Our commitment to foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive gaming community is powered by the ongoing investments and innovations we make to protect players and promote positive play. Today, we are releasing our fourth Xbox Transparency Report, which demonstrates our advancements in promoting player safety and our commitment to transparency.
At Xbox, we remain dedicated to advancing the responsible application of AI to amplify our human expertise in the detection of potential toxicity. We have a unique opportunity to create industry-leading safety innovations that better protect our communities, leveraging Microsoft’s investments that combine the latest generative AI advancements with human expertise and judgement.
Our progressive approach to leveraging AI to categorize and identify harmful content is guided by Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard and allows our human moderators to focus on the more complex and nuanced harms, ensuring that our actions to safeguard the gaming community are accurate, consistent, and fair.
Early AI-supported investments include:
Auto Labeling helps to classify conversational text by identifying words or phrases that match criteria and characteristics of potentially harmful content. This approach uses AI to analyze reported text content and helps community moderators quickly sort out false reports so human moderation efforts can be focused on content that is the most critical.
Image Pattern Matching, powered by advanced database and image matching techniques enables rapid removal of known harmful content and identification of emergent toxic imagery.
Among the key takeaways in the report:
Effective New Ways of Protecting Players: Player behavior on Xbox voice chat has meaningfully improved since the launch of our new voice reporting feature. The feature has been effective in enabling players to report inappropriate verbal behavior with minimal impact to their gameplay. Since its launch, 138k voice records have been captured utilizing our ‘capture now, report later’ system. When those reports resulted in an Enforcement Strike, 98% of players showed improvement in their behavior and did not receive subsequent enforcements. Additionally, we have updated our proactive approach to more effectively prevent harmful content from reaching players (3.2 million more lines of text than last report, or 67%), allowing players to engage in a positive way. We will continue to invest in features that protect and enhance the Xbox player experience.
Understanding of Enforcements Leads to a Safer Community: The Enforcement Strike System was launched last year to promote positive play while helping players understand the severity of a violation. Since its launch, 88% of those who received an Enforcement Strike did not engage in activity that violated our Community Standards to receive another enforcement. We also reduced suspension lengths overall for minor offenses. Of enforcements that would have previously resulted in a 3-day or more suspension, 44% were given a reduced length. The combination of these results shows that the majority of players choose to improve their behavior after only one suspension, even when it is short.
Blocking Inauthentic Accounts Before They Have Impact: We have been continuously investing in ways to spot inauthentic accounts, which has allowed us to quickly block many of them as soon as they’re created, preventing them from affecting our players. Our improved methods prevented millions of inauthentic accounts from being used as soon as they are created and have led to a decline in the number of proactive enforcements on inauthentic accounts for the first time in two years, with enforcements dropping from 16.3 million in the last report to 7.3 million.
Outside of the Transparency Report, our team continues to work closely to drive innovation in safety and improve our players’ experience:
Launch of Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit: Microsoft understands that parents and caregivers are busy, and that the tech landscape keeps evolving. This toolkit provides guidance on how to leverage Microsoft’s safety features and family safety settings to support and enhance digital parenting, plus guidance for families looking to navigate the world of generative AI together. We’ve also included links to a selection of informational resources already made for parents, such as the Family Online Safety Institute’s How To Be A Good Digital Parent Toolkit.
Microsoft’s Annual Global Online Safety Survey: This survey seeks to better understand the digital ecosystem and individual’s experiences online. We share our results publicly so that others can benefit from the insights as we collectively strive to create a safer online environment. The survey looks at how people of all ages perceive the opportunities and risks posed by technology.
Building a better online community with Minecraft Education’s Good Game: This recent addition to the CyberSafe collection of immersive learning worlds is a story-based adventure aimed at helping players from ages 8-18 understand the responsibilities, tools, responses and strategies that foster empathy and enable healthy online interactions. Minecraft Education users can find CyberSafe: Good Game in the in-game lesson library. The world is also available for free for Minecraft Bedrock players in the Minecraft Marketplace.
Together with our players, we continue to build a strong and supportive community for everyone, free from intimidation and distractions. We are dedicated to improving our safety features to foster our connection to players through feedback and in-game reporting, and to apply layers of protection more effectively. The AI solutions we release are all part of the journey we are taking to build a safer and more welcoming environment for all, because everyone deserves to play comfortably and experience the joy that gaming has to offer. Thank you for taking part in this journey with us.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
A turn-based, rogue-lite action dungeon crawler. Use powerful skill combos and stylish weaponry to battle your way through the Underworld known as Annwn. Enjoy challenging dynamic encounters and discover the mysteries of this mythological world.
A comedy RPG in which you’ll explore the World of Athens. Your goal is to build your very own Rhapsody – the story of you (the player) and your epic tale in this world. You’ll be faced with many challenges, and you’ll have to fight (or hug) your way through the world by either battling, or awkwardly trying to make friends with your opponents through esoteric knowledge, abstract jokes, memory games, and other strange and funny interactions.
A classic arcade-style tennis game with customizable characters and equipment as well as a wide variety of game modes to choose from, like Bomb mode where you don’t let the ball hit the ground. You can also play co-op with your friends.
Ziggy
Afil Games
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Ziggy – May 14 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Get ready to jump, slide, and unleash the power of the dash in a game that will test your abilities and your capacity for triumph. Conquer the 30 challenging levels and become the ultimate master of Ziggy!
The final chapter, now in shape of a fast precision platformer where you must run and jump through a series of challenging stages. What you’ll definitely find in this game: nearly 70 different stages to show your skill, stylish pixel graphics, and a chiptune soundtrack.
Control the flow of time to solve subtle platform puzzles in this update of the indie classic Braid, featuring refreshed artwork and seriously in-depth creator commentary. Travel from a city house through a series of interconnected worlds where time behaves strangely, searching for an elusive Princess.
Awaken your inner engineer with the brainteasing circuitry of Electronics Puzzle Lab! In this fun and educational 3D puzzle game, your task is to inspect circuit boards and adjust power LED lights. Take a seat at your workbench, cut wires, flip switches and more as you trace the path of the current.
The roads are broken again. And so are paths. Sidewalks. Lakes. Oh dear. And now it’s your job to fix them all! Each level gives you a limited set of tools that will help you get all the cars, boats, trains or animals from point A to point B. The mentioned animals include, of course, kittens, dogs and… cute ‘ol pink llamas.
Time Trap is a hidden object game telling a detective story with distinct realistic visuals, puzzles, and challenges. A journalist has gone missing after investigating a hazardous disaster. Now it is your job to follow in his steps and uncover the secrets of the danger zone.
Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush with our action-packed kart racing game. Choose your champion driver, customize your ride, and dominate challenging tracks to become the undisputed ruler of the asphalt jungle! Buckle up for a heart-pounding adventure where strategy and skill meet lightning-fast laps.
ES88 is an esper tasked with capturing Golden Butterfly, a psychic entity hiding in the memories of others. Play as ES88 and join her cyborg colleague GATE, and the creature known as a NEURODIVER to help repair the memories Golden has damaged and stop them in their tracks in this “psy-fi” adventure!
An adrenaline-pumping space shooter that features gameplay elements inspired by generational powerhouses Doom and Quake. Play as a chef who crash lands on an alien planet infested with extraterrestrial foes.
