ID@Xbox showcase recap: Every indie game announcement from the Fall 2025 event

Agni: Village of Calamity

The ID@Xbox fall showcase started with a chilling reveal: a new psychological horror game from Indonesian studio Separuh Interactive. Players will experience a cinematic and unsettling story as Agni, an investigator who disobeys orders to explore a secluded village filled with secrets and a hauntingly cold presence.

I’m really intrigued by *Agni: Village of Calamity*. From what I’ve seen, you play as Agni, who’s searching for someone and uncovering some seriously creepy stuff along the way. It looks like it’s not just about the mystery, though – she’s also dealing with a lot of personal baggage, like guilt and fear. It’s a puzzle-solving adventure with a strong emotional core, and I’m excited to see how it all plays out when it launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026.

Darkwood 2

The popular survival horror game Darkwood, which was a big hit in 2017, is getting a sequel. While the original game was created by Acid Wizard, Ice-Pick Lodge – known for their acclaimed Pathologic series – is now leading development. Acid Wizard is still involved as consultants and retains ownership of the Darkwood franchise.

Darkwood 2 is a new survival horror game set in a terrifying world, years after the events of the original. It takes place in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s fall and can be played as a completely separate story. Players will explore decaying locations like villages, abandoned ships, and crumbling factories, all while trying to survive the spreading corruption of a sinister forest and the horrifying creatures within. You won’t want to be caught when night falls!

Darkwood 2 is coming soon and will launch day on one Xbox Game Pass.

Don’t Fret

Get ready for a spooky and unique experience with Don’t Fret, a psychological horror game coming to Xbox Series X|S. You play as a guitar named Fret, solving puzzles and battling frightening enemies as you uncover the secrets of a mysterious place called Harmonic Heights. Expect plenty of music-themed twists!

This cinematic experience from Scary Kid Studios and Digital Pajamas masterfully blends music and suspense, and it’s poised to become a beloved cult classic.

Puppergeist

Ever wanted to pet a ghost dog? You can in Puppergeist! This charming game, created by Serenity Forge, proves that spooky adventures can also be sweet and heartwarming. You’ll play as Claire, a cheerful witch, as she travels to the afterlife to find her missing puppy. It’s a rhythm-based visual novel, so expect a mix of story and fun gameplay!

While exploring the afterlife, she’ll meet friendly ghost dogs she can play with. By succeeding in rhythm-based challenges, she’ll connect with them, hear their stories, and share touching experiences.

No release date has been announced for Puppergeist just yet, but it is coming to Xbox in time.

33 Immortals Pride and Temperance Update

To be honest, I was anticipating new information about Thunder Lotus’s *A Fate’s End* when I saw they were participating in the ID@Xbox Fall 2025 showcase. Instead, they surprised everyone by releasing the *33 Immortals*’ Pride and Temperance Update immediately.

I’m excited to share details about our latest update! We’ve added a couple of powerful new weapons – the Glaive of Temperance and the Crossbows of Pride – which I think players will really enjoy. To test them out, we’ve also introduced ‘Ordeals,’ a new difficulty system where you can customize the challenge. You can increase the difficulty to make enemies tougher, but in return, you’ll earn significantly better rewards for taking on that risk.

Beyond that, we’ve included some new chamber objectives. You can now cleanse Purge seals to free the chamber and destroy those creepy effigies, or if you’re feeling creative, you can visit Charon’s wardrobe to customize your character’s appearance.

The latest update for The 33 Immortals, called Pride and Temperance, is now available on Xbox! And it’s included with your Xbox Game Pass subscription, so you can play it at no extra cost.

Awaysis

Awaysis boldly calls itself “The World’s Best Dungeon Brawler,” but the developers at 17-BIT (published by CULT Games) haven’t revealed many details yet. This physics-based brawler lets 1 to 4 players team up for a wild campaign starring a cartoonish, red-caped fox-like hero.

Challenge the AI, or compete against other players online or locally, all while listening to music by Hip Tanaka (known for his work on *Metroid* and *Earthbound*). Awaysis will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and with Xbox Game Pass in 2026.

Ungodly

Ungodly, created by Azra Games, is a dark fantasy role-playing game launching in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Players will select from over twenty unique characters called “primals,” each offering different skills and abilities, and face challenging enemies in a vast, ruined world.

