Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub — your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
The ID@Xbox team felt February’s peculiar sparkle in the air, so we curated 6 offbeat adventures that match that delightfully strange charm. From a hand‑drawn British comedy to a psychological race against time to save a plague‑stricken town, this slate delivers bold hooks for every mood. Fight fairytale capitalism, settle into a magical farming life, brave a dread‑tinged fishing odyssey, or command a retro JRPG party through dungeon‑delving action. Whether you crave calm, comedy, chaos, or a fight for survival, we’ve got something uniquely – and unexpectedly – perfect for you this month (in no particular order):
Humor in video games is notoriously difficult to pull off, but the team at Panic may have cracked the code with Thank Goodness You’re Here! a comedy adventure game that lands joke after joke with remarkable confidence and impeccable timing.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a lively, hand-drawn comedy adventure game in the art style reminiscent of Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python’s and other surreal British animation from the 1960s and 70s, and it pairs this visual with sharp distinctly British humor. The result is a game that appears crude on the surface, but it’s clearly well designed with genuinely laugh-out-loud moments.
From the opening cutscene, the game establishes its bizarre premise and rarely lets up. You play as a small, mostly silent salesman wandering the fictional Northern English town of Barnsworth. Progress is driven entirely by interaction: poking, pulling, slapping, and getting into increasingly absurd and strange situations. The game rewards curiosity, timing, and the willingness to lean into the absurd.
The voice acting is superb, including the unmistakable presence of Matt Berry who delivers the game’s tone perfectly. Thank Goodness You’re Here! trusts you to find the humor without over-explaining and handing you the control to let the comedic timing do the work.
Charming, strange, confident in its own silliness, and never overstaying its welcome, Thank Goodness You’re Here! stands out as one of the most memorable comedy games in recent years. Ta-ta for now. – Oscar Polanco
Pathologic 3 is a game that lingers long after you put the controller down. The cult-classic psychological survival series from Ice-Pick Lodge returns with a new entry that reimagines its haunting world for modern hardware, while staying true to what makes Pathologic so distinct. This isn’t survival-horror built on reflexes or fear alone. It’s about pressure — the kind that builds quietly as time moves forward and the town refuses to wait for you. From the moment you arrive, the world feels hostile in subtle ways. Conversations are uneasy. Information is fragmented. Even simple decisions feel loaded. Playing Pathologic 3, I was constantly aware that every choice — where I went, who I helped, what I ignored — carried consequences I wouldn’t fully understand until much later.
You play as a doctor navigating a plague that can’t simply be cured. Resources are scarce, and the town’s residents feel less like quest-givers and more like people trying to survive alongside you. Saving one life often meant neglecting another, and there were moments where doing “the right thing” only made the situation worse. Combat is not the focus here. Survival comes from managing hunger, exhaustion, infection, and trust, both your own and the town’s. The tension doesn’t spike; it simmers. More than once, I found myself hesitating before making a decision, knowing the game wouldn’t stop me from making a mistake — it would just remember it.
On Xbox Series X|S, Pathologic 3 benefits from faster load times and enhanced lighting and environmental detail, keeping the experience uninterrupted and deeply immersive. The town feels oppressive, alive, and uncomfortably close. Pathologic 3 is a game that trusts players to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and consequence. The plague is back on Xbox — and it’s watching how you choose to face it. – Steven Allen
Escape from Ever After is a cozy, whimsical experience that proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeve. What begins as an atypical hero-goes-to-slay-the-dragon story quickly shifts into a buddy-cop-esque journey about capitalism, evil conglomerates, and climbing the corporate ladder to destroy a company from within. It’s very unserious and silly — yet somehow the most genius thing I’ve played in a while.
The premise is centered around hero Flynt Buckler, villain Tinder the Dragon, and their temporary truce to thwart Ever After Inc. — a “real-world” conglomerate bent on infiltrating beloved fairytales and folklore to farm resources and characters for labor. As a result, you’ll find Pinocchio working a desk job, Red Riding Hood manning a receptionist’s desk, the Three Little Pigs as an evil construction company, and Dracula as a… tailor. You’ll also see things like printers as save points, gold coins referred to as “wages,” and coffee as your mana pool. I love how much it plays into the theme of the corporate world blending into fantasy, and it left me eager to see what stories would be included and how they’ve been impacted by Ever After.
As for the core gameplay, it’s an approachable RPG with platforming, puzzles, and exploration balanced into the mix. The combat is turn-based but leverages timing-based mini games to enhance actions. Historically, I’ve never really been a big turn-based RPG person, so this helped keep the combat engaging and definitely felt satisfying to pull off. There’s also a bit of party management as you recruit characters from different stories, a leveling system, abilities to unlock, and mild customization through costumes and such.
This game is awesome, and I had an absolute blast playing it. Through its story, gameplay variety, and approachability, this feels like a game I can easily recommend to anyone. – Deron Mann
Wylde Flowers is a standout farming life sim that breaks from genre norms with its fully voice‑acted cast and story‑driven approach. Instead of creating your own avatar from scratch, you step into the shoes of Tara, who returns to her quiet island hometown after twenty years to help care for her grandmother’s farm. It doesn’t take long before Tara learns that her grandmother is actually a witch and that she may actually share the same abilities.
The gameplay blends farming, daily chores, witchcraft, and socializing with the townsfolk, delivering a satisfying loop that stays approachable but rewarding. You’ll harvest resources, upgrade tools, craft practical and magical components, and unlock new potions and spells. One especially clever design choice is the way seasons advance: they don’t run on a timer but instead shift only when you decide. That small twist removes a lot of pressure, giving you all the time you need to gather materials and finish tasks before moving on.
But the real magic of the game lies in its cast of unique characters. The town is filled with everyday villagers as well as a few supernatural‑leaning residents, all of whom initially see you as an outsider which means you will have to win them over. Each character has distinct stories, quirks, secrets, and requests, and the more time you spend with them, the more your relationships deepen, with some even blossoming into romance. These connections aren’t just optional side flavor; they actively push the story forward as you piece together what’s truly happening in the community and who’s genuinely on your side.
If you’re an Animal Crossing fan craving something with richer narrative layers wrapped in cozy farming gameplay, this one is absolutely worth your time. – Raymond Estrada
Quite possibly the most indie game to ever indie without being in voxels or 2D, in Loan Shark you play as a sad sack fisherman who owes a lot of money to a loan shark just waiting onshore to do serious damage to you and your loved ones if you don’t meet the payment deadline. To make a dent in a seemingly impossible debt ceiling, you just have to keep fishing like your life depends on it… because it does. Because this is a horror fishing game.
As a hapless fisherman desperate to pay off a debt, you’ll have to fish, fish, fish stuff out of the ocean from your ramshackle boat, gut your catch, and toss it in a chest for a payment that slowly chips away at an enormous bill you’ve racked up with the local crime-lord-slash-loan-shark. The waters are dark, the visuals are murky in a PS2 kind of way, and the controls are both simple and clunky at the same time. Don’t dive into this one expecting to marvel over technical gymnastics or pristine presentation – this is a game about making choices, being accountable for them, and of course, a creepy talking fish who offers you some potentially easy answers (which is also a choice for you to make). And that’s really it. Each run lasts around 45-ish minutes and, depending on how you handle yourself, can result in very different endings. I don’t really want to dish out any more info in order to avoid spoilers, as you kind of have to go into this one with an open mind, a willingness to persist with little to no guidance, and a robust imagination (to make up for those technical rough edges). But please do, fish away!
This game hits me with all the nostalgia dopamine. Late‑’90s and early‑2000s turn‑based JRPGs were absolutely my thing, and Hero Seekers takes that classic formula and elevates it with a clever premise, strong characters, and stylish presentation. Memory drives both the story and gameplay: you awaken in a world where humans have been enslaved by demons, and major historical events have been rewritten. You’re the only one who remembers the true past, and it’s up to you to recover forgotten heroes, restore what was erased, and save humanity.
Combat is turn‑based and built around smart party choices and resource management. You can field up to five unique heroes, and while most battles are straightforward, tougher enemies and status effects occasionally demand more strategy. Routine encounters can be handled automatically.
Where the game really shines is in its hero collection. You gain access to a wide roster early on, encouraging experimentation as you mix and match characters, build unique parties, and optimize skills so they complement one another. Along the way, you’ll meet several standout heroes with distinct backstories that unfold as you help them reclaim their memories.
