How to spot a good indie game before you download it

The app stores are a swamp. For every clever little indie there are a hundred clones with stolen screenshots. Over the years we've built a rough filter for spotting the good stuff quickly.

First, look at the screenshots for actual gameplay, not staged marketing art. Second, read the recent reviews, not the overall score — recent ones tell you if a game has gone downhill after updates. Third, check how often it updates; a developer who's still patching after a year usually cares.

Genre variety matters too. Some of our best finds came from wandering outside our comfort zone. A strategy fan grabbing a quiet adventure like Hollow Lantern can end up loving something they'd never have searched for.

Finally, trust the small stuff. A thoughtful settings menu, a clean tutorial, an options screen with real choices — these little signs almost always mean the whole game was made with care.