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As we approach the midway point of 2026, let's take a look at some under-the-radar indie gems that already feel like cult classic video games.
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By
Ethan Krieger
Published May 31, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT
Ethan Krieger is an Editor at DualShockers, where he covers reviews, guides, lists, features, previews, interviews, and gaming news. He began writing professionally in 2017 as a sports writer before moving into games coverage with DualShockers in 2024.
Before joining DualShockers, Ethan wrote for the FanSided Sports Network, including 8 Points, 9 Seconds, where he covered the Indiana Pacers, and Pelican Debrief, where he covered the New Orleans Pelicans. His background in sports writing, editing, and content strategy now informs his approach to gaming coverage, especially around reviews, rankings, guides, and event reporting. Ethan studied English at Arizona State University, with a focus on writing and text editing. Sign in to your DualShockers accountThe cult classic is a bit of a hard thing to define, but let's do our best. I'm not going to label it in this article as something that critically flopped, but then became beloved by a small, passionate group of fans anyway.
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Posts 7 By Callum MarshallInstead, today I'd like to discuss the type of cult classic video games that were well received, but still flew well under the mainstream radar. Good, even great video games that got positive scores, but that we still didn't see have the major moment in the pop culture zeitgeist that they probably deserved.
Here, we'll take a look at 10 indies from 2026 that came and went, but scored well critically, and are the type of experiences that, if you know, you know. All of these games below are ones I predict will have absolute diehard fans for years to come, despite them not setting the world on fire when they released.
This means no indies like Slay the Spire 2, even though it's going to be a big deal for a long time. That one was too mainstream. Similarly, despite a game like Mixtape surely being on its way to cult classic status someday, it spent far too much (absolutely absurdly toxic) time in the public consciousness. It's time to recognize some of 2026's indies you might have missed, but that you could be shouting about from the rooftops after you experience them.
These games are ordered by critical reception on OpenCritic from low to high, with the lowest sitting at a respectable 79, and the highest being a staggering 93 at the time of writing. This is to help drive home just how special some of these potential classics are near the end of the list.
10 Love Eternal
Psychological Celeste
Love Eternal
Platformer Horror Adventure Puzzle Developer(s) Brlka Publisher(s) Ysbryd Games Platform(s) PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Genre(s) Platformer, Horror, Adventure, Puzzle Powered by
Love Eternal is an easy one to sell. It's largely a challenging, room-based platformer like Celeste, but with a truly unnerving, psychological horror twist. In fact, while Celeste is, of course, a better experience overall (not a shot at Love Eternal, but let's be real), this game might stick in the deep recesses of your brain long after credits roll.
I reviewed this one, and man, it was a journey. Love Eternal goes some places around the midpoint of the game you absolutely won't see coming, and its ending sequence was genuinely brain-breaking in ways I'd never experienced prior.
It doesn't seem like a ton of players have checked it out yet, but those that do understand what makes this game so special. Give it a couple of years, and it's going to be one that has a passionate following without a doubt.
9 People of Note
Pump Up the Jam
People of Note
RPG JRPG Turn-Based RPG Music
8.5/10
Released
April 7, 2026
ESRB
Teen / Fantasy Violence, Use of Drugs
Developer(s)
Iridium Studios
Publisher(s)
Annapurna Interactive
Number of Players
Single-player
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Genre(s)
RPG, JRPG, Turn-Based RPG, Music
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
12.97 GB
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A music-focused, hyper-vibrant, turn-based RPG like People of Note was never the sort of game you'd expect to become a mega mainstream smash hit, but that doesn't take away anything at all from how novel of an idea it was, and also one that ended up being well-executed upon.
As more and more players come to it to see what it's all about, it's starting to become apparent that there's something so charming here that it ultimately can catch the musically inclined and the tone-deaf alike. That kind of speaks to People of Note being a memorable RPG experience worth taking regardless of musical background.
It's got all the vibes of something that a small group of players will eat up and be eager to tell everyone about, making its potential as a future cult classic more than possible.
8 Luna Abyss
See You in Creepy Bullet-Hell
Luna Abyss
Action FPS Adventure Bullet Hell
8/10
Released
May 21, 2026
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Kwalee Labs
Publisher(s)
Kwalee
Number of Players
Single-player
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Genre(s)
Action, FPS, Adventure, Bullet Hell
X|S Optimized
Yes
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The weird, dark vibes of a game like Luna Abyss practically scream "cult classic" as soon as you look up screenshots or teaser videos. We don't get many FPS titles as creative and cool looking as this one, which gives it huge cult classic potential later down the road when you also consider that it's simply a very good game as well.
Add in challenging bullet-hell mechanics, cool boss fights, good lore, an interesting story, and some top-tier voice acting, and this one definitely starts to become an obvious contender to stick with anyone that ever decides to check it out.
7 MIO: Memories in Orbit
Nothing Hollow About It
MIO: Memories in Orbit
Metroidvania Platformer Action Adventure
9/10
Released
January 20, 2026
ESRB
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Douze Dixièmes
Publisher(s)
Focus Entertainment
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre(s)
Metroidvania, Platformer, Action, Adventure
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
3.77 GB
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Metroidvania popularity seems to kind of ebb and flow between the massive modern releases in the genre, like the Hollow Knights and Oris of the world. Regardless, when one of them hits with the target audience, boy, does it hit.
For my money, MIO: Memories in Orbit is genuinely one of the best games in the genre of all-time, and while it reviewed very well, it still flew under the radar of the mainstream. This really is a shame, because the game truly is that good. Still, those of us that did take the time to check it out get appeal, and likely regard it very highly.