Hero Seekers scratches that old‑school JRPG itch with intuitive gameplay and strong presentation, while adding its own twist through its hero‑collecting focus and memory‑driven narrative. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves memorable, classic‑style JRPGs. – Raymond Estrada
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub — your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
Our goal for 2026? Make it the best year yet for Indie Selects! Late November and early December indie releases often fly under the radar, so this month we’re giving them the spotlight they deserve. Our collection is stacked: a stylish tactics RPG, a challenging roguelite creature collector, a retro-inspired metroidvania with modern twists, a gripping text-based political sim, a mind-bending 47-minute time loop adventure, and yes—the psychic-powered baby simulator you never knew you needed. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Demonschool is a joyride of a tactical RPG that follows the charismatic demon hunter Faye, on an apocalypse-preventing quest filled with gangsters, quirky teachers, classmates, and, well… demons. Players are tasked with exploring a mysterious island and college campus through various missions and minigames, managing relationships and school schedules, discovering new skills, and constantly fighting waves of enemies. While all of it was fun, I think the combat captivated me the most! It features a two-phase turn-based structure that leverages action sequencing in a way that feels like solving choreography puzzles. Each character has different abilities, and if moved to the right space and triggered in the right order, you can maximize damage during the action phase. This carries a similar depth and level of player expression to that found in its peers, but its unique presentation enhances the satisfaction when successful. Paired with various enemy types, a mission rank system, and a forgiving rewind feature, the experience felt exciting, challenging, rewarding, and approachable.
Aside from combat, I was delighted by the detail shown through interactivity and easter eggs within each environment. Pet the dog and it might give you something. Throw a coin in a fountain. Talk to an NPC at the docks and learn how their great-grandpappy died as a demon-hunting fisherman. I found myself interacting with everything I could to find another mini-game or read another hilarious one-liner, like the kid who claimed they “marked their seat” during orientation. As a gamer who doesn’t normally play RPGs, I ironically found myself glued to this. The soundtrack is FIRE, the modern-retro aesthetic is beautifully designed, and the storytelling through its varied character personalities and charm kept things fresh and entertaining.
– Deron Mann
Demonschool
Ysbryd Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 9
★★★★★
$24.99
Demonschool is a new-style tactics RPG where motion equals action. Defeat big weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, while navigating university life on a mysterious island.
My first few runs in Morsels taught me an important lesson: getting too attached is a fast track back to the start screen. Developed by Furcula and published by Annapurna Interactive, Morsels is a roguelike action game that rewards flexibility, experimentation, and the ability to admit when your current plan isn’t working. Rather than committing to a single character, players collect multiple “Morsels,” each with its own abilities and combat style. I quickly realized that success depended less on picking the “best” creature and more on knowing when to switch. Stubbornness, it turns out, is not a viable strategy.
The game follows familiar roguelike conventions, including procedurally generated rooms, escalating difficulty, and persistent progression between runs. What helps Morsels stand out is its intentionally strange visual style. Creature designs are unsettling in the best way, and the gritty environments feel like they were designed to keep you slightly on edge—just in case the enemies weren’t already doing that. Progression is driven by unlocking new Morsels and card-based modifiers. Some of these systems took a few runs to click, but experimenting with different combinations often led to those satisfying moments where things suddenly start going your way—right before they don’t.
Morsels doesn’t reinvent the roguelike genre, but its focus on adaptability gives it a clear personality. For Xbox players who enjoy learning through trial, error, and the occasional laugh at their own expense, it’s an engaging and memorable experience.
– Steven Allen
Morsels
Annapurna Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 17
★★★★★
$14.99
You are a hungry mouse, scrounging for scraps in the sewers, when you meet a magical sentient fatberg who teaches you to transform into a mighty little Morsel. With your new powers, set off to dangerous upper worlds where you battle against the cats’ oppressive forces and collect new Morsels, strategically swapping as you go.
From developer Furcula, Morsels is an oddball top-down, creature collector roguelite with a rotating roster of playable characters you switch between at will. Packed with frenetic action and personality, players use magical cards to transform into little monsters, collect and nurture a troop of your own monster friends to battle cat dominance, and persist at all costs to survive.
Let’s be honest: hauling around a giant sword is about as impractical as it gets for an adventurer—especially when vertical traversal is involved. I could write a hundred-page thesis on why that’s absurd, but honestly, GigaSword says it all. This action-puzzle Metroidvania from single-developer-led Studio Hybrid, feels like it leapt straight out of an NES classic collection, challenging your combat and strategy skills while confronting the harsh reality of our childhood dream: “the biggest sword ever.” Spoiler alert: swords are heavy, and you’re nowhere near as agile as Cloud Strife led you to believe.
Once you dive in, you’ll quickly realize the GigaSword’s weight is both a blessing and a curse. Combat feels straightforward yet fair—every swing is deliberate, and that extra wind-up means you’ll need to time attacks carefully or risk eating damage mid-swing. Things escalate when you face massive bosses that demand pattern recognition and precision.
But the sword isn’t just for fighting—it’s central to the game’s clever environmental puzzles. Detaching from it becomes essential as you navigate obstacles, using its heft to trigger pressure plates or even as a makeshift lever to shift platforms. The vibe? Think Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest meets the inventive puzzle mechanics of Legend of Zelda.
The game doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to its stiff combat, but unlike its NES predecessors, you’ve got save points to preserve your sanity. The sword’s weight constantly reminds you that speedrunning isn’t an option—but then come those moments when you tackle an entire dungeon without the blade, introducing a whole new layer of challenge. If you’re a fan of intricate puzzle platformers like Animal Well, this is a distinctive experience worth adding to your collection.
– Raymond Estrada
GIGASWORD
Akupara Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 8
★★★★★
$14.99
Balance the weight of the GIGASWORD, battling between brain and brawn in this action-puzzle metroidvania where the might of the sword will determine all. As tensions rise in Thoenhart, a city plagued by famine and disease, the humans within set their hopes on a final solution: invade the ancient tower Nestrium, slay the Nocturne, and take the God Crystal, Gnosis, for themselves. Said to grant prosperity to those who wield it, Gnosis has been long sought after by humanity for generations. However, upon raiding its resting place, the disturbance of this ancient power awakens an evil capable of destroying the very fabric of reality. Can Ezra reach the top of the Nestrium in time to stop this cataclysm, or will humanity’s ignorance lead the world to its doom?
Oh baby! What a game! Not enough people are talking about this one. Goodnight Universe is not a baby sim… it’s a supernaturally gifted baby sim. You take on the role and perspective of Isaac who’s a smart, keenly aware, and capable infant, able to tackle surprisingly complex problems. That and the telekinesis ability, of which an evil corporation is very aware and want to use for their own purposes.
Before we even touch gameplay, the voice acting and writing are superb and captivating. The narrator connects with the player as we both witness so many performances between fully fleshed out characters highlighting their family dynamics, their struggles, and their successes. The writing is heartwarming and fun, exploring themes of the messiness of domestic life and what it means to be human. The overall narrative is, for me, the highlight of the game.
Gameplay starts out simple, seen through the baby’s eyes in first person. You click on objects for narration or interaction, but once powers kick in, that’s when things get interesting. You will be able to move objects with your mind or even dive into someone’s thoughts. As the game progresses, you unlock new powers and tackle sequences where you must use your powers at the right time.
The console version lacks the eye-tracking feature Nice Dream introduced in Before Your Eyes. I tested it on Steam, and while the mechanic adds an intimate twist to the first-person experience, albeit with occasional awkwardness, it isn’t essential here. Unlike Before Your Eyes, skipping it doesn’t compromise the core gameplay. The game took me about 4-5 hours to complete and I can’t recommend this enough, especially for anyone that loves unique, narrative-driven games… and babies. Gamer dad approved.
– Raymond Estrada
Goodnight Universe
Skybound Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 19
★★★★★
$19.99
From the creators of Before Your Eyes. You are Isaac, a 6-month-old baby, developing mysterious psychic powers. What you want most is to be loved and accepted by your family, but a secretive tech corporation wants you for their own.
Suzerain is a critically acclaimed, narrative-driven government simulator that’s far more addictive than its niche genre suggests. At 11 p.m., I reminded myself that I was only supposed to play for a few hours. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure where you’re the newly elected president of a fictional nation, tasked with shaping its future. Will you lead with integrity and build a brighter tomorrow or plunge into corruption, spark wars, and line your own pockets? The choice is yours.
This is a text-based adventure, so expect plenty of reading as events unfold and characters speak, followed by dialogue choices that shape your path. But it’s not all dry policy. Beyond signing bills or reviewing economic reports, you’ll navigate scandals, shady deals, and moral dilemmas. The intro alone lays out 50 years of rich lore for your homeland, and once I got into it, it felt like reading a truly great novel. Thankfully, the writing, presentation, and UI are top-notch. Otherwise, I honestly haven’t read this much since my deep dive into Blue Prince.
Suzerain’s greatest strength is its replayability. The depth of the characters around me and detailed lore make every choice impactful, with each decision reshaping the course of my presidency. My first run focused on economic and social reforms that aligned with my actual ideology, but in this new run I’m currently going full corrupt leader, bribing my way through scandals and taking every unsavory side-deal that comes my way. With a 6-to-7-hour campaign, multiple playthroughs can easily triple your time. If you love strategic decision-making without twitch reflexes, this is for you—board gamers, I’m talking to you!
– Raymond Estrada
Suzerain Expanded Edition
Torpor Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 22
★★★★★
$31.99
The Expanded Edition includes the award-winning political drama Suzerain, and the Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia DLC.
Suzerain
As President Rayne, lead the nation of Sordland in your first term of this text-based RPG. Navigate a political drama driven by conversations with your cabinet members. With looming war, rooted corruption, economic crisis and reform needed, the choices fall on your shoulders. How will you lead?
Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia
Embrace the crown as King Romus Toras, and lead the Golden Kingdom to a new era. Reclaim lost territories through diplomacy or force. Engage with noble houses and oversee the resources of Rizia. How will you reign?
Rue Valley is a cozy, narrative driven mystery adventure with a dash of life sim flavor—think gentle exploration, quirky character encounters, and environmental puzzles tucked into every corner. It’s a kind of small-town mystery sitting somewhere between Night in the Woods and Oxenfree, but carrying its own soft-spoken charm. You arrive as the town’s newest resident, slowly learning the rhythms, secrets, and oddball personalities that make you feel welcome… and it’s just uncanny enough to keep you leaning in. Oh, and of course you are trapped in a strange time loop that causes you to relive exactly 47 minutes in perpetuity.
I’ve spent countless hours wandering Rue Valley’s winding streets—half exploring, half getting delightfully sidetracked by a neighbor who just had one more story to share. Somewhere between chatting up townsfolk and stitching together the town’s quiet mysteries, the game really pulls you into its world. The characters don’t behave like NPCs waiting to dispense quests; they feel like the familiar faces you always seem to bump into at your favorite café, each with quirks that make the town feel genuinely lived in.
And yes, there’s a learning curve—especially when you’re juggling exploration with dialogue choices—but it’s the kind that feels like easing into a new neighborhood. A little confusing at first, then unexpectedly rewarding once everything clicks into place.
What kept me hooked most was the atmosphere. Rue Valley is the kind of place where you sit down for “just ten minutes” and look up hours later. It’s cozy, a touch mysterious, and always ready with a gentle surprise when you least expect it. If you enjoy narrative adventures, small-town stories, or slow-burn games where the joy comes from noticing the little things—a flickering streetlight, a half-finished sentence, a lingering question—Rue Valley fits beautifully. It’s a world that invites you to slow down and let it reveal itself at its own unhurried pace.
– Jessica Ronnell
Rue Valley
Owlcat Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 14
★★★★★
$29.99
Break free from a mysterious time loop! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Delve into the enigmatic depths of the small godforsaken town: Rue Valley.
Each day feels like an uphill battle against the shadows of your own mind. Along the way, you will encounter a captivating ensemble of characters, each wrestling with their own emotional complexities and revealing hidden depths as you get to know them.
Can you muster the courage to unravel the secrets of this temporal anomaly? Can you discover the strength within yourself to rise above adversity and forge a brighter tomorrow?
Craft your own personality in Rue Valley. You can be a cold-hearted loner who overthinks everything or a melodramatic loudmouth who always trusts their gut instinct.
Whether you reflect your true personality or role-play someone entirely different, your character will shape your dialogues and interactions in the game.
Store memories in a graph, unlocking intentions and mindsets as you progress uniquely through the story. Commit to quirky mindsets for unexpected and hilarious dialogues, and experience personality-altering Status Effects: become more outgoing when drunk, or extra sensitive when anxious.
Experiment with different answers and timelines, because the loop will restart from the beginning anyway, won’t it?
STAY TUNED: Indie Selects Anniversary is coming soon!
Mark your calendars for January 28 and get ready for our big Indie Selects Anniversary Celebration, packed with giveaways, discounts, and plenty of surprises!
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub — your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
The holiday season is here, and the ID@Xbox team is excited to share this month’s Indie Selects! Before we dive in, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support of independent games on Xbox as we celebrate the second year of this program. Thank you for exploring our staff picks and for championing the incredible creators who make these experiences possible.
We’re also excited to bring back our annual Indie Select Highlights! Starting December 10 and through the end of the year, we’ll be showcasing and promoting some of our favorite titles from 2025. Don’t miss out!
Finally, mark your calendars! On January 28, 2026, the Indie Selects Anniversary Celebration returns. We’ll be curating six standout indie titles from the past year, our absolute must-play picks, and featuring them in our special Anniversary Collection to honor their lasting impact. We’re excited to share more details soon, but for now, let’s enjoy what’s here and now. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Blood West is a gritty, stealth-horror immersive sim that drops you boots-first into a cursed frontier where every shadow hides something sharp, hungry, or undead. Think cowboy survival but dipped in occult folklore and stitched together with classic immersive-sim decision making. It’s a slow-burn experience — one where every bullet matters, every footstep counts, and every encounter feels like it came straight out of a dusty nightmare.
Jumping into Blood West felt like stepping into a fever-dream remix of Thief, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and a late-night spaghetti-western. What grabbed me first wasn’t the monsters — it was the silence. The game rewards patience, planning, and the quiet satisfaction of outthinking something that definitely wants to eat you. Before long, I was creeping through abandoned mines, scavenging for ammo, and learning how to turn the environment itself into a weapon. There’s a real sense of mastery as you start threading together stealth routes, landing perfect bow shots, and managing scarce resources like a frontier tactician.
If you’re someone who loves immersive stealth, tense exploration, and that unmistakable “I survived by this much” adrenaline, this will feel like home — well, the weird, haunted kind of home. Fans of slow-building tension, clever systems, and atmospheric worlds will find a lot to enjoy here. And if you’ve ever wanted a western that leans all the way into supernatural horror without losing its grit, Blood West rides tall in that space.
– Steven Allen
Blood West
New Blood Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 27
★★★★★
$24.99
Weird West legends meet eldritch horror in BLOOD WEST, an immersive stealth FPS. Become the Undead Gunslinger, doomed to roam the barren lands until he manages to purge their curse, freeing his soul. 3 varied scenarios, perk-based character progression, and 20+ hours of gameplay await you!
A follow up to its award-winning predecessor, Tormented Souls 2 is a fixed camera survival horror game that embraces the atmosphere and direction of the classics, while tailoring the experience for a modern audience. Players take the role of Caroline Walker, who’s on a quest to save her sister from a sinister cult. Solve puzzles, fight monsters, and get lost a few times!
From the moment I fired it up, Tormented Souls 2 felt almost like a continuation of the original Resident Evil remaster – which I LOVE. It stays true to the roots of the early survival horror classics through fixed camera angles, puzzle design, limited resources, etc., while embracing features and unique concepts to make the experience feel modern. In other words – if you like the gameplay and tone of classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill but want something new with fresh visuals and no tank controls, then this game is for you!
It’s a wild, gothic horror, kinda lovecraftian story about saving your sister from a cult, filled with various enemies and bosses to fight, a few jump scares, gorgeous environments to explore, and of course, mind-boggling puzzles. I wouldn’t call myself a survival horror aficionado, but from what I’ve played, the 15-to-20-hour runtime really stood out to me — the genre usually leans tighter and faster, yet this one keeps growing in ways that stay engaging. You don’t need to play the predecessor to jump in, but I feel like I owe Dual Effect a thank you for re-igniting my forgotten love for the genre. This game had me hooked from start to finish and easily became one of my top picks this year!
– Deron Mann
Tormented Souls 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
PQube
☆☆☆☆☆ 46
★★★★★
$34.99
The Tormented Souls 2 Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game plus two unique outfits for Caroline:
– “Classic Caroline” outfit
– “Rebel Biker” outfit
The party pack is back baby! If you’ve never tried this game night favorite, call up some friends to come over, because this new pack delivers. This pack has no repeats with 5 brand-new games, so it’s definitely a must-have for those of us regular partygoers gearing up for holiday get-togethers. Per usual, no extra controllers needed — everyone joins the lobby on their phone, ready to prove they’re as clever as they claim!
Our friends started with Legends of Trivia and oh my god, the nerds in the room rejoiced. This immediately set the bar high as it’s a freaking 6 player cooperative D&D style trivia game with classes, monsters, loot, and branching paths. Conquer the land of Tri-via with facts and wit!
We moved on to Suspectives, a new mafia/werewolf-style party game with surveys that really test your lie-detecting skills. After trust was shattered, the creative crowd jumped into Cookie Haus, a drawing game where you design cookies with wild textures, crazy requests, and tons of customization. The twist? You’re locked into your chosen shape, so think outside the box! Next was Hear Say, all about sound and visuals: get a prompt, mimic it with your mic, and watch the best interpretation play out. Mic required, laughter guaranteed. Finally, we hit Doominate, the most classic Jackbox-style game: start with a cheerful phrase and finish it with the funniest awful twist. The most “Debbie Downer” answer wins! All in all, this made for a very dope game night.
This is probably my favorite Jackbox Party Pack in years. If you’re looking to add something new to game night, this is it, regardless of whether you are new to the series or have a bunch of these packs in your library.
– Raymond Estrada
The Jackbox Party Pack 11
Jackbox Games, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆ 6
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
The Party Pack is back!
The Jackbox Party Pack 11 catapults you and your crew into the best timeline of party game pandemonium. Whether you’re a trivia titan, a joke mastermind, or the resident undercover detective of your friend group, there’s something for everyone in this pack. No extra controllers needed – players simply join the game and play using phones, tablets or computers!
Five brand-new games will change the way you party this holiday season and beyond:
Doominate (Writing): Take a perfectly lovely situation and destroy it in this head-to-head joke game where it feels so good to be so bad. Doominate supports 3-8 players.
