Indie Games to Explore With Friends

Choose the activity first

Do you want to coordinate a shared task, or talk through a mystery with competing roles? Those lead to different games. Check the number of players, exact device combination and per-person price before choosing. Browse Summer Games for more games and verify each listing’s multiplayer support separately.

Overcooked! 2: cooking together

Ghost Town Games and Team17’s Steam listing describes local and online play for up to four. The goal is to coordinate cooking in changing kitchens. Consider it for a small group happy to communicate quickly; its time pressure may be less suitable for a quiet evening. Check compatibility between your selected versions.

Among Us: a social deduction group

Innersloth’s Steam listing describes 4–15 players online or over local Wi-Fi, with cross-platform play across PC, console, Android and iOS. Crewmates have tasks while impostors try to disrupt them. It is an option for a larger group that enjoys discussion and deception. Confirm the chat settings and regional availability for everyone.

Compare the real cost

Both games have paid Steam listings; prices and promotions can change and other platforms may have different terms. Open the store on each player’s device to check current price, any online subscription, optional purchases and whether each player needs a copy. Do not assume that ownership on one platform includes another.

Plan an inclusive first round

Explain the controls and objective before starting. Let new players practice and decide in advance how to handle late arrivals. If the group has more people than a mode allows, arrange separate groups or pick another game. These are sourced candidates, not claims of hands-on testing or a popularity ranking.

What this selection is for

These examples give a group two very different ways to spend time together. They are selected by activity and stated multiplayer support, not by a score or a claim that we played them. Start with the kind of interaction your friends want, then check the actual edition, price and device support. A small developer or an indie label does not guarantee a game has online play.

How the choices differ

For four people, both are candidates on player count alone. They make different demands: Overcooked! 2 asks the group to coordinate tasks under pressure, while Among Us centers on hidden roles and discussion. For five or more, the Overcooked! 2 listing’s four-player limit means the whole group needs another plan. Among Us’s larger range may fit, provided everyone has a supported, compatible version and enjoys the format.

Pick for a mixed-experience group

Ask players what kind of challenge feels welcoming. A person new to games may prefer one clear task and a patient explanation; another may be more comfortable talking and voting than operating controls quickly. Do not equate “casual” in a store tag with a guarantee that every participant will find a game easy. Explain the objective, demonstrate the controls and give people room to ask for help.

For a first Overcooked! 2 session, agree that learning the kitchen matters more than the score. Try assigning a simple task and changing roles after a round if everyone wants to. For Among Us, explain how meetings and votes work before starting, and ask whether everyone is comfortable with bluffing. Neither suggestion is a measured difficulty assessment or a report of a play test.

Example: four friends share a room

Suppose four players have a single screen and want a cooperative activity. The official Overcooked! 2 Steam page lists local co-op and a maximum of four. Before buying, they check the exact version’s supported controllers and confirm that each person can see the screen. They agree on a stopping point and keep a second activity available if the timed cooking does not suit the group.

If one friend is remote instead, the plan changes. The group needs to verify whether its exact mix of local and remote players works in the selected edition, not merely that the listing separately says local and online. Check the publisher’s current instructions for that combination. If it is unclear, avoid promising the setup until it is confirmed.

Example: seven friends in different places

Seven friends prefer conversation and have a mix of PC and mobile devices. The Among Us listing describes four to fifteen players and cross-platform play across Android, iOS, PC and console. They verify access and current prices in their own stores, choose a private communication channel and agree on chat rules.

The host sends the region as well as the code. Innersloth’s server guide says codes cannot be used from a different region. If a guest cannot join, the group checks that first, then verifies capacity, edition and connection before using the fallback plan.

When you want a longer shared project

Consider Stardew Valley if the group prefers a shared farm to a single party session. Its Steam listing describes online, LAN and split-screen co-op. The official guide says all participants must use the same game version and the host must start in co-op. Check the current player limit for your devices and chosen mode, and discuss who will host before starting.

Agree whether the group will wait for everyone before progressing, how shared resources will be handled, and what to do if the host misses a night. These are planning decisions, not claims that the game enforces a particular social rule. A persistent project is less convenient for a group whose attendance changes each session, so keep a one-night option in reserve.

Before paying for any recommendation

1. Open the official listing for each player’s region and device.
2. Verify the intended mode’s player count and the specific cross-platform pairing.
3. Check the current price, online membership and whether each player needs a copy.
4. Read the content rating and accessibility information together.
5. Install updates early, then test the invitation with one other player.

Questions about playing indie games together

Are all indie games inexpensive?

No. Price, promotions and editions vary. A demo, free guest pass and full purchase can have different conditions. Check the current store rather than assuming a price from a genre label.

Can every player join from any device?

No. Platform availability and crossplay are separate. Among Us explicitly lists several cross-platform families, while a different game may limit online sessions to particular editions. Verify the exact pairing before buying.

What if we cannot agree on one activity?

Choose one activity for a short trial, agree on a stopping point, then ask the group whether to continue. A fallback is useful when a game’s tone or controls do not fit; it should include everyone who was invited.