20 Low-Budget Video Games That Made a Ton of Money

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - March 30th 2025, 19:19 GMT+2

Cropped Vampire Survivors — Vampire Survivors (2021)

You know that feeling when a game somehow turns *not moving much* into a heart-racing thrill ride? That’s Vampire Survivors for you. With graphics that could politely be described as "nostalgically pixelated," this little gem exploded in popularity by doing something simple: letting you mow down endless waves of monsters while barely lifting a finger. Auto-attacks? Yes. Chaos? Absolutely. Gameplay that turns you into an unstoppable juggernaut of death with a garlic aura? Obviously. It’s the digital equivalent of comfort food, if your comfort food was a garlic-powered demon hunter. With an insanely addictive loop and updates that just kept on coming, it turned a modest budget into a vampire-slaying fortune. | © poncle

Cropped Baba is You — Baba is You (2019)

Let’s be honest: Baba is You is what happens when someone decides to make a game *and* break your brain at the same time. It's a deceptively cute puzzle game where you can literally rewrite the rules of the world. Like, no big deal, just casually change “Wall is Stop” to “Wall is You” and become the wall. Totally normal. Its minimalist art style and charmingly weird logic puzzles might look simple, but this game’s a mental marathon in disguise. It went viral among gamers who love that "aha!" moment, and it showed that clever mechanics trump a big budget any day. Who needs cinematic cutscenes when you can be a rock? Or a key? Or Baba? Baba is rich now. Baba wins. | © Hempuli

Cropped Celeste — Celeste (2018)

Ah, Celeste — the game that lovingly pats you on the back while hurling you into a pit of spikes. Released in 2018, it took tight platforming mechanics, wrapped them in a deeply personal narrative about anxiety and self-acceptance, and somehow made “dying a thousand times” feel inspiring. You play as Madeline, climbing a metaphorical (and literal) mountain, and yes, you’ll fall. A lot. But every failure teaches you something new, and every victory feels like a triumph. It’s proof that pixel art can still punch you right in the feels, and that small teams can make emotionally resonant masterpieces. Low budget, high impact, maximum feels. | © Maddy Makes Games

Cropped Hollow Knight — Hollow Knight (2017)

If Tim Burton made a Metroidvania on a shoestring budget, Hollow Knight would be the result — and honestly, we’re all better for it. This dark, mysterious, bug-filled world oozes atmosphere, and not just because half the characters literally ooze. Released in 2017, the game delivered a stunningly vast underground kingdom with tight combat, haunting music, and lore that had Reddit theorists foaming at the mouth. It’s the kind of game that makes you forget it was made by just a few people in Australia and not a giant team with unlimited funds. Cheap to make, expensive in emotional damage — especially when you realize how much content they stuffed into it for the price of a fancy coffee. | © Team Cherry

Cropped Starbound — Starbound (2016)

Before No Man’s Sky had its redemption arc, there was Starbound — the game that said, “What if Terraria... but IN SPACE?” And people were *very* into that. Released in 2016, Starbound let you explore procedurally generated planets, build everything from sci-fi castles to tiny mushroom huts, and play as a literal glitchy robot knight or a flower person with a gun. Sure, it launched in early access and stayed there a while, but when it landed, it landed hard. Despite the modest visuals and indie scale, the sense of discovery was massive. Starbound dared to shoot for the stars — and, surprisingly, hit them. | © Chucklefish

Cropped Stardew Valley — Stardew Valley (2016)

Who knew escaping capitalism meant running a turnip farm? Stardew Valley is the game that said, “Forget corporate life — plant some parsnips, marry the local emo, and fish at 2 AM.” Created almost entirely by one person (yes, one!), this cozy-farming-meets-small-town-soap-opera simulator took over hearts and wallets worldwide. With its pixel charm, endless content, and the ability to befriend literally everyone — including a wizard — it quietly became a mega-hit. Also, let’s not pretend we didn’t spend five hours rearranging our sprinklers. Stardew Valley didn’t just make money — it created a generation of digital farmers with a slight hoarding problem. | © ConcernedApe

Cropped Undertale — Undertale (2015)

