History of Indie Games

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course surveys a particularly rich quarter-century of gaming history, in which the concept of "indie game" both gelled and evolved. As the 21st century brought an explosion in internet-based games distribution, small-scale game developers faced a definitional question: what does it mean to be "indie"? Does it describe a model of production? Or an aesthetic? (Or something in between?) From emergence of a distinct "independent style" in the late 2000s to the queer games avant-garde of the 2010s to the rise of boutique publishers such as Devolver Digital and Annapurna Interactive that dominate the scene today, this course maps the history of "independence" in games while drawing illustrative connections to earlier indie scenes in music and movies. Focal points range from individual games (Braid, Undertale, OneShot) to genres (walking simulators, cozy games) to platforms (Flash, Twine). To confront the turbulence of engaging with recent history, students will be expected to research and present on one or more games of their choosing outside the syllabus.