Filtering through the noise in a game market teeming with all sorts of entries can be a real challenge. That goes double for theindie side of things, where there are dozens of new possibilities to check out every couple of months.
That said,one thing that often goes a long way is an inexpensive price, which brings us to a prolific publisher called Ratalaika Games.
Ratalaika Games does an impressive job of porting all sorts of games to consoles, and have been doing so for several years. It doesn’t matter what genre, you’ll usually find it from them.
Even if you’re looking to play classic games on new hardware, they have you covered. There are platformers, collections, narrative adventures, arcade experiences, and more.
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With all that in mind, here’s my list of the top 10 best games published by Ratalaika Games. Get ready for affordable fun on any console you can imagine.
10Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace
From Japan With Love
TurboGrafx-16, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Ratalaika Games
Platformer
Release Date
August 16, 2025 (TurboGrafx-16), July 03, 2025 (modern consoles)
One of the things that has recently so endeared me towards Ratalaika Games is how they’ve taken it upon themselves to port games that used to only be available in Japan.
TheCyber Citizen Shockmangames were exclusive in that region for quite a while until Ratalaika decided to port the games to all modern consoles worldwide.
By far the best of that series isCyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace. It had the nostalgia factor present in the first game but was also more balanced and fair than the 3rd game, as well as being more fun than the utterly perplexingCyber Citizen Shockman Zero.
Even so, thisplatformershows its age at times, and you’ll probably find it necessary to use the in-game cheats provided to get past some of the more uncompromising sections.
But if you’re looking for a blast from the past that’s still fun today, you should absolutely check this platformer out.
9Intrepid Izzy
A Girl’s Work Is Never Done
PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
June 10, 2025 (PC), June 09, 2025 (modern consoles)
As a lifelong fan of the Metroidvania genre, I have a pretty strict definition of what qualifies. WhileIntrepid Izzyis a delightful platformer with large areas to explore and new abilities to acquire, I’m not sure that it counts.
The best part of the game is changing into different outfits and getting wild new abilities, including wall climbing as a ninja. There are also some fun boss battles to fight your way through.
If you’re looking for a colorful adventure with a female lead and good humor,Intrepid Izzyis a love letter to retro games of the past, with sequences that wouldn’t be out of place in series likeSonic the HedgehogorMega Man. Simple, cute, and fun.
8Parasite Pack
Tapeworms and Fleas Unite!
Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Puzzle, Collection
June 20, 2025
One genre that’s well suited to the indie scene ispuzzle games. They’re able to convey a lot with simple graphics and mechanics, and can often defy expectations while offering hours of arcade-styled fun. One great example isParasite Pack.
The game is a collection of two mini-games, one focused on playing an ever-expanding tapeworm, and the other a sort of endless runner featuring a twitchy jumping flea.
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Best of all, there are 100 levels to play through, all featuring eye-catching, candy-colored retro visual style, fantastic chiptunes, and some actual plot. Put simply, if you need something quirky to unwind with,Parasite Packis your game.
7Even the Ocean
Balancing Light and Dark
PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Puzzle Platformer
July 20, 2025 (PC), June 25, 2025 (modern consoles)
Environmental disaster isn’t just a reality we’re facing nowadays, it’s also a prevalent theme in video games likeEven the Ocean. You play Aliph, and you’re tasked with using Light and Dark power to repair power plants and hopefully save the world.
The game itself has elements of a visual novel, and it’s very story-heavy.It’s also a very competentpuzzle platformer. Dark energy lets you run faster, whereas Light energy lets you jump higher.
If that wasn’t enough, Aliph also has a shield that lets them block things in 4 different directions.
Best of all, there are all sorts of difficulty customization options that can help you play the game at your own pace.
6The Guise
A Dark Fairy Tale
Metroidvania
Jun 11, 2025 (PC), August 18, 2025 (modern consoles)
WhileIntrepid Izzyprobably doesn’t count as a full-throatedMetroidvania,The Guiseabsolutely does.