A fast-paced action game where you take control of Musashi, the most famous warrior from feudal Japan, as he fights for his life against unspeakable monsters. The enemies come from both sides of the screen and must be attacked with precise blows to bulging weak spots shown in their bodies. Challenge your friends to see who the most precise warrior.
The birds and cats are back in an all-new puzzle adventure that sends them soaring across the galaxy in search of a new home! When a zombie apocalypse ravages their home planet, the birds set off for the stars. But they’re not alone. Their eternal rivals, the cats, snuck on board and will do everything they can to make the journey an unpleasant one!
Foxy is a little fox who loves to eat cherries. One day, his supplies were stolen! Now he must go through many levels and collect all the cherries to get his supplies back. Run, jump, slide on walls, cling to ropes, and dodge various traps and enemies!
A third-person, story-driven game set in a strange world where religious visions clash with harsh reality. It tells the story of a young nun who sets off on a journey of self-discovery with the most unusual, horn-headed companion by her side.
Ready to push the limits of your brain and challenge your intelligence? The ultimate brain-busting challenge is finally here! Do exactly what the cube says in a limited amount of time to test your reflexes and your thought processing speed.
Morbid: The Lords of Ire is a continuation and reinvention of the critically acclaimed isometric Souls-like ARPG Morbid: The Seven Acolytes with the heroic Striver returning once more to do battle with horrific creatures in a dark and twisted world of pain and suffering
Super and extra-natural phenomena around the world are officially disavowed. In the United States, these phenomena are unofficially investigated by an elite squad of agents known as the Federal Disaster Organic Response Agency, FEDORA. These are their stories…
Experience the excitement of collecting and summoning a wide variety of magical cats, each with their own unique abilities. Use these feline allies strategically to overcome challenges and vanquish enemies. From a small alley kitten to a majestic mountain cat (literally a mountain), the power of these cats will be at your command!
That’s a wrap folks! The second edition of the IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase just ended and there was a lot to show. From bullet hell shooters to roguelites, or open world co-op games to mascot managers, we just showed off a diverse set of games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC. A little bit of everything for everyone to love!
Read on for a full recap of every game we brought along during the showcase – including two montages with even more indie games!
33 Immortals (coming to Game Pass)
Developer: Thunder Lotus
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
33 Immortals is a co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play a damned soul, and rebel against God’s final judgment. Dive straight into epic 33-player co-op battles with instant “pick-up and raid” matchmaking. Cooperate with your allies to survive against hordes of monsters and massive, challenging bosses. Expand your arsenal and equip powerful new relics to permanently upgrade your soul. Face the wrath of God in a fight for your eternal life.
While bumping around and supporting each other, turn your friendships into friend-shapes! This innovative cooperative multiplayer game introduces a fresh gaming experience.
Dive into a quirky multiplayer co-op puzzle game where adorable, fluffy cube-shaped creatures collaborate to reach their goals. These creatures, each oddly shaped, jostle against each other to help solve puzzles. When in trouble, shout “HELP!” and friends will surely come to your aid!
Rip through hordes of enemies with fury and style in this fast-paced action-RPG. Play as Astor, a young warrior determined to unveil the secrets behind his creators’ unforeseen demise. Learn new attacks, abilities and combos, unlock magical powers, and collect legendary weapons as you crush hordes of enemies. Find your way towards the Monolith, an ancient structure holding immense power, and confront the source of the planet’s haunting evil. Will you join Astor on his journey to become the planet’s savior?
Stay up to date on Astor: Blade of the Monolithhere.
Centum
World Premiere
Developer: Hack the Publisher
Publisher: Serenity Forge
Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Centum is an unreliable narrative-driven adventure game. At first, it appears to be a point-and-click adventure. You’re a prisoner in a cell. You have 100 days to escape. But is that really the goal? Centum plays with your mind and tricks you into thinking you’re playing a different game. But through surprising interactions, surrealist storytelling, and striking, large-scale animated pixel art, this unexpected experience takes players on a mind-bending, emotionally fraught journey through the looking glass to show them a different side to their familiar reality.
A reboot of the iconic ‘Commandos’ franchise, revisit the frontlines of WW2 and experience the story of how the elite unit from the original games was formed. From the blazing deserts of Africa to frozen Scandinavian fjords, meet the 6 members of your squad and use their unique skills to overcome the most demanding of missions.
Watch the humble beginnings of the Commandos unit as it first begins to form and experience the stealth-based tactical gameplay which made the series so beloved.
Welcome to Hinterberg, a new tourist hotspot in the idyllic Austrian Alps! As Luisa, you’ll snowboard down glaciers, zipline through the forest, climb a mighty mountain, or have a coffee by the lake while you’re out looking for your next dungeon.
Braving dungeons requires more than just cutting-edge sports gear and a good sword arm. Hinterberg’s dungeons are full of puzzles that will surprise and challenge you. Use your head, your magic skills, and every trick in the book to become a Master Slayer!
Fera: The Sundered Tribes is an open world co-op survival crafting RPG that blends monster hunting and colony sim mechanics with fun aerial traversal and exploration.
In a unique post-apocalyptic world of untamed magic and ancient secrets, you are the only hunter to have taken down one of the invasive behemoths terrorizing your land. Your tribe elected you as their leader, so follow your destiny to reclaim this magic-ravaged land you call home.
Today at ID@Xbox Digital Showcase, Gamera Games announced that their lineup of indie games will be launching across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC and will be available with Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass. From a fantastical parenting simulator to narrative horror, acclaimed games like Depersonalization, Firework, Keplerth and Volcano Princess are coming to Game Pass in the next few months. On top of that, pixel puzzle adventure The Rewinder is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC with Game Pass today!
Here are all the games shown in the montage:
The Rewinder
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC (with Game Pass)
Developer: Misty Mountain Studio
Using pixel art to evoke ancient Chinese painting styles, this 2D puzzle adventure game sees you take on the role of Yun, a “rewinder” who has the ability to enter people’s memories and influence their actions. Travelling to a village, you’ll be able to unravel the mysteries of what occurred there, and uncover a story inspired by Chinese mythology.
Firework
Platform: PC (with PC Game Pass)
Developer: Shiying Studio
Firework is a horror puzzle game. An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a horrifying closed case. You play as a rookie police officer who joins the case by chance, and discovers that this crime is more bewildering than they could have expected.
Depersonalization
Platform: PC (with PC Game Pass)
Developer: MeowNature
Depersonalization is a branching RPG with multiple endings, which allows you to shape the world of the game around you. Players can create a variety of characters, each with their own personalities, offering exploration, investigation, and deductive reasoning as means to reach the end of the story you help create.
Keplerth
Platform: PC (with PC Game Pass)
Developer: TARO
A 2D sandbox RPG, Keplerth lets you take on the threats of a dangerous alien planet wither alone or with friends. Offering an open world with near-infinite variation on every run, you’ll be able to fight, farm, craft, and even edit your own characters’ genes to survive.
Volcano Princess
Platform: Xbox Series XIS and PC
Developer: Egg Hatcher
In this fantasy parenting simulator, you’ll be tasked with raising a daughter – not only affecting her future, but the future of an entire kingdom. With multiple choices and endings, you’ll be able to help your daughter to learn, train, and befriend others, ultimately affecting how the story plays out as a result of your decisions.
