Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best indie games for Xbox Series X

Hades game
Supergiant Games

The Xbox Series X isn’t lacking in games to suit any taste. The best Xbox Series X games range from FPS games and open-world games, to platformers and everything in between. Plus, if you’re a subscriber to Game Pass then your library of games is already packed with amazing titles ready to go. Xbox has been great about getting all the best indie games on its console but finding them can be a chore. These games are able to take bigger risks and try out ideas that you won’t find anywhere else. Not all these risks pan out, so we suggest consulting our list of the best indie games on Xbox Series X first.

Even more indie games are on the way, so keep an eye on all the upcoming Xbox Series X games.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory: A Colorful Tale
80%
E
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
Greg Lobanov
Publisher
Finji
Release
June 10, 2021
If you just want to chill out with a creative, lightly-Zelda-inspired game about a cute dog bringing color back to the world, that’s oddly specific, but also exactly what Chicory: A Colorful Tale provides. You explore this blank coloring book world, solving puzzles and interacting with the fun and charismatic NPCs around while coloring in as much, or as little, of the world around you as you want. This game is a complete zen experience if you want it to be, with no pressure to go fast, do everything, or even fight very challenging enemies. It’s just a great, relaxing time from beginning to end that players of all ages can enjoy.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale ~ Official Reveal Trailer!!!

El Paso, Elsewhere

El Paso, Elsewhere
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Strange Scaffold
Publisher
Strange Scaffold, Frosty Pop Games Inc.
Release
September 26, 2023

If you cut your teeth on the fast and brutal combat of Max Payne, then El Paso, Elsewhere is just what you need to fill the void until its remakes come around. Replacing normal gangsters and thugs with vampires, werewolves, and other demonic forces, you run, dive, roll, and shoot your way through swarms of monsters in this game that is so much more than just a throwback to games of that era. The story, style, and feel are completely its own and a bloody great time.

El Paso, Elsewhere - Old Announcement Trailer

Spelunky 2

Spelunky 2
81%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
BlitWorks, Mossmouth
Publisher
Mossmouth
Release
September 15, 2020

Spelunky remains one of the best indies of all time, but the new launch of Spelunky 2 took its randomized roguelike formula and perfected it. Like the original, you play as a treasure hunter diving into procedurally generated levels that change every time you die — and you’re going to die a lot. Yet after each death, you’ll improve your skills and learn more about how to spot deadly traps and deal with the deadly monsters you encounter. While the original had four worlds with four levels each, Spelunky 2 adds branching paths so you can choose different worlds to explore, with seven areas in a single playthrough and up to 16 different areas you can end up in based on your choices. It also includes new doorways — letting you go into caves behind each level that bypass the main area and add new treasure and traps — as well as new weapons, allies, and mounts to ride. You can now explore Spelunky 2‘s caves in an online co-op with a friend or compete for the high score in the Daily Challenge mode, which gives everyone the exact same cave configuration. It’s a bizarre game with weird but deadly enemies and comically exasperating deaths. Yet when you reach a new level or discover a new secret, it feels that much more rewarding.

Spelunky 2 - Announcement Trailer

Phogs!

Phogs!
70%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Bit Loom Games
Publisher
Coatsink Software
Release
December 03, 2020
Phogs! from Bit Loom Games is downright adorable. Take a break from high-stakes and hyper-realism, grab a friend, and em-BARK on a fun-filled adventure. You and a partner will control Red and Blue, a two-headed dog with an elastic belly, as you solve puzzles and work together to beat different stages. Phogs! will take you through the three core aspects of dog life: Food, sleep, and play. The game can be played in single-player, but all the excitement comes from co-op gameplay.
PHOGS! EGX Demo Trailer

Hades

Hades
93%
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Supergiant Games
Publisher
Supergiant Games
Release
September 17, 2020
Roguelikes, or roguelites, have been huge in the indie scene for over a decade now. The random generation makes them far more replayable and long-lasting than linear experiences, but few manage to also have enough variety between runs to actually get people to stick with them for long periods of time. Hades somehow has all the variety one could want between the various weapons, powers, rooms, and upgrades, but also some of the best-feeling progression for the genre. Each run moves you forward in at least one way, whether mechanically or narrativly, and it’s all wrapped up in a beautiful artstyle.
Hades - Early Access Trailer

Celeste

Celeste
87%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Extremely OK Games
Publisher
Maddy Makes Games
Release
January 25, 2018

Celeste, an indie game from Towerfall developer Matt Makes Games, is a deceptively simple game. Ostensibly a game about protagonist Madeline’s journey to the top of the titular Celeste mountain, we gradually learn about her emotional troubles and the colorful cast of characters she meets along the way. But this isn’t actually an adventure game at all. Madeline climbs the mountain with simple yet deep jumping mechanics that make for some tremendously creative levels. The hazards thrown in your way later in the game are always just challenging enough to slow you down. With tons of collectibles to find and special “B-Side” levels to unlock, Celeste keeps you climbing the mountain for hours.

Exclusive: 10 Minutes of CELESTE Gameplay — TOWERFALL Creators' Next Game!