Hear Say (Sound Effects): Record sound effects and dialogue directly from your phone in a foley-inspired game where laughter is the soundtrack. Then, watch your voices come to life in a series of short movie clips! Hear Say supports 2-8 players.
Cookie Haus (Drawing): Play our coziest and kookiest drawing game yet by fulfilling cookie design orders for unusual clientele. Don’t play on an empty stomach! Cookie Haus supports 3-8 players.
Suspectives (Social Deduction): There’s been a crime, one player secretly did it, and the evidence comes from your own survey answers! Study the clues, defend your innocence (even if you’re lying), and put your friends on trial. Suspectives supports 4-8 players.
Legends of Trivia (Trivia): Assemble your team and put your trivia knowledge to the test in a fantastical world full of danger! Teamwork! Monsters! Do you dare take on one of the most challenging trivia games yet? Legends of Trivia supports 1-6 players.
If you’re after chaotic fun with a distinctly Southeast Asian twist, Sedap! A Culinary Adventure by kopiforge is the co-op cooking-combat game for you. It’s a vibrant celebration of our region’s food culture, where you and a friend race to serve up classics like chicken rice, beef rendang, banh mi and more, to hungry customers, all while exploring the mystical, monster-filled Khaya Island.
The magic of Sedap! (“delicious” in Malay) is in its joyful mayhem: you’ll be chopping, frying, plating, and (inevitably) yelling at your partner as orders pile up and monsters crash the kitchen. Whether solo or in co-op, every moment is a hilarious test of coordination, timing, and your ability to keep cool as the proverbial chili hits the fan during Rush Hour mode.
Sedap! cleverly builds on the Overcooked formula with its unique two-role system: Som the Cooker and Gon the Hunter. This means teamwork is essential as each has a job to do, but hilarity ensues when one must stop chopping mangoes to help the other hunt a chicken, or the other must stop hunting to go make boba. There’s also weapon and utensil upgrades, a Makanomicon to fill up with all sorts of dishes, and biomes with unique challenges to navigate.
With its whimsically fresh Southeast Asian vibes, cheeky character banter, and riotous gameplay, Sedap! is full of personality that’ll leave you hungry for more.
– Jun Shen Chia
SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure
kopiforge
☆☆☆☆☆ 3
★★★★★
$19.99
SEDAP! is a co-op cooking-combat adventure that combines the chaos of a co-op kitchen and the wonders of adventuring into an unexplored world. Embark on an exciting culinary journey, whip up delectable delicacies, and serve your way through a fantastical reimagination of Southeast Asia!
Two aspiring culinary geniuses open a traveling food truck and venture out to Khaya Island – a long abandoned, dangerous island with no shortage of monsters and mysteries. Together, the duo explore Khaya Island in search of new recipes and tastes while slowly uncovering the veil of secrets that haunts the locale.
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a whimsical indie adventure that blends cozy exploration with gentle, idea-driven puzzles and charming pixel-art aesthetics. You play as Lemon, a courageous polyglot navigating storybook versions of Iceland—windswept coasts, mossy trails, and quirky characters—while a warm, low-key narrative encourages curiosity over speed.
I started with a “quick play” and hours later realized it was well past midnight. The game layers new traversal tricks and puzzle concepts like friendly nudges: you learn, you smile, you try one more thing. What truly surprised me was how it sparked my love for languages. I found myself listening to Icelandic words (other languages too) and repeating them out loud. Those moments made Lemon’s world feel authentic and turned gameplay into a cultural adventure. It even reminds you that words carry power—something easy to forget in everyday life.
Knowing the backstory made the experience even more meaningful. This is a deeply personal project from founder Julio de Santi, inspired by his friend André Lima (“Limão”), a Brazilian polyglot who dreamed of learning Icelandic and visiting Iceland. After Limão fulfilled that dream, he tragically passed away. The game stands as a tribute to him and an invitation for players to chase their own dreams.
If you enjoy the calm exploration of A Short Hike, the playful mischief of Untitled Goose Game, or the quirky creativity of Donut County, you’ll feel right at home. It’s perfect for anyone seeking an imaginative space to unwind, learn by doing, and savor small discoveries. You’ll come for the charm, stay for the “aha” moments, and leave with a couple of new words rolling around your head.
– Jessica Ronnell
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland
Pepita Digital
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$19.99
MASTER LEMON is a TRIBUTE TO MY POLYGLOT FRIEND who tragically passed away in an accident while pursuing his dream of living in Iceland. Experience his legacy in this NARRATIVE ADVENTURE. Harness the POWER OF WORDS and CREATIVITY to transform reality and save the world.
The opening music sets the tone immediately: lush, nostalgic, and evocative of epic tales. Paired with charming, cozy artwork, you know from the beginning that The Lonesome Guild is inviting you into an adventure with a heart. The story begins with Davinci, a quirky anthropomorphic rabbit inventor exploring the outdoors when the world is enveloped by a mysterious red mist that infects everything that it touches with Loneliness and turning them into evil beings. While escaping the chaos, you encounter a nameless ghost who fell from the sky without any memories.
Despite the title, as the story unfolds you recruit new guild members from all walks of life, each driven by their own reasons and motives but with the same goal of saving the world. The cast is wonderfully written, offering not only distinct combat styles but also charming personalities that genuinely balance one another. Before long, you’ll find a favorite character like the quiet archer, Mr. Fox or the stylish and spirited Capybara, Ran Tran Trum.
The combat is a top-down hack-and-slash RPG with each character possessing unique special abilities. You control up to 4 characters by using the ghost to “possess” the character you control, which adds an extra fun layer of charm and creativity for puzzle-solving and combat.
My favorite element were the campfire rest stops; these are memorable moments that serve not only to pause and reflect on the story so far but also to advance and progress your characters through Relationship Points. These moments feel warm and intimate giving you the space to bond with the characters, reminiscent of classics like Chrono Trigger where you feel invested in every storyline and ending.
If you’re looking for a cozy game with emotional depth to brighten and warm the winter days, or simply want a relaxing blend of puzzles, exploration and combat, The Lonesome Guild is an easy recommendation. Pull up a seat by the campfire and enjoy the company of its charming crew — you’ll be surprised how quickly the real foe, “Loneliness,” disappears.
– Oscar Polanco
The Lonesome Guild
DON’T NOD
☆☆☆☆☆ 10
★★★★★
$24.99
A TALE OF TOGETHERNESS IN A WORLD APART
The Lonesome Guild is a single-player top-down action-RPG all about togetherness. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. The world has become shrouded by loneliness and the mist just keeps spreading, corrupting everyone in its path. Now it’s up to you to get the band back together… even if they’re meeting for the first time.
SIX MISFITS, ONE GOAL
The ragtag group of unlikely friends you’ll recruit each will bring their own story, quirks, motives, and abilities. Switch seamlessly between the 6 of them during exploration and combat to navigate Etere, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies!
BOND & BATTLE
Relationships are the heart and soul of The Lonesome Guild – it’s a party, literally. As your friendship grows, so does your power with new abilities and combos. A party can only be strong if each member is strong too – unravel your new friends’ stories and help them find peace. Unlock side quests, new abilities, and heartfelt chats by the campfire. Together, we’re unstoppable!
FIGHTS THAT KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES
Three difficulty levels, a roster of cool abilities, one very powerful Ghost power. Test your might in intense battles where you can switch between characters whenever you fancy and ambush enemies with clever combos. Build your dream team and fight your way through Etere.
A WORLD WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Etere is full of charm and secrets, mystery and treasures to uncover. From unearthing old secrets in the ruins to gathering round campfires in the forest, there’s always something new around the corner in The Lonesome Guild. Solve puzzles, explore vibrant landscapes, and find shiny things as you restore balance and hope to the world.
The world might be lonely, but you don’t have to be.
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Selects Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
It’s spooky season, which means scary movies and creepy vibes are in full swing. If you’re not quite ready to face the dark alone, no worries — the ID@Xbox team has handpicked 6 awesome indie games to keep you company.
Some of these are in keeping with the dark vibes of October, but others are far from it – if you’re easily scared, we have some friendlier picks, too. Whether you want to team up with friends for a space raid, enjoy some alone time tending crops, explore strange buildings with even stranger gameplay, or solve wild puzzles in new lands, there’s something here to keep the shadows at bay.
Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) delivers one of the most thrilling sci-fi co-op experiences I’ve played in a while. This mission-based PvE co-op game puts up to four players in charge of crewing a spaceship with seamless transitions between ship management and on-foot missions. You and your crew head out on roguelike missions traveling across a chosen path gathering resources, engaging in cargo raids, and more – all with the hopes of bringing permanent upgrades back to your base. Aside from taking on quests to progress the narrative, you’ll also be doing side quests for the various vendors in the Hangar to earn credits, spacesuits, and Materia Ingots for upgrades. The gameplay loop is simple yet engaging: explore space, customize your ship and gear, and survive intense deep-space encounters together – and, if you’re lucky, upgrade.