Hangry
Developer: Game Pill
Platform: Xbox One, PC
Explore the galaxy. Discover new life. Eat it. Play as Hangry, a beastly mercenary with an insatiable hunger hunting down fearsome monsters in a snack n’ slash RPG. Traverse through barbequed woodlands and candy-coated caverns to find ingredients for Goutra, the chief chef of an alien underworld diner.
Your goal is to find the finest cuts for Goutra and climb the ladder of the city’s underbelly to become the planet’s best hunter. But beware, you must resist the temptation to eat the merchandise.
A unique blend of puzzle-solving and action-platforming, Humanity puts the fate of all mankind in your hands. Er, paws. Did we mention you’re a dog?
Become a Shiba Inu and help reconstruct humankind in this acclaimed action-puzzle game. Drop commands to guide a mindless human horde to the goal through 90 increasingly challenging handcrafted story mode stages. Then, choose from thousands of user-made puzzles expanding on the breadth of mechanics, or design your own and share it with the community.
This montage was a recap of all the games that were featured in the Triple-i Initiative showcase on April 10 that will be playable on Xbox. Here is the full list of content seen in the montage:
Games that have currently been announced for Xbox:
33 Immortals
Cat Quest III
Death Must Die
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Kill Knight
Let’s School
Never Alone 2
Shadows of Doubt
Wizard of Legend 2
Games that are already available on Xbox:
Broken Roads (released on April 10)
Brotato: Abyssal Terrors DLC
Dyson Sphere Program: Rise of the Dark Fog Stage II Update (PC Game Pass only)
Jackbox Naughty Pack is an intimate pack of three games that are sure to have you laughing, and maybe even sweating just a little! This title is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S later this year, with individual games to be revealed later this summer. This will be Jackbox’s first M (Mature 17+) rated game, full of spicy surprises and maybe even some familiar faces!
Keylocker is a bizarre and colorful turn-based rhythm JRPG. Play as the singer and songwriter, BOBO, and take down a despotic regime that has outlawed all sound. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play in your own band’s concerts, and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse. Inspired by the charm and physical comedy of the Mario & Luigi RPG series, with the mechanics and storytelling depth of Chrono Trigger.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a narrative adventure game set in the fictional town of Velvet Cove in the summer of 1995. Four high school friends – Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat – spend the summer together hanging out, playing music, and becoming best friends… until something changes the trajectory of all of their lives. After 27 years of silence between them, they reunite to confront the dark secrets that made them promise to never speak again.
You’ll be meeting some new Pals this summer! Attention please, Pal Tamers! New species of Pals have been discovered on the Palpagos Islands. Track them down and discover how these new Pals can help you in your adventures. Palworld’s first major update is heading your way this June. Stay tuned!
Explore the cursed town of Kaso-Machi! Recruit and train a variety of mascot friends! Help them out when jobs are inevitably met with disaster! Solve the mystery of your exile from the yakuza! Help Pinky work through her many, many anger issues! Upgrade your cute kei truck with turbo and wings! Shoot Pinky like a freakin’ missile! Turn Promise Mascot Agency into the number one agency in Japan! Go go, Michi and Pinky!
Stampede: Racing Royale is a wild, thrilling 60-player online karting battle royale game. Take on the world in races, battles and more to avoid elimination. Take the crown, and earn incredible rewards. Discover incredible maps, over 400 customization items and so much more!
Don’t miss your chance to head straight into pole position, when Stampede: Racing Royale speeds into Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S this summer. Do you have what it takes to get to the front of the herd?
Sulfur combines first-person shooter mechanics with role-playing and roguelite elements. It’s a single-player ‘hardcore’ roguelike extraction shooter with modifiable and enchantable guns. Welcome to a modern old-school action-adventure: Outsmart enemies, find treasure, improve weapons, harness powers. Delve deeper, find answers, make it end.
Embark upon a vast, snow-ravaged kingdom in Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, sequel to the critically acclaimed action-RPG. An old and unspeakable evil has stirred in the North; wings black as death; fangs sharp as steel; and a thirst for blood rivalled only by their hunger for vengeance.
As Arlo, heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts, unite disparate clans, upgrade your settlement, and discover a terrible secret of blood & crown…
Stay up to date on Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winterhere.
Times & Galaxy
Developer: Copychaser Games
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Meet over 100 alien weirdos in Times & Galaxy, a space journalism adventure coming to Xbox in June 2024! Times & Galaxy is a funny, heartfelt game about space aliens and the richness of the stories that make up their everyday lives. Set in a solar system full of strange beings, from space lizards to goo people, you will step into the shoes of a shiny new Robo intern for the system’s most trusted holopaper, the Times & Galaxy.
Your goal? Prove that Robos can report, get to know a whole bunch of aliens, and maybe keep your job at the end of it all. Good luck, intern!
Vampire Survivors’ new Laborratory update will challenge your survival skills with two new characters, two new stages, two new weapons, one new evolution, and 1 new passive. Most importantly, there will be 6 new achievements!
And that’s all for our latest showcase! Connect with ID@Xbox on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Discord, Twitch, and YouTube, and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned.
It’s hard to believe, but we’re now in our third month of Indie Selects – and the hits just keep on coming. The team have picked some amazing games this month. We’ve played them, we’ve loved them, and we feel confident that you’ll like them too.
April’s Indie Selects include an interactive, playable historical artifact, two completely different approaches to building, and even a lo-fi, jazzy space shooter. As always, you can find the whole list in one easy-to-access spot on the Xbox Store, right now. With that in mind, here’s the list (in no particular order):
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a work of passion from the same solo developer behind the original Falconeer. In this iteration, the universe of that game is expanded into vast new territory, and you’re tasked with building the ultimate settlement in an oceanic world. It’s a relaxed, immersive city builder for the most part, serving up an open world where you can scavenge for resources to support your ever-expanding creation.
Later in the game you can open up trade routes and defend your city from invaders, or even become the invader yourself, taking on rival civilizations. It’s really the unique world here that sets this game apart from other city builders: you start with a simple island village, and then expand out into, and over, the seas, with steampunk-inspired flying ships and gothic architecture. You can really play Bulwark any way you like and it’s easy to get sucked into, building and exploring for hours.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
Wired Productions
☆☆☆☆☆24
★★★★★
$19.99
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an open world builder with freedom and expression at its core, allowing players to build sprawling towns, spires, and fortresses that become hubs for trade, or rallying grounds for conquests. Carve your legacy into a world shattered by the decisions of those who came before you, tower by tower, wall by wall, sculpting from the daunting cliffs and perilous waters of an unforgiving landscape that refuses to be tamed. Tasked with rebuilding a civilization devastated by the aftermath of a war 40 years prior, you are in command of creating the last great settlement upon the Great Ursee – a vast, fantastical oceanic world filled with lost myths, breath-taking vistas and danger. From humble docks and wooden jetties, you will scavenge resources and grow your settlement as your population and creations grow ever grander, sculpting monumental stone towers and battlements that scrape the skies, where airships and giant warbirds rule. Create trade routes and strike alliances with other factions scattered across the waves, acquiring powerful Captains and Commanders to protect your creations and utilise their aid in exploration – or muster your own battlegroup to strike at them, waging war upon your ancient enemies. This world and its choices are yours to make – what legacy will you leave behind? What creations will bear your name? Build Your Bulwark.
Veteran “flippers” will love the revised mechanics and new content, and will completely lose themselves in the sandbox building mode, in which you can design and build your own original creations. But you don’t have to be an experienced flipper to have fun – it’s super easy to jump in and start painting, renovating, and remodeling, bringing new life to the old, shabby buildings in your town.
