November Indie Picks (Plus Exciting Announcements!)

As the festive season draws near, we at ID@Xbox are bubbling with excitement to bring you our latest Indie Selects for the month. Before diving in, a huge shoutout to everyone who has championed indie games on Xbox over the past year. Indie Selects is our special platform where we highlight games that are unusual, innovative, and heartfelt. These aren’t your typical blockbuster hits; they might be storytelling gems, adventurous twists on familiar ideas, or purely unique experiences. Thank you for checking out our recommendations and continuing to support amazing game creators through Xbox.

Moving right along, we’re spicing things up this December! Instead of a single week of highlights, we’ve curated three whole weeks of 2024 Indie Select Highlights for you. Starting December 11, get ready for 18 incredible titles each week, showcasing the very best of what this year has brought. Don’t forget to check the Indie Selects section in the Xbox Store (a few rows down from the Games Home tab) every Wednesday for this lineup of must-play indie games.

Come January 28, 2025, we’ll mark the one-year anniversary of this initiative with a special 2024 Anniversary Collection. We’ll be gathering six standout Indie Selects from the past year that we believe are indispensable and enshrining them in this collection for all to admire. There’s more in store for 2025, with fresh surprises, exciting sales, and brand new collections, but let’s relish the now and savor what’s currently available.

This month is jam-packed with standout titles that really push creative boundaries—from innovative designs and mysterious gameplay mechanics to dramatic storytelling and pure fun. We had fiery debates about what to spotlight. Some of us clung to October’s spooky vibes needing a fright-fix, others longed for a thrilling adventure riding on a giant wolf. Many craved to be swept away into enigmatic worlds, face impossible decisions, or dive into a creative sandbox. Our final list should hopefully delight everyone, including you! Here’s a sneak peek at this month’s lineup, without playing favorites:

If you haven’t yet jumped on the emotional train, “Neva” is going to take you for a ride. A weekend with this game and its visual beauty, captivating soundtrack, and immersive experience left me spellbound and occasionally tearful. “Neva,” by Nomada Studio, takes artistic platformer “Gris” to the next level with simple yet gratifying gameplay and combat. Wrapped up in roughly 5 hours, this game will tug at your heartstrings and provide profound introspection without the stress of overly challenging combat.

“Animal Well” emerges as an enigmatic 2D pixel art Metroidvania that thrives on abstract puzzles woven into haunting, living environments. You’ll explore this fascinating world as a sloshy blob, guided by intuitive cues and cryptic tools while unraveling the purpose behind the resident creatures. Lacking traditional combat, the game masterfully intertwines exploration and puzzle-solving, ensuring a journey of continuous discovery even after reaching the game’s end.

Theme park aficionados will find joy in “Planet Coaster 2,” where strategy meets creativity in vibrant ecosystems. Dive into exhilarating ride construction, meticulous park management, and a collaborative community where you can share and experience others’ handiwork. This sequel seems to hit all the right notes, regardless of whether you’re new to managing parks or a seasoned veteran.

“Phasmophobia” plunges you into a chilling ghost-hunting experience. Armed with an array of detection tools, your task is to identify hauntings in various eerie locales. The game thrives on classic horror elements like suspenseful sound and lighting, compelling you to work swiftly and instinctively. Engaging with friends amplifies the tension and hilarity, crafting a horror setup perfect for shared scares.

“Fear the Spotlight” bathes in 90s nostalgia, as it centers around Vivien’s quest to locate her friend Amy within a creepy, transformed school. With minimal jump scares and a focus on atmospheric tension, this retro horror full of puzzles ensures a gripping narrative experience for both horror veterans and newcomers alike.

Exploring love—or perhaps something darker—”Slay the Princess” challenges players’ perceptions in a choose-your-own-adventure style. Strategy and consequences unfold with each decision, complemented by top-notch voice acting and striking black-and-white visuals. Your choices drive changes to characters and storylines, promising a uniquely captivating ride every time you play.

So there you have it! We hope these selections intrigue and inspire you, presenting fresh possibilities and memorable experiences as you delve into the best indie gems. Thanks for being part of our vibrant community and for celebrating creativity with us.