18 Best Indie Games Of The Decade (So Far)

18. The Stanley Parable

As Fable more than proved back on Xbox, when you've got writers that understand how to tap into the finest aspects of British comedy, it's something incredible - especially when you tie it in with gameplay that lives to break the fourth wall, a narrative that gives as much as you can take after getting involved, and a simple premise easy enough to let anyone take a shot.

In TSP you play as the titular Stanley, an office worker-drone who lives to contribute what little he can to the business around him - until one day his computer turns off, and he sets out exploring the world around him. The brilliant parts come as the entire thing is a constant battle with what a characterful narrator is 'telling' you to do, opening up hilarious possibilities that address common gaming tropes and mission structures along the way.

A very early highlight is simply staying in a broom closet for quite some time, as the narrator gets increasingly frustrated by your lack of forward progression - yet the developers still recorded a good 10 minutes of dialogue just for this section.

With multiple endings and branching pathways at every turn opening up more dialogue options alongside the slow realisation that you can subvert everything around you, The Stanley Parable is one of the best written, most easily enjoyable and unique titles available.