Top 10 Best Games Of All Time Like 'Minecraft' And 'Bright Memory' That Were Made By Just ONE Person!

Large game studios, which have teams of developers, can create highly successful games and franchises. However, it is not the size of the team that makes a good game. Indie (independent) games usually have very small teams, and some are even made by just one person, as is the case with the great Minecraft phenomenon, the popular Stardew Valley farm simulator, or the gorgeous Bright Memory fantasy shooter game which are considered best games of all time.

Although many indie games are shorter and more casual, like Mainichi, there are also developers who dedicate themselves for months or even years to achieve a high-quality result. They can even compete with big names in the market or make a big cultural impact. Below is a selection of the best games of all time made by just one person for many platforms like PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, etc.

Top 10 Best Games of All Time Made by One Person (1/5)

Bright Memory (created by Zeng Xiancheng)

It's almost impossible to believe that Bright Memory Infinite, which was revealed Xbox Series X World Premiere, was made by a single person. We are talking about Zeng Xiancheng, who devised, designed, and programmed the game, all completely alone.

Xiancheng developed it using Unreal Engine 4, and its production took place during the Chinese developer's spare time. Even so, it manages to look like a blockbuster with a huge budget and massive staff.

Bright Memory Infinite takes place in the year 2036. Unlike other futuristic games, it is not entirely based on science fiction, but also incorporates certain elements of mystery and even supernatural. The story tells of a celestial phenomenon that causes agents from the Supernatural Scientific Research Organization (SRO) to be sent to investigate. It is there when it is discovered that the events are linked to an ancient mystery.

Iconoclasts (created by Joakim Sandberg)

The action and platform game Iconoclasts had its development started in 2010 under the name Ivory Springs. Its creator Joakim "Konjak" Sandberg worked on it for eight years to create a game that mixed the narrative and richness of the gaming world like Metroid Fusion and Monster World IV, with characters as charismatic as those in Final Fantasy IX.

In 2018, the game finally came out for PlayStation 4 (PS4), PS Vita, PC, and Nintendo Switch. It received great reviews from critics for its style that referred to Metroidvania, as well as for the exciting plot.

Top 10 Best Games of All Time Made by One Person (2/5)

Lone Survivor (created by Jasper Byrne)

Lone Survivor is a post-apocalyptic horror game set in a world where humans have been infected by a virus and turned into dangerous mutants. One of the unique features of the game is the character's hallucinations, which leave the player in doubt about what is real and what is not.

To create the game, Jasper Byrne was inspired by the plots of David Lynch, delivering a story full of mystery and focused on his characters. According to Byrne, the most difficult part of developing Lone Survivor was getting the game out there without leaking any secrets to the public.

Mainichi (created by Mattie Brice)

Released for PC in 2012, Mainichi is a short game but with a very exciting story. In it, the player takes on the role of Brice, a transgender woman who is experiencing difficulties in identifying herself in a world full of prejudices. Created by Mattie Brice, the game was designed based on the developer's personal experiences.

After the final reveal of the story, players can begin another journey to find their secrets in a slightly different version from the day played previously. But in the end, the player realizes that the repetition is just an allegory about the protagonist's life and the constant threats that she suffers day after day.

Top 10 Best Games of All Time Made by One Person (3/5)

Minecraft (created by Markus Persson)

Developer Markus "Notch" Persson was working on RubyDung, a building game along the lines of Dwarf Fortress when he met Infiniminer and fell in love with its concept. So, Notch decided to create a game along the same lines, but in first person, set in a fantasy world and taking advantage of some RubyDung resources.

This new game became Minecraft. In it, players must survive by creating shelters, cultivating farms and even exploring caves in a whole world made up of blocks. One of its greatest attractions is the endless possibilities for exploration. The game came out for the PC in 2009 and is now available for numerous console, desktop, and mobile platforms.

Papers, Please (created by Lucas Pope)

Lucas Pope had left Naughty Dog and wanted to work on smaller games when he started researching passport and immigration inspectors. The work is full of tension and repetition, which gave rise to the idea of ​​the game, along with a little inspiration from cinema.

Papers, Please puts the player in the role of an immigration officer in a fictional country called Arstotzka. In addition to demanding a lot of attention from the players, it also has tense moments and difficult decisions for the official, who is always under the constant risk of receiving penalties to his payments.

Top 10 Best Games of All Time Made by One Person (4/5)

Spelunky (created by Derek Yu)

To create Spelunky, Derek Yu was essentially inspired by the Super Mario game series. But there are also clear influences of La-Mulana, Rick Dangerous, and Spelunker. In this dungeon crawler with elements of roguelike, players control a character who must explore places full of dangers to collect treasures.

The challenging gameplay gets even more complicated with few save points. Spelunky was originally released as a free version on the PC and later won a remake for several platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (PS3), PS Vita, PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PC.

Stardew Valley (created by Eric Barone)

Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone started working on the Stardew Valley game in 2011 during his computer science degree. Seeking more chances to enter the game industry, he decided to create a game inspired by the acclaimed farm franchise Harvest Moon.

But the young student was not content to just create a clone, incorporating elements from other games like Minecraft and Terraria into the game. In 2016, Stardew Valley was released for PC, PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One and became a great success. Subsequently, he also won ports for Nintendo Switch and PS Vita and for Android and iOS devices.

Top 10 Best Games of All Time Made by One Person (5/5)

Thomas Was Alone (created by Mike Bithell)

Thomas Was Alone's concept emerged in 2010 during a programming marathon. After seeing that the game was ready, its creator, Mike Bithell, wanted to create a more complete version of the game, with narration and soundtrack. With just 5,000 pounds, Bithell was able to complete his game on his own.

In Thomas Was Alone, the player must guide a group of rectangles on different levels, each with their own skills. The game was released for PC in 2012 and later for PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U and mobile devices. It received excellent reception and sold over 1 million copies.

Undertale (created by Toby Fox)

To create Undertale, Toby Fox was inspired by his childhood games, including the Earthbound RPGs, Super Mario RPG, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Undertale was in development for three years, after exceeding its funding targets by about 1022%.

In the title, the player controls a child who falls into the Underground, a place inhabited by different monsters, and must find a way to return home. The choices made with each gameplay transform the story and challenges to be faced, guaranteeing diverse experiences, and many hours of play.

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