There’s even a story mode, where an old pal unveils the secrets of each house under renovation to you. Hard to believe that a game that involves painting, sweeping and hammering – things you’re not likely to see many of us here on the ID team doing in real life – on our “favorites” list, but there are a lot of dedicated flippers on the team now.
House Flipper 2
Frozen District
☆☆☆☆☆80
★★★★★
$39.99
The Flipper’s new groove It doesn’t matter if you’re a makeover veteran or if you’re only starting out – you’ll feel at home in no time!
House Flipper 2 introduces new mechanics and revamps the ones from the original game.
The good old hammer, the trusty paint roller, and the sturdy mop, all await your return! The new visuals make our fixer-uppers look crisp as never before! Another brick in the wall Why renovate a house when you can just build one? Unleash your creativity in the Sandbox Mode! Use it to recreate real-life buildings or design projects that exist in your imagination.
Remember: building from scratch is no easy task! But let’s face it, it’s definitely worth putting in extra effort to design the house of your dreams. Once upon a time… Between the mountain tops and the endless sea, there lies the town of Pinnacove.
A place where time slows down, and the friendly residents are ready to entrust you with their homes.
Can you discover some of the stories within these walls?
Your old pal Tom, who seems to know everybody in the neighborhood, will gladly share some local knowledge with you. Sea of opportunities In House Flipper 2, you are the foreman!
You get to decide what ‚relaxing gameplay‘ means!
Do you enjoy building? Choose the Sandbox Mode which allows you to construct houses from scratch. Or maybe you prefer cleaning and decorating? In the Story Mode, you will delve into long and engaging renovation projects, as well as deal with some quick jobs.
Sit back and relax, here comes the new age of House Flipper!
Picture the Australian Outback after the apocalypse with man-eating spiders, raiders, and even blood-thirsty kangaroos. Is it Mad Max? No, this is Broken Roads, a deep RPG that introduces a novel Morality System to mix up the genre. What kind of character will you be? Much is decided in advance as you set out your character’s visions and ideals, which then influence what kind of story you’ll experience.
Much of the game involves discovering, befriending and influencing the vast cast of characters you’ll encounter on your journeys, as you peel back the many layers of the detailed story. It’s an ambitious game that is infused with Australian culture, dialect and humor.
Broken Roads
Versus Evil, LLC
☆☆☆☆☆18
★★★★★
$39.99
Born of a love for traditional computer role-playing, Broken Roads provides a rich, engaging narrative in which players make their way across a desolated future Australia. Blending together traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering nearly unlimited character development options, Broken Roads presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning. Features • All-new post-apocalyptic setting
• Unique morality system influencing dialogue, quests and character development
• Authentic Australian locations and environments
• Blend of traditional and original RPG mechanics
• Up to 5 party members
• Turn-based tactical combat
• Hand-drawn artwork
• A content-rich and densely-crafted world
If you’re under the age of 40 or so, and you’re not from the UK, you could be forgiven for not having heard of games like Attack of the Mutant Camels or Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. But now’s your chance to rediscover some of the wildest and weirdest games to come out of the ’80s and early ’90s. Not only the games: developer Digital Eclipse serves these classics up in their landmark “interactive documentary style”, and takes you into the mind of creator Jeff Minter, and through the entire history of the iconic British Video game company, quixotically named Llamasoft.
If you played any of the originals – like Jeff’s signature shooter Gridrunner – on systems such as the Sinclair ZX81, the Commodore VIC-20, or the Atari 1040 ST (this writer’s favorite computer of all time) you’ll absolutely fall in love with these remasters. But if you’re entirely new to Jeff and his trippy games, you’ll find the Llamasoft story to be a fascinating journey into video game history – a history that you can jump into and play.
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
Digital Eclipse
☆☆☆☆☆7
★★★★★
$29.99
Gridrunner. Revenge of the Mutant Camels. Tempest 2000. Llamatron. In the British gaming universe of the 80s and 90s, nobody made games like Jeff Minter. Now, in a new interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, you can play the history of one of the weirdest, wildest game developers to ever exist – a man who loved shooters and sheep, lasers and llamas. LLAMASOFT Journey back in time to an era of cassette tapes, photocopied zines, and README.TXT. An era in which a kid with a Commodore VIC-20 and dreams of radioactive sheep could become one of Britain’s best-known game makers. A virtual museum of design documents, playable games, and all-new video features tell the fascinating story of a true independent game designer. PLAY THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINALS Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story includes 42 classic games from 8 different platforms, from Jeff Minter’s earliest work on the Sinclair ZX81 and Commodore VIC-20, to later work on the Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari 800, and deep into the 16-bit era with the Atari ST and Atari Jaguar. GRIDRUNNER: REMASTERED Jeff’s signature shooter masterpiece Gridrunner gets an all-new look from Digital Eclipse, updated into thrilling modern graphics and sound – while still running the core of the Commodore 64 version for 100% gameplay accuracy. GAMES, GAMES, GAMES Sheep In Space. Andes Attack. Attack of the Mutant Camels. Matrix. Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. Hellgate. Laser Zone. And many more. All the Minter classics you’ve heard of (and several you probably haven’t), now with new quality-of-life features to make playing them more fun than ever before. Two of Jeff Minter’s earliest „light synthesizers,“ Psychedelia and Colourspace, are also included, with all-new options and features optimized for controller-based play. Finally, Jeff’s demo of Attack of the Mutant Camels for the unreleased Konix Multi-System console is also included. THE GOLD MASTER SERIES New from Digital Eclipse (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, The Making of Karateka), the Gold Master Series presents iconic games in an innovative „interactive documentary“ format, putting the shared history of games and their creators into one comprehensive package.
Speaking of classic games, the original Grandia dates back to 1997, and Grandia II came out in 2000. Both iconic RPGs have been lovingly remastered in the Grandia HD Collection. Groundbreaking in their time, the series featured a novel dynamic attack system, deep skill progression, and an extensive and immersive storyline.
New UI enhancements, updated HD cinematics, and tweaks to gameplay make the games feel modern and fresh, while maintaining the original classic characters and stories. If you didn’t get a chance to experience these incredibly influential RPGs, which really defined the idea of “going on an adventure” in a game, now is your chance to set out on that quest.
Grandia HD Collection
GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆36
★★★★★
$39.99
The highly-anticipated Grandia HD Collection for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S are here! Get your hands on two games that changed the landscape of RPGs forever, in beautiful HD graphics. GRANDIA: Dive into the captivating journey of Justin and his allies as they race against the sinister Garlyle Forces. Unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization and immerse yourself in an RPG hailed as a timeless classic, inspiring generations of games to come. GRANDIA II: Step into the shoes of Ryudo, a jaded Geohound with a heart, as he embarks on a magical quest alongside a group of unlikely allies. Their journey is riddled with twists and turns as they seek a divine weapon to save the world. Delve deep into this tale where the line between good and evil blurs, and everything is open to question…
Imagine mashing up a classic top down “shoot-‘em-up” with a lo-fi, chill-out music channel and you’d end up with something very much like Super Space Club. Usually “shmups” go for more of a frenetic, kinetic vibe with lots of angry aliens and what not, but Super Space Club opts for a much more relaxing tone, while also serving up some great space combat.
