Recently, the popularity of indie games has skyrocketed, sometimes even surpassing certain triple-A titles. This is because, amidst the numerous releases of AAA games, indie games are offering titles that are catching audiences’ attention. This goes to show how the current audience is looking for gaming experiences that large triple-A gaming companies rarely offer. So, to help you find an indie game that will offer you a top-class gaming experience, we listed some of the best Xbox indie games here!
Xbox Indie Games
Indie games were never as popular as AAA games in the past. But now, indie games have crept up in popularity because of the magical and unique gaming experiences they offer. Indie game developers have produced some of the best games of this generation despite the lack of assistance from major publishers. And we’re glad that it’s getting the recognition it deserves!
The Xbox has been progressively getting better throughout the years, and with Microsoft developing numerous of their own wonderful indie titles over the past years, they have now put an indie program in place, which is all included in the Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass is a game subscription service that Microsoft created for us to access a whole lot of games. With Game Pass’ popularity in recent years, gamers now have easier access to a large game library. With the popularity of the service, Microsoft has added more and more indie games to the service, which has allowed a lot of top-tier indie games to become playable on the system.
With numerous indie games available on the service and on the platform, you won’t run out of games to play. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of different genres, styles, and designs. You can choose from timeless classics to cutting-edge works of art.
Now, the Xbox offers a ton of incredible games thanks to Microsoft’s integration of indie games. But with the amount of games to choose from, you might struggle to find one that’ll fit your tastes. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered! We have listed our top 15 Xbox indie games worth trying!
So, enough of that! Let’s get into the article!
Note: If you’re curious about how we chose the best indie games, check out our criteria below.
Our Criteria for the Best Indie Games
- The game should be developed by an independent developer or a small game development company without a huge financial backing.
- The game can be published by a small to a large company.
- The game has received some degree of success.
- The game can either be popular or lowkey.
- The game should have at least a 70% and above Metacritic score
- The game should have mostly, very positive, to overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews.
15 Best Indie Games to Try on your Xbox
Here, we’ve curated some of our top 15 best indie games you can try on the Xbox.
Hollow Knight
Release Date: February 25, 2017
Developer/Publisher: Team Cherry/Team Cherry
Genre: Metroidvania, Fighting Game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 90%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
Hollow Knight is one of the most popular games on a lot of platforms, one of which is the Xbox One.
The Hollow Knight will take you on an enigmatic and thrilling ride as you investigate winding tunnels, ruins, and dangerous wastelands, battle bizarre monsters and weird bugs, and unravel ancient mysteries at the heart of the kingdom. Hollow Knight is a stunning masterpiece with brilliant design concepts, fun gameplay, and a beautiful story to appreciate.
This game has a lot of exploration, so if you’re not into that, then you might not like this game. But if you’re like me who loves to explore almost every inch of the realm, then this game is definitely for you. Hollow Knight is a game where you get to see something new in almost every room—new bosses, new upgrades, etc. It’s a game packed with new and beautifully designed content.
Hollow Knight is unquestionably a classic and belongs in a museum of video games. It is one of the most amazing and original adventures ever created.
For more details about Hollow Knight, check out our review here.
Hades
Release Date: September 17, 2020
Developer/Publisher: Supergiant Games/Supergiant Games
Genre: Roguelike, Shooter, Fighting, Action, Role-Playing Game
Other Available Platforms: macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 93%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In Hades, you take on the role of Prince of the Underworld Zagreus, the son of Hades. Your mission in this action-packed role-playing game is to escape Hades’ dominion and seek your mother, Persephone, in the mortal realm. To escape your father, you will have to hack and slash your path out of the underworld.
You’ll learn a lot about our underworld prince as you overcome the obstacles on your way to escaping the underworld. Hades is a game that will leave you wanting more. The storyline is so beautifully blended with Greek mythology’s grandeur and myths—you can tell it was thoroughly researched—that it gives the player a really rich and interactive storyline. Additionally, the way the characters advance and evolve is just so seamless that it feels just natural.
Finally, the gameplay is incredibly smooth and enjoyable. You start out with a great assortment of weapons and abilities. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to obtain significant permanent upgrades that alter how you play. Overall, Hades is one of the best games you’ll play!
What Remains of Edith Finch
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Developer/Publisher: Giant Sparrow/Annapurna Interactive
Genre: Action-Adventure, First-Person Game
Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, iOS
Metacritic Score: 89%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
You play the character of Edith Finch in What Remains of Edith Finch, who is attempting to unravel the complicated and troubling past of her family and discover why she is the only surviving member.
You will need to piece together a variety of intriguing yet fascinating stories while you play this game. With each story inside the home, you will learn more about the fascinating history of the Finch House State. As you piece together the pieces, you will be thrown into the eyes of different Finch family members, and depending on which family member you see the eyes through, the game will show you a different tone and stance.
It has beautiful graphics, which I really appreciate. This is one of the few times you can say that video games can be works of art. On top of that, the storyline was so excellent and captivating that I was unable to put the game down even after several hours of play. It’s definitely a game that you’ll think about even after finishing it.