After spending around 12 hours traveling the stars, I really enjoyed what’s here. Each mission is a roguelike journey made up of multiple jumps, where each choice affects future paths and rewards. Strategic route selection is key to optimizing both short-term success and long-term gains for your base. From what I’ve experienced so far, Jump Space truly shines when played with a group, because even in the most desperate situations, smart teamwork and a bit of luck can lead to the most exhilarating, last-second escapes.
Jump Space is still in Game Preview, but it’s already showing incredible promise. If you’re into games like Void Crew or Wildgate, this is an easy recommendation. But even fans of the spacefaring elements in No Man’s Sky or Starfield might be surprised by how much they enjoy it. I’m genuinely excited to see how it evolves over time – Raymond Estrada
Jump Space (Game Preview)
Keepsake Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 239
★★★★★
$19.99
This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.
Jump Space is a mission based co-op PvE for 1-4 players, where you are the crew of a spaceship. Transition seamlessly from crewing the ship to on-foot exploration and space walks. Explore, upgrade, and survive intense encounters in deep space together.
Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://jumpspacegame.com
Echoes of the Plum Grove, my comfy farming obsession. Picture this: you wake up, the sun’s shining, and your biggest dilemma is whether to plant carrots or go chat with the quirky neighbor who keeps gifting you turnips. That’s Echoes of the Plum Grove in a nutshell—a charming farming and life-sim game that feels like a warm hug with a side of strategy. It’s all about growing crops, crafting, and building a life in a world that moves at your pace.
From the moment I started, I was hooked. There’s something magical about watching your little farm transform season by season. Sure, winter can sneak up on you (pro tip: stockpile food!), but that’s part of the fun—planning ahead becomes its own cozy challenge. And the townsfolk? They’re full of personality, making every interaction feel like a mini story.
If you’ve played Stardew Valley or a Harvest Moon game, you’ll feel right at home here. But Echoes adds a cool twist: generational gameplay. Your choices echo (pun intended!) through time, which makes every decision feel meaningful. I’ve spent countless hours tending crops, exploring hidden paths, and laughing at unexpected events. It’s the kind of game that makes you lose track of time—in the best way – Jessica Ronnell
Echoes of the Plum Grove
indie.io
☆☆☆☆☆ 16
★★★★★
$19.99
A new life awaits you in Honeywood! After washing onto the island’s shores, you’ll find yourself the newly minted owner to a humble plot of land. Pull up your sleeves, grab your tools, and get to work building a farm that will last not only a lifetime, but span generations!
Echoes of Plum Grove is a casual, cozy farm simulator where your decisions have consequences! What to plant, what to stock for the winter, and who to befriend will shape not only the town of Honeywood, but the island itself.
Detective Dotson is a mystery adventure game set in a vibrant pixelated version of modern India. The story follows a detective uncovering clues to solve various cases, each one revealing new details about the mysterious death of his father. The story is engaging as each case, no matter how small it might look, provides a new piece of the larger puzzle about the mystery of his father’s sudden passing. The game rewards exploration, you gather clues by interacting with the colorful cast of charismatic characters and engage in fun mini games – my favorite being dancing.
Masala Games perfectly captured nuances, vibes, and expressions of the characters and fun environments. The world is inviting and stimulating, I love spending time exploring to discover countless details in the background, from street vendors and people celebrating the Festival of Colors, to the hilarious moment when a guard throws a sandal at trespassers. It’s clear this is a labor of love, the lively soundtrack and top-tier voice acting elevate the experience even further, making the world of Detective Dotson a joy to explore.
There’s also a 60 minute movie available for free on YouTube that serves as prologue to the story. You don’t need to watch it to enjoy the game, but I recommend it if you want to dive deeper into Detective Dotson’s universe.
Overall, Detective Dotson is a charming, engaging experience that combines mystery and humor, with puzzles and mini-games. It’s a game that invites you to linger, explore, and return to catch the little details you missed the first time – Oscar Polanco
Detective Dotson
Masala Games Private Limited
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$14.99
A cozy mystery game about a detective with Bollywood dreams. It’s the first adventure game set in the colorful streets of India. Engage with adorable 2D characters living in a 3D world. Find clues and solve the evidence board. With each case, a larger mystery unfolds. Play gully cricket, dance at weddings or help a cute grandma find hidden objects. Everything is always at your own pace in Detective Dotson. Enjoy the wholesome vibes but don’t forget to bargain, for everything!
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion III is a wild mash-up of genres that includes Metroidvania-style progression, Match-3 puzzle “combat”, and visual novel presentation. You’ll make your way through dozens of branching paths as the seemingly cookie-cutter maybe-game hero, J.J. Hardwell, in order explore the eponymous mansion while stumbling upon some seriously goofy, deeply meta story elements that keep this firmly footed in comedy rather than creepy.
Spoiler alert: While this game has a “3” at the end of its title, this isn’t a sequel to any real-world existing game series. That fact alone should tip you off to the fact that the always clever minds behind CRDM3 at Strange Scaffold (I Am Your Beast, Clickolding, etc.) have cooked up a game that continually surprises in a way that I found absolutely compelling and entertaining. Each confrontation in the mansion – be it with a pterodactyl in clown make-up or a foul-mouthed tiny angry dino with a pistol – is solved through Match-3-style puzzle “fights”, each with unique attacks/abilities based on lining up colored gems or other symbols. I can’t say I’ve seen this type of mechanic used in this particular way to such silly, smartly written, and yet challenging effect. I loved every minute of it.
The systems in the game go much deeper than just “Candy Crush but with dinosaurs,” including branching dialogue choices that unlock “traits” which in turn give you access to new areas that you weren’t able to explore before. If you’re on board to dive into a wildly unhinged, hilarious, and very inventive interactive love letter to indie game development (and being “always online”), then look no further than this oddball delight. It may have all the trimmings of being a (fantastic) joke-filled romp on its surface, but ultimately there’s an earnest heart (especially for game creators in a tough, relentless industry) beating beneath all those layers of absurdity.
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3
Strange Scaffold
☆☆☆☆☆ 4
★★★★★
$19.99
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is “committing to the bit” so hard that it hurts. It’s a sequel to a game series that doesn’t exist, complete with lore and a fictional development team. It’s a game where match-3 is used not just for combat, but for lockpicking doors, debating robots, and swallowing a bunch of diamonds in front of a notorious gem thief so that he can’t steal them first. It is, all genre elements considered, a match-3 survival horror comedy RPG metroidvania, and it’s rad as hell.
20 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion emerged as a smash-hit genre fusion, casting fan-favorite protagonist Jack Briar in a fast-paced puzzle adventure.
8 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 was announced on the biggest stage in gaming.
This is what happened next.
Hotel Barcelona feels like a hidden gem from the early 2000s, mixing 2.5D roguelike action with a wild blend of ’90s anime and ’80s horror. You play as Justine, a U.S. Marshal sharing a body with the soul of serial killer Dr. Carnival, on a mission to avenge her father. After a bizarre crash and a run-in with two hitchhikers, she ends up at Hotel Barcelona — a place she can’t leave thanks to a witch’s curse and a bunch of trapped serial killers. To survive, Justine and Dr. Carnival team up for fast-paced, over-the-top combat against waves of killers, bosses, and the witch herself.
I think the story beats are what kept me locked in, especially after an intense interaction between the hotel manager (easily my favorite character) and Dr. Carnival. I desperately needed to understand their connection. Honestly, nearly every character interaction was entertaining, and I found each character charming in their own unique way. As for the actual gameplay, it’s pretty challenging and I found myself dying on the first stage… a lot. However, there are several difficulty options, along with the ability to play co-op with friends to ease things up a bit. There’s a ton of variety such as run modifiers, skill & weapon upgrades, unlockable costumes, mini-games, and a unique Slasher Phantom system – allowing players to follow the steps of their previous run but also leverage their phantom’s attacks to fight enemies if properly strategized.
Hotel Barcelona is an entertaining roguelike, packed with inventive take on combat, some nice narrative touches, and a cast of delightfully unhinged characters. If you’re into horror, you’ll appreciate exploring the hotel and diving into the story — the game wears its weird, grindhouse vibes loud and proud – Deron Mann
HOTEL BARCELONA
CULT Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 30
★★★★★
$29.99
Justine, a rookie U.S. Marshal, thought this was just another routine case.
But when her car crashes in a freak accident at the edge of nowhere, she finds herself trapped in a twisted new world: HOTEL BARCELONA.
Seven serial killers.
One haunted hotel.
And a second personality living inside her head…
Meet Dr. Carnival: murderer, psychopath, devastating ancient monster.
THIS FALL… DEATH HAS A ROOM KEY
In this blood-soaked 2.5D sidescroller straight from your nightmares:
Battle through insane horror-themed floors!
Face killers inspired by the nastiest corners of your local video store!
Every time you die, your past self fights beside you – like a ghost with a grudge!
BLOOD IS POWER
The more you kill, the stronger you become.
But let the blood stop flowing… and you’re next.
CARNIVAL’S AWAKENING
Unleash the brutal power of the serial killer in your mind.
Turn the tide of battle. Become a legend.
