20 Best Indie Games Of The Decade

11. Celeste

Celeste provided the answer to something we didn't necessarily realise the industry was missing: How to tackle depression, anxiety and negative headspaces directly through in-game mechanics.

While you can totally enjoy the game as a stellar platformer with incredibly tight physics and a jump-boost ability, the messaging revolves around protagonist Madeleine climbing a mountain, whilst being tormented by her "shadow self". She challenges Madeleine's confidence, berates her, and even forms a boss battle at one point.

The twist though? Celeste isn't about "defeating" this being, but learning how to understand and work with it.

A wider metaphor for embracing and understanding wayward thoughts that result in worry and doubt, this only reinforces how intuitive Matt Makes Games' level design is.

Because make no mistake: Celeste is a brutally hard platformer. It borrows Super Meat Boy's notion of an instant restart and expertly places you on the jump you just failed, but you'll have to steel yourself just like Madeleine, to reach the mountaintop.