There are some terrific indie gems on Xbox Game Pass that deserve your time. Some are a little older, but many have hit the Microsoft subscription service in recent months. No matter their age, all are great and have become darlings that can appeal to any type of gamer.
Whether you’re into brooding narratives, huge hits that provide engaging gameplay loops or just want something to chill to,Xbox Game Passhas you covered.
Botany Manor
Botany Manor - Whitehorn Games
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This was a recent addition to Game Pass that had me hooked for an entire day. It only takes a handful of hours to see it to its conclusion and is such a laid-back puzzler that you spend much of the time revelling in its setting. As a botany expert, you work out how to grow plants from clues scattered around a mansion, calledBotany Manor, and its stately garden built up from sumptuous colours and cartoon aesthetics. It’s not overly taxing and it’s perfect for a chill Sunday when you don’t have anywhere to go and want something wholly satisfying and absorbing.
Celeste
Celeste - Maddy Makes Games Inc.
Celesteis easily one of my favourite games and is well-regarded throughout the gaming world. A precision platformer, this isn’t always a walk in the park. Instead, it’s a walk up a mountain covered in weird and wonderful places where your skills will be put to the test. When you aren’t leaping and dashing around, you’ll discover some delightful NPCs and some genuinely lovely dialogue that revolves around themes of anxiety and identity.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Dungeons of Hinterberg - Curve Games
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A mixture of dungeon crawling and social interactions,Dungeons of Hinterbergis an engaging adventure that mixes Zelda-like dungeons based on special abilities with RPG skill progression. While the former has you trekking through the town of HInterberg battling enemies and solving puzzles, the latter sees our character of Luisa mingling in town to boost her stats via conversations or activities. There’s a pretty decent story winding its way throughout which looks at capitalist greed and environmental issues.
Firewatch
Firewatch - Panic
Some would call this a walking simulator through the wonderful forests of America, while others would sayFirewatchis a narrative adventure focusing on the idea of solitude. It’s a bit of both, really. There’s a stunning environment to explore as you take on the role of park ranger watching out for forest fires. The only connection to the outside world is a walkie-talkie where conversations often turn deep and pondering, forcing both the central character and you to question our place in the world.
Jusant
Jusant - DON’T NOD
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The aim ofJusantis to climb a really big mountain range. That makes two mountain climbing games on this list.Jusant, however, is a much more laidback experience where every handhold and footrest must be carefully thought out and stamina management is key. Along the journey, you’ll find old journals, remnants of society, and some devious puzzles that require out-of-the-box thinking. At times very peaceful, I often found myself staring out into the distance while thinking about my movement across a sheer cliff.
Neon White
Neon White - Annapurna Interactive
Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana - Thunderful Publishing
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Taking inspiration from games such asInsideandLimbo,Planet of Lanais an adventure game with bags of heart and a little dash of darkness. Perhaps the loveliest aspect of the game is the use of a little critter that looks a bit like a cat, called Mui. You’ll use Mui to help solve environmental puzzles and as a bit of company for our character who is lost in a big world out to capture and experiment on Mui, our newfound friend. It’s not as sinister or brooding as horror games of this ilk, but it’s rather charming over its short runtime.
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors - poncle
Topics:Xbox Game Pass,Xbox One,Xbox Series S,Xbox Series X,Xbox,Indie Games,Free Games
