Xbox has some new indies on the way.
Eville, a new social deduction game hitting Game Pass on October 11, tests your powers of deduction and deception in a fantasy village with an honestly shocking murder rate. You’ll either work to expose one of your friends as a killer, or plot against them and escape justice yourself.
Amazing Cultivation Simulator blends farming with hardcore strategic town management and a story inspired by Chinese mythology. It’s on Game Pass now, so you can start training your own village of cultivators right away.
Turnip Boy continues his string of whimsical financial crimes in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank. Like a much quirkier version of Payday, the sequel to Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion has a lot more Enter the Gungeon-style action and less farming. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank comes to Game Pass in 2023.
Both surreal and serene, Ynglet is a one-of-a-kind platformer. A stunning soundtrack reacts to your movements through beautiful, fluid levels, making it something of a successor to the cult-hit Rez. Ynglet is available now.
Dark fantasy Souls-like Moonscars mixes brutal combat with 2D platforming and exploration. Its striking near-monochrome art style looks as incredible in action as its varied combat. Moonscars is out September 27.
In the too-cute-for-words Born of Bread, you play as an anthropomorphic chunk of dough in a world of equally imaginative characters. With an inventive turn-based combat system and gorgeous cartoon art style, it’s one to watch for Paper Mario fans.
Spiderheck is a fast-paced brawler with physics-based combat set in randomly generated neon arenas. It features singleplayer, head-to-head, and co-op modes so you can take down waves of enemies with friends or challenge them to frantic laser sword duels. Spiderheck launches September 22.
Moving Pieces Interactive
2. Shoulders of Giants
Sci-fi action adventure Shoulders of Giants lets you play both a mech and the adorable space frog that ride on its shoulders. Co-op lets two players control either the robot or the frog, or up to four robo-frog duos online. It’s due out this year.
If there’s one thing 2022 loves more than gritty space shooters, it’s cozy farming games. Homestead Arcana, which has you restoring nature and building a home with magic, stands out from the crowd thanks to its gorgeous art style.