As the holiday season approaches, the folks at ID@Xbox are buzzing with excitement while unveiling this month’s selection of Indie Selects. But before diving into the games, we want to express gratitude for the incredible support you’ve shown to independent game developers on Xbox this past year. Indie Selects is a platform where we love to spotlight games that are wonderfully unconventional and distinct. A game doesn’t have to be a mega-hit to be someone’s favorite; it could be a finely crafted story that tugs at the heart or a fresh twist on familiar ideas. We really appreciate you checking out these picks and supporting these talented creators.
Now, we’ve made a little change for December! Instead of one week, we’re rolling out a three-week-long showcase of 2024 Indie Select Highlights. Each Wednesday, starting December 11, we will shine a light on 18 of our top picks that debuted this year. Simply head over to the Indie Selects section in the Xbox Store under the Games Home tab to discover these indie gems.
Come January 28, 2025, we will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of this initiative with a 2024 Anniversary Collection. We’ll handpick six standout Indie Selects from the past year, ensuring they get the recognition they truly deserve. We’ve got new surprises, sales, and collections planned for 2025, but for now, let’s relish what this month has in store.
This selection is packed with titles that challenge the norms with their distinct design, intriguing mechanics, engrossing narratives, and pure fun factor. It was quite the task to decide which games to highlight. Some were in the mood for spine-tingling thrills, while others yearned for an adventurous bond with a colossal wolf. Many wanted to dive deep into mysterious worlds or just unleash their creativity. We ended up with a list that made everyone happy, and we believe there’s something here you’ll remember for a long time. Here’s what’s lined up for you this month:
Are you ready to shed some tears? Let’s talk about Neva. This game will pierce your emotions. My weekend playthrough left me speechless with its stunning visuals, captivating presentation, and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. It tugs at your heartstrings yet remains a joy to play.
Created by Nomada Studio, Neva is the spiritual successor to the beautiful and thought-provoking Gris. It marries compelling storytelling with simplistic yet satisfying gameplay. Spanning around five hours, the game inspires introspection and emotional resonance, seldom seen in the gaming world. And if you find the combat a tad overwhelming, the “Story Mode” difficulty setting allows you to dive into the narrative without the stress of combat.
Next on the list, we have Animal Well, an awe-inspiring Metroidvania crafted in 2D pixel art, teeming with abstract puzzles set in eerie, living environments. You guide a small, squishy blob through a dark world that speaks its own mysterious language. As you unlock new areas, you’ll discover ingeniously designed tools that open up new paths. The diverse creatures that inhabit this world enhance the complex problem-solving needed to progress. Lacking conventional combat, stealth becomes its own puzzle. And even past the initial ending, there’s still a wealth of secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Animal Well is the sort of game that leaves an impression long after you’ve put the controller down. With each step, you uncover little secrets that redefine your sense of who the hero truly is: the environment itself. There are countless delightful interactions scattered throughout the game, each more rewarding than the last. Diving into the game’s hidden stories felt like a haunting conversation with its developer. If you enjoy unearthing every secret in a game without a guide, this one will keep you enthralled for hours.
For those who love theme parks, Planet Coaster 2 offers a rewarding experience filled with endless creative possibilities. It’s a strategist’s delight wrapped in a visually stunning package. Right from the get-go, the game dazzles with vibrant graphics and helpful characters who ease you into the management mechanics. The intuitive coaster builder tool encourages creativity, allowing players to craft rides as exhilarating as they dare imagine. On the flip side, perfecting the balance between keeping guests happy and managing finances presents a stimulating challenge.
Sharing your creations with others – and exploring theirs – takes the fun to another level. Watching what fellow creators come up with is truly inspiring, opening up new possibilities to enrich your own park. Planet Coaster 2 masterfully blends community and creativity with strategic challenges, sure to please both veterans and newcomers of the genre.
Phasmophobia is a thrilling horror experience that tasks you with identifying ghosts haunting different locales using a variety of detection tools. Each spectral entity leaves distinct supernatural clues for you to piece together in your journal, and successfully identifying the ghost earns you victory.
The real magic lies in the atmospheric experience. The game expertly weaves classic horror elements with interactive environments, giving each investigation a chilling sense of urgency. With no option to fight back, you’ll need to gather clues swiftly while avoiding potential risks.
Playing with friends spices up the game, mixing in screams, laughter, and silent terror when things go awry. It’s an exhilarating group activity that brings its own kind of spooky camaraderie.
Fear the Spotlight lets you step back into a ’90s-inspired horror adventure focused on solving puzzles, engaging storytelling, and avoiding detection. Vivian and her friend Amy find themselves embroiled in a supernatural mystery after a séance goes awry in their school.
As you guide Vivian through the school’s maze-like corridors, evading a monstrous pursuer with a spotlight face, your wits will be your greatest ally. With no combat option, keeping out of sight while solving intriguing puzzles becomes the game. Rather than a jump-scare frenzy, the game builds on a creeping tension that serves its narrative well.
Slay the Princess may sound like a simple fairy tale, but it’s a compelling journey filled with dark twists. This visual novel-entrenched game lays out a multi-path adventure where your every decision weaves a new narrative fabric, luring in a host of voices to shape your perception of the story.
Each choice transforms the Princess, challenging your assumptions and reshaping the narrative. It’s a journey that regenerates with each ending, teasing out the story beneath the surface. The game’s unique pencil art, intense music score, and standout voice acting create an immersive, unsettling atmosphere. Brace yourself for a tale that’s as charming as it is creepy, and don’t fret over the frequent deaths; they’re merely stepping stones in the game’s grim narrative dance.
