The Indie Genre Has No Exact Boundaries Anymore

Indie games hold a special place in my heart, as I’ve grown up playing so many of them over the years. Some of us were forced to take that route because we lacked a good enough rig for AAA gaming. Others simply found joy in the creativity they brought. In the past, it was easy to distinguish them from others. But it has grown increasingly difficult and confusing over the years.

The genre no longer appears to have boundaries that seem to bind it. As a result, some large-scale AAA-esque entries are considered to fall into this category, while some other small-scale pixel titles are not. It has resulted in a motley of opinions on the exact borders, which almost appear to be ever-changing.

Has the term slowly become a loose marketing phrase for the developers to use if they feel like it? Let’s explore the current state of the indie genre. 

What Is An Indie Game Anymore Anyway? 

I know I’m about to sing the same tale for the thousandth time, but it’s necessary to share the most agreed-upon and understood definition of indie games before moving forward. The genre refers to independent devs or small teams that produce a game without relying on the funding of a publisher. AAA entries are the opposite, of course. It’s worth noting that there can always be exceptions and irregularities.

In other words, large-scale titles that reach AAA scope could still be considered indie if they meet the aforesaid definition. And a game might not fall under the genre even if it’s a small-scale pixelated project by a few devs if they get funding from a major publisher. However, that is where most gamers get confused. 

What is the criteria for a game to be considered “indie”?
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The Dave the Diver controversy was precisely about that. It’s not an indie entry despite resembling one; it was nominated for the “Best Independent Game” award in last year’s Game Awards. However, the director denied such logic and claimed that many other devs work in harsher conditions. So, he did not want to step into the genre out of respect. The title had the support of a big company, even if the devs worked on it independently.  

Baldur’s Gate 3 Is Considered Indie, But It Doesn’t Feel Like One

Everyone always sounds so surprised once they find out that Baldur’s Gate 3 falls under the Indie umbrella. It sparks many disputes, and everyone shares differing opinions. However, the truth of the matter is that the game’s massive scale does not exempt it from the genre when the studio independently created and published it without outside support. 

Is Baldur's Gate 3 an Indie Game?
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The other side of the spectrum argues that indie only considers low-budget titles, which makes it impossible for Baldur’s Gate 3 to be included. The game’s AAA scale and art direction also do not help in this case. Another point worth making is that Larian is 30% owned by Tencent, but that does not mean that Tencent played a role in helping Larian during development. 

I believe that a game’s budget is not a deciding factor at all in this debate. It makes the borders of the category more defined and less prone to confusion for me. Additionally, Baldur’s Gate 3 was a huge oddity, which is rarely seen in the current gaming landscape. 

Another thing worth noting is that many titles that started out as indies have grown wings over the years and now soar much higher. No Man’s Sky and Fortnite are two examples that come rushing to my mind. Are they still indie titles? It is difficult to say.

The Lack Of Boundaries Can Both Be A Blessing And A Curse

While the blur between AAA and indie games has grown over the years, it has also made indie devs more bold and creative in their approach. The size and budget of titles in the genre are expanding slowly, but it is also giving devs more chances to take risks and be more creative. It is not a luxury that the AAA industry can afford, where one mishap can result in huge losses for the whole studio.

The future is looking really bright for indie games — and here’s why
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So, I find the vagueness of the genre to be both its boon and bane. On one hand, there are no set expectations for indie developers; they can do whatever they wish because they don’t rely on shareholders’ expectations. On the flip side, the increased confusion makes it difficult to accurately label games.

The Debate Will Never End

All in all, everyone has their own definitions of the Indie genre because of varying views. So, it will always be difficult to have concrete boundaries, like we have with other categories. That might not be too bad of a thing, however, since the genre can definitely benefit from the ingenuity it births out of its ambiguity.

I think the genre itself has a bright future ahead, and even if AAA gaming continues to topple over, indie will likely continue to emerge on even higher grounds.