Best Indie Games On Xbox Game Pass
The collection of indie games available on Xbox Game Pass are stellar, and here is a look at the best titles you can play.
The diversity of games available on the Xbox Game Pass library is a true delight for all who subscribe to the service. And while flashy, triple-A titles are major draws, understated indie games should also garner attention from the masses. These titles provide experiences that are innovative and daring, showcasing what a small studio of dedicated developers can do with passion and hard work.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About Xbox Game Pass
It is truly gratifying to see these indie games shine like diamonds within the treasure trove of the Xbox Game Pass collection. Read on if you want to see which are the best indie games most deserving of your time.
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15
Inside
Approximate Game Length
3 Hours
Genre
Puzzle Platformer
Developer
Playdead
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
2 GB (February 2023)
Though Playdead initially wowed players with its first puzzle platformer, Limbo, it was its second that truly showcased the polish and prestige of its talent. Inside is a master class in atmospheric storytelling. The young boy you play as never speaks a word. He just continually walks forward, from the left side of the screen to the right. But despite that, you gain a horrific understanding of the world he resides in.
As with most indie titles, Inside is a short experience. However, it’s not one that should be missed. In the relative three hours you spend playing, you’ll experience more emotions than you would in the entirety of some of today’s modern, 20-hour triple-A titles. With zero desire to spoil the narrative, all we can say is that Inside is a classic indie game that bears playing at least once in your lifetime.
14
Scorn
Approximate Game Length
7 Hours
Genre
First-Person Horror Puzzle
Developer
Ebb Software
X|S Enhanced
Yes
File Size
18 GB (February 2023)
There are some that might be understandably thrown off by Scorn’s complete lack of handholding. Whether you’re looking at its practically nonexistent UI or its obtuse puzzles that are never explained, Scorn is a tough nut to crack. But if you want to experience a game with perhaps the most engrossing environments and intriguing semi-narrative ever created, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that’s better than Scorn. It’s not exactly a typical horror game, nor is it a fast-paced first-person shooter.
It’s a strange blend of genres that focuses more on the thematic elements of its atmosphere to both tell a story and encourage players to continue forward. Yes, the combat can be frustrating, but if you enjoy intriguing settings and are okay with the grossest upgrade system we’ve ever seen, Scorn is the perfect game for you.
13
Amnesia: Collection
Approximate Game Length
N/A
Genre
Horror Adventure
Developer
Frictional Games, The Chinese Room
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
5 GB (January 2023)
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the most classic horror titles in the history of gaming, let alone an iconic indie game that saw widespread popularity. The collection currently on Game Pass takes you through three of the games set in this universe. Even if it was just The Dark Descent you got to play through, the time spent playing and the negligible file size makes this a must-have. It’s a master class in horror.
Without the backing of a triple-A team or budget, Frictional Games manages to scare the skin off of millions of players simply by possessing a firm understanding of what inspires terror. Amnesia’s atmosphere and narrative contribute to further building this horrific experience, and while it might not sound like we’re encouraging you to play this, rest assured, we most sincerely are.
12
Vampire Survivors
Approximate Game Length
N/A
Genre
Roguelike
Developer
Poncle
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
2 GB (January 2023)
Look no further than Vampire Survivors if you are at all interested in playing the hit roguelike title that inspired dozens of copycats. The object of the game is exceedingly simple, but it is in Vampire Survivors’ simplicity where its genius lies. All you have to do to play the game is move your little character and watch as their automatic passives slowly but surely demolish the monsters around them.
The more monsters you slay, the more you level up, the more passives you can acquire and upgrade, the more monsters you can slay, and so on and so forth. That’s all there is to it really. But it’s brilliant. It’s engrossing. It can keep you playing for hours on end without awareness of how much time has passed. There’s no way to truly sell Vampire Survivors without first having experienced it. So trust us. Go play it.
