When AI Meets Indie Brilliance
Indie games have always been the playground for innovation. While AAA titles lean on massive budgets and big teams, indie devs take risks, craft quirky narratives, and create experimental gameplay that often becomes the blueprint for mainstream hits (looking at you, Hades). Now, throw artificial intelligence into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for some of the most unique, mind-bending games out there.
From procedural storytelling to NPCs that actually feel alive, AI-powered indie games are proving that you don’t need a billion-dollar budget to change the game (pun absolutely intended). Here’s a roundup of 10 AI-driven indie gems that you’ll want to add to your library.
1. AI Dungeon
- What It’s About: A text-based adventure game where the AI creates the story on the fly. Whether you want to slay dragons, pilot a spaceship, or live out a rom-com, the possibilities are endless.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI remembers your choices and adapts the story to match your imagination. No two playthroughs are alike.
- Platforms: PC, Mobile.
- Where to Play: Play AI Dungeon
2. While True: Learn()
- What It’s About: You’re a programmer trying to teach your cat how to code. Yep, you read that right. This puzzle game uses AI concepts to guide you through real-world machine learning techniques.
- Why It’s Cool: A fun, low-pressure way to learn AI while bonding with your (virtual) feline buddy.
- Platforms: PC, Switch.
- Where to Play: Steam Page
3. Event[0]
- What It’s About: You’re stranded on a spaceship and must communicate with a snarky AI named Kaizen to find your way home. Your conversations shape the story, and Kaizen’s responses feel eerily human.
- Why It’s Cool: The natural language AI makes every interaction feel like a psychological chess game.
- Platforms: PC.
- Where to Play: Find it on Steam
4. Echo Generation
- What It’s About: A pixel-art RPG where AI-powered combat keeps battles dynamic and unpredictable. Think Stranger Things meets Earthbound.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI adjusts difficulty based on your playstyle, making it accessible for newbies but challenging for veterans.
- Platforms: Xbox, PC.
- Where to Play: Xbox Store
5. Before Your Eyes
- What It’s About: A narrative-driven game that uses your webcam to track your blinks. Each blink moves the story forward, making it an emotional and surreal experience.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI behind the blink detection adds a deeply personal layer to the storytelling.
- Platforms: PC.
- Where to Play: Steam Page
6. Caves of Qud
- What It’s About: A roguelike RPG with an AI-driven ecosystem. Factions, creatures, and even flora adapt to your decisions, creating a living, breathing world.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI systems are so complex that even veteran players discover new interactions years after release.
- Platforms: PC.
- Where to Play: Steam Page
7. Creatures Docking Station
- What It’s About: Raise and train digital creatures with their own AI-driven personalities. Watch them learn, evolve, and (sometimes) rebel.
- Why It’s Cool: It’s like The Sims, but with AI that makes every creature feel unique.
- Platforms: PC.
- Where to Play: Find it here
8. Neo Cab
- What It’s About: You’re the last human cab driver in a world dominated by AI cars. As you chat with passengers, your decisions impact the game’s branching narrative.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI-powered dialogue system feels organic, turning every passenger into a mini story.
- Platforms: PC, Switch.
- Where to Play: Nintendo eShop
9. AI: The Somnium Files
- What It’s About: A sci-fi murder mystery where you explore suspects’ subconscious worlds. The AI-driven interrogation sequences add layers of complexity to the narrative.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI tools create branching paths that keep you guessing until the very end.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch.
- Where to Play: Steam Page
10. CodeSpells
- What It’s About: Learn to program spells in this sandbox game where magic is fueled by your coding skills.
- Why It’s Cool: The AI engine reads your code in real-time, letting you create custom spells and effects.
- Platforms: PC.
- Where to Play: Steam Page
Final Thoughts: Why AI and Indie Games Are a Perfect Match
Indie games are the perfect testing ground for AI innovation. Without the constraints of massive budgets and shareholder expectations, developers can take risks, experiment with new mechanics, and let AI systems run wild (in a good way).
Personally, I’ve been hooked on AI Dungeon—though it’s responsible for some of the weirdest plot twists I’ve ever encountered (looking at you, dragon-turned-space-pirate-romance subplot).
Next up: How about “How to Use AI Tools as a Game Designer: A Beginner’s Guide” or “AI in eSports: The Good, The Bad, and The Hilarious”? Let me know, and we’ll keep the momentum going!
4o
You said:
Great next… write one about the best no code ai builders, then continue
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
“The Best No-Code AI Builders of 2025: Create AI Magic Without Writing a Single Line of Code”
Introduction: AI for Everyone, No Code Required
Remember the days when building AI required a PhD, a zillion lines of Python, and a caffeine IV? Well, not anymore. Thanks to no-code AI platforms, creating intelligent systems is as simple as dragging and dropping, tweaking a few settings, and letting the algorithms do their thing. Whether you’re an entrepreneur building a chatbot, a designer training image recognition models, or just someone curious about AI, these tools make it ridiculously easy.