You can select different weapons, ships and pilots to customize the build you want to take into battle, which is a nice plus-up to the genre. And nothing is more satisfying than mowing down wave after wave of aliens while grooving alone to some jazzy, lo-fi tunes.
Super Space Club
GrahamOfLegend
☆☆☆☆☆5
★★★★★
$14.99
Super Space Club is a colorful endless arcade gunner set to the backdrop of chill, lo-fi music. As a club of skilled misfit pilots, defend the galaxy by taking on galactic forces and completing a series of thrilling missions. In space, everyone can hear you groove. Sling fireworks with the explosive Olly, or dish out ship-seeking shots with the stealthy Roscoe? With a variety of pilots, ships, and weapons at your disposal, choose the perfect build and soar across the stars through physics-based thrusting. As you’re taking down enemies and completing objectives, be wary of your ship’s energy. Depleting energy could leave you vulnerable to devastating damage. Don’t get too comfortable after coming out on top, as the next wave is always right around the corner. Despite the challenge that gameplay may bring, space can be quite dope. Missouri-based audio duo Fat Bard provides the backdrop of lo-fi beats and chill-hop tunes featuring vocal artists from around the globe. Paired with a vibrant and colorful cool-toned aesthetic, Super Space Club delivers a relaxing yet challenging arcade experience unlike any other.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
A classic tactical RPG returns! The second game in the main Front Mission storyline is finally available outside of Japan for the first time. In Front Mission 2, the perspective switches between three characters: Ash, Lisa, and Thomas, creating a worldview that goes beyond a simple contrast between good and evil.
Tales from Candleforth is a collection of fairy tales that were written on top of a forbidden book many years ago to hide its content. Years later, the dark text is bleeding out and onto the pages of the tales, mixing with them and twisting the stories.
The Fall of Elena Temple is an old-school puzzle platformer in which you explore rooms, avoid perils and collect all coins to progress. The catch is you can undo your falls! So don’t be afraid of heights, fall and collect the coins bellow, then undo back up to where you fell from, keeping the coins!
Ever wondered what mischief cats get up to on the roof? Well, they’re not just lazing around – they’re hosting the ultimate rooftop jam session! Your mission is to skillfully match the feline musicians, summoning new talents while dodging overflow and contending with an occasional canine disruptor.
Survive the cosmic onslaught by upgrading and equipping a vast arsenal of modular weaponry! Withstand the alien onslaught from all directions, moving your ship through space to align targets with the most effective tech modules and maintaining a safe distance from the swarm. Complete optional encounters like mini-bosses and conduit charging to earn rewards, then spend hard-earned credits to unlock new ships, perpetual astral upgrades, perks, and celestial modifiers!
Prepare for an intergalactic showdown like never before in Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition, the ultimate multiplayer party game that pits friends and family against one another in a fast-paced cosmic brawl. Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition is perfect for your next shindig, get-together, or soiree!
Play as an enchanted candle holder trying to restore the light to its home. Wield your flame to overcome menacing creatures lurking in the shadows of a ruined castle, use the dynamic difficulty system to your advantage, traverse challenging platforming sections and solve cryptic puzzles inside surreal paintings in this 2.5D action-adventure platformer.
Embark on your quest to become a MotoGP legend and shape your own epic saga. From humble beginnings to triumphant heights, the path is yours to forge. Engage in thrilling rivalries, build your reputation, and leave your mark on the history of your beloved team. Challenge your abilities in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3, and immerse yourself in the exhilarating journey of the 2024 campaign.
Sclash
Maximum Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$9.99
Sclash – May 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A plug ’n’ play 2D samurai fighting game full of tension where one hit is enough to kill. Play as a hand-drawn samurai in beautiful painted settings and fight your opponent in epic solemn duels where each move matters. Manage your stamina well, breath, and take your time to land a deadly hit.
Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The princess from another world
After Sonya wins a big prize in the lottery, she and Arnold travel to a tropical southern island to enjoy some well-deserved holidays. However, paradise soon turns into hell when a strange spaceship appears suddenly and starts attacking the city. Unable to just sit around and do nothing while chaos unfolds, Arnold and Sonya transform into Shockman and head to battle this new mysterious enemy in this retro platformer.
Your job is simple – rebuild the conveyor belts and get the goods flowing out of the factory. As you progress, you’ll be given all manner of tools, equipment, and conveyor parts to overcome obstacles. Forklifts, cranes, springboard conveyor belts, packing foam dispensers, the list goes on and on! So put on your thinking hard hats and start piecing together the puzzle.
An adventure game where viking mice fight for honor, fame, and survival. Explore the world inspired by Norse mythology, meet with gods and warlocks, and seize the glory of the fiercest mouse-warrior in this action-packed saga!
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! This weekly feature highlights all the games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass. Discover more about these forthcoming titles below and explore their profiles for additional information (note that release dates are subject to change). Let’s dive in!
Available on day one with Game Pass! Gather your allies for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the grand JRPG adventure. Assemble your 6-party team from a cast of over a hundred heroes and shape your destiny in this lush, hand-crafted 2.5D world brimming with war, intrigue, and magic. Manage your town of vibrant characters, play delightful mini-games, and prepare for an unforgettable narrative of boundless charm.
Gather your heroes and journey beyond the dungeons of Castle Hammerwatch to explore a pixelated world like never before. Adventure alone or gather your party to aid King Roland’s resistance, all while helping villagers along the way. Battle beasts, finish off hordes of the undead, and face the forces of evil in this epic ode to classic ARPGs.
As a newly appointed captain of the Pegasus corporation, you must guide a roster of colorful pilots, eclectic advisors, and state-of-the-art landers through a taxing series of missions. Deliver cargo, retrieve resources, and rescue stranded pilots as you navigate a mysterious universe of moons and planets.
Adventure into the beautiful and treacherous lands of Kenzera as Zau, a young shaman who bargains with the God of death to bring his Baba back from darkness. With your cosmic powers and untried courage, advance into unknown mythological lands in this metroidvania title. Will you embrace the dance of the shaman?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants
Re-experience the 2017 arcade classic with three additional stages and six additional boss battles! Take control of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael in this classic beat ‘em up inspired by the cult favorite Turtles in Time. Play with your friends through local co-op and dominate the Foot Clan to foil the Shredder’s maniacal plan.
Play a little bird on its journey to find a home after losing its dear friend. You will discover unknown, giant, and beautiful environments and you will be able to enjoy the feeling of flying while exploring a whole world filled with beauty and little secrets.
Expand your farm business, produce cheap and sell your products at high prices. Control the land cultivation process, select the best employees, buy the most appropriate farm equipment, raise livestock, and process the harvested crops. Manage your own farm in the game Farm Tycoon!
Come and visit the famous Big Apple for a brand new cat-spotting adventure! Relax and look around the city, and with enough patience, find over 700 feline friends! The city only gets more vibrant the more cats you find!
An adventure roguelike with permadeath where you must overcome huge mountains. Thanks to the procedurally created environment, no two climbs are the same. Keep your climber alive by always making sure that your vital values don’t get into the critical range. This is made more difficult by a dynamic weather system, day/night changes, and a multitude of randomly generated events.
A distinctive game that recreates Moscow Metro and authentic train controls. 24 stations, various tunnels, and items within them. The game uses modern technologies to show the full experience of Russian capital’s subway — stations on this line will reflect the changes of their era.