Not recommended for:
Individuals with weak stomachs
Fans of quiet indie puzzle games
People afraid of mirrors
Anyone still emotionally recovering from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
There’s something timeless about sitting down to play with someone you care about — a shared laugh, a moment of discovery, that unspoken rhythm of working together. Lego Voyagers, from Light Brick Studio and Annapurna Interactive, captures that feeling perfectly. It’s a quiet, heartfelt co-op adventure that invites two players to journey through breathtaking Lego worlds where imagination and friendship guide every step. With no dialogue or instructions, the story unfolds naturally through play — a gentle reminder that connection doesn’t always need words.
Each puzzle feels like a conversation between two people. You’ll build bridges, balance across floating platforms, and find joy in the smallest details — the sound of a brick clicking into place, the light dancing off translucent pieces, the simple pride of solving something together. Lego Voyagers isn’t just about reaching the end; it’s about slowing down, communicating without speaking, and rediscovering the quiet magic of creating side by side. It’s a story that resonates long after the controller is set down, because it’s really about the people holding them.
Lego Voyagers shines with crisp visuals, soothing sound, and seamless co-op play — locally or online. Thanks to the Friend’s Pass, only one player needs a copy, making it easy to share the experience with anyone you’d like to reconnect with. Short, warm, and beautifully made, this is more than a game — it’s a shared memory waiting to be built – Steven Allen
LEGO® Voyagers
Annapurna Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 44
★★★★★
$24.99
From the makers of LEGO® Builder’s Journey comes a new 2-player co-op adventure about friendship and play. When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected.
● Experience what it feels like to be a LEGO brick. Tumble, jump, snap together, and build your way through rich brick worlds.
● Unravel a poetic, non verbal narrative, set in beautiful brick built environments, supported by an atmospheric soundtrack.
● Cooperatively solve the game’s many challenges and discover how two bricks are better than one. Play locally on the same screen, or online.
● Invite a friend to join your adventure for free with the Friend’s Pass. As long as one of you owns LEGO Voyagers, you can both play the full co-op experience together.
LEGO Voyagers asks open questions about building friendships, sharing dreams, and giving space.
It reminds us that while playing and being creative is for all shapes and sizes, it’s always better when you share it with a friend.
We’re thrilled to announce that our Indie Selects Demo Fest has begun, featuring more than 40 exciting game demos available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Like our last Demo Fest, you can download and play these games anytime between September 9 and September 30.
You can start playing demos today, and we encourage you to keep exploring them all month long. All demos are available in the dedicated Indie Selects Demo Fest collection on the Xbox Store. We’d love for you to share your feedback with the developers!
Please remember that most demos offer an early glimpse of gameplay and may differ from the final version at launch, including which countries will have access as developers continue to polish their games.
We’re also excited to share that 6newly announced games below are coming to Xbox!
Breaking Gates is a fast-paced 2D action-RPG with hand-drawn visuals and a focus on responsive combat and constant progression. Inspired by classic platformers and modern hack ’n’ slash titles, the game offers a dynamic mix of exploration, character upgrades, and frantic real-time battles.
The cult indie horror sensation finally arrives on Xbox. What you are about to do has not been approved by the Vatican. As a young priest, struggle against demons, insane cultists, and your own weakening faith in this pixel horror game inspired by the era of classic 8-bit gaming and the “Satanic Scare” of the 1980s. M O R T I S.
Slay hordes of terrifying monsters in this horde survival roguelite. Descend into the Halls of Torment where the Lords of the underworld await you. Treasures, magical trinkets, and a growing cast of heroes will grant you the power to vanquish these horrors from beyond. How long can you survive?
Possessions is a reality-twisting adventure that challenges the way you see the world. Immerse yourself in a minimalist, atmospheric world free from text and distractions, where every rotation and alignment uncovers hidden paths and silent stories.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing break or a thoughtful challenge, Possessions offers an immersive journey that stimulates your mind and soothes your senses. It’s a game about discovery, perception, and the quiet thrill of seeing the world from a new angle.
Weave your own story in this dark fairy tale. In the mysterious ancient ruins, you will adventure with Tania to reveal her origins and fate. Is there any chance of survival in the darkest and desperate place?
A new life awaits in Honeywood! Build a thriving community that will last generations in this cozy farm simulator. Farm, socialize, make friends, cook, craft, forage and uncover the secrets of the island! If someone doesn’t want to be friends? There are always other means.
ID@Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest – Full List of Demos
In addition to those newly announced titles, you’ll find an impressive collection of creative and unique games available for you to experience firsthand! Check out the line-up below for a list of participating games and their developers in this year’s ID@Xbox Demo Fest:
Exciting news – Indie Selects is bringing you a monster new Demo Fest next week. From September 9-30, players on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One can dive into more than 40 demos, including upcoming titles and games with new content.
Whether you’re eager to try something new or get a sneak peek at games coming in future, this demo event is one you won’t want to miss!
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
While some may return to the Demo channel later, most of these demos will only be available to play this month, so don’t delay – if you see something you like the sound of, try it now!
These game demos differ from the usual ones in our Demo channel, as they’re shared before the games are finished and may not reflect the final product. Think of them more like “showfloor demos,” giving you early access and a chance to provide feedback. Expect these games to develop and improve before release.
Speaking of feedback – please share your thoughts with the developers via social media, or their websites! You could help shape the future of these games.
We’ll announce the full list of demos on September 9, but here are some games you can expect to see:
Echo Weaver – Moonlight Kids/Akupara Games
Can you master time itself? Echo Weaver is a “metroidBRAINia” where time is your best resource and secrets are your only upgrades. You’re the last of the Weavers, a remnant of a ruined society trapped in a glitching time loop. The Congregation set out to explore the stars and find paradise. What they found instead has led their utopian project to ash and cinders – can you break the loop?
Mina The Hollower– Yacht Club Games
Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets.
Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious music. Encounter a cast of bizarre characters, search out secrets in an array of exotic locales, and illuminate the omnipresent darkness in Mina the Hollower, a brand-new game from the developers who brought you Shovel Knight!
The Jackbox Party Pack 11– Jackbox Games
The Party Pack is back! The Jackbox Party Pack 11 catapults you and your crew into the best timeline of party game pandemonium. Whether you’re a trivia titan, a joke mastermind, or the resident undercover detective of your friend group, there’s something for everyone in this pack. No extra controllers needed – players simply join the game and play using phones, tablets or computers!
Five brand-new games will change the way you party this holiday season and beyond. Play two of these games in our demo:
Doominate (Writing): Take a perfectly lovely situation and destroy it in this head-to-head joke game where it feels so good to be so bad. Doominate supports 3-8 players.
Hear Say (Sound Effects): Record sound effects and dialogue directly from your phone in a foley-inspired game where laughter is the soundtrack. Then, watch your voices come to life in a series of short movie clips! Hear Say supports 2-8 players.
Yooka-Replaylee – Playtonic Games/PM Studios
Yooka-Replaylee is the definitive remade and enhanced version of the 3D indie platforming collectathon darling, Yooka-Laylee, developed by key creative talent behind the Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country games.
New, remixed challenges and old favorites await as you embark to explore the huge, beautiful open worlds as the lovable buddy-duo Yooka (the green one) and Laylee (the purple one) once more, all while backed by a beautiful orchestral soundtrack. Did we mention there is a map now? A shiny new currency? And tons of customization options? It’s never moved, looked, or sounded better!
And there’s so much more in store. The ID@Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest will offer a wide variety of games to discover and enjoy. When you get the chance to check them out, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Twitch, Bluesky and YouTube. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned!
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
Indie Selects is back for another month and, in honor of the new school year, we are pleased to inform you that the (definitely, absolutely real) ID@Xbox School of Independent Gamers has put together a curriculum of indie games that will give you an education in new ideas, advanced mechanics, and “having a really good time”. Here are the courses we think you should attend this month:
Platforming, Ninjas, and You with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Interpretive Loot-and-Shoot with Wildgate
The Politics of Ratshaking with, er, Ratshaker
Adrenaline 101 with Killing Floor 3
Illusionary Architecture Theory with Monument Valley 3
Advanced Communication and Coordination with Ready or Not
Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
From the studio behind the Blasphemous series, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a new 2D action platformer that serves as a side-quel to Ninja Gaiden (NES), with all the modern-retro polish that publisher Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge) has become known for. Players control Kenji, a student of Ryu Hayabusa (franchise main protag, former Halo 3 armor), who’s merged with a rival ninja, Kumori, to fight off a demon invasion… and maybe the CIA.
If you’re wondering whether this can capture the gratifying difficulty of classic Ninja Gaiden, well, I’d say the game is called “Ragebound” for a reason (please don’t roll your eyes). It’s hard but it feels rewarding.
A combination of compulsive storytelling and satisfying gameplay mechanics helped me overlook the hours I’ve accumulated fighting the same boss, or when navigating the unforgiving level design. The emphasis on combat mastery and skill has been a staple of the modern series, while the tight platforming, pattern recognition and frankly, punishing enemy placement has been around since its first title on the NES. Developer The Game Kitchen has done an excellent job of bridging the two eras of Ninja Gaiden – leveraging a refined, classic 2D formula as the base while interweaving the combat complexity of the later installments.