11
Escape Academy
Approximate Game Length
4 Hours
Genre
Puzzle
Developer
Coin Crew Games, Coin Door Crew LLC
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
5 GB (October 2022)
It’s an egregious oversight that Escape Academy has not gotten more attention. While it’s a fairly straightforward puzzle experience, the similarities it has with real-life escape rooms makes the game one of the best couch co-op experiences around. You and a partner are students in this prestigious school for “escapists.” While it sounds ludicrous and goofy, the logic and puzzles within the scenarios you have to escape are absolutely perfect. Nothing feels too hard or too easy. And having a friend beside you for the whole thing improves upon perfection. Escape Academy is an indie game you shouldn’t miss, and it’s also one of the finest cooperative titles to come out.
10
Death’s Door
Approximate Game Length
8 Hours
Genre
Indie Action-Adventure
Developer
Acid Nerve
X|S Enhanced
Yes
File Size
3 GB (October 2022)
Death’s Door is a delightful Soulslike game, and while that comparison has made the rounds more times than we can count, it’s there for a reason. You play as a Reaper who must collect the souls of various bosses, and you journey to these bosses by working your way through various lands that are all connected to each other, all while picking up bits of the story by reading item descriptions. Sound familiar?
Related: Beginner Tips For Death’s Door You Need To Know
However, the fighting mechanics of Death’s Door have been streamlined. While the experience is still difficult enough, with a small player healthpool and unforgiving enemies, it still plays a bit like baby’s first Dark Souls. This is by no means a flaw. Death’s Door is delightful, and tells a fantastic narrative even with the minimalist approach to storytelling. And it makes the difficulty inherent to most Soulslikes more approachable.
9
Spelunky 2
Approximate Game Length
30 Hours
Genre
Adventure Platformer
Developer
Mossmouth, Blitworks
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
608 (July 2022)
Spelunky 2 both delights and infuriates in equal measure. While the gameplay of this little platformer is easy to grasp, it is constantly trying to befuddle and trap its players (on purpose). You and your friends can play together and try to make your way through the death-riddled caves of Spelunky 2 to hilarious effect. And whether you want to stick with the game to the very end or you only want to play it for the short-term hijinks you can get up to, Spelunky 2 is here for you.
8
Stardew Valley
Approximate Game Length
60 Hours
Genre
Farming Sim
Developer
ConcernedApe
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
1 GB (April 2022)
Amazon Listing
Xbox One
Stardew Valley became such a sensation over the years following its release that it feels hardly fair to call it an indie title at this point. But there’s no escaping the facts — this charmingly retro farming sim was a solo development project with a meager budget. What really stands out about SDV, beyond its rags-to-riches development story, is the deceptively deep layering of different gameplay mechanics.
Related: Xbox Series X|S Games You Can Sink Hundreds Of Hours Into
The core gameplay loop is, of course, managing and building your farm, but romancing the townspeople results in a sort of dating sim element. Venturing to the mines to fight monsters and plunder riches plays out as a barebones action-RPG reminiscent of retro Zelda titles. And really, this just scratches the surface of the surprisingly chill long-form adventure that’s placed at the fingertips of prospective players.
7
Superliminal
Approximate Game Length
3 Hours
Genre
First-Person Puzzle
Developer
Pillow Castle
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
11 GB (April 2022)
Great indie games are the ones that give zany ideas a chance that triple-A titles usually won’t. Superliminal is a superb example of the magic an indie game can give to players when a unique concept is given an opportunity to breathe. Similar to how Portal taught you to solve puzzles by “thinking with portals,” Superliminal teaches you to solve puzzles by quite literally changing your perspective. You know how objects from far away can seem small because of the distance? And small items that are held up right in front of your eyes can seem huge? That’s basically the gist of Superliminal’s premise. From distance to shadows to angles, the game tests your ability to think outside of the box. The Xbox Game Pass library is brightened with the inclusion of this hidden gem, and its digestible completion time makes it a more attrBesactive game to try out.