Firewatch
Release Date: February 10, 2016
Developer/Publisher: Campo Santo/Panic, Campo Santo
Genre: Adventure, First-Person Game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Metacritic Score: 81%
Steam Review: Very Positive
The storyline centers on Henry, a fire lookout who works in the Wyoming wilderness. It’s Henry’s responsibility to watch for smoke and assure safety in the outdoors. You always have access to your supervisor, Delilah, using a small, hand-held radio while performing your duties. But one day, a bizarre event forces you to leave your post and enter the woods. You will be faced with decisions and dilemmas that have the power to strengthen or weaken the only proper relationship you have as you explore this strange and unfamiliar world.
When playing this game, you might think that it’s a relatively chill game. However, Firewatch is anything but chill. It involves a lot of exploring and hiking, but most importantly, it has a very gripping story. You’ll find yourself hooked on the game, with a lot more questions than answers. It’s a really great and emotional game that you should definitely try out.
Inside
Release Date: July 8, 2016
Developer/Publisher: Playdead/Playdead
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle, Platform Game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Mac operating systems
Metacritic Score: 87%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
You will take on the role of a young boy attempting to survive the nightmare world he was abruptly placed into in Playdead’s video game, Inside. You must work through a slew of challenges and riddles in this game, or you may die in a variety of horrifying ways.
Compared to Inside’s predecessor, Limbo, which was more puzzle-focused, Inside provides amazing puzzles and challenges in addition to a superbly crafted narrative that will leave you thinking.
Inside is a game for people who enjoy an adrenaline rush, who are constantly looking for new riddles to crack, and who enjoy the dark, morbid atmosphere that only a video game can provide. This game is designed for those who want to engage in a very evocative and meticulously designed game. The key to winning the game is to pay close attention to every little thing that happens during the game’s journey.
For a more detailed review of Inside, check out our review here.
Death’s Door
Release Date: July 20, 2021
Developer/Publisher: Acid Nerve/Devolver Digital
Genre: Action-Adventure, Role-Playing Game
Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Metacritic Score: 85%
Steam Review: Very Positive
You control a cute little crow who serves as a reaper in the video game Death’s Door. It’s your responsibility to gather souls for the Reaping Commission’s main office. When your allocated soul is stolen, prompting you to accompany a frantic thief to a place where death hasn’t touched it and where things live much longer than they ought to, the work starts to get interesting. Now it’s up to you to find that wandering soul and return it to its rightful place.
Playing Death’s Door will let you wander through the afterlife, look around that realm, meet new animals, and learn all the secrets hidden behind the curtain. This game will allow you to wander through different realms aimlessly, as it doesn’t really have a map to help you. You’ll be carving your own little path.
Overall, Death’s Door is an interesting game that you should definitely try!
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Developer/Publisher: ZA/UM, Humble Bundle
Genre: Role-playing, Puzzle Game
Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Metacritic Score: 91%
Steam Review: Very Positive
In the indie video game Disco Elysium, you take on the role of a drunken investigator who has lost his memory and is simultaneously trying to solve a murder that happened right outside his hotel room.
You will need to utilize your detective abilities to solve numerous riddles in this game. You will also need to interact with a variety of personalities and decide which political party you support. Additionally, you can select from over 24 upgradeable “personalities” to develop into the type of investigator you want to be.
Even if this game doesn’t have a large amount of action, it’s not for individuals who have a weak stomach because it tackles a lot of adult themes that aren’t appropriate for children.
For a more detailed review of Disco Elysium – The Final Cut, check out our review here.
Celeste
Release Date: January 25, 2018
Developer/Publisher: Extremely OK Games, Ltd./Matt Makes Games Inc.
Genre: Action-Adventure Game
Other Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Google Stadia, Mac operating systems
Metacritic Score: 88%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In the game Celeste, Madeline is the character you will be playing. In order to succeed in this game, players will have to struggle and climb up an extremely difficult mountain while battling against their internal conflicts. You will need to overcome numerous obstacles, solve a number of mysteries, and unlock the mountain’s secret.
The story raises this game to new levels despite the solid gameplay. Although the story covers a wide range of topics, the focus is on mental health and personal development. The game is obviously targeted at a specific audience, so if you’re not in that demographic, it’s not for you.
The platformer Celeste is incredibly intriguing and gives you an incredible mountain climbing experience. Many people can identify with Madeline’s suffering, which is poignantly captured in her journey up the challenging mountain.
Untitled Goose Game
Release Date: September 24, 2020
Developer/Publisher: House House/Panic
Genre: Puzzle, Action-Adventure, Stealth Game
Other Available Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Metacritic Score: 79%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In the game The Untitled Goose Game, you take on the role of a “wicked” duck who wreaks havoc and pulls pranks on innocent bystanders going about their daily business.
It’s a cheeky game with lots of naughty behavior, but it’s all really innocent and just plain enjoyable. For those who play difficult games all the time, it’s a refreshing change of pace. I adore how the music moves with the game according to how you are engaging with the surroundings. You get the impression of suspense from the sounds, but not really (iykyk).