A Space for the Unbound

A Space for the Unbound
82%
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Mojiken Studio
Publisher
Toge Productions
Release
January 19, 2023

Coming-of-age stories can so easily miss the mark or come off as too preachy. A Space for the Unbound bucks the trend not only by placing it in an uncommon setting for the genre, Indonesia, but also in its themes. This is a story about high school sweethearts in the 90s, where a mysterious force is attempting to end the world right as they are about to graduate. That’s just the background, however, as the bulk of the game is focused more on the intimate, smaller-scale stories of the main cast. It might sound a little cliche and boring, but if you let it, this game will resonate with you in a meaningful way.

A Space for The Unbound Trailer

Unto the End

Unto the End
70%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Developer
2 Ton Studios
Publisher
Digital Uppercut Productions, Big Sugar
Release
December 09, 2020
Unto the End is a challenging side-scrolling action RPG featuring unique artificial intelligence (A.I.) enemies that will learn and adapt to your playstyle. You’ll have to read and react as you play through the game. Hacking and slashing won’t win this one. You’ll have zero HUD and have to rely on visuals to understand when you’re in trouble. Describing the A.I. enemies, developer 2 Ton Studios wrote, “Every creature you meet is as smart and capable as the player’s character — there for a reason, never just some ‘evil enemy.'” Players looking for a Dark Souls-like challenge will fall in love with Unto the End.
Unto The End - 8 Minutes of Gameplay | Summer of Gaming

Haven

Haven
71%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
The Game Bakers
Publisher
The Game Bakers
Release
December 03, 2020
Haven is the story of two lovers, Yu and Kay, as they travel to a distant planet to live out the rest of their days together. You’ll control both characters as they interact with each other, build their relationship, and establish their new home. Explore the vast world around them to find crafting materials and additions to your ship. Engage in rhythmic combat as you defend your home and relationship from forces that seek to tear it apart. You’ll gather resources, similar to No Mans Sky, and explore a vast planet with the visual aesthetic of old-school turn-based JRPGs.
Haven - Teaser

Dead Static Drive

Dead Static Drive
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Genre
Adventure, Indie
Developer
Team Fanclub
Publisher
Team Fanclub
Release
December 31, 2025
Developer Mike Blackney refers to Dead Static Drive as “Grand Theft Cthulhu.” You will travel around a wide open-world as you hot-wire cars and collect resources to survive the Lovecraftian horrors that lurk around every corner. Dead Static Drive features an in-depth resource collection mechanic that allows players to build inventories within inventories. Of course, this game is focused on cars and travel. With driving mechanics being the very soul of the game, you will be able to cruise around this post-apocalyptic world as you meet NPCs to aid you on your road trip from hell.
Dead Static Drive - Early Teaser

Lake

Lake
69%
Platforms
Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Gamious
Publisher
Gamious, Whitethorn Games
Release
September 01, 2021
Everyone needs a break once in a while. Escaping from everyday stress through a peaceful video game is a great way to calm one’s nerves and find appreciation in the little things. Lake promises to do just that. You will control Meredith Weiss just after leaving her big-city life to deliver mail in her quaint hometown. It’s 1986; technology is archaic by today’s standards, and people still talk to one another in Providence Oaks, Oregon. Hop in her mail truck and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of this lakeside town. Lake has you control Meredith for the three weeks she plans on spending back home. She’ll be reminded of the simple things in life as she interacts with people around town. She’ll engage in quirky conversation at every turn and learn a little bit more about the community she remembers. Lake is the perfect de-stress game when hours of Warzone has you pulling your hair out. 
Lake story trailer
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over five years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
Get the most bang for your buck with the best games for $10 or less in 2025
how to watch bethesda e3 press conference dishonored copy

Gaming has always been an expensive hobby, but it is only getting worse in 2025 and beyond. If you take a look at the list of upcoming video games, you will see more and more games all charging $80 for the base version. That's a lot of money to spend on a single game, so a lot of us will need to be more discerning about which games we choose to buy at that price. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to play fewer games if you know where to look. There are dozens of free games to pick from, but those almost always come with the pressure to buy various microtransactions to get the best experience. These games are all complete packages you can buy for less than the price of lunch and have a fantastic time.

Undertale

Read more
The best video game trailers of all time
A man readies his axe to strike a zombie

The art of the video game trailer is a delicate one. A trailer needs to get people excited to play an upcoming video game, while ideally being representative of what that game will actually be. However, it has become clear that plenty of trailers -- at least the ones without gameplay -- are more interested in generating hype than being especially faithful. These are our first glimpses at the world, characters, and maybe even bosses of a game, but presented like a short film. Because trailers can be so different from what the final game becomes, we wanted to find the best video game trailers judged only on their effectiveness as trailers and not take into consideration how accurate or good the game they are advertising was. It is just as likely that a terrible game and one of the best games of all time will have an amazing trailer.

After digging through the archives of hundreds of video game trailers from every console generation, we've come up with a list of the best video game trailers ever made.

Read more
The best video game remasters of all time
the legend of zelda wind waker brings back memories only shinier hd 01

There can be a bit of confusion when it comes to determining what qualifies as a video game remake and what is a remaster. Typically, any game that is ported to a new console with some visual improvements and quality of life features added without any major changes to the core systems or mechanics is considered a remaster. Remakes, on the other hand, rebuild the entire game from the ground up with new assets, models, and even content in some cases. Things have gotten a bit more confusing as of late, with plenty of remasters looking like remakes, and some remakes calling themselves remasters. Remasters remain the best way to relive classic games from older video game consoles on modern hardware. We cut through all that confusion to craft a definitive list of the best video game remasters of all time.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Read more