By Paula Beaton If you’re fed up putting hours into AAA+ games or exploring vast open-worlds in sprawling RPGS, might we suggest taking a break from all that and diving into an indie game? Xbox has some amazing indie titles that might not be on your radar, from strategy games to action and adventure titles.
No idea where to start? We’ve picked 11 of the best indie games to play on Xbox for September. Which will you play first?
From the Xbox Store:
“From the writers & directors of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy set in modern day Los Angeles.
You play as Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher. In charge of rehabilitating a group of ex-supervillains, you must manage your roster while navigating office relationships and rebuilding your suit for a shot at revenge.
SHAPE YOUR STORY
In Dispatch, every decision you make influences the unfolding narrative. From banter in the breakroom to life-or-death situations in the field, your choices affect your relationships with the heroes, their allegiances, and the path your own story takes.
DEPLOY YOUR HEROES
Use the strategy map to review ongoing emergencies and deploy the right (or wrong) heroes to deal with them. Balance the risks and rewards as you make tactical decisions, knowing that each choice can have lasting consequences for your team and the city.
MANAGE YOUR ROSTER
Managing heroes sometimes goes beyond their powers. Each hero comes with quirks, flaws, and baggage you’ll need to navigate to keep the team together. Upgrade their skills and unlock abilities to boost their effectiveness in the field.
Blending narrative, strategy, and humor, Dispatch explores what it means to be a hero, whether you’re wearing a cape or behind a desk.”
Dispatch is one of the funniest games I’ve played this year, and features the voice acting talents of Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Laura Bailey and Jacksepticeye, plus a whole host of other stars. It’s available to buy now for £24.99 ($29.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“The King’s watchful gaze…
Peasants toil, miners dig, and knights train… but only when I look at them! Wherever my eyes fall, progress follows. But the moment I glance elsewhere?
Laziness! Chaos! I must choose wisely between the fields, the mines, or the barracks, expanding my gaze so no one slacks off!Command the kingdom’s lifeblood
Water, wheat, stone, coal, silver, every resource fuels my empire! Farms feed my people, mines fund my ambitions, and workshops forge mighty defenses. Every decision shapes my reign, and only a well-managed kingdom will survive the storm.
A roguelite kingdom
Each land presents new trials, from cursed cemeteries to infernal depths. Enemies are led by unexpected Generals, demanding unique tactics to defeat. As a true roguelite, my efforts grant permanent upgrades for my next reign. With my royal council of cavalry masters, arcane sages, and cunning strategists, victory is inevitable!
Ever-Expanding Kingdom!
The Xbox version comes packed from day one with the Volcano update, adding a fiery new biome, new bosses, and new ways to expand your realm.”
The King is Watching is a strangely addictive roguelite city builder and one of the best indie games to play on Xbox this month. If that’s your thing, you could find yourself sinking far more hours into this title than you expected! It’s available to buy now for £12.49 ($14.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a fantastic world in this love letter to classic 3D action platformers. Zirian, accompanied by his mechanical Cuckoo, must save his sister from a mysterious Clock Tower that has plunged the land into eternal night.
Master a seamless blend of dynamic platforming and fast-paced combat. Jump, dash, grapple, and glide your way through thrilling challenges that rekindle the magic of classic action platformer favourites.”
If you’re into 3D action platformers, Duskfade comes highly recommended. It’s available to buy now for £24.99 ($29.99) and there’s a free demo to give you a taste of the gameplay.
From the Xbox Store:
“Enter the explosive conflict of the Vietnam War and fight your way through some of the fiercest clashes in modern history. Join the battle raging across an extreme landscape of vast mountain gorges and thick jungle, where the North Vietnamese Armies clash with the military strength of the US Armed Forces. Build tunnels, fly helicopters, drive patrol boats, use historically accurate weapons and work with your team to achieve victory.
Take the battle to the enemy across 6 large-scale maps inspired by real world locations. Play as either the North Vietnamese Army or US Armed Forces and choose from one of 17 specialized roles within a 50-strong team made up of multiple squads. Join or lead infantry, recon, armor, mortar squads and helicopter units, using communication and teamwork with your fellow players to identify objectives and ruthlessly exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. Emergent gameplay features bring intensity and realism to the conflict, as players tackle each battle with authentic weapons, orders and tactics. Follow the chain of command and work together as a team to meet your objectives and achieve victory.”
In Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, you cann choose from 17 distinct battle roles across six battlefield units, including Commander, Squad Leader, Rifleman, Grenadier, Sniper, Tank Commander, and many more. Realistic combat gameplay means this is about as immersive a game as you’ll find in the genre!
