a touching story with excellent visuals.

Annapurna provides indie developers with financing and marketing support like other game publishers. However, they stand out for the kinds of games they aim to publish.

They look for projects with exciting characters and good writing. Their games often explore deep themes in creative and artistic ways.

Besides the above successful title, many of their games have won awards for great storytelling.

3. Team17

Team17

Team17 has been around for a very long time. They started making classic video games in the 1990s, including the popular Worms series. After being inactive in the 2000s, they returned in 2010 as a publisher of indie games.

Team17 publishes many successful indie games like Overcooked, Yoku’s Island Express, and Hell Let Loose. They use their long experience in the video game industry to help developers with testing, marketing, and advice.

With over 25 years in business, Team17 has built trust with developers. Their connections help small studios navigate publishing.

As of today, they’ve helped launch over 100 indie games across different platforms.

4. Raw Fury

Raw Furry

Raw Fury was started in 2015 to change how indie games get published. Rather than just look for potential mainstream hits, Raw Fury hand-picks unique games with fresh concepts.

Some of their titles include Kingdom, GoNNER, and Bad North.

They give developers total creative control and financing. Raw Fury’s passion is nurturing innovative indies that do things differently. As a small publisher, they focus resources on a few compelling projects at a time.

With recent successes like Dome Keeper, Sable, and Friends vs Friends, Raw Fury has established itself as a major indie publisher.

Their catalog now spans diverse genres and experiences. Their developer-friendly style has also helped promote creative freedom among the gaming community.

5. Chucklefish

Chucklefish

Chucklefish is both a game developer and a video game publisher. Founded in 2011, they made Starbound before publishing other games too.

Chucklefish cares a lot about community feedback during game development. Their games often have customization and support after launch.

Early access and open betas are key for Chucklefish. Fans can participate and give feedback early on to collect all opinions and adjust accordingly.

While Chucklefish works closely with a few partners, their own developer experience makes them very supportive. They’re great at building community around their games and are always ready to provide technical help.

They successfully use their own experience to help indie studios on the journey of publishing games to the market.  Some games they’ve published are Stardew Valley, Wargroove, and Spellbound.

6. Thunderful Publishing

Thunderful Publishing

Thunderful Publishing is based in Sweden and started 2019 as part of Thunderful Group. They focus on high-quality indie games like SteamWorld Dig 2, The Gunk, and Lost Words.

Thunderful looks for fun games with polished gameplay.

They give developers early feedback, funding, testing help, translation, porting, marketing, and community management. The best part is that developers control and own their games completely.

The Thunderful team has a lot of combined experience in making games, movies, and publishing. Their vision is centered on good storytelling, great visuals, and deep gameplay.

Thunderful has become a major European indie publisher in just a few years. Their office in Sweden helps connect indie developers globally into the European gaming community.

Some other notable Thunderful games are Lonely Mountains: Downhill, Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead, and Curious Expedition 2.

7. Humble Games

Humble Games

Humble Bundle started the publisher Humble Games in 2018. They are well known for offering game bundles where customers can choose how much they want to pay.

Humble Games has released popular indie hits like Terraria, Slay the Spire, and Temtem.​ Some other notable Humble Games releases include Dodgeball Academia, Unsighted, Bushiden, and Chicory: A Colorful Tale.

They give developers financing and marketing help, stay independent, and control their games. A unique part of Humble Games’s revenue-sharing model also helps support charities.

Since Humble Bundle is an established store, it can market to its vast customer base.

8. Versus Evil

Versus Evil

Versus Evil is an indie game publisher founded in 2013 by former game marketers. They focus on releasing roleplaying and strategy games and work with indie developers worldwide in Europe, South America, and North America.

Some of their biggest game franchises include Pillars of Eternity and Banner Saga. Other notable Versus Evil titles are The Bard’s Tale IV, War Mongrels, and Expeditions: Rome.

Versus Evil likes story-driven indies with tactical gameplay. Developers work closely with them but keep complete creative control over their projects.

To showcase indie games, Versus Evil hosts live events and demos. They have global reach with US, UK, and Australia offices.

9. Fellow Traveller

Fellow Traveller

Fellow Traveller is an indie game publisher started in 2018. They focus on unique storytelling games like Neo Cab, In Other Waters, and Genesis Noir.

Fellow Traveller provides essential publishing help so developers can follow their creative vision.

They market each game in a way that highlights its special qualities, such as its unique story, memorable writing, and creative art style. Fellow Traveller often prefers games with solid stories, memorable writing, and creative art.

They also provide helpful advice on writing, art, music, and design to make the game as polished as possible. With a small, carefully selected group of games, they highlight artistic and imaginative indie titles.

Some other well-known games from Fellow Traveller include Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, NORCO, and Unpacking.

10. No More Robots

No More Robots

Founded in 2018, No More Robots believes excellent games can come from anywhere.

They specialize in emerging genres that big video game publishers overlook, like Descenders and Hypnospace Outlaw.

They have also published Yes, Your Grace, a game where players manage a kingdom and make tough decisions. Each game they support brings something new and different to the table.

They use creative marketing to help these games stand out and find the right players. Their commitment to innovative and niche games shows their approach, ensuring that unique titles get the attention they deserve.

How to Choose the Right Indie Publisher for Your Game

Picking the right indie game publisher is one of the most important choices an indie developer can make.

With so many options, you must thoroughly look at potential partners to find the one that best meets your game’s unique needs and goals.

First, look honestly at what your game does well and where you need help, whether that’s finances, marketing, getting on platforms, development resources, or anything else.

This will help you find publishers who can fill those specific needs. Know where you are weak so you can find a publisher who is strong in those areas.

Second, do lots of research on each publisher you’re considering, looking closely at their background, games they’ve worked on, their track record of successes, their reputation in the gaming industry, and feedback from developers they’ve partnered with before.

You should make sure their values and vision for indie games match up well with yours.

To find out it clearly, you can start conversations with independent game publishers on your shortlist to talk about your game’s idea, vision, and where it’s at in development.

Pay close attention to how well you communicate and get along during these chats.

Last but not least, you must carefully review any contracts offered to confirm good terms on intellectual property rights, revenue split, creative control promises, and how involved the publisher will be throughout game development.

You have to know precisely what you’re agreeing to.

Conclusion

For indie game developers, choosing the ideal publishing partner requires extensive research and consideration.

While countless publishers exist today, our highlights represent some of the most impactful influences in the indie games community.

Their proven track records speak for themselves – countless indie titles may never have reached such heights without the funding, marketing, and distribution support these publishers provided. 

The path to success for indie developers often relies on finding a publisher whose values and strengths match the game’s vision.

So, take the time to find the right partner, and you’ll give your game the best chance to shine!

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