Xbox Game Pass prices jumped up last October, with PC Game Pass now costing $16.49 a month. If you’re mainly into indie games and not keen on paying that much, a new player just showed up: Indie Pass. It’s a fresh PC-only subscription that packs about 70 indie titles for just $6.99 a month. Yeah, you read that right – less than half the price of PC Game Pass.
Indie Pass Focuses Purely on Indie Games, No AAA Distractions
Indie Pass launched by Indie.io is a neat idea for gamers who want fresh indie games without the big price tag or the AAA blockbusters. It won’t have the latest big-budget hits or console support, but if you’re into gems like Echoes of the Plum Grove or the Dark Deity series, this could be your new go-to.
The lineup currently sits at around 70 games, drawn from Indie.io’s existing catalogue, and they plan to keep adding new and older titles regularly. So, it’s not about day-one releases but more about giving indie games a better chance to be discovered and played.
Indie Pass Uses a Playtime-Based Revenue Model to Support Developers
What’s cool is how the money flows. Developers earn based on how much time players spend in their games. If you play two games equally, both developers get about half of your $6.99 subscription. Jess Mitchell, Indie.io’s Director of Growth, said she’d “rejoice” if players went through ten or more titles in a month. She calls it an egalitarian system where the money follows the player’s attention.
Plus, Indie Pass doesn’t lock developers into exclusivity, so their games can be on Steam and Indie Pass at the same time. This flexibility helps smaller studios stay visible long after their launch hype fades. Mitchell mentioned it’s like a lifeline for those who might not get another spotlight moment for months or even a year after release.
So if you’re tired of Game Pass’s rising prices but still want a steady stream of indie games, Indie Pass might be worth your $6.99. It’s a leaner, indie-focused subscription that’s all about discovery and fairness.
