I got to see more of trippy sci-fi adventure ‘The Alters’ and four other upcoming Xbox games — and most are coming to Game Pass

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Lately, I attended an exclusive preview event organized by ID@Xbox, where I got firsthand information on five forthcoming Xbox games straight from their creators.

For those unfamiliar, ID@Xbox refers to the specialized division within Xbox that assists indie game developers and small-scale publishers in launching their games across the Xbox platform, encompassing both consoles and Windows PCs.

I often look forward to discovering the innovative and top-tier Xbox games developed by the ID@Xbox team, so I’m eager to find out what new titles will emerge from that sector of the Xbox community.

Among the five game titles I came across, one clearly outshone the others, as “The Alters” reappeared before its eagerly awaited release this year. Notably, all five games seem poised to attract a significant number of fans on Xbox, given that at least three will be available on Xbox Game Pass from their very first day.

These are my swift opinions about all five independent games, which might turn out to be among the top picks joining Xbox Game Pass.

The Alters

11 Bit Studios’ highly-anticipated game, The Alters, has been eagerly awaited by our team at Windows Central for quite some time now, and it’s set to release on Xbox.

According to our very own Jez Corden, he was quite enthusiastic about The Alters following a brief playtest last year. However, due to the need for additional refinement, the game’s release has been pushed back to 2025. This extra time allows the development team to perfect all aspects of the game.

I won’t ever grumble when developers take as much time as they require to fully materialize their creative ideas, and following the ID@Xbox event showcasing upcoming titles from Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions, The Alters is now on my list of highly anticipated games as well.

As a solitary explorer in The Alters, I find myself cast away from my ill-fated team on an unforgiving planet. In this alien landscape, I struggle for survival amidst the merciless conditions. To cope, I tap into an enigmatic technology that empowers me to generate duplicates of myself – my own alter egos.

By “alternate,” I am referring to various versions of you that took different life paths, leading to significant differences in personality traits, skill sets, and even physical appearances. This concept serves as the basis for 11 Bit Studios to create their unique blend of survival, base-building, strategy, and narrative-driven gameplay.

The game Alters appears stunning, and I can hardly contain my excitement to try it out myself. It’s set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 later in the year, though we don’t have a specific release date yet. However, here’s something interesting: We’ll be able to play this game from the get-go using Xbox Game Pass.

Winter Burrow

At upcoming events, you may find a game that I’ve encountered earlier. In fact, I even had the opportunity to play it, although I never wrote about my short-lived interaction with it.

Winter Burrow is a captivating survival game where you assume the role of a small woodland creature, striving to establish a living amidst a chilly, expansive forest.

This game is charmingly reminiscent of the Redwall series, which ignited my childhood passion for reading. Unlike some games that focus on mouth-watering descriptions of fictional cuisine, Winter Burrow might well become one of the standout casual survival games in 2025.

To be honest, I usually don’t gravitate towards survival games, but the engaging gameplay and compelling storyline of Winter Burrow have caught my attention, making it a potential choice for me.

Pine Creek Games has been diligently refining the detailed artwork and animations in Winter Burrow since its last public showing, resulting in an impressive improvement.

The game titled “Winter Burrow” is planned for release on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs at some point in the remaining part of this year, and it will be available as a launch title on Xbox Game Pass.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault

It appears that the original Moonlighter didn’t cross my path, but from what I gather, quite a few gamers are eagerly awaiting the release of its sequel.

Moonlighter 2: Infinite Treasury – This captivating sequel combines the genres of roguelike, dungeon exploration action-RPGs with a unique shopkeeping mechanic, promising an engaging, potentially addictive experience for players who appreciate well-crafted gameplay loops.

It’s immediately clear that Digital Sun aims to significantly enhance every single element compared to the original, beginning with the artistic style.

Previously bland, unremarkable pixel art has been swapped out for stunning, colorful isometric 3D landscapes, suggesting a significant upgrade not only in visual appeal but also likely enhancing the smoothness and texture of battle interactions.

I’m looking forward to giving Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault a spin upon its release, as it’s yet another title from 11 Bit Studios that will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass alongside its launches on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation.

Outbound

Many individuals find themselves drawn to the charm of immersive, exploratory games, and Outbound appears to offer a captivating (or tranquil, based on one’s viewpoint) expansion to this beloved genre.

In this cooperative game, as many as four players can join, and the adventure takes place within a harmonious, ideal world that appears to consist solely of beautiful, scenic environments.

In order to traverse through life smoothly, make sure to utilize your electric RV, as it not only serves for travel but also functions as your living space.

In simpler terms, Outbound is an engaging game that combines the charm of open-world exploration with the excitement of base building. You have the freedom to customize your camper into your ideal mobile dwelling, featuring progressing technology options and a variety of tools to achieve your desired style and atmosphere.

Exploring the globe becomes more enticing with Outbound’s engaging gameplay, and if it delivers,

Hela

As the analyst, I’ve uncovered an intriguing revelation: The upcoming title we’re focusing on shares its origin with the creators of Unravel, yet it carves out a distinct identity for itself in the realm of cooperative platforming and exploration games. However, these are merely the initial commonalities; the unique aspects set this game apart.

In a mystical setting reminiscent of the Swedish and Scandinavian countryside, you and your team of three adventurers take on the roles of clever, resourceful mice embarking on a mission to assist an ancient enchantress who protects the nearby village.

The mouse you control has the freedom to navigate its surroundings in various ways, employing diverse movement techniques such as climbing, jumping, swinging, and running. The game is designed for teamwork and discovery, offering an open-ended narrative that subtly guides players.

As a researcher delving into the realm of Hela, its success significantly relies on two key aspects: the engaging experience of navigating this world as a mouse and the satisfying quality of its platforming mechanics. If these elements resonate well, Hela could potentially become another remarkable game to enjoy with companions. I’m elated to see that cooperative play is still alive and thriving in the gaming landscape.

As of now, there isn’t a specific date set for the launch of Hela, and it’s not yet clear if it will be available on Game Pass. However, we can confirm that Hela is planned for both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC platforms once it becomes available.

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2025-04-08 12:10