Take the role of a nimble rodent separated from his family and lost in a frightening forest filled with fearsome foes! Ratyrinth is a side-scrolling precision platformer with brainteasing level design and retro presentation. Run, jump, cling to walls, swim and climb through mazelike stages presented in minimalistic 2-tone style with fluid pixel art animation.
Available on day one with Game Pass! A soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.
Developed by Masaya in 1997, this robot action game gained popularity at the time thanks to its customizable features, incredible robots, engaging storyline, and its position as the next installment in the Leynos series. The Saturn Tribute version includes new features like Rewind, Quick Save & Load, and Tips functions for smoother gameplay. You can also get power-ups with your Assault Suit.
Available on day one with Game Pass! Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord — the seasons pass, the weather changes and cities rise and fall.
In this action RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama where you’ll meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore.
Travel the world as an up-and-coming pro, go toe-to-toe with the biggest names in tennis, and take Centre Court at Wimbledon, Roland-Garros, the US Open, and the Australian Open as you strive to become a Grand Slam Champion in the MyCareer mode. Or choose from over 24 playable pros and unleash their explosive power and clever finesse against other players locally or online.
Aliens have attacked the planet, and they’re turning innocent people into mindless zombies. It won’t be long before the invaders have destroyed the planet unless somebody with guns stands in their way. That’s where you come in! Lead a cadre of soldiers who are ready to take down every last enemy in their path.
Moreover, players’ behavior on and off the track will greatly influence Riders’ Market dynamics. As I mentioned earlier, last year we introduced a rivalry system as well as a fictional social network where riders, teams, and manufacturers interact with each other. The evolution of rivalries as well as likes and replies on the fictional social network will fuel rumors about possible future transfers, which players will be able to keep an eye on through a dedicated menu of the career mode.
The Riders Market is the last major piece we needed to fully shape the game and the series itself, and I can’t wait to see our fans getting the most out of it. Will there be a day when we see the young, predestined Pedro Acosta challenging the eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez in the same team? Or maybe we are about to witness Fabio Quartararo’s new legacy away from Yamaha? History is still to be written.
MotoGP 24 will be available on May 2, 2024, on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
This is Next Week on Xbox! Every week, we show you all the games that are coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find out more about these upcoming games by clicking on their profiles (release dates may vary). Let’s get started!
A stylish four-player FPS with a cross to bear. Slay hordes of creatures on the scorched sands of Purgatory and sell their gold-stained corpses to craven priests. Kill magnificent bosses and use the proceeds to gain entrance to Elysium, a place of cosmic revelations.
Available day one with Game Pass! A handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean. Join Harold as he explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of home.
Join the Argonauts in a new time management game and unravel the story of the missing daughter! Construct buildings, remove obstacles, repair damaged bridges. Over 40 beautiful levels await you, along with a multitude of varied quests, increasing difficulty, an upbeat plot, an extraordinary magical world, and exciting gameplay for all ages.
Featuring a blend of 2D adventure and visual novel, The Mildew Children is a grim tale about a village inhabited only by children who follow savage pagan traditions. Combining the elements of fairy tale and horror, the story draws on pagan folklore and ancient beliefs.
A point-and-click adventure game with locations and story inspired by real places with incredible hand-drawing art. The story begins after a massive earthquake rocks the city, trapping you inside the ruins of a collapsed building. Now, you must find a way to escape this abandoned house, unravel the mystery behind the strange tremors, and meet the guardian spirit of a mystical artifact.
An online and local multiplayer party game. Pummel friends or AI using a wide array of absurd items in Board Mode and compete to destroy friendships in the entertaining collection of minigames.
An intense, round-based, zombie horror shooter by Wales Interactive. Play solo or up-to 4-players online, facing relentless waves of Quiet Ones whilst solving mysterious missions, uncovering Easter Eggs, upgrading steampunk weapons and obtaining Miracles — a vast network of Celtic God powers.
Richman 11
Eastasiasoft Limited
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Richman 11 – April 19 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
Board game mayhem comes to life with Richman’s biggest and zaniest multiplayer experience ever! From classic maps paying homage to the series’ 1989 origins to brawl boards with missiles and bombs, there are many ways to keep the multiplayer mayhem fresh and exciting no matter how many times you play.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Available on day one with Game Pass! Explore the historic manor home of retired botanist Arabella Greene, who has amassed a collection of rare, long-forgotten flora that require special conditions to help them bloom. Unlock new seeds, look for clues in the items scattered around the residence, and solve each gardening puzzle to revive these plants.
A premium and definitive release of the original 5v5 MOBA Hero Shooter, Gigantic, that provides a dynamic and exciting team-based multiplayer experience for fans of both genres. Choose from a diverse roster of unique heroes, each with a set of upgradeable abilities, and team up with four other players to control objectives and take down the opposing team’s mighty Guardian, all while protecting your own.
Born of a love for traditional computer role-playing, Broken Roads provides a rich, engaging narrative in which players make their way across a desolated future Australia. Blending traditional and all-new role-playing elements, Broken Roads presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a makeover veteran or if you’re only starting out, you’ll feel at home in no time with House Flipper 2. With new mechanics and revamps to the ones from the original game, your old hammer, trusty paint roller, and sturdy mop all await your return!
Jorel’s Brother and The Most Important Game of the Galaxy Complete Edition
Embark on a colorful puzzle adventure as you guide a block-pushing frog through forests, caves, dungeons and more in this top-down pixel art adventure for the whole family! Key blocks, star blocks, fire blocks, ice blocks, and more await as stages shift between five themes, each with their own unique gameplay mechanics.
You’re in for a mad race in different parts of the world in Trail Out, where your main goal is to live to the finish line and take the main cup of the festival. Exploding cars, flying and screaming drivers, the hype from the fans, and unseen destruction around the entire track – it’s all waiting for you.
An atmospheric, sword dueling metroidvania set in an era of Feudal Japan. It tells a visually driven story about a father who has given up his past ways to live a life of peace with his wife and child. However, this peace is soon disturbed as his child is taken from him… Perform risky parry maneuvers, bounce off your opponent, evade their attacks and unlock new abilities to further expand your arsenal of options against your adversaries.
A frantic blend of arcade hockey, beat ’em up, and sports action that will trigger couch co-op nostalgia. Choose from one of eight unique characters divided into three classes: the attack-focused Sharpshooter, the defense-oriented Enforcer, and the Wingman who can focus on either supporting their team or harassing their opponents.
A colorful roguelite puzzle mashup about stopping a narcissistic king from ruining your world. Flip tiles to uncover the hidden path to the king and use deductive reasoning to avoid his cronies — or take them all down in strategic turn-based combat.
Scorned and hated by the entire medical community for his “questionable” methods, Dr. Kinderman accepts a miserable job in an appalling prison — but that’s all part of the plan. Here, no one will notice his experiments in this dark story populated with complex characters that adds depth to this gut-wrenching experience, raising disturbing moral questions and showing us the other side of evil: humanity.
Die Again
Catness Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$14.99
Die Again – April 11 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
A shooter that challenges your limits and immerses you in an epic experience filled with action and strategy. From frantic shootouts to the creative use of an extensive arsenal of weapons, every moment is an opportunity to demonstrate your skill and prowess. Every bullet is a puzzle to solve, and every scenario is a new chance to surprise your enemies with innovative tactics.