Planet of Lana 2

Wishfully has released more gameplay footage for the upcoming Planet of Lana sequel. Players will find plenty of new things to do, including the ability to pet the main character, Mui! Planet of Lana 2 will take you to diverse new locations, like snowy mountains, shadowy mines, and even cities.

The recent gameplay demonstration included insights from the developers and focused on Demua, a beautiful underwater area. Players will be able to swim and dive freely with the character Lana, but her companion, Mui, can’t go in the water. The developers showed how players can use plants to help Mui navigate puzzles that involve water.

I’ve been watching Lana and Mui tackle some really interesting challenges lately. They’re facing off against new creatures and robots, but Lana is really stepping up – she’s become much more capable and moves with incredible agility. What’s cool is that Lana can actually *tell* Mui what to do with voice commands. Mui can get all over the screen, and now has this hypnotic ability that lets you temporarily control other creatures nearby. These creatures each have their own special skills, which can be a huge help when you’re trying to figure out the puzzles.

Planet of Lana 2 tells the story of a world transformed by new technology. After Lana and Mui are captured by unfriendly humans, they must team up to find a way to escape. This sequel is much bigger than the original Planet of Lana, offering double the content, harder puzzles, and a more detailed story. Players will be able to enjoy Planet of Lana 2 through Xbox Game Pass, and the Xbox Play Anywhere feature will allow seamless gameplay across devices.

Aphelion

DON’T NOD’s latest game puts you in a sci-fi adventure where you play as astronauts Ariane and Thomas, stranded on a mysterious, frozen planet. Separated from each other, they must navigate the dangerous landscape, threatened by strange anomalies and a terrifying, shadowy creature, as the very world around them changes.

Aphelion will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and includes Play Anywhere support. It will also be added to Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Indie selects

The Indie Selects trailer showcases a diverse collection of exciting indie games, including popular titles like The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital and Sorry We’re Closed from Akupara Games.

Vampire Survivors Ante Chamber update

Good news for Vampire Survivors fans: a new free update is available today… everywhere except Xbox. While the update was highlighted during an Xbox event, the developers, Poncle, explained on social media that it hadn’t finished the required certification process for Xbox. They promise the Xbox version will be released as soon as it’s approved.

We’re sorry, but the 1.14 update isn’t available on Xbox platforms today as planned. We’ve submitted the update for certification and will release it on Xbox as soon as it’s approved. We appreciate your patience! October 28, 2025

Dayz Badlands

I’m really hyped about the new content coming to DayZ! They’re adding a desert map set in this region called Nasdara, and it sounds brutal. Apparently, the area was already a warzone *before* the whole zombie thing happened, so it’s going to be a seriously tough place to survive. It’s a completely ravaged wasteland, and honestly, I can’t wait to check it out – if I can survive, that is!

The new DayZ map, set in a Middle Eastern landscape, is the biggest one yet. It includes forgotten historical locations, old Soviet military installations, and oil facilities. Surviving will be tough, as both ammunition and clean water are hard to find in this harsh environment, so you’ll need to carefully manage your health and hydration.

DayZ Badlands is coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2026.

Superball

Imagine Rocket League, but set in a futuristic cyberpunk world with characters who have superpowers instead of cars—sounds amazing, right? This free-to-play game just unexpectedly launched on Xbox Series X|S and PC. And if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can play as all sixteen powerful heroes right away, without needing to unlock them first.

Invincible Vs: Robot and Monster Girl

During a recent showcase, the 3v3 tag fighting game *Invincible Vs*, based on the *Invincible* universe and developed by Quarter Up and Skybound Games, revealed gameplay footage featuring the characters Robot and Monster Girl.

Sledding Game

Surprisingly, the game with the simplest name – Sledding Game – quickly became my favorite. It’s a laid-back game all about enjoying time with friends and going sledding. The developer explained that you can race, pull off tricks, and watch hilarious ragdoll physics in action.

This online game lets you and up to 20 friends hang out in a snowy world. You can chat with people nearby, build snowmen, have snowball fights, and enjoy lots of other fun activities like roasting marshmallows or playing games. It’s not just about sledding – you can also play darts, go curling, sip hot cocoa, fish, or even sing karaoke in the cozy lodge!

The developer excitedly announced in a voiceover, “It’s amazing how much progress this game has made! I’m thrilled to reveal that Sledding Game is heading to Xbox and will be available with Game Pass.”

While a specific release date for Sledding Game hasn’t been announced, it will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one and will also support Xbox Play Anywhere.