Don’t be discouraged by the promise of difficulty, though – Ragebound does a great job of onboarding new players, and the difficulty curve is pretty graceful between acts. It doesn’t feel sudden, rushed or unexpected and instead played well into the narrative. Things got harder as the situation for Kenji became worse, which made sense, so I couldn’t really be mad (even if I frequently was). Regardless of what this game put me through, I could not put it down – I recommend this to you if you’re into old-school action and gameplay, if you’re a fan of the franchise… or if you just like ninjas – Deron Mann
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound
Dotemu
☆☆☆☆☆ 110
★★★★★
$24.99
A NEW TWIST TO THE SIDE-SCROLLING NINJA GAIDEN SERIES EXPERIENCE
From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound successfully unites the classic lore and gameplay of the Tecmo-developed (now KOEI TECMO GAMES) NINJA GAIDEN series from the classic era with the depth and intensity of the modern 3D entries. The best of both eras come together to create an epic and thrilling adventure.
DIVE INTO AN UNTOLD CHAPTER OF THE NINJA GAIDEN SAGA
Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father’s will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu’s absence.
To stand against this new threat, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Village, rises to the challenge! Trained by Ryu, he fights fiercely but soon finds himself in desperate straits. Forced to tap into forbidden power, Kenji sets aside centuries of animosity and forms an alliance with the sinister Black Spider Clan, convinced that combining their souls and skills is the only way to protect the world out of the Demon Lord’s grasp!
OLD SCHOOL GAMEPLAY WITH A BRAND-NEW POLISH
Combining old-school feeling with modern precision, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound retains the pick-up-and-play action of the classic titles, while introducing new layers of depth.
Alongside the new protagonist, Kenji Mozu, is the skilled assassin Kumori. Take control of these two powerful ninjas simultaneously and unravel their interconnected stories.
Use the Ninja Fusion to unleash devastating abilities and obliterate your enemies. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound features impeccable mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to truly master, challenging the skills of even the most seasoned fans of the NINJA GAIDEN series!
A SPECTACULAR PIXEL ART SHOWDOWN
Step into a reimagined version of the classic NINJA GAIDEN universe, brought to life through stunning, meticulously crafted visuals. Every enemy is recreated with a level of detail that was once impossible.
The brutal, nostalgia-filled aesthetic of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound pays homage to the past while pushing the boundaries of modern pixel art, making every battle a feast for the eyes.
Do you have what it takes to become a true ninja master?
Wildgate is a team-based PvPvE extraction shooter that throws players into the chaos of deep space, blending high-stakes spaceship battles with close-quarters crew combat. Each match features 20 space pirates called Prospectors split into squads of four. The mission? Dive into space, raid PvE dungeons for loot, upgrade your ship, outgun rival crews, secure the mysterious artifact, and make your escape through the Wildgate. The game features a variety of weapons and abilities to contend with, deadly environmental hazards, and, of course, loot worth fighting for. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Sea of Thieves and Overwatch had a baby—this is it.
From the very first match, it’s clear to me that Wildgate isn’t your typical multiplayer experience. Coordination over voice chat isn’t just helpful, but essential. You and your crew will be leaping from asteroid to asteroid, raiding different spots in pursuit of loot, upgrades, and the elusive artifact that everyone’s after. That means the faster you can be in and out, the less likely you are to run into an unexpected ambush.
But running and gunning is just half the battle, as your crew will have to coordinate piloting the ship, performing repairs, and boarding rival ships. With the right team, few things are more satisfying than hopping onto an enemy ship, picking it clean, and making a daring escape. But I’ve also been in squads that were either eerily silent or loud and chaotic – both of which can make the experience feel overwhelming or, worse, made us cannon fodder for more organized crews. You truly need to find a squad for this one.
Customization in Wildgate is impressively well-designed. Each of the characters you have to choose from, called Prospectors, have unique traits, loadouts, and a signature ability that can dramatically shift the tide of a match. Traits can include not needing to breathe, healing while aboard your ship, seeing through walls, or punching through enemy hulls, all of which can lead to some wild and memorable encounters with rival crews. The same goes for weapons, gear, and unlockable ships offering plenty of room for creative builds and min-maxing opportunities.
Wildgate’s design is layered and impressively polished, yet it still feels like it’s in its initial stages – there’s so much scope to grow from here. This could easily become a standout in the fiercely competitive extraction shooter genre as more content rolls out. If you’re a fan of the genre already, this needs to be in your queue – and if you’re a newcomer, get yourself a crew and come aboard – Raymond Estrada
Wildgate
Dreamhaven, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆ 151
★★★★★
$29.99
Blast off into high-stakes spaceship battles and intense first-person shootouts, where no two matches are ever the same. If you want to claim the ultimate prize — the mysterious and priceless Artifact — you’ll need to improvise on the fly, whether it’s chasing down rival crews and stealing their gear, repairing your damaged ship, or scanning for precious resources.
Your ship is your home and lifeline — for you, and your prospector crew. Keep it topped up with ice, fuel and ammo so you’re ready for anyone or anything the Reach throws at you.
EPIC SPACESHIP BATTLES
Blast your enemies with hi-tech cannons and gadgets, lure them into deadly traps, or even mess with their ship… as long as they don’t sabotage yours first. When your perfect plan goes out the airlock, there’s only one option… wing it!
NEW ADVENTURES, EVERY MATCH
Stay one step ahead as you and your crew navigate the Reach — a vast, procedurally-generated map that changes with every game.
UNIQUE PROSPECTORS
Choose from a variety of daring prospectors, each with their own abilities and tools. Whether you’re a brave pilot or a clever trickster, there’s no wrong way to commit space crimes!
EXPLORE THE REACH
The Reach is a dangerous, unpredictable place, filled with deadly hazards and treasure beyond your wildest dreams. Navigate through cosmic storms, battle space vermin, and plunder alien ruins for lost caches of loot. Just make sure you beat the other prospectors to the punch, or you’ll fly away empty-handed!
OUTRUN OR OUTGUN
The Artifact is the most valuable object in the known universe. Be the first to find it, snatch it, and pass through the Wildgate, or destroy the ships of every other crew and be the last crew standing.
I still remember my first time booting up the original Killing Floor – the frantic reloads, the eerie silence before a wave, and the absolute panic when a Scrake rounded the corner. Killing Floor 2 dialed it all up: better weapons, bloodier battles, and a glorious soundtrack that made every fight feel like a metal concert in a warzone. So, when Killing Floor 3 dropped, I didn’t hesitate. I was already home.
Developed by Tripwire Interactive, Killing Floor 3 is a co-op FPS that throws you and your squad into the heart of a sci-fi nightmare. You’ll face relentless waves of Zeds – genetically engineered monstrosities that are faster, meaner, and somehow even uglier than before. The combat is crunchy and satisfying, the maps are drenched in neon and dread, and the pacing keeps you constantly on edge.
It’s everything longtime fans love, but sharper. The atmosphere feels like Doom and Aliens had a baby, raised in a bunker lit by strobe lights and soaked in adrenaline. I’ve spent hours perfecting my loadout, yelling “Cover me, I’m reloading!” with unnecessary action hero bravado , and laughing with friends as we barely survived wave ten.
Tripwire Interactive knows exactly what makes this franchise tick – and they’ve delivered a third chapter that’s as brutal and brilliant as ever. If you’ve been with the series since the beginning, Killing Floor 3 feels like a love letter to the chaos we grew up with – just louder, faster, and somehow even more fun. And if you’re new? Welcome to the party. Just don’t forget to heal your teammates. Or at least pretend you tried – Steven Allen
Killing Floor 3
Tripwire Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 229
★★★★★
$39.99
It’s 2091. Join up with Nightfall, the last line of defense against megacorp Horzine’s inhuman army of monstrous zeds. The future is in your hands… if you can survive long enough to reach it.
Killing Floor 3 is the next installment in the legendary action/horror series. This intense FPS puts you in the boots of a Nightfall specialist joining forces with up to five teammates to battle waves of Zeds, earn dosh, unlock skills, and build the ultimate arsenal.
KILLER CO-OP
Assemble the ultimate zed extermination squad for frenzied 6-player co-op. You can also brave the battlefield alone in tense single-player mode.
RELENTLESS ZEDS
Brace yourself for the most lethal zeds yet. Every enemy has been redesigned and retuned with smarter AI; making them faster, deadlier, and more strategic than ever.
SURVIVAL TECH
From flamethrowers to shotguns to katanas, you’ll have an expansive arsenal at your disposal. Customize your own unique brand of bloodletting with hundreds of mods, gadgets, and skills to choose from.
DANGEROUS LOCATIONS
Drop into a variety of treacherous hot zones where you’ll have to contain the further spread of the Outbreak. Thankfully, you can use the environment to your advantage by activating turrets, fans, and other devastating traps.
MORE GORE
Our MEAT System returns to deliver even more realistic carnage. Featuring additional points of dismemberment and persistent blood, the game responds to your attacks with gruesome authenticity.