Cue the emotional damage soundtrack. Undertale took the indie world by storm with a humble budget, EarthBound vibes, and a game mechanic that basically asked, “What if you didn’t have to kill everything?” Released in 2015, it quickly became a cult classic thanks to its unique combat, unforgettable characters (hello, Sans), and its ability to make you cry over pixelated goat moms. Every choice matters, every route changes everything, and yes, the music slaps hard. Who knew that dodging little white pellets and feeling crippling guilt could be so fun? Undertale proved heart > budget. | © tobyfox

Cropped Rocket League — Rocket League (2015)

Soccer. But with cars. That’s it. That’s the pitch. And somehow, Rocket League turned that gloriously dumb idea into a billion-dollar esport. Launched in 2015, it was fast, fun, and fully obsessed with boost pads and flips. It took exactly five seconds to learn and five years to master — and that sweet spot made it *explode*. People weren’t just playing; they were forming teams, launching pro leagues, and obsessing over hat cosmetics. It’s basically Hot Wheels on caffeine, and it prints money. All this from a sequel to a game with a title so long no one remembers it. | © Psyonix

Cropped Five Nights At Freddys — Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)

You, a minimum-wage night shift worker. Them, haunted animatronics with murder in their eyes. That’s Five Nights at Freddy’s, baby! With its jump-scare simplicity, static camera feeds, and creepy lore that could fill 10 conspiracy YouTube channels, FNaF clawed its way out of the indie shadows in 2014 and built a horror empire. Seriously — books, toys, a movie — all from a game that looked like it ran on a toaster. But it was *scary*. Like, check-the-closet scary. It tapped into a primal fear: being alone, helpless, and aggressively stared at by a homicidal duck. | © Scott Cawthon

Cropped Shovel Knight — Shovel Knight (2014)

In an era of 4K and ray tracing, Shovel Knight showed up with an 8-bit shovel and said, “Let’s party like it’s 1989.” This retro-inspired platformer launched in 2014 and immediately won hearts with its tight controls, gorgeous pixel art, and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack. You play a knight. With a shovel. And somehow, it feels cooler than most sword-wielding heroes. It’s a love letter to the past that still feels fresh, and it spawned a whole universe of spin-offs and expansions that were, frankly, way too good for the price. Who knew digging holes could dig up so much cash? | © Yacht Club Games

Cropped Flappy Bird — Flappy Bird (2013)

Oh, Flappy Bird. The game that flapped its way into our hearts — and then rage-quit our phones. Released in 2013 by a lone Vietnamese developer, this pixelated bird dodging some totally-not-Mario pipes took about 20 seconds to learn and a lifetime to master. It was *free*, it looked like it took five minutes to make (no offense, Flappy), and yet it generated tens of thousands of dollars *a day*. It was so addictively frustrating that people hurled phones, cursed birds, and started black market trades for devices with the game still installed after it got pulled. A short, chaotic legacy, but what a ride. | © .GEARS

Cropped Outlast — Outlast (2013)

Looking to experience pure terror without the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster? Enter Outlast, the horror game that proved you don’t need a gun — just a camcorder, a weak flashlight, and a strong bladder. Dropped in 2013, this found-footage-style nightmare tossed players into an abandoned asylum full of unspeakable horrors and said, “Run. Just run.” The tension? Palpable. The budget? Tiny. The returns? Massive. It became a cult horror favorite and even birthed a franchise. Because apparently, people love being chased by shirtless murderers in night vision. | © Red Barrels

Cropped The Stanley Parable — The Stanley Parable (2013)

The Stanley Parable is a game where nothing happens and everything happens. You walk around an office. Or you don’t. You follow instructions. Or you don’t. Either way, a British narrator roasts you for your choices. Released in 2013, this existential comedy-in-a-video-game asked bold questions like, “Do video games need to make sense?” and “Can a broom closet be a character?” It was meta, hilarious, occasionally unsettling, and totally unforgettable. Despite being low-budget, it became a high-concept hit, proving that dry sarcasm and branching paths were enough to mess with players' heads — and their wallets. | © Galactic Cafe

Cropped Fez — Fez (2012)

Fez is like if a Rubik’s Cube and a cozy platformer had a baby and then raised it on indie dreams. Released in 2012 after a famously long and drama-filled development, it brought players into a charming 2D world — which, surprise! — was actually 3D all along. You rotate the world, solve puzzles, and slowly lose your mind in the best way possible. Its cute little protagonist, Gomez, became an icon of the indie scene, and the game itself became a case study in turning ambition and aesthetic into pure profit. Who knew rotating cubes could be so profitable? | © Polytron Corporation