The game is available to buy now for £34.99 ($39.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“Death is only the beginning in this haunting, retro-style FPS, where creativity and brutality go hand-in-hand. Crawl from your grave and fight your way through the ranks of a twisted cult with an arsenal of realistic weapons and an original soundtrack that puts you right in the heart of the horror. CULTIC mixes lethal combat with immersive, survival horror to create a violently satisfying experience. Includes the original campaign, Interlude, the Chapter Two expansion campaign, all Survival maps, and the Cultmas bonus map.
Made in the style of a classic shooter, but with a modern feel, CULTIC gives you the freedom to approach combat your way. You can run in guns blazing as you jump, slide, and dodge to keep out of harm’s way. If you prefer a slower approach, you can lay traps, let enemies come to you, and pick them off from the safety of cover. Armed with a variety of mid-century firearms and explosives, you’ll be well equipped to slaughter everything in your path, provided you don’t get slaughtered first.
Chapter One is set in rural, 1960s America, where you explore cult outposts, dusty catacombs, abandoned asylums, and much more. Chapter Two brings you into ravaged streets of New Grandewel, where corpses litter the roads and cultists infest every inch of the city you once protected. The thrilling second campaign includes new weapons and enemies, a new soundtrack, and even more brutality.
CULTIC was styled to feel like a throwback to the shooters of yore, but with more realistic physics, a deeply explorable environment, and a fully 3D game world. The gameplay, audio design, and art are all stylized to create a one-of-a-kind, living nightmare.”
If you’re looking to play something a bit different this month, I highly recommend CULTIC as one of the best indie games to play on Xbox. Its atmospheric visuals and intense, fast-paced combat combine to ensure it’s an unforgettable experience, with an 83 rating on Metacritic.
CULTIC is available to buy now for £16.74 ($19.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“Your truck is magic and you now owe a soul debt to the buff isekai elf girl living in your head. Run over pedestrians as Truck-kun, make deliveries, and defeat the Skeleton King across two worlds in this chaotic run-based anime driving game!
Carissa Ward was all set to start her new job as the VP of marketing–until YOU hit her with your truck and transported her consciousness to a world of fantasy and magic! Rather than accept her fate, gathering a party and going on a journey of growth and self-discovery, Carissa uses all her knowledge of anime tropes and Japanese RPGs to find a different path:
Unrepentant vehicular manslaughter.
Pressed into the service of the newly-incarnated buff anime elf, you’ll speed your magic delivery truck to complete objectives across two worlds, running over pedestrians, sending them to another world as Truck-kun, and helping Carissa power up a Galactic Gate with the stars you generate together. The Skeleton King waits on the other end of the great divide, and the only way Carissa is getting home is to take a Scroll of Resurrection from his weird, dead, bony hands.
Good luck!!!”
Players say Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World has a highly addictive gameplay loop, and I’m inclined to agree! Scoring 69 on Metacritic, it’s clearly not a title that’s for everyone, but if fun, frantic action is your thing, you can buy it now for £16.74 ($19.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“Build the ultimate cat army through tactical breeding and send them into deep, challenging turn-based adventures. Draft abilities, collect items, and manipulate genetics across generations in this roguelike tactics game from the creators of The Binding of Isaac and The End is Nigh.”
Mewgenics is definitely one of the weirdest, most wonderful and best indie games to play on Xbox this month. The store description doesn’t give much away, but you basically manage a house of mutant kitties, send them on supply runs, breed them for unique traits, and send them out on challenging adventures. There’s a LOT more to the game than that, but to say any more would spoil it!
Mewgenics only launched last week on September 8 and you can buy it now for £33.49 ($39.99).
Watch out for our full Mewgenics review, dropping later this month.
From the Xbox Store:
“Step into the myth-shrouded lands where the hunter Ro begins her journey to bring her son back from the dead. Immerse yourself in the depths of the Spirit World, fractured into 4 realms and scarred with 13 distinct regions. Confront over 30 enemy types and harness the potential of more than 160 cards, forging unique archetypes and a multitude of powerful combinations. A dark journey awaits you, spanning 25+ hours of gameplay, with numerous enthralling side quests and grim boss battles.
Master Your Deck-Building Skills
Craft over 160 cards and fashion synergistic decks that focus on poison, strength, sacrifice, retaliation, backstabbing, blocking, movement, and more. Discover shamanic totems with unique effects to enhance your deck. Each new element allows you to tailor your tactical style as you prepare for your next deadly encounter.
Engage in Grid-Based Combat
Face a host of restless spirits – Skulldogs, Crackle Bursts, Woeful Seashrooms and more – in grid-based battles where each move is crucial. Test your wit by fighting unique enemy types, powerful bosses, and mini-bosses, all while taking into account environmental hazards and boons. Grow stronger, adapt your deck, and choose your battles as you explore a vast world filled with dangerous challenges.
