ID@Xbox partnered with IGN today to reveal a slate of new indie games coming to the Xbox ecosystem for the remainder of 2025 and into early 2026. The games crossed a variety of genres and art styles, from a rubber-hose-animated detective noir shooter to terrifying 80s-futurism survival horror experiences. There's a little something for everyone to be had with this showcase, so let's take a look at everything that was announced:
Agni: Village of Calamity
ID@Xbox kicks off its fall showcase event with a terrifying new horror game from Indonesian developers Separuh Interactive. This cinematic psychological horror centers around Agni, an investigator who has defied orders to venture into a remote village shrouded in dark mysteries and a cold atmosphere.
While searching for her missing partner, Agni will encounter disturbing anomalies while she collects clues, solves puzzles, and faces her own inner demons surrounding guilt, fear of abandonment, and unresolved trauma. Agni: Village of Calamity is scheduled for a 2026 release on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC.
Darkwood 2
2017's best selling survival horror game, Darkwood, is getting a fresh new grotesque sequel. Originally developed by Acid Wizard, the Darkwood IP has now been handed off to Ice-Pick Lodge. Ice-Pick Lodge is a capable horror darling in its own right, having previously released the Pathologic series, though Acid Wizard has remained involved in the Darkwood sequel in a consulting role, as well as the owners of the IP.
Years after the events of its predecessor, this survival horror game takes players to all new lands and waters, each couched in terrifying new creatures that will have you begging for morning to come save you from what lurks in the dark. Darkwood 2 will have a standalone story experience that can be enjoyed without playing the first title, set in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse. Explore villages, rusting ships, oil rigs, power stations, and factories all on the brink of collapse as the corruption of the forest spreads.
Darkwood 2 is coming soon and will launch day on one Xbox Game Pass.
Don't Fret
Dark, first-person psychological horror meets music puns in Don't Fret, coming soon to Xbox Series X|S. Play as a guitar named Fret and solve puzzles while invading terrifying enemies to explore the dark mystery of Harmonic Heights.
Music and fear combine in this cinematic narrative experience from Scary Kid Studios and Digital Pajamas that's certain to become a cult classic.
Puppergeist
Can I pet that ghost dog? Yes, you can actually. Puppergeist, developed and published by Serenity Forge, goes to show that spooky can still be wholesome. This heartwarming rhythm visual novel will have you playing as Claire, a colorful little witch who journeys to the doggie underworld to find her own lost pup.
While in the underworld, she'll encounter a variety of doggie ghosts that she can play with, sharing heartfelt moments and learning their tales with the power of rhythm challenges.
No release date has been announced for Puppergeist just yet, but it is coming to Xbox in time.
33 Immortals Pride and Temperance Update
I'm not going to lie to you, when I saw Thunder Lotus listed as a participant in the ID@Xbox Fall 2025 showcase, I expected we would see some more details on the upcoming A Fate's End. What we actually got is a surprise shadow drop for 33 Immortals' Pride and Temperance Update.
The update comes stocked with new weapons, including the The Glaive of Temperance and the Crossbows of Pride. You can try them out in the new difficulty update, dubbed ordeals, that allow you to choose your burdens, bolster your foes, and earn greater rewards for taking the risk.
There's some new chamber objectives, too, for good measure. Purge seals of domination to liberate the chamber and destroy foul effigies. Or, check out Charon's wardrobe to change up your style.
The 33 Immortals Pride and Temperance update is out now on Xbox, and you can play it for free with your Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Awaysis
Awaysis felt confident enough to dub itself "The World's Best Dungeon Brawler" but it stopped short of giving us too much more information. The physics brawler, developed by 17-BIT and published by CULT Games, features a 1-4 player coop campaign on "a ridiculous journey" in a cartoonish world as a red-caped fox-like character.
Battle the computer or engage in online or local PvP, and enjoy a soundtrack from Hip Tanaka (Metroid, Earthbound) when Awaysis comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Game Pass in 2026.
Ungodly
Developed by Azra Games, is a dark fantasy RPG where players can choose one of more than twenty "primals", each with its own skillset and abilities, challenging players to tackle a variety of enemies in a sprawling and broken world. Ungodly comes to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC in 2026.
Planet of Lana 2
Wishfully shares extended gameplay footage for the next chapter of Planet of Lana. Players can expect a slew of new and exciting features, and yes — you can pet Mui. Planet of Lana 2 will feature a multitude of new biomes, ranging from snowy mountains to dark mines and even urban environments.
