The festive season is here, and the folks over at ID@Xbox could not be more excited to present this month’s Indie Selects. Before we get into our top picks, a massive thank you to everyone for the love shown to indie games on Xbox throughout the year. Indie Selects is our way of celebrating the wonderfully odd and unique gems in the gaming world. A perfect game doesn’t always have to be a gigantic blockbuster; it could be an intimate, heartfelt story, a fresh twist on an old idea, or something so unusual it sticks with you. Thanks for exploring our recommendations and championing talented game creators alongside us!
This time around, rather than just providing a one-week collection, we’re rolling out three weeks of highlights for 2024’s Indie Selects. Kicking off from December 11, every Wednesday, we’ll spotlight 18 standout titles from the past year. Don’t miss out—check the Indie Selects section in the Xbox Store (find it on the Games Home tab, a few rows down) to discover some indie must-haves.
Mark your calendar for January 28, 2025, as we’ll commemorate one year of this program with a 2024 Anniversary Collection. We’ve cherry-picked six standout Indie Selects worthy of this honor, allowing everyone to bask in the glory of these exceptional titles. While we have more surprises, sales, and collections in store for 2025, let’s enjoy what’s happening now.
This month, the lineup is packed. We faced the delightful challenge of narrowing down choices that pushed boundaries in terms of creativity, mysterious gameplay, captivating storylines, and pure entertainment. Some of us still had the October thrill and needed a scare. Others were eager to bond with a giant wolf for some adventurous riding. A few of us wanted to escape into intriguing worlds, make impossible decisions, or indulge in our creativity. Thankfully, the final list caters to everyone, and we’re confident there’s something memorable for you. Here’s what we’ve got lined up for you this month (no particular order):
Neva, the latest from Nomada Studio, had me revisiting my emotions last weekend. Just when I thought I’d seen it all, its breathtaking visuals and haunting soundtrack left me in awe—and the narrative didn’t just tug at my heart strings; it pulled them. As a successor to the much-loved Gris, Neva dives deeper, refining simple, satisfying platforming and combat mechanics. At about five hours long, it’s a short but profound experience, offering a “Story Mode” to lower the challenge if combat gets tough, allowing players to soak in the tale without worry of defeat.
Planet Coaster 2 delivers for all theme park simulation enthusiasts, effortlessly blending strategy and creativity into pure gaming joy. The dynamic visuals, combined with intuitive guidance, make managing your amusement empire a delightful journey. Whether you’re keen on crafting wild rollercoasters or ensuring park guests have an unforgettable visit, the game offers an immersive experience that’ll keep you glued for hours. Sharing your carefully curated creations with the community enriches the experience, letting you borrow some creative genius from others to enhance your own thrill park.
Animal Well wraps you in its enigmatic, pixel-rich world with intuitive puzzle solving steeped in Metroidvania-style mystery. You’re a cuddly little blob in a world ripe for exploration, decoding the secrets of this vibrant setting while engaging with unique animal partners. With a world so alive, each environmental interaction feels deliberate, crafted for mystery lovers who take pleasure in exploring beyond the obvious.
Phasmophobia is the quintessential chilling experience where you identify ghosts at haunted locales using various tools. It’s not just about the spectral entities but how the game immerses players in fear with sound and light, keeping senses on tensioned edge. Though unable to fight back, you and your friends will share unforgettable ghost-hunting adventures and the inevitable frights that come along with it.
Fear the Spotlight takes players into a ’90s horror nostalgia with Vivian’s search for her missing friend in a mysteriously haunted school. Lacking combat, it demands stealth and puzzle-solving as you evade the gaze of a monster, whose head is literally a spotlight. The tension builds not through jump scares but through a steadily unease-inducing atmosphere, making for a compelling narrative journey.
Lastly, Slay the Princess is more than a visual novel; it’s an exploration of choice, perception, and fate. Guiding a narrative with numerous choices, every decision impacts characters and outcomes, altering experiences in meaningful ways. With striking black-and-white art and excellent voice acting, this tale of slaying a princess unravels numerous layers, each compelling you to push for the next discovery.
Dive into these incredible picks; enjoy the narratives, visuals, and puzzles they offer. Each title presents a robust testament to the creativity and potential within indie gaming. Happy gaming!
