are indie games better than aaa games?

Back in the day, indie games were kind of a raw spectacle, representing human creativity in ways that were indescribable. They were often rough
but full of heart. Back then, the term indie did not even exist. Games that were made by individuals or tiny teams were just called hobbies. Some even say amateur games.

But in reality, they were more than just hobby games. They were the pillar propping up the industry ever since its inception, from the days of Spacewar! Then came games like Prince of Persia, which was created independently by Jordan Mechner. 

And not to forget Doom, a game that was so  well optimized it can run on a pregnancy tester. But how do these games compare
to the renowned AAA titles?

Before games could be bought on markets like Steam, you would acquire them as shareware or freeware. The process back then was a bit curious. Games like Doom, for example,

would be shared with you via a friend through
a floppy disk or an email, but only for a few levels. Giving you the chance to try the game before you buy it. And if you did like the game,

you would need to locate a file named ORDER.FRM, which was an order form that would let you pay the devs directly in exchange for the full game. Which you would then receive in the mail. 

Unlike indie games, AAA titles had a far more straightforward methods of reaching players. Backed by hefty budgets, major studios promoted their games through big events, newspapers,
and even television commercials,

ensuring that almost everyone was aware of their releases. But marketing alone was not enough. Accessibility was just as important. That’s why
physical game stores were widely available in cities, stocking rows of packaged game CDs so  

players could easily walk in, buy a copy,
and start playing with minimal effort.

As technology became more open and marketplaces like Steam expanded, indie games began to become more ambitious, more polished, and way more visible than in the past.

Meanwhile, some AAA games stagnated creatively, sticking to the same old formula that worked before, scared of innovation. That is when
the playing field got leveled.

Indie developers started to have a voice in
an industry run by giants. Players started to realize that the best games were not coming
from these big studios at all.

To fuel these ambitions, major game engines like Unity and Unreal made quality game development accessible to everyone. This meant that indie games were no longer just low-budget projects.

Now, not only can they be creative innovations, but they can also look beautiful, run smoothly, and rival AAA quality even more,
threatening the industry.

With the rise of Steam and other markets like Xbox Live Arcade, indie developers suddenly
had access to the same audience as AAA studios. Games like Undertale, Spelunky, and Super Meat Boy proved that indie titles could be just as successful as triple-A titles, if not more.

Selling out millions of copies, winning awards,
and dominating conversation around the industry. Because of these success stories, more and more devs started to take the plunge, reminding us of the golden age of the 2000s when Flash games were on top.

By the time the era of gaming entered the 2010s, the balance shifted. For years, triple-A studios had always been held and seen as the standard for gaming. However, as these big games grew larger, they also became more wary and focused on profit, inserting microtransactions in every nook and cranny of every game they publish. Rereleasing the same game with a different name,

a thing the FIFA franchise does. Meanwhile, indie developers were moving in the opposite direction. Free to take risks and experiment, building experiences that resonated emotionally with players. What first started as side hobbies and passion projects turned into games that not only competed with AAA titles but, in many cases surpassed them in every way imaginable.

This journey was more than just a success story. It was a visit back to what games were and what made them great. It showed that greatness was not hidden behind piles of cash, but was present in the visions of the creators. What was first
a small experimental project created by strong and passionate developers turned into a movement big enough to rival AAA blockbusters.

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