Monument Valley 3, the newest installment in the acclaimed puzzle series, has arrived on Xbox. Renowned for its serene, visually captivating gameplay, this series challenges players with clever puzzles while immersing them in stunning, artful environments. With its fixed perspectives, Persian-inspired aesthetics, and mesmerizing Escher-like architecture, this latest chapter continues to offer a soothing yet stimulating experience that’s as beautiful as it is brain-bending.
New to the series? No worries! While Monument Valley 3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, it tells a completely standalone story. With minimal dialogue and text, the game relies on subtle visual storytelling through movement, animation, and atmosphere to convey its themes. The crux of the story is that the world is crumbling, the water is rising, and you must find a way to restore light back into the world by navigating architecture-based puzzles.
After the introduction, you’ll find yourself guiding the protagonist, Noor, to the exit of each area by moving parts of the environment around – the architecture bending reality through optical illusions. Structures that go across an axis can sometimes blend into one another, changing the structure of the environment just by altering its perspective. At times, it feels like solving a living Magic Eye puzzle – spotting the hidden path can make your eyes work overtime.
The puzzle difficulty in Monument Valley 3 ramps up nicely. Early levels gently ease you into the game’s signature perspective-shifting mechanics before gradually presenting more and more intricate challenges that will have you scanning every detail for clues. A standout new feature in this installment is the addition of a boat, which you can navigate across rising waters. This mechanic adds a new layer of complexity, especially in puzzles that require you to coordinate movement between multiple areas to progress.
Monument Valley 3 is a beautiful, bite-sized puzzler that is very enjoyable while it lasts. I would recommend it for anyone that enjoys a calm serene puzzle but won’t get frustrated when the answer is literally staring you in the face – Raymond Estrada
Monument Valley 3
ustwo games
☆☆☆☆☆ 7
★★★★★
$19.99
Set sail for adventure in MONUMENT VALLEY 3, a brand new story in the award-winning Monument Valley series.
Guide Noor, an apprentice lightkeeper, through impossible monuments, shifting landscapes, and tranquil seascapes to uncover the Sacred Light and save her home.
Monument Valley 3 takes you beyond the monuments and into the open sea. As Noor, you’ll navigate stunning, changing environments, solve mind-bending puzzles, and uncover the secrets of the Sacred Light. With her village threatened by rising tides, Noor must chart her own course—and discover her own strength—in this stunning, emotional adventure.
Sail between geometry, manipulate architecture to reveal hidden paths, and let the iconic soundtrack guide you forward. With new mechanics, breathtaking visuals, and the series’ signature charm, Monument Valley 3 is a voyage like no other.
Features:
– Defy Perspective: Rotate and manipulate the environment to reveal hidden paths, solve intricate puzzles
– Uncover The Mystery: Help Noor unlock the secrets of this ever-changing world.
– Beautiful Art: A stunning world inspired by modern design, global architecture and hand-crafted, personal stories.
– Every Update Included: Full Story is included, with brand new updates to come
Adventure awaits—will you uncover the light that guides the way?
ustwo games are proud independent developers, best known for the award-winning Monument Valley series, Land’s End, Assemble with Care and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure.
Every so often, a game comes along that defies neat descriptions. RatShaker is one of those. It’s short, strange, and unlike anything else I’ve played on Xbox and that’s exactly why it stuck with me. This isn’t the kind of game where you grind levels or chase loot. Instead, RatShaker asks you to slow down, lean into the absurd, and let yourself experience something that feels more like an experiment than a traditional adventure. The controls are simple, the pacing deliberate, and yet the effect is oddly captivating.
This is a game for players who appreciate the unconventional. If you enjoy titles like What Remains of Edith Finch, The Stanley Parable, or Don’t Touch Anything, you’ll likely find RatShaker intriguing. It’s perfect for those who value atmosphere, experimental design, and games that make you think (or squirm). If I had to pin it down, I’d call RatShaker a surreal narrative experience with elements of psychological comedy. It blends interactive storytelling with absurdist humor and a touch of eerie tension – think walking simulator meets performance art.
What impressed me most was how RatShaker balances its humor and its tension. It never feels like it’s trying to be a blockbuster or a polished crowd-pleaser – instead, it leans fully into its own identity. You’re invited to play along, to laugh, to feel uneasy, and, above all, to experience something you probably didn’t expect when you pressed start. It’s the kind of game I recommend not because it’s “fun” in the conventional sense, but because it’s memorable.
You’ll finish RatShaker in one sitting. It’s roughly 1 to 2 hours, depending on how much you explore or linger. It’s designed to be brief but impactful. You might finish RatShaker in an evening, but you’ll likely be thinking about it the next day, wondering how such a simple idea managed to get under your skin in such a playful way. If you’re looking for something different, something you can’t quite compare to anything else, RatShaker won’t be easily shaken after you finish – Steven Allen
Ratshaker
Dark Product
☆☆☆☆☆ 78
★★★★★
$3.49
RATSHAKER™ – The Ultimate Solution to All Your RAT Problems!
Tired of pests taking over your space? Say goodbye to them for good with RATSHAKER™, the revolutionary new way to deal with unwanted pests! Just take and shake, and RATSHAKER™ does the rest. No traps, no mess, no unmarked disposal barrels!
With RATSHAKER™, you take control! Feel the satisfaction of watching the meter rise as you shake that rat into submission. The more you shake, the closer you get to solving your problems for good. Fast-acting, easy to use, and highly effective, RATSHAKER™ ensures your space stays problem-free in no time.
Developed by Void Interactive, Ready or Not is a co-op FPS that puts you in the boots of a SWAT officer called in when things go from bad to worse. Hostage rescues. Barricaded suspects. Active threats. The tension is relentless, but the game makes it thrilling, not overwhelming. You don’t need to memorize military jargon or master complex controls. Just grab your gear, trust your squad, and try not to flashbang yourself (again). So, it started with a simple plan: hop online, play a few rounds, and maybe not embarrass myself. I’d heard Ready or Not was intense, but I figured, how hard could it be? Then came the mission.
A quiet suburban house. The briefing said, “hostage situation.” My brain said, “don’t mess this up.” We stacked up at the door, flashbangs ready, hearts pounding. Two floors cleared. One room left. The hallway was silent, too silent. Lights flickered. A suspect shouted from behind the locked door. My team waited for my signal. I nodded. Breach. Flash. Chaos. Victory. Fist-bump.
Since then, I’ve spent countless evenings laughing, learning, and slowly mastering the art of clearing rooms without yelling “clear!” into empty hallways. It’s got the tension of Rainbow Six Siege, but with more breathing room and a slower, more deliberate pace. Ready or Not doesn’t ask if you’re prepared, it surrounds you with silence, pressure, and the kind of intensity that makes you lean in. And once you’re in, you won’t want to leave – Steven Allen
Ready or Not
VOID Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 526
★★★★★
$49.99
$39.99
Become an elite SWAT commander and bring order to a city overwhelmed by chaos and corruption.
Lead a team of highly-trained SWAT officers through harrowing, high-risk missions against violent, cruel and calculated criminals to stop the city from spiralling into disorder. Equip real-world weapons and gear to tackle missions inspired by current events against Los Sueňos’ ruthless criminal element.
Every decision, from squad selection to tactical breach and engagement is the difference between life and death.
Are you ready?
FEATURES
Take Command
Ready or Not delivers an immersive SWAT experience. Equip your team with authentic weapons and gear, deploy into high-stakes, real-world inspired missions to secure locations concealing unknown criminal threats and potential civilians. Every mission demands tactical precision and situational awareness. Bullets from known and concealed threats react realistically with the environment, passing through walls, furniture and bodies. Cover your six, clear your corners, apprehend the threats and rescue the innocent.
The Weight of the Badge
Shoulder the weight of being a SWAT commander entrusted with confronting Los Sueňos’ criminal corruption and stopping it from overwhelming the city’s citizens. Every tactical decision matters, every outcome is yours to bear. Your choices in the field dictate mission success, the survival of your squad and the safety of hostages. Squadmate and hostage deaths take a profound psychological toll on surviving team members, affecting their performance or ending their careers altogether.
True Tactical Gameplay
Ready or Not is a true tactical shooter. Every mission is a high-stakes, life-or-death operation. Strategically forge your squad of elite SWAT officers, equip them with the right weapons and gear for the mission, position your team to tactically breach criminal strongholds and quickly identify and neutralize threats in tense, life threatening scenarios. Follow the rules of engagement, communicate with your team, and execute flawlessly – failure is for the unprepared.
Your Mission is the Story
Ready or Not confronts you with a raw, unflinching mirror of real-world crime, exposing the horrors of human trafficking, drug running, illegal arms dealing, militant extremism and terrorism through interwoven storylines that span multiple missions. Grapple with moral dilemmas as you’re forced to balance your duty to exercise constraint in the face of Los Sueňos’ most vile criminals.
Cross-Comradery
Team up with friends to stem the tide of crime infesting the city. Enhanced with crossplay, Ready or Not supports up to five players in a co-operative tactical experience on all platforms. Communicate effectively to increase your tactical precision, watch your squad’s back and successfully complete your mission.