A cute, simple, bunny-filled game focused on growing plants and managing a greenhouse. Take care of your leafy plant buddies by balancing the amount of water and light they get. Play with friends and upgrade your greenhouse for wholesome, relaxing fun.
A young man gets to fill in for his colleagues at a large cafeteria franchise as his first job, but things spiral out of control when he discovers chaos, also known as rush hour.
Outer Terror is a horde shooter where you hold out against massive quantities of other worldly cosmic creatures. Assemble a ridiculous arsenal of weapons and blast apart seemingly endless waves of horrific creatures in this stylish roguelike that pays homage to the B-movies and Golden Age horror comics of the 80s and 90s.
This is Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we list all the games that are coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find more information on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for more details (release dates may vary). Let’s get started!
Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a mixture of simulation puzzle and RPG game, in which you can leave your lab, venture into the world, and change it with your brews! Choose your character “Race” from a wide array of animal types, with their strengths and weaknesses and begin your alchemical journey!
An online social deduction horror game where you can inspire fear as the Terror, play detective as the Innocent, or create mayhem as the Cursed. Who can you trust to help you escape?
A top-down vertical shoot ’em up where choices presented in certain stages drastically alter the way the narrative unfolds. With multiple paths, unique content for each pilot you choose, specific tasks to complete, procedurally generated levels and unpredictable enemy attack patterns across 10 stages, Flightpath: Adventures in Venaris offers a wealth of replay value as you explore its narrative possibilities!
Become a keeper of knowledge by collecting shards of divine crystals. Look for the right way to obtain the crystals, avoid dangerous obstacles, and teleport from one space to another to get closer to your goal. Solve tasks on memory, logic, and orientation in space to get to the blocked areas.
Return to the vibrant world of Avalice to battle an ancient threat in the long-awaited sequel to the surprise indie action-platformer hit, Freedom Planet. With 24 expertly designed stages, an ambitiously expanded Adventure mode, retro-but-refined 2D visuals, and the addition of the highly requested Boss Rush mode, Freedom Planet 2 is the indie darling grown up to become a true platforming power.
In this puzzle platformer game, you’ll play as a cute bird that must solve challenges with different mechanics per each of the levels, completing them by solving different puzzles for each season. With 30 differently designed levels, will you be able to pass them all?
Enter a world of magic in a stunning new solitaire adventure! Guide a kind-hearted fairy, a noble knight, and a powerful wizard as they pursue the evil witch, Jill, who intends to destroy the knight’s realm and enslave its people.
An arena shooter roguelike where you choose from a variety of skills, unlock unique characters, and weapons. Build a sky tower where each floor gives your character a unique bonus. Create your own overpowered build and survive against hordes of monsters!
A 2D arcade with intense, addictive arena-based gameplay. Battle for as long as possible in 10 different arenas, each with its own unique set of challenges. Shoot down enemy combatants and gain special power-up drones that add extra firepower to your side.
Take on the role of young Nightingale in this challenging 2.5D RPG that draws inspiration from roguelikes, Souls likes, and classic survival horror games. Explore an expansive procedurally generated map of Mostyn House full of hedge mazes, tombs, caves, churches, and ruins that lie beyond its gates. Craft a wide variety of weapons, tools, spells, outfits, and magical artifacts. Encounter a cast of strange friends, merchants, and liars each with their own agenda.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! Digital Deluxe – Pre-Order
THQ Nordic
☆☆☆☆☆7
★★★★★
$49.99
Join Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, in three-dimensional glory, to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day! A massive blizzard has thrown the town into chaos and, more importantly, canceled school. Play alone or with up to three friends, and battle through the snow-piled town of South Park.
Planet Zoo: Console Edition
Frontier Developments
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$49.99
Build a world for wildlife with Planet Zoo: Console Edition. Create unique habitats and vast landscapes, and make meaningful choices to nurture animals as you construct and manage the world’s wildest zoos using intuitive console controls.
Grandia HD Collection
GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Dive into the captivating journey of Justin and his allies as they race against the sinister Garlyle Forces. Unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization and immerse yourself in an RPG hailed as a timeless classic, with beautiful HD graphics.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
Wired Productions
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$19.99
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an open world builder with freedom and expression at its core, allowing players to build sprawling towns, spires, and fortresses that become hubs for trade, or rallying grounds for conquests
The True
Badri Bebua
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
A spinoff of “Laws of Machine”, you play as a young girl named Sarah, who has to find out what happened in Robotec lab. To figure out what really happened in the lab, you have to reach underground Ascendo lab, where the trail that Sarah found in the memory of a robot DR12 leads
Super Space Club
GrahamOfLegend
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Super Space Club is a colorful endless arcade gunner set to the backdrop of chill, lo-fi music. As a club of skilled misfit pilots, defend the galaxy by taking on galactic forces and completing a series of thrilling missions. In space, everyone can hear you groove.
Terra Memoria
Dear Villagers
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
A shortage of magic crystals and the sudden awakening of ancient robots leads six new friends on an incredible investigation across Terra – a cozy and fantastic world that combines 3D and pixel art.
One Last Breath
Catness Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$17.99
The Earth is sick and we are the disease. All hope rests on Gaia, a powerful being born from mother nature’s last breath. Use her abilities to alter the environment, escape from dangerous creatures, solve thoughtful puzzles and survive in this dying world.
Ario
Artax Games
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
A fantasy land plagued by nightmares, a common lad trying to rescue his missing mother and an evil forces conspiration to be unveiled. Join Ario in this thrilling adventure where your crossbow and skills will determine the fate of your people.
Stasis: Bone Totem
Feardemic
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Experience a thrilling underwater adventure with classic point-and-click gameplay. Explore with 3 characters simultaneously. Ready for a journey to hidden places deep below the waves…?
The Master’s Pupil
Noble Steed Games
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Explore the eye of master artist Claude Monet and experience a unique biographical adventure! Test your skills and perseverance as you overcome the progressive disease that threatened Monet’s eyesight and solve puzzles to help the painter complete some of his greatest masterpieces!
Forrader Hero
Ratalaika Games S.L.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Forrader Hero is a turn-based tactical roguelike where heroes must battle hordes of monsters, undead creatures, and their sinister overlords. Choose between multiple heroes with different unique skills, chart your path through the danger, and collect items to survive.
House
Glowstick Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
HOUSE is a horror adventure game where you play as a young girl exploring a dangerous house that’s doing everything it can to kill you and your family. Race against time to change fate…or fall into darkness yourself.
Re:Touring
Sometimes You
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$9.99$7.99
Xbox One X Enhanced
Re:Touring is a first-person puzzle game in which you’ll explore the abandoned Luoni Energy Competence Center and uncover the facility’s history, navigating through a total of 26 varied levels. Using a retro-style computer, you’ll create color patterns to control elements such as doors, platforms and lasers.
Every week, Next Week on Xbox brings you all the upcoming games for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can learn more about these games below and click on their profiles for more information (release dates are subject to change). Let’s begin!
Start your interstellar homestead in this peaceful open-world farming adventure! Build your sustainable exofarm, grow alien crops, customize your mech, and explore a new world full of mystery with up to three friends!
MLB® The Show™ 24 – Xbox Series X|S Standard Edition (Pre-Order)
Available on day one with Game Pass! Swing for the fences, experience game-deciding moments, become a legend and live out your baseball dreams in MLB The Show 24. Want to hit the field early? Game Pass members can unlock up to four days early access plus deluxe edition bonus content with the purchase of the Digital Deluxe Add-On Bundle.
