Top 15 Must-Play Indie Games for Your New Xbox

In this acclaimed action-adventure game, you step into the paws of a small fox armed with a sword, exploring a mysterious island filled with ancient forests, haunting crypts, and enigmatic ruins. The meticulously crafted world is brimming with challenging yet adorable enemies, intricate puzzles, and hidden surprises that will leave you in awe as the game gradually unveils its secrets through a unique in-game “instruction manual.” While Tunic is known for its challenging default difficulty, it offers customizable settings to tailor the experience to your preferences.

Signalis is a chilling survival-horror experience set in a bleak, far-future universe where humanity has expanded to distant solar systems. You take on the role of LSTER (pronounced “Elster”), an android who finds herself in a derelict mining outpost on the desolate planet Leng. The game challenges your wits with intricate puzzles and survival mechanics, all while immersing you in a narrative that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. Drawing inspiration from iconic titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, Signalis delivers a haunting atmosphere without relying on jump scares, making it a perfect choice for those who prefer psychological tension over outright fright.

Ori and the Blind Forest and its follow-up, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, are stunning 2D platformers in the Metroidvania style. For those unfamiliar with the term, these games feature expansive, beautifully crafted worlds filled with platforming obstacles and dangerous creatures. As you progress, Ori gains new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible areas and prepare you for more formidable foes. Beyond the engaging exploration and satisfying platforming mechanics, both games tell heartfelt stories about safeguarding a mystical forest from corruption and destruction.

This isometric action-RPG transports players to a dark-fantasy version of the wild west, where gunslingers clash with monstrous foes using six-shooters, and magic is as prevalent as horse-drawn carriages. The game offers an impressive level of freedom, allowing players to equip their characters with unique abilities that can dramatically alter the environment. Unlike many games that tout the importance of player choices, Weird West truly delivers on this promise, with even minor decisions having significant and unexpected impacts on the storyline.

Deep Rock Galactic is a unique cooperative first-person shooter where you and your friends assume the roles of dwarven space miners working for the Deep Rock corporation. Together, you must navigate the perilous, procedurally-generated caves of Hoxxus IV, a distant planet crawling with hostile alien creatures. The minerals you gather can be used to enhance your gear, enabling you to tackle increasingly hazardous missions and climb the ranks within the Deep Rock mining company.

In this action-adventure title, you step into the role of an adorable crow reaper tasked with collecting the souls of the departed. However, you soon find yourself trapped in a realm where death no longer exists. The gameplay blends exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving across a series of creatively designed worlds, each filled with quirky characters and culminating in thrilling boss battles. Despite its theme of death, Death’s Door avoids dark or cynical tones, instead offering a delightful and heartwarming journey that encourages players to face life’s challenges head-on.

In this captivating adventure, the universe is trapped in an infinite time loop, and it’s your mission to uncover the cause and potentially break the cycle. You’ll traverse a diverse solar system, where each planet boasts unique, bizarre weather patterns, colossal alien structures, and mysterious phenomena that must be deciphered before the loop restarts. As you piece together the secrets of this enigmatic solar system, you’ll uncover even more profound mysteries about its origins and ultimate destiny.

Following the tradition of classic RPGs, Chained Echoes takes you on an epic quest with a group of heroes striving to restore peace to Valandis, a land torn apart by war. This world blends advanced technology with magic, where nations clash using massive, sword-wielding mechs—and yes, you get to control them. With innovative takes on traditional RPG mechanics and a richly crafted narrative featuring compelling characters and unexpected twists, Chained Echoes distinguishes itself in the crowded indie RPG scene—an impressive achievement, especially for a game developed by a single creator.

While the indie scene is flooded with 2D metroidvanias—perhaps even excessively so—Hollow Knight stands out as one of the rare titles that truly lives up to the legacy of the genre’s pioneers. With its stunning hand-drawn visuals, intricately designed world, captivating exploration, and adrenaline-pumping boss battles, Hollow Knight is a masterpiece that no fan of search-action games should miss.

Citizen Sleeper is an RPG that draws inspiration from traditional tabletop games. You assume the role of a “Sleeper,” an android housing a human consciousness, struggling to survive on a dilapidated space station teeming with desperate inhabitants. To make matters worse, the megacorporation that created your mechanical form is hunting you down. Using a combination of dice rolls and unlockable abilities, you’ll navigate the station, forge alliances or rivalries with its residents, and strive to carve out a future amidst the chaos of interstellar economic ruin.

Immortality is an acclaimed interactive fiction game where players delve into live-action footage to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of fictional actress Marissa Marcel (portrayed by Manon Gage). By meticulously examining three in-game films and behind-the-scenes clips, you can pause and interact with characters, objects, and other elements to uncover connections across different scenes, gradually unraveling the truth behind Marcel’s vanishing. Though it’s challenging to describe, Immortality is an essential experience for anyone who enjoys a gripping mystery.

This point-and-click adventure is set in a dystopian near-future version of southern Louisiana. Players journey through swampy backwaters, decaying strip malls, and massive industrial complexes in a quest to find their missing brother. The game is filled with unforgettable characters, cleverly designed puzzles, and stunning pixel art that beautifully captures the game’s unique blend of suburban decay and sci-fi elements.

While it may seem like a game about the simple act of power washing, Powerwash Simulator offers an unexpectedly soothing and satisfying experience. Equipped with a high-powered washer, you’ll tackle a variety of cleaning tasks, from removing paint from fences to revitalizing entire theme parks covered in rust and dirt. It’s the perfect game to relax with after a stressful day.

Prodeus is a fast-paced first-person shooter that pays homage to legendary titles like DOOM, Quake, and Duke Nukem, while incorporating contemporary controls and design. Similar to these iconic shooters, Prodeus arms players with an array of sci-fi weapons to combat swarms of demonic foes across intricate, maze-like levels. The game employs a distinctive visual style, blending 2D sprite-like models with modern, dynamic lighting effects, creating a vibrant and chaotic aesthetic.

In Stardew Valley, you begin by inheriting your grandfather’s farm near the charming Pelican Town. Players engage in activities like planting and harvesting crops, mining for resources, fishing, and even battling creatures in the nearby wilderness. The proceeds from your efforts can be used to enhance your home and tools. Beyond farming, you’ll interact with the townsfolk, completing tasks and side-quests, and even pursue romantic relationships with potential partners.