MIO's platforming is intense, its combat and bosses satisfying, and its sci-fi world both absolutely breathtaking and eerily haunting at the same time. This is one I'd be shocked if it doesn't end up in cult classic territory someday. Come join the club.
6 ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies
Disco Inferno
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies
RPG CRPG
9/10
Released
May 21, 2026
ESRB
Rating Pending
Developer(s)
ZA/UM
Publisher(s)
ZA/UM
Number of Players
Single-player
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC
Genre(s)
RPG, CRPG
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While Disco Elysium, ZA/UM's previous title, saw massive mainstream recognition and spotlight at shows as prestigious as The Game Awards, it still wound up feeling like a cult classic in its own right; a narrative-heavy CRPG with something to say that doesn't pull punches, and sticks with you forever afterward if you decide to dive in.
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Posts 4 By Monica PhillipsWhile I don't think ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies will manage to reach the same levels as ZA/UM's previous, genuine all-timer work, it's still definitely going to find its own ravenous, passionate audience. If these types of games work for you, then you can definitely expect ZERO Parades to land as well.
5 Cairn
It's the Climb
Cairn
Simulation Adventure Survival
9.5/10
Released
January 29, 2026
Developer(s)
The Game Bakers
Publisher(s)
The Game Bakers
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC
Genre(s)
Simulation, Adventure, Survival
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Cairn won't be for everyone. It's a genuinely challenging experience of a game where you climb a mountain as the "might kind of have a deathwish" main character, Aava. The premise of the journey to the top is built upon brutally real-feeling climbing mechanics in which you'll manipulate each of Aava's limbs in order to precariously maneuver terrifying foot/handholds through all kinds of weather and hazards in order to survive to the top.
It's harrowing, it's stressful, and it's endlessly rewarding if you're willing to put in the effort to learn how to become a real mountain climber. As such, combined with a really great and powerful story, the small group of mega-fans that have played Cairn could probably talk to you for hours about what makes this one such a classic already.
4 Tombwater
Souls Go West
Tombwater
Soulslike Metroidvania RPG Developer(s) Moth Atlas Publisher(s) Midwest Games Platform(s) PC Genre(s) Soulslike, Metroidvania, RPG Powered byTombwater flew under so many radars that it only currently has 10 total critical reviews on OpenCritic. This is a downright shame, because Tombwater is so clearly a tough, isometric action-RPG that is just oozing with cult classic potential whenever everyone decides to get around to it.
An old west, pixel art journey full of horrifying Eldritch creatures should be enough to sell many of you, and it gets even cooler when you learn that it's also a genuine Soulslike experience on top of everything else. We all know how passionate, perhaps to a fault, the Souls community can be (no judgment, I'm part of it too), so expect Tombwater to someday soon be that deep-cut cult classic you see recommended all over Souls Reddit.
3 Wax Heads
In the Groove
Wax Heads
Life Simulation
8.5/10
Released
May 5, 2026
ESRB
Teen / Language, Use of Alcohol
Developer(s)
Patattie Games
Publisher(s)
Curve Games
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre(s)
Life Simulation
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
2.05 GB
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
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A lot of times, you can tell a potential cult classic based solely on the presentation of something, and Wax Heads fits the bill. It's got that colorful, cute, cozy indie product vibe, which often translates to a game people end up falling head over heels for.
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2 Esoteric Ebb
And Flow
Esoteric Ebb
CRPG RPG Isometric Point-and-click Adventure
9/10
Released
March 3, 2026
Developer(s)
Christoffer Bodegård
Publisher(s)
Raw Fury
Number of Players
Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
CRPG, RPG, Isometric, Point-and-click, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
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Like ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies, Esoteric Ebb slots into that same narrative-driven, dice-roll navigated, CRPG, potential cult classic petri dish. It already has a diehard fanbase, but it's also not really one that you heard the masses gushing about on Twitter around release.
That's okay, as it seems like Esoteric Ebb has perhaps ended up resonating with a larger audience than many of the others on the list, but it's still one you won't hear name-dropped out on the streets, either. Once again, however, if you know, you know. Esoteric Ebb is a wickedly cool and unique CRPG that's also often hilarious, and full of memorable story beats, decisions, and outcomes throughout.
Plus, the main character kind of looks like Solaire of Astora from the original Dark Souls, a cult classic icon in his own right.
1 Schrödinger's Call
The Cat's Pajamas
Schrodinger's Call
Visual Novel Adventure Drama Released May 27, 2026 ESRB Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Acrobatic Chirimenjako Publisher(s) Shueisha Games Number of Players Single-player Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC Genre(s) Visual Novel, Adventure, Drama Powered bySchrödinger's Call is still so far under the radar that it's hardly been covered by the internet at all to this point. And yet, despite this, it currently sits as 2026's actual highest-rated game of the year to this point (only after 11 officially aggregated reviews on OpenCritic, but still). It's critically tied with Mina the Hollower, an indie game getting all the attention, while Schrödinger's Call lies waiting for those curious enough to come and give it a whirl.
No, text-heavy visual novels are not everyone's cup of tea, but I know there are tons of fellow fans out there, and we all understand that when one of these work, they work. Schrödinger's Call has a sort of deceptively soft and nostalgic charm like an Omori, but one that's similarly hiding deeper, darker themes too. This is one that will linger with you for days, just like all the best cult classic titles across all media tend to do.
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