Alone in the Dark weaves a chilling tapestry of psychological horror and Southern Gothic charm, reimagining the iconic game that set the benchmark for the genre. Journey to interbellum Louisiana, where an era of decadence hides a darker tale – of escape from past traumas and an intolerant society, into the waiting grasp of something darker, something that has patiently lurked for impossible eons.
Play as Master Maker, a young builder who possesses a special boomerang hammer capable of collecting items, destroying boxes, and defeating enemies from a distance! In this 3D adventure inspired by classics of the ’90s, you can explore and build freely. Presented in high-definition 3D style, Master Maker 3D Ultimate is a low-poly action experience that’s fun for the whole family.
It’s your starfighter against a bloodthirsty armada. Gather weapons, resources, and upgrades to help you hold back the relentless tide and protect the galaxies civilians. If you don’t succeed, try again with a whole new galaxy.
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing Final Fantasy. Experience all the hallmarks of the best-selling franchise — an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of diverse and captivating environments to explore. Party up with friends or play solo! Experience all the main story dungeons on your own by calling upon NPC allies to fight by your side.
Whether you have lots of experience with makeovers or you’re just a beginner, House Flipper 2 brings new features and improves the ones from the first game. The classic hammer, the reliable paint roller, and the strong mop are all ready for you! The new graphics make our houses look sharper than ever!
Explore and gather resources, farm the land, craft tools, build your base or a cozy home – Ikonei Island is yours to discover! Befriend magical creatures and fight monsters with your friends or adventure solo!
Join Scott Whiskers on his quest to find Mr. Fumbleclaw – the future star of the legendary cat beauty contest “Ricky’s Finest”. A modern, funny and family-friendly point & click adventure game about cats, Star Trek and life itself. Created in the spirit of the classics of the genre like Monkey Island, Broken Sword, or Zak McKracken.
Welcome to Stunt Paradise, the ultimate destination for extreme driving and heart-pumping stunts! Buckle up and prepare to experience the thrill of a lifetime as you take on the most epic challenges on four wheels. Push your driving skills to the limit as you perform ridiculous stunts, including jumping off ramps, flipping through the air, and smashing through explosive obstacles.
Take on the role of a tram driver and manager in Angel Shores, the North American-themed city from the popular bus simulator game Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop. Drive 6 tram models, from cutting-edge, sleek trams to those with a classic, timeless charm through the lively city with its numerous sights.
A cartoony mining rogue-lite game set in the deep gemstone caverns. Journey through three randomly generated maps filled with zombies, ghosts, and demons. Keep an eye on your rapidly ending energy supply – one cannot survive in the dark dungeon without a light.
Dragon’s Dogma is a single-player, narrative driven action RPG series that challenges the players to choose their own experience – from the appearance of their Arisen, their vocation, their party, how to approach different situations and more. Now, in this long-awaited sequel, the deep, explorable fantasy world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 awaits.
A relaxing, minimalist puzzle game for chess experts and beginners alike! Take control of a single piece, solve your way through 80+ hand-crafted levels, and lose yourself in the zen-like atmosphere as you advance!
A sci-fi puzzle adventure game that features a unique game mechanic where enemies move in sync with the main protagonist (grid based movement mechanics).
Next Week on Xbox is a weekly feature that shows you all the games that are coming soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find more information about these games below and click on their profiles for more details (release dates may change). Let’s get started!
A new entry in the legendary Contra series is here! Contra: Operation Galuga is a thorough reimagining of the classic run-‘n’-gun action game from the ’80s, featuring modern graphics and sound, new stages, new enemies and bosses, new play mechanics, an updated weapons system, and explosive co-op combat for up to two players in Story Mode or four players in Arcade Mode!
For the Warp is a rogue-like deck-building game in space! Discover and add new cards to your arsenal and increase your chances of surviving. Explore procedurally generated systems and fight your way to the warp gate. Encounter allies and foes, ancient civilization ruins, unlock powerful technologies and ships.
Run, jump, slide, destroy enemies, gain experience points, upgrade your character in this tactical 2D action-platformer. As the main character, Janet, you’ll be plunged against an evil dictatorship, trying to remember the past and escape from the clutches of the corporation. Uncover the conspiracy against humanity!
Gridrunner. Revenge of the Mutant Camels. Tempest 2000. Llamatron. In the British gaming universe of the ‘80s and ‘90s, nobody made games like Jeff Minter. Now, in a new interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, you can play the history of one of the weirdest, wildest game developers to ever exist – a man who loved shooters and sheep, lasers, and llamas.
Become a magical sword-wielding heroine and take on the forces of evil across time, space, and alternate dimensions! Return to the style of Japanese fantasy platformers from the ’80s and ’90s as you take command of brave heroine Wisteria Asagiri on her quest to save Earth, the Higher Realm and the Under-Realms from the dark wizard Maskandes!
Experience the ultimate blend of strategy and intrigue as you navigate the treacherous landscapes of Arrakis in the award-winning board game Dune: Imperium! Battle online, locally with AI, or against the formidable House Hagal. Earn achievements that showcase your prowess as a leader and embark on more than a dozen challenges that will test your wit and cunning.
Whether you are below or above the ground, you will have a lot of work to do as you visit places like stables, bars, cinema, squared, forest, gigs, market, docks, luna park, Circo Massimo, and mor while trying to find all the hidden treasures left by the Romans.
Astebros is a roguelite game about the beginnings of the kingdom of Asteborg! Choose your hero among three different characters and go through procedural dungeons to eliminate your formidable opponents! Defeat bosses to obtain valuable power orbs, collect coins and materials to buy and upgrade your equipment, and discover mysterious secrets within the dungeons.
Bing in Wonderland is a new entry in the Wanba Warriors franchise. A Roguelite monster killing satisfaction galore without any exploration elements. The game is filled to the brim with exotic enemies and stages with a collection of deep and robust boons, weapons, and items plus an abundance of pointless features and useless details. You will be encapsulated by the unique Butt Slam mechanic a vague and abstract art style that puts Picasso to shame.
Highwater is a whimsical, 3D adventure game with an isometric turn-based puzzle-combat system set in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world. Navigate by boat, discover islands, find new allies to help battle foes, and experience a humorous tale about friendship in this melancholic and atmospheric escape.
A minimalistic puzzle and strategy experience about combining buildings to build villages on beautiful, procedurally generated islands. Combine buildings to create your villages and cities on endless islands scattered around the world and enjoy a minimalistic and relaxing atmosphere, no resource management or armies — just focus on building.
In this modern metroidvania you play as Moon Mikono, a space scrapper turned adventurer on a mission to uncover the true fate of her missing mother. Battle your way through a sprawling 2D action-exploration epic as you explore, reprogram your abilities, duel twisted sci-fi experiments, and rebel against colonizers.
Our clever cat detective is back, and this time the mystery unfolds all over the apartment. Immerse yourself in an extended adventure full of intriguing challenges, vibrant colors, and brain-teasing puzzles. Sherlock Purr 2 is an enchanting children’s game, tailor-made for young explorers who love cats and crave delightful mysteries.
Play the classic Star Wars Battlefront games on modern consoles, online and offline in this complete classic collection. This Classic Collection includes