Here are some of the most successful indie games developed by a single person:
1. Stardew Valley — Developed by Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) and released in 2016. It’s a farming simulation game where players can also fish, explore, and build relationships. Stardew Valley has sold over 20 million copies, earning over $30 million.
2. Iconoclasts — Solo developed by Joachim Sandberg and released in 2018. It’s a 2D platformer with metroidvania elements. The game took 8 years to develop and has an estimated revenue of about $1.3 million.
3. Cave Story — Developed by Daisuke Amaya and released in 2004. It’s a metroidvania platformer where the player explores a mysterious floating island cave. While exact sales are challenging to determine, Cave Story Plus has sold an estimated 590,000 units on Steam.
4. Undertale — Developed by Toby Fox with art by Temmie Chang and released in 2015. It’s an RPG where player choices influence the story’s progression. Undertale has made an estimated $26 million on PC sales alone.