Journey to the spirit realm
In forgotten lands shrouded by myth, Ro – a hunter from a small tribe – is overcome by grief following the death of her beloved son. Guided by voices from another world, she transcends into the realm of spirits, in hopes of bringing him back. Meet strange spirits and help them with quests and challenges that affect your deck – although not all of them may have your best interests at heart. Discover a mysterious world of forgotten lore, where darkness whispers secrets and invites you to unearth buried memories.”
With an impressive 82 score on Metacritic, Death Howl is a well-rounded title that’s challenging enough to take up hours of your time. The Outer Zone’s turn-based tactical deck-building game is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth playing this September. It’s included with Game Pass, or you can buy it for £11.71 ($13.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“From ink and brush,
life springs anew,
In death’s embrace,
souls remain still.ENDLESS CYCLES, CEASELESS REBIRTH
Step into the shifting, treacherous realms as Red, the swordsman bound by her destiny. Wield the power of the Fox whilst confronting monstrous enemies and brutal bosses. Death is not the end; it’s just a chance to redefine your destiny through cycles of death and rebirth. Take up your weapon and let your quest to escape the ever-changing realm of ink begin.
YOUR INK PET FIGHTS BY YOUR SIDE
Adorable yet deadly. Meet Momo: Your fiercely loyal companion. This mysterious Ink Pet fights tooth and claw alongside you every step of the way.
But the real magic happens when you combine Ink Gems: witness instant, explosive transformations! Experience the unique changes with over 15 unique, striking forms, each one granting access to utterly unique move sets. Which combination will become your favourite?
EXPLORE NEW REALMS
An Eastern fantasy world, painted in ink. Journey deep into stunning, diverse realms, from the vibrant, verdant forests to the hallowed, reverent ruins of the Mausoleum. Each environment is a breathtaking blend of classical Chinese ink-wash art and rich, vibrant colour palettes.
Draw your sword and venture into the unknown. Battle the enigmatic Realm Guardians to glimpse beyond the veil into their mysterious pasts. And prepare to face over 20 unique creatures, steeped in distinctive Chinese folklore and backstory, including the cunning Fox Demon, the elegant Peony Fairy and the elusive Mirror Sprite.”
As one of the best indie games to play on Xbox in September, Realm of Ink is a title that left me wowed. Its East Asian mythology and ink-wash art ensures this action roguelite with RPG elements feels truly unique. You can buy it now for £20.99 ($24.99).
From the Xbox Store:
“Chasing a relentless serial killer, you wake up in a hospital you’ve never seen before. Your body bears a grievous wound that will kill you in fifteen minutes if you do nothing. Yet even in death, you rise again, carrying the memories of everything you’ve endured.
Gain experience, adapt, and survive the time loop in this third-person survival horror – Fear the Timeloop.
Despite your critical condition, you must face an even greater threat: bloodthirsty monsters. The hospital is surrounded by mysterious figures, ready to kill anyone who steps outside.
The only person who can help you is Sheriff’s deputy Rose Watters. But neither she nor you know what horrors lurk in the dark corners of Saint Heritage Hospital – or which memories from the past might come rushing back.”
I’ve heard a lot about Fear The Timeloop from friends brave enough to play it. As somebody who can’t always handle survival horror, it’s not a title I’ve checked out personally. It gets a pretty average Metacritic score of 66, due in part to its poor voice acting, but I’m told it’s worth playing if you’re into timeloop games!
You can buy Fear The Timeloop now for £11.24 ($13.49).
From the Xbox Store:
“Deep within the forest, at the bottom of a well, lives the only creature brave enough to kill the queen…
WELL DWELLER is a dark fairy-tale metroidvania made by the creators of Crypt Custodian and Islets!
Play as Glimmer – a tiny bird armed with a matchstick- who must burn the wicked queen to save his family. Explore a dark fairy-tale landscape and befriend the charming characters who reside in the kingdom’s underbelly. Battle terrifying beasts and gain new abilities to expand your map. Solve puzzles, discover secrets, and unravel the mysteries that lie in this rotted kingdom.
Among the rotting ruins are a charming cast of characters just trying to get by. Go camping with Ilda, a tiny mouse who is on the run from the queens grasp. Explore an abandoned castle with Looter, a mysterious scavenger who searches the kingdom for the best wares to steal. And find and reunite with all of your sheltered siblings who were snatched up one night by a crazed hunter.
Light up your matchstick to illuminate the world and aid in combat. Collect trinkets to upgrade your abilities, and mix-and-match them to customize your game play. Solve puzzles, defeat vicious bosses, and forge your path to the queens quarters to save your family.”
Yes, it’s one of the best indie games to play on Xbox this month, but you’ll need to wait until September 22nd when Well Dweller arrives on Game Pass! Watch out for our full review of the game when it drops.
Looking for more Xbox games to play this month? Check out our roundup of the best Xbox Game Pass Games for September.
Olivia Davies