The gameplay deep dive featured developer commentary and highlighted the biome Demua, an oceanic location. Lana can swim and dive freely; however, Mui's not water-compatible. The team showcased how a plant can be used to help transport Mui through the game's more waterlogged puzzles.
New creatures and robots pose new challenges for Lana and Mui, even as Lana proves to be more capable and agile. Lana can use verbal commands to control Mui. She can move all across the screen, and the creature's new hypnotic ability lets you take control of other creatures in the area that may have unique abilities that can help solve puzzles.
Planet of Lana 2's story revolves around how the planet has changed with new technology. Hostile humans have captured Lana and Mui, who must work together to escape.
The sequel is an ambitious project — double the length and scope of Planet of Lana — with more challenging puzzles and an expanded narrative. Planet of Lana 2 is coming to Xbox Game Pass and will support Xbox Play Anywhere.
Aphelion
DON'T NOD is back with an all-new sci-fi adventure with players tasked to survive an uncharted planet with astronauts Ariane and Thomas. The two have been separated and must find each other by traversing a frozen planet under threat from dangerous anomalies. An inky black beast stalks the player characters as reality itself shifts.
Aphelion is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC with Play Anywhere support and is launching on Xbox Game Pass.
Indie selects
From game makers and game changers: The Indie Selects trailer highlights a smorgasbord of sweet indie titles, like The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital and Sorry We're Closed from Akupara Games.
Vampire Survivors Ante Chamber update
More Vampire Survivors in a sweet new free update? AND it's out today! ... except on Xbox. Despite showing up in the ID@Xbox showcase, Poncle shared on social media that the Xbox update for Vampire Survivors had not completed its certification before the announcement and that the Xbox update would be launched as soon as it was ready.
When it does drop, you'll get to enjoy a much-anticipated crossover between two indie powerhouses: Vampire Survivors and Balatro. Check out our breakdown of the Vampire Survivors Ante Chamber update for all the garlicky details.
Unfortunately we didn't manage to deliver the 1.14 update on time for Xbox platformsWe're sorry to any Xbox players who were looking forward to play the update todayWe submitted new builds to be certified & the new plan is to launch the Xbox updates as soon as they're ready!October 28, 2025
Dayz Badlands
DayZ is getting some exciting new content, including a desert-themed map set in the Nasdara province. This expansion will have you struggling to survive in a ravaged wasteland that was the site of seemingly endless warfare even before the infected rose up to make life more difficult.
The Middle Eastern-inspired map is the largest to come to DayZ to date and features abandoned historical sites, Soviet-era military bases, and oil drilling/refining infrastructure. You'll have to keep an eye on your thirst and your health, as both bullets and water are scarce in this dangerous new territory.
DayZ Badlands is coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2026.
Superball
Rocket League-like soccer game but with a cyberpunk aesthetic and superpowered characters instead of cars? Sure, sign me up. This free-to-play, ball-kickin' good time shadow dropped today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC. If you've got Xbox Game Pass, you can try out all sixteen supercharged heroes instantly, no unlocking necessary.
Invincible Vs: Robot and Monster Girl
Invincible Vs, the superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe from Quarter Up and Skybound Games, showed off gameplay for Robot and Monster Girl during the showcase.
Sledding Game
The most simply named title from today's showcase somehow won me over as a personal favorite. Sledding Game is, simply put, a game about hanging out and sledding with your friends. In the developer commentary, the solo developer described Sledding Game as a place where you can race, do cool flips, and see some fun rag dolls.
This multiplayer snowy sandbox lets you talk to people using proximity chat to have fun and virtually hang out with up to 20 of your snow-loving besties. Take a break from sledding and just chill, build snowmen, roast marshmallows, have snowball fights, or find other fun, random things to do. There's so much more than just sledding, like playing darts, going curling, drinking hot cocoa, or fishing. There's even a karaoke mic in the lodge.
"Its crazy how far it's come," says the developer in a voiceover, "I'm really excited to share that Sledding Game is coming to Xbox and Game Pass."
Sledding Game doesn't yet have a confirmed release date, but it will be a day one launch on Xbox Game Pass with support for Xbox Play Anywhere.
Raw Fury x Game Pass
Raw Fury comes at us fast with three Xbox Game Pass announcements in the ID@Xbox Fall 2025 showcase.