Raw Fury x Game Pass

Raw Fury surprised everyone at the ID@Xbox Fall 2025 showcase with three new games coming to Xbox Game Pass.

The exciting new game, Monsters are Coming!, was just revealed! In this game, you’ll build and defend a mobile fortress while battling waves of enemies to stay on the move. It launches on Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud on November 20th, and will be available on consoles in 2026. Plus, it’s been verified to work great on handheld devices!

Dome Keeper is an action-packed roguelike game where you mine for resources, explore underground, and protect your base from alien invaders. Created by Bippinbits and published by Raw Fury, it’s launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud on December 9th.

Raw Fury recently announced Routine, a spooky, first-person sci-fi horror game. Set in a futuristic lunar base with a strong 1980s aesthetic, the game is developed by Lunar Software and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming starting December 4th. It promises a deeply immersive and unsettling atmosphere.

Egging on

Get ready for a tricky but fun platforming adventure in Egging On! Developed by Egobounds and published by Alibi Games and IndieArk, this game features unique levels all centered around eggs. You can play it with Xbox Game Pass starting November 6th.

Over the Hill

The creators of Art of Rally are bringing you Over the Hill, a visually striking game where you can explore off-road trails solo or with friends. Drive classic vehicles from the 1960s to 1980s through realistic landscapes – from valleys to mountains – when it arrives on Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

TCG Card Shop Simulator

I recently enjoyed playing Supermarket Simulator on Xbox Game Pass, so I was excited to learn about TCG Card Shop Simulator. In this game, you manage a shop that sells monster cards – you can design the store, set prices, hire employees, and even playfully spray messy gamers at events! You’ll build your card-trading business, and the game is scheduled to launch in the first three months of 2026. TCG Card Shop Simulator will be available on Xbox Game Pass and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

Task Time

Want a fun, unpredictable game to play with friends, family, or even old online buddies? Task Time could be perfect! You’ll complete six rounds of random challenges and compete for the highest score on the leaderboard.

Task Time on Xbox PC presents some unique challenges, like accidentally ‘hitting’ your grandma with a selfie stick within the game, or struggling to keep virtual letters separate. It’s designed to be equally difficult for you, your friends, and even your rivals!

Mouse P.I. Detective for hire

The ID@Xbox presentation ended with a detailed look at MOUSE P.I. for Hire, which will be released on Xbox Series X|S on March 19, 2026.

The creators at Fumi Games aimed to design a game with the visual style of classic cartoons from decades ago. This results in a unique experience – a fast-paced, challenging 3D shooter that feels like playing inside an old-fashioned cartoon.

MOUSE P.I. for Hire uses a traditional, hand-drawn animation style – think classic cartoons with bouncy, flexible movements. While the game deals with serious themes, this art style allowed the creators to add humor to the compelling story.

The game’s bouncy movement and cartoonish art allowed the developers to focus on fun rather than realism, letting everything stretch and bend. Because MOUSE P.I. for Hire uses a black and white style, the team had to find unique ways to guide players. They did this by using outlines to highlight objects you can interact with, and by using lighting to draw your attention where it needs to be, since they couldn’t rely on color cues.

Mouseburg is a unique city filled with mice, shrews, and rats, offering plenty of interesting stories. The game, MOUSE P.I. for Hire, features Jack Pepper, a tough ex-soldier turned detective. He’s not afraid to use questionable methods to get the information he needs to crack the three cases in the game.

The center of Mouseburg is Jack’s office, where players can piece together clues on a corkboard to advance the story. The town also has a pub and a workshop. At the pub, players can enjoy mini-games with NPCs, such as a baseball card game reminiscent of vintage collectibles. These games and conversations offer rewards like hints, clues, and free upgrades.

FAQ

Are any of the games announced during today’s ID@Xbox showcase coming to Xbox Game Pass?

Many of the independent games revealed in today’s ID@Xbox presentation will be available on different Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. Here’s a list of the confirmed Game Pass titles:

Here’s a list of upcoming game releases: Superball is scheduled for October 28th, followed by Egging On on November 6th. Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road will be released on November 20th. ROUTINE is coming out December 4th, and Dome Keeper on December 9th. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is expected in early 2026, along with Aphelion and AWAYSIS. Darkwood 2, Sledding Game, and TCG Card Shop Simulator are all currently without confirmed release dates.

2025-10-29 00:44