6
Among Us
Approximate Game Length
N/A
Genre
Social Deduction
Developer
InnerSloth LLC
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
763 MB (December 2021)
Amazon Listing
Xbox One / Series X
Among Us is the indie game that took the world by storm. Groups of friends flocked to play this social mystery game, and it’s a trend that persists to this day. Though Among Us started primarily as a mobile and PC game, it has made the move to Xbox consoles, further expanding its player base. Its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass is a definite boon for the indie presence in its library. More people than ever can complete tasks alongside their fellow crewmates, sabotage critical functions on the ship as an impostor, and accidentally eject innocents after heated discussions.
5
Aragami 2
Approximate Game Length
30 Hours
Genre
Stealth/Action Adventure
Developer
Lince Works
X|S Enhanced
Yes
File Size
9 GB (October 2021)
Amazon Listing
Xbox One / Series X
If the tagline “undead ninja-assassins stealthily trounce fire-wielding glory boys” rings your bell, then you’ll want to check into Aragami 2. Placed into the sneaky shoes of said undead ninja-assassins, players are tasked with defending the people of Rashomon Valley from an invading army of pyromaniacs by utilizing stealth, supernatural shadow powers, and occasionally some good, old-fashioned sword-to-sword combat. The kicker is that the game can be played with up to two partners for a cooperative stealth-action experience, and the feeling of elation yielded from flawlessly coordinating silent takedowns is an absolute treat. And even when stealth doesn’t work in one’s favor, the combat system is surprisingly deep while remaining totally accessible — parrying and dodging are the orders of the day, evoking a unique sort of “Souls-lite” experience that’s satisfying to master.
4
Undertale
Approximate Game Length
8 Hours
Genre
RPG Adventure
Developer
Toby Fox
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
275 MB (October 2021)
It’ll be a precious few that haven’t heard of this indie sensation’s explosion onto the gaming scene, but those that haven’t would be doing themselves a massive service in checking it out. It’s a difficult one to nail down in terms of gameplay elements — bits of JRPG, puzzle-solving, and even bullet hell stylings all make contributions, but Undertale doesn’t exactly maintain an amicable relationship with convention. The narrative is as heartfelt as it is hilarious, weaving a story concerning friendship and morality around playful jabs at common gaming tropes as one winds their way through its subterranean world of misfit monsters.
3
Deep Rock Galactic
Approximate Game Length
N/A
Genre
Co-Op First-Person Shooter
Developer
Ghost Ship Games
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
2 GB (October 2021)
Space dwarves stripping various intergalactic caves of their precious resources for fun and profit makes for an incredibly enjoyable cooperative multiplayer experience in Deep Rock Galactic. Simply put, this game is a blast — each of up to four players selects an entirely unique character class and plunges into a procedurally generated dungeon alongside their bearded comrades to accomplish a variety of objectives for their corporate overlords while fending off waves of arachnid aliens hellbent on eating them alive. It’s a good time.
2
Goat Simulator
Approximate Game Length
5 Hours
Genre
Casual Goat SImulation
Developer
Coffee Stain Studios
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
3 GB (October 2021)
Amazon Listing
Xbox One
Goat Simulator takes the wild proposition of playing as a goat and just runs with it. While it is most definitely not an accurate depiction of what a real goat’s life is like, it is one of the most entertaining “simulator” games available, and it is an utter joy to see it as part of the Xbox Game Pass’ library.
Related: Best Local & Co-Op Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass
In Goat Simulator, being a goat means wreaking absolute havoc wherever you go. Bleat people into oblivion, lick random objects and carry them with you with your prehensile tongue, or headbutt cars until they explode. All of these activities are valid.
1
Hollow Knight
Approximate Game Length
30 Hours
Genre
2D Platform Exploration (Metroidvania)
Developer
Team Cherry
X|S Enhanced
No
File Size
7 GB (October 2021)
Hollow Knight is what happens when a Soulslike meets a Metroidvania and wraps itself up with an adorably gothic art style — magic, in a word. Exploring the world of Hallownest and meeting its surprisingly charming insectoid inhabitants is a remarkably Zen experience, the combat is tense and satisfying, and the setting is entirely compelling. How happily the light Soulslike features marry into this side-scrolling action-RPG adventure can’t be overstated, and it’s entirely worth a whirl for gamers of all stripes.
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