Indie gaming refers to video games created by individuals or small teams without the financial support of large publishers. These developers often focus on innovative gameplay, unique art styles, and personal storytelling, allowing for creative freedom that mainstream games may lack. The indie game scene has grown significantly, with platforms like Steam and itch.io providing easy access for developers to share their work. Popular indie titles, such as Celeste and Hollow Knight, have gained critical acclaim and commercial success, showcasing the potential of independent game development in the gaming industry.