It’s a dark fairy tale where an orphan named Ogden puts on a strange mask and transforms into a hideous, skeletal monster.
Though Ogden might not love how he looks, his monstrous new form is very capable of both combat and exploration. With it, he’ll face all manner of bosses and foul creatures.
The real question is whether Ogden can hold onto his humanity as he hunts for a way back to normal in a doomed world.
5Dandy & Randy DX
The New Goof Troop
June 09, 2025
I know I’m going to instantly age myself, but here goes - who here remembersGoof Troop? Not just the series, but the SNES game?
I have fond memories of that game, even though I typically don’t love puzzle games or ice puzzles. In many ways,Dandy & Randy DXfeels like a spiritual successor.
Unlike that classic game,Dandy & Randy DXis a more manageable challenge.It features several utterly distinct levels, cute boss battles, and special equipment that helps even the odds.That includes a shovel, boomerang, grappling hook, and more.
The only real downside to the game is how utterly linear it is. Despite boasting hidden levels, the whole thing is one short jaunt, which hurts the replay value. Still, it’s colorful, fun, and creative if you enjoy puzzle games.
4Sagebrush
Cult Living
June 13, 2025 (PC), July 18, 2025 (modern consoles)
One genre we haven’t touched thus far is the narrative adventure genre, but that’s because the only real contender worth mentioning is a fantastic one calledSagebrush.
What’s most interesting about the game isit’s based on real events, and features a narrative that’s compelling, horrifying, and somehow hopeful.
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The game itself features intentionally grainy, Lo-Fi, old-school visuals that make it look more dated than it is. But what’s most approachable about it is this is a very short burn.
Give it a shot, this is one narrative adventure that will stay with you long after you roll the credits.
The Music of Rebellion
August 20, 2025 (PC), July 21, 2025 (modern consoles)
As someone who adores musical rhythm games,Klang 2had to be included in this list. Not only is it the sequel of a great adventure, but it’s a worthy follow-up with pumping EDM music aplenty.
Though the game features around 30 stages, the neat thing isthe game uses quasi-procedural generation. This means no song plays the same way twice.There are also challenging boss battles to really get your blood pumping.
The only small downside is that this particular rhythm adventure is very demanding, which can alienate some gamers. But if you’re eager for a challenge and love EDM music, this is one to watch.
2Fearmonium
Everybody Loves a Clown
August 24, 2025 (PC), June 24, 2025 (modern consoles)
Fearmoniumis what it looks like if someone makes a Metroidvania with a style inspired byCuphead.
But that’s not ambitious enough, let’s also make it a tale about the human subconscious and twisted circus freaks.
You play a clown phobia inside a child’s head fighting against other phobias.And because it’s a Metroidvania, you’ll get weird new abilities, such as inflating like a balloon, and more traditional fare such as double jump and slide.
The game provides a lot of ways to customize your experience, as well as neat attack items like mallets and bottle rockets. There are also really disturbing and tough boss battles.
Honestly, the only things that heldFearmoniumback were its insistence on using a Stamina meter, and how initially the console version was afflicted by some glitches that prevented progression (which are now thankfully fixed).
Stinky Yet Sweet
Hardcore Platformer
June 20, 2025 (PC), July 13, 2025 (modern consoles)
I’m just going to be honest here -Garlicis out of its freaking mind.
It’s the insane tale of an onion-headed boy climbing a Sacred Tower to get his wish granted by the Cyber Goddess. Along the way, he becomes more than a little enamored and creepily obsessed with her.
All the while, our “hero” will face truly harrowing threats and traps in this utterly brutal, yet somehow fair, hardcore platformer.
It’s a long climb, interspersed by obscure yet hilarious mini-games that wouldn’t be out of place inWarioWare.
I didn’t expect much fromGarlicwhen I first played it but quickly became a fan. If you’re at all a fan of platformers andincredible indieswho are looking for something that will leave an impression, this is an amazing adventure.
