November Indie Picks (Plus Exciting Announcements!)

With the holiday season approaching, the ID@Xbox team is eager to present the Indie Selects for this month. Before diving into our selections, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported indie games on Xbox throughout this year. Indie Selects is our way of shining a light on the wonderfully eccentric and exceptional. Not everyone’s ideal game is a major blockbuster; sometimes, it’s a finely crafted narrative with emotional depth, a clever twist on a familiar concept, or something just delightfully out there. We appreciate you checking out our recommendations and supporting brilliant game creators on our platform.

Turning to this season’s showcase, we’ve opted to expand our December highlights beyond a mere week to three full weeks of 2024 Indie Select Highlights. Starting December 11, each week, we will feature and promote 18 of our favorite titles that emerged this year. To discover these must-have indie gems, be sure to explore the Indie Selects section every Wednesday on the Xbox Store, located under the Games Home tab.

As a way to cap off the year, January 28, 2025, marks the first anniversary of this program, and we have planned a special 2024 Anniversary Collection. We will curate six standout titles from last year’s Indie Selects that we feel are absolute must-haves and place them in a celebratory showcase. Expect more surprises, exciting sales, and new collections in 2025. But for now, let’s enjoy what’s immediately in front of us.

This month is packed with outstanding choices, each pushing the boundaries with their unique design, intriguing mechanics, thrilling storytelling, and sheer fun. We all had opinions about which games deserved attention—some of us were still riding the October high, craving something chilling, while others longed for an adventure featuring a majestic wolf. Many just desired an escape—be it into an enigmatic cosmos, a maze of tough decisions, or the depths of our creativity. In the end, we compiled a list that satisfied all of us, and we’re sure it will offer something memorable for you too. Here’s what’s on the docket this month, in no particular order:

Are you in need of an emotional gaming journey? Neva is likely to tug at your heartstrings. After spending last weekend with it, I was mesmerized by its stunning visuals, moving musical score, and found myself occasionally shedding a tear. Neva is a beautifully constructed game that’s not only engaging to play but deeply moving.

This game is a successor to the visually captivating and emotionally intense Gris by Nomada Studio, demonstrating a refined focus on their creative abilities. Gris was a piece of art; Neva takes it further by weaving satisfying and straightforward platforming and combat into the fabric of its design. Though the journey spans only about five hours, those hours resonate deeply and emotionally. If you encounter challenges in combat, the game’s “Story Mode” eliminates health concerns, letting you enjoy the narrative without fearing defeat.

Next up is Animal Well, a mesmerizing 2D pixel art Metroidvania, brimming with abstract puzzles set in an enigmatic, living world. Navigating this mysterious landscape, you take on the role of a tiny blob absorbing the game’s unique language as you unlock new paths with peculiar tools. The well’s inhabitants add a unique dynamic, as some creatures are central to solving intricate puzzles, while others present challenges of evasion, an artful dance of its own. The intrigue of the game lies in its countless secrets, waiting to be discovered anew even after you’ve reached its apparent conclusion.

The beauty of Animal Well is in the environment’s role as the true protagonist of your adventure. Each moment provides a new interaction or discovery that is both surprising and deeply satisfying. As you dig into these mysteries, you’ll find your objectives shifting as the pursuit of secrets becomes its own reward, rewarding patience and curiosity without relying on external guidance.

On a different note, Planet Coaster 2 caters to those who delight in theme park and strategy simulations. I find it thrilling to balance creativity and strategy, building a vibrant theme park that captivates the eye. The coaster builder is intuitive, promoting creativity and allowing wild designs for rides. Yet, the realism of managing staff, budgets, and guest satisfaction ensures a grounded experience.

Sharing your park creations with the community and exploring theirs expands the game’s dimensions, showcasing impressive creativity that can inspire new directions for your park. Whether you’re a seasoned park manager or a newcomer, Planet Coaster 2 offers a rich blend of strategy, creativity, and community engagement.

Moving into the realm of ghostly encounters, Phasmophobia delivers a gripping horror adventure where players identify haunted presences using various detection tools. Each spirit leaves unique supernatural traces to decode, with success hinging on identifying the correct ghost type.

The game’s eerie charm lies in its masterful use of atmospheric elements like sound and light, creating an immersive haunted house experience. Since direct confrontation isn’t an option, you need to stay alert and efficiently gather evidence, all while sidestepping danger. Playing with friends elevates the experience, with jump scares often turning into laughter and camaraderie after the initial fright.

Now let’s talk about Fear the Spotlight, a game dripping in ’90s nostalgia with an emphasis on puzzle-solving and stealth. The story follows Vivian, searching through her school for her missing friend Amy after a séance gone awry. Throughout the game, Vivian must evade a monster with a spotlight for a head, accumulating key items to advance further.

While the game doesn’t heavily rely on jump scares, it captivates with a subtle, growing tension that pairs perfectly with its compelling narrative. Fear the Spotlight shines with character-driven storytelling and unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of beloved classic horror experiences.

Lastly, Slay the Princess is a journey wrapped in a visual novel style, offering a choose-your-own-adventure experience tied to a mysterious mission: to slay the Princess. As the player navigates through various narrative prompts, your choices influence both the story’s path and your perception of it.

What begins as a seemingly straightforward task unravels into a complex interplay of decisions, shaping the Princess’s fate and your own. The sketch-like art style, engrossing audio, and standout voice performances create an inviting yet eerie atmosphere that encourages players to explore all its intricate twists and turns. Don’t worry if you encounter numerous game-overs; persistence in this darkly enchanting narrative is rewarded.

These titles are but a glimpse of what’s available, offering a range of experiences that promise to engage, challenge, and entertain. Dive in, explore these worlds, and find out which ones resonate with you.