Indie vs. AAA Gaming: Why Smaller Studios Are Taking Bigger Risks

Expert Verified By

Indie and AAA titles differ in one key aspect; the former genre involves a lot more risk-taking. This is perhaps why games like Hollow Knight, Celeste, and more have become such big hits today.

Story Highlight
  • Indie games offer more creativity and unique gameplay than AAA titles today.
  • This is primarily due to the smaller teams and passion behind these projects.
  • AAA projects offer a more refined experience, but they tend to stick with a tried-and-true formula that has worked before.

The divide between indie and AAA titles still exists, but smaller titles have quickly begun to catch up in recent years. In 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has come up as the biggest surprise of the year, marking an unprecedented success for a new studio with a limited budget and fewer than 50 developers.

Elsewhere, other titles like Hollow Knight and Palworld highlight the excellence of indie gaming. Going by these recent successes, it’s become clear that indie and AA releases are taking more risks today, while AAA gaming has somewhat stagnated.

Why it matters: In the modern era, indie games can compete with their AAA counterparts, leading to exciting options for gamers. 

The Underdog Spirit

Hollow Knight Silkson
Fans Have Shown Incredible Excitement For Indie IPs Like Hollow Knight In Recent Years

Indie games are typically born in small rooms with a bunch of developers looking to prove their worth. These teams are often brimming with creativity and ideas, which leads to exceptional games in the long run.

Indie developers are also free of the pressure that often comes with AAA development. Shareholders, industry tropes, and other similar factors don’t play much of a role in indie games, allowing such studios to experiment with unconventional ideas and concepts.

This is exactly why titles like Celeste, Stardew Valley, Undertale, and more have left such a lasting impression on players around the globe.

The AAA Experience

God of War Ragnarok PlayStation
AAA Games Sometimes Fail To Take Enough Risks

On the flipside, AAA games are blockbuster experiences that deliver cutting-edge visuals and polish. If you grab a Steam keys for a game like The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077, you likely expect everything to be perfect.

This means that AAA teams have little room for risk. They usually play it safe due to necessity, as companies typically expect a solid return on their investments, and the last thing a team wants is to be shut down due to a failed experiment.

Risks Within Indie Development

Hades 2
Hades Is Among The Most Well-Known Indie IPs of The Modern Era

Risk-taking is a natural part of an indie game’s production. These teams can’t sell their games on brand value or their studio’s name alone, so an innovative idea is their safest bet, which requires a level of risk most AAA teams usually avoid.

Indie developers can also quickly iterate on existing ideas and implement them without much hassle. On the other hand, pitches in AAA teams may sometimes be lost due to the lengthy approval process.

This is exactly why titles like Hades have been so successful in the past. It only helps that such games can be purchased at a cheap price on platforms like Steam, thanks to widely accessible Steam keys.

Ultimately, both types of games satisfy the needs of gamers. Most people enjoy both indie and AAA titles, so it’s great to see both industries producing enjoyable gaming experiences today.

Finding solid deals on indie and AAA titles can also make your gaming journey even better, allowing you to build your Steam library through affordable games.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

I Thought Cheap AIO Coolers Performed Poorly Until I Found This

I thought Cheap AIO coolers seemed gimmicky and showed bad thermal, but these $72 and $54 liquid coolers completely proved me wrong.

Gamers Are Developers Now: The Rise of No-Code Game Tools

Discover how no-code game tools are turning everyday gamers into developers, making game creation more accessible than ever.

New Sony Patent Suggests PS6 To Support Hardware-Level Backward Compatibility Features

Sony has published a new patent that details a system to tune modern hardware in order to run legacy applications smoothly on the new device.

The Fortnite Experience On PS5 Is Fast, Fluid, And Fun

Fortnite not only looks good on the PS5, but it does so while running at an extremely smooth 60-120 frames per second.

How To Deal With Rising Video Game Prices

Games are becoming more expensive each day, but there are still many alternatives for those looking to enjoy the hobby in a limited budget.