The first announcement in the two-minute-long sizzle reel is Monsters are Coming! Rock and Road: build and fortify your rolling fortress, then fight off hordes of enemies to keep on moving. Monsters are Coming! is releasing on November 20th on Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud, with a console release coming in 2026. The game is also handheld verified!
The second title, Dome Keeper, is a roguelike action miner where you dig, explore, and defend your base from alien threats. Developed by Bippinbits and published by Raw Fury, Dome Keeper makes its Xbox debut on December 9 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud.
The final announcement from Raw Fury is Routine, a first-person sci-fi horror set in a 1980s-inspired vision of a futuristic lunar base. Developed by Lunar Software, this unsettling and immersive atmospheric experience is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud on December 4.
Egging on
Platforming your way through a variety of egg-themed environments is no yolk in Egging On — a challenging platformer developed by Egobounds and published by Alibi Games and IndieArk. Egging On comes to Xbox Game Pass on November 6.
Over the Hill
From the developers behind Art of Rally, Over the Hill is a stunningly beautiful game where you can hit the trail alone or with a few friends in a stylish adventure featuring 1960s through 1980s era off-roading vehicles. Traverse real-world locations from valleys to mountains and everything in between when Over the Hill comes to Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
TCG Card Shop Simulator
I've been having a good time playing the recent Xbox Game Pass addition, Supermarket Simulator, so my interest was quickly piqued by TCG Card Shop Simulator. Run your monster card-collecting shop, design your store, set your prices, hire staff, and even spray stinky gamers during hosted events. Expand your card trading empire in Quarter 1 of 2026. TCG Card Shop Simulator is coming to Xbox Game Pass and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
Task Time
Looking for a new chaotic multiplayer game to dive into with your friends, loved ones, or random strangers you met a decade ago in Gears of War? Task Time might just be what you're looking for. Players are tasked with six rounds of randomly generated tasks and must secure their spot at the top of the leaderboard.
Potential challenges include hitting your grandma with a selfie-stick (in-game!) or trying to keep physical letters far apart from each other. Task Time will challenge you, your friends, and your frenemies equally when it comes to Xbox PC.
Mouse P.I. Detective for hire
The ID@Xbox showcase closed out with a deep dive into MOUSE P.I. for Hire, coming to Xbox Series X|S on March 19, 2026.
According to the developer commentary from members of Fumi Games, the team wanted to make a game that looked like the cartoons your grandparents probably watched as kids. This old-school boomer shooter has the unusual setting of a cartoon, but in a uniquely challenging 3D environment.
MOUSE P.I. for Hire is entirely hand-drawn, frame by frame, with a classic art style known as Rubber Hose animation. Despite tackling serious topics, the game's art style gave the developers the freedom to inject some comedic beats into its deep, engaging story.
The bouncing animation and rubber-hose art style of the game meant that everything had to bend and stretch, but it also meant that the team was not limited by realism. MOUSE P.I. for Hire's black and white aesthetic created an additional layer of challenge. Unable to rely on traditional visual cues like yellow paint, the team had to get creative with gameplay indicators. Outlining on interactive elements versus no outlines on background elements and creative lighting helps to guide players through the game.
The city of Mouseburg has its own cheesy flavor, too. A cast of Mice, shrews, and rats live in the city, creating a lively and diverse mix of storytelling opportunities. MOUSE P.I. for Hire's protagonist is Jack Pepper, a grizzled war veteran turned private investigator who has some unsavory tactics for extracting the information he needs to solve the game's three cases.
The main hub of Mouseburg features Jack's office — where players can find a corkboard and string together clues to unlock story progression — as well as a pub and workshop. Pub NPCs handle mini-games, like the vintage-inspired baseball card game. Players can win hints, clues, and free upgrades by playing these mini-games and talking to NPCs.
FAQ
Are any of the games announced during today's ID@Xbox showcase coming to Xbox Game Pass?
Several of the indie games announced during today's ID@Xbox showcase are slated to launch on various Xbox Game Pass tiers. The following games are confirmed for Xbox Game Pass:
Superball - Oct. 28
Egging On - Nov. 6
Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road - Nov. 20
ROUTINE - Dec. 4
Dome Keeper - Dec. 9
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf - Early 2026
Aphelion - 2026
AWAYSIS - 2026
Darkwood 2 - TBA
Sledding Game - TBA
TCG Card Shop Simulator - TBA
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