Best ID@Xbox Indie Games for Xbox One in 2020

FAR: Lone Sails
FAR: Lone Sails (Image credit: Windows Central)

The ID@Xbox program has been an invaluable resource for small and independent developers around the globe, as it has enabled them to publish their games to Xbox One. As a result, there is a large variety of incredible indie games available to play within the Xbox One ecosystem. Here's a list of our favorites.

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FAR: Lone Sails (opens in new tab)

★ Author's Choice

FAR: Lone Sails is a phenomenal adventure title that tasks you with constantly moving forward with your part-boat, part-train vehicle in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Though its concept is simple, the satisfying puzzle gameplay, stunning visuals, and excellent music make this vehicular odyssey a deep and nuanced experience.

If we had to choose

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All of these ID@Xbox titles are absolutely fantastic, but if I had to choose just one, it would be FAR: Lone Sails (opens in new tab). The combination of its unique premise, beautiful presentation, and satisfying gameplay has cemented it as one of my favorite indie games ever, and I think the title will leave anyone who plays it feeling the same way.

If you're looking for something on the hardcore side, The Long Dark's (opens in new tab) incredibly intense and unforgiving survival mechanics will be right up your alley. The game isn't unfair, but it doesn't hold back, either.

If you simply want to relax or play something fun with a friend, I highly recommend Human Fall Flat (opens in new tab). The puzzles are clever but they're never obnoxiously difficult, and the hilarious physics of the game ensure you'll always be laughing as you try to progress.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.

4 Comments
  • I am having a lot of fun with Saturday Morning RPG right now. You should check it out!
  • Isaac's graphics are pretty good, but I don't think the phrase "very detailed pixel art textures" applies to it. I'm especially baffled at the concept of "pixel art textures".
  • Don't waste your $ on Everspace. The control sensitivity settings doesn't work and the dev hasn't bothered to fix them, which makes aiming at anything ridiculously hard. Not worth $30.
  • As far as I know it's still considered a preview build and not final. I've read others have complained about control sensitivity and it seems to be a common theme of that setting being left out of preview builds. Could still get patched and probably will. I was a Kickstarter backer for Everspace with hopes the game would come to console through one of the stretch goals. It never made it quite that far, but they continued development on it anyway. I got my code for Steam, but never used it. They offered up an exchange of Steam codes for Xbox codes, but I missed the boat and got put on a waitlist.