What makes a game "Indie"?

[Eric the Orange]

So what are the qualities that decide if a game is considered independent.

Well by technical definition an Independent game is one without a publisher. So even huge companies can be "independent". For example there are many first party Nintendo games that are both developed and published by Nintendo.

many games that are categorized as indie seem to be from developers with small teams and low budgets. But these games sometimes have developers like vessel for example.

I've also noticed a trend in indie game to have stylized or retro graphics. I always assumed that this was to save money, but it seems these days most people will say your indie just from your graphics style.

 

[CrazyBlaze]

Its more like that the makers of the game are not affilated with any major companies. So basically any major company (ubisoft, EA, Rocksteady etc) that helps make a game that game is no longer an indie title.