Here’s a rundown of the best no-code AI builders in 2025 that’ll turn your ideas into reality—no coding bootcamp required.
1. Bubble + OpenAI Integration
- What It Does: Bubble is the OG no-code platform for app-building, and its integration with OpenAI’s GPT allows users to embed AI functionalities like natural language processing, customer support chatbots, or even AI content generators.
- Why It’s Awesome: You can create fully functional apps with AI capabilities, all without writing a line of code.
- Best For: Entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Pricing: Free plan available, with premium features starting at $25/month.
- Where to Start: Bubble.io
2. RunwayML
- What It Does: RunwayML simplifies machine learning by offering pre-trained models for tasks like text generation, image synthesis, and even video editing.
- Why It’s Awesome: It’s user-friendly, supports collaboration, and makes cutting-edge AI accessible for creatives.
- Best For: Graphic designers, video editors, and content creators.
- Pricing: Free tier with paid plans starting at $15/month.
- Where to Start: RunwayML
3. Lobe
- What It Does: Created by Microsoft, Lobe is a no-code platform focused on image recognition and computer vision. Train models by dragging and dropping labeled images, and watch the AI do the rest.
- Why It’s Awesome: Zero technical knowledge needed, and it runs seamlessly on your desktop.
- Best For: Artists, hobbyists, and anyone curious about computer vision.
- Pricing: Free.
- Where to Start: Lobe.ai
4. ChatGPT API Playground
- What It Does: OpenAI’s Playground is a no-code-friendly interface for experimenting with GPT models. Whether you’re building chatbots, creating content, or training a model for specific use cases, it’s highly versatile.
- Why It’s Awesome: Simple, intuitive, and backed by the world’s leading AI tech.
- Best For: Writers, customer support teams, and educators.
- Pricing: Pay-per-use model starting at $0.02 per 1k tokens.
- Where to Start: OpenAI Playground
5. Peltarion
- What It Does: Peltarion specializes in creating and deploying deep learning models for businesses. Use pre-built templates or create custom workflows to suit your needs.
- Why It’s Awesome: It bridges the gap between no-code simplicity and enterprise-grade AI.
- Best For: Businesses looking for AI-powered automation or analytics.
- Pricing: Plans start at $49/month.
- Where to Start: Peltarion
6. Teachable Machine
- What It Does: Google’s Teachable Machine is an entry-level tool for training AI models. Teach it to recognize objects, sounds, or poses using your webcam or uploaded data.
- Why It’s Awesome: It’s ridiculously simple and a fun way to learn the basics of machine learning.
- Best For: Teachers, students, and DIY enthusiasts.
- Pricing: Free.
- Where to Start: Teachable Machine
7. Zapier + AI Integrations
- What It Does: Zapier connects apps and automates workflows, and with its AI integrations (like OpenAI), you can add smart functionalities like AI-generated responses or data categorization.
- Why It’s Awesome: Automate mundane tasks with ease, and let AI do the heavy lifting.
- Best For: Busy professionals and businesses.
- Pricing: Free plan available; premium plans start at $19.99/month.
- Where to Start: Zapier AI Integrations
8. Cogniflow
- What It Does: Train AI models for text, image, or audio recognition with zero coding. It even works with small datasets, making it beginner-friendly.
- Why It’s Awesome: A great option for smaller projects that don’t need massive computing power.
- Best For: Small businesses and indie developers.
- Pricing: Free tier available; paid plans start at $19/month.
- Where to Start: Cogniflow
9. Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence)
- What It Does: Build websites and embed AI tools with Wix’s AI-driven platform. It’s not just about drag-and-drop design; it can optimize your site’s performance with smart recommendations.
- Why It’s Awesome: Perfect for creating online stores, blogs, or portfolios with an AI twist.
- Best For: Creatives, bloggers, and e-commerce sites.
- Pricing: Free with paid tiers starting at $14/month.
- Where to Start: Wix ADI
10. Durable AI
- What It Does: Build an entire business website in under 30 seconds with this AI-powered site builder. It even generates marketing copy for your pages.
- Why It’s Awesome: Perfect for solopreneurs or small businesses who need to launch fast.
- Best For: Entrepreneurs and side hustlers.
- Pricing: Plans start at $12/month.
- Where to Start: Durable AI
Final Thoughts: Build AI Without the Brain Pain
Whether you’re automating tasks, designing an app, or exploring machine learning for the first time, no-code AI builders make it accessible for everyone. I’ve personally used Bubble to mock up app ideas for fun, and Lobe turned me into a wannabe computer vision expert overnight (my cat is not impressed, though).