If you want to unwind and have fun, playing this game is quite interesting and engaging, despite its relative simplicity.
Stardew Valley
Release Date: February 27, 2016
Developer/Publisher: ConcernedApe/ConcernedApe
Genre: Simulation, Farming, Role-playing game
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Vita, iOS, Android
Metacritic Score: 89%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In the enjoyable, peaceful, and laid-back farming simulation game Stardew Valley, you can create a character that suits your preferences.
You get to play your own unique character in Stardew Valley, who has recently inherited his or her grandfather’s farm along with a fair amount of tools and money. From this point on, you embark on a mission to prosper the farm, build relationships with the locals, and, if you so choose, get married. Additionally, as you advance, you have access to new places, can customize and improve your skills, and much more.
Overall, Stardew Valley is a fantastic game that I love playing alone or with a friend because it is so relaxing and inviting.
Check out our Stardew Valley review for more!
Deep Rock Galactic
Release Date: May 13, 2020
Developer/Publisher: Ghost Ship Games/Coffee Stain Publishing
Genre: First-Person Shooter, Action Game
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox Cloud Gaming
Metacritic Score: 85%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In Deep Rock Galactic, you take on the role of one of four dwarves charged with risking their lives to gather valuable minerals on the terrifyingly inhospitable alien planet Hoxxes IV. The goal of the game is to find the two to three cocoons harboring the mini-bosses, and the different Dreadnought Types by thoroughly scouring the passageways.
Deep Rock Galactic is admittedly one of the best co-op games I’ve ever played. It really goes to show that when developers come together to create a masterpiece of a game, you’ll get Deep Rock Galactic.
Undertale
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Developer/Publisher: tobyfox/tobyfox
Genre: Role-Playing, Action-Adventure Game
Platforms: OS X, Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Metacritic Score: 92%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
In Undertale, you take on the role of a young child who accidentally enters the underworld, which, ever since humanity pushed the monster race from the surface, serves as both their home and jail. Monsters have established a home in this new location, yet they desire to emerge again.
Undertale is one of the best RPG games ever. It pushes you to the limit and lets you experience a lot of things. Undertale is expertly created to tell a story that’s so intricate and complex that every choice you make in the game can impact how the course of your path goes. It’s definitely one of my top must-tries.
Dead Cells
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Developer/Publisher: Motion Twin/Motion Twin
Genre: Action-Adventure, Roguelike, Metroidvania Game
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Metacritic Score: 89%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
The game, Dead Cells is a roguelike action platformer with Metroidvania characteristics. You play the part of the prisoner, an ephemeral creature, in the game. In order to kill the planet’s king, you, the prisoner, must fight your way off the sick island.
One of the best roguelikes ever created, it is a wonderful fusion of a beautifully crafted soundtrack, fine gameplay, fascinating structures, quick fighting, and exquisite design. And even after its initial release, the game is still getting frequent updates and new features, which make the game even better and much more interesting.
Cult Of The Lamb
Release Date: August 11, 2022
Developer/Publisher: Massive Monster/Devolver Digital
Genre: Strategy, Action-Adventure, Roguelike, Fighting Game
Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Metacritic Score: 88%
Steam Review: Very Positive
In Cult of the Lamb, you formed your own cult in a country overrun with false gods. In order to establish yourself as the only true cult, you go to varied, cryptic areas to assemble a committed band of woodland followers and spread your word.
Managing your devoted flock of followers and battling through fully explorable dungeons are split evenly between dungeon crawling and religious control simulation in Cult of the Lamb.
Just the plot alone will make you laugh out loud when playing this game. The amazing plot of Cult of the Lamb is truly original, and the adorable animals are definitely a plus.
Cult of the Lamb has one of the best-designed, best-executed, and most unique graphic styles and plots I’ve seen in an indie game so far.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Release Date: March 11, 2015
Developer/Publisher: Moon Studios GmbH/Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Platform, Action-Adventure, Metroidvania Game
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Metacritic Score: 88%
Steam Review: Overwhelmingly Positive
Ori and the Blind Forest is an adventure Metroidvania indie. You will take on the role of Ori in this game.
In the Nibel woodland, Ori, a young guardian spirit, resides with Naru, his adoptive mother. Now, Ori must set out on a quest to acquire the elements of water, warmth, and wind in order to repair the forest after a devastating storm that kills Naru and withers it.
This game is very emotional. It was meticulously created with love, from its incredible soundtrack, with graphics that were made with so much attention to detail, to its incredible storyline. I was not ready for its heart-stomping ending.
Frequently Asked Question
Is Xbox Good for Indie Games?
Definitely! The Xbox is one of the best gaming platforms on which you can play your indie games because not only does it do justice to its graphics, but it’s also one of the platforms that offers a huge library of different indie games of varying genres.
Final Thoughts – Wrap Up
The Xbox has one of the largest indie game libraries among all the other gaming platforms available. So there’s no doubt you’ll find a game that fits you and your preferences.
And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed reading our article about the best Xbox indie games!
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