Cropped Terraria — Terraria (2011)

If Minecraft is the flashy older sibling, Terraria is the quiet one who ends up founding a tech startup. Released in 2011, it started as “2D Minecraft” — and then said “Hold my pickaxe” and built an empire. Dig, fight, build, explore — it’s all here, with way more weapons, bosses, and chaos than anyone expected from a side-scrolling pixel game. Its content updates never seemed to stop, even when the devs *said* they were done. And the fans? Obsessed. Terraria may look humble, but it’s been digging up treasure (and profit) for over a decade now. | © Re-Logic

Cropped minecraft — Minecraft (2011)

Ah yes, Minecraft — the humble block game that took over the *entire planet*. Released officially in 2011 (after becoming a cult hit during its beta), it was made by one guy with a dream and a whole lot of cubes. There’s no story, no fancy graphics, and no end goal (unless you count slaying a dragon in another dimension), and yet it became a generation-defining sandbox of creativity. Want to build a castle? A calculator? A working computer *inside* the game? Go nuts. It’s Legos for the digital age — and it sold like digital hotcakes. A billion-dollar empire... all from dirt blocks. | © Mojang

Cropped Super Meat Boy — Super Meat Boy (2010)

You’re a cube of meat. Your girlfriend is made of bandages. And everything wants to kill you. Welcome to Super Meat Boy, the brutally hard platformer that came sliding onto the scene in 2010, dripping in blood and charm. It was tough. It was fast. And it *definitely* didn’t care about your feelings. With twitch-perfect controls, tons of levels, and a delightfully retro vibe, it earned critical acclaim and a surprising pile of cash — especially considering it was made by just two dudes and a whole lot of coffee. Meat has never been so heroic. Or so frequently splattered. | © Team Meat

Cropped Braid — Braid (2008)

Braid is what happens when you mix time travel, gorgeous watercolor visuals, and a deep existential crisis — and then wrap it all up as an indie platformer. Released in 2008, it was one of the first games to prove that “artsy” and “gamey” could not only coexist, but also rake in serious cash. You control Tim, a polite little guy in a suit, as he manipulates time to solve puzzles and chase a mysterious princess. But don’t let the fairy tale vibe fool you — this game has *layers*. Like, philosophical, gut-punching, “rethink your life choices” layers. It turned heads, broke hearts, and made a fortune. | © Number None

Cropped Castle Crashers — Castle Crashers (2008)

What happens when you give knights laser eyes, magic powers, and a healthy disrespect for logic? You get Castle Crashers, the 2008 beat-'em-up that threw pixel-blood-soaked chaos into our lives — and we loved every second of it. With its goofy humor, frantic co-op gameplay, and that distinctive Newgrounds art style, it felt like playing a Saturday morning cartoon on way too much sugar. You could fight bears, ride deer (toilet-powered ones, no less), and rescue princesses who did *not* want to be rescued gently. It was hilarious, chaotic, and, somehow, a money-printing machine. | © The Behemoth

Cropped Cave Story — Cave Story (2004)

The granddaddy of modern indie games, Cave Story is the little game that *literally* launched the scene. Created entirely by one developer over five years (yes, five), this 2004 side-scrolling adventure served up tight platforming, a heart-wrenching story, and a cast of quirky characters, all wrapped in nostalgic pixel art. It was released *for free* at first — but it gained such a devoted following that commercial re-releases followed, and boy, did they pay off. It’s the indie equivalent of a punk band recording in a garage and accidentally starting a revolution. Respect the Mimiga. Respect the hustle. | © Studio Pixel

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Creating a hit video game doesn’t always require a massive budget. Over the years, several indie and low-cost titles have proven that creativity, solid gameplay, and community support can turn small investments into massive profits. In this article, we’ll explore 20 low-budget video games that defied the odds and generated millions in revenue. From pixelated platformers to genre-defining survival games, these success stories show that passion can be just as powerful as money in the gaming world.

Whether you're an indie developer looking for inspiration or a gamer curious about the underdog hits, this list highlights the most profitable low-budget games of all time.

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Whether you're an indie developer looking for inspiration or a gamer curious about the underdog hits, this list highlights the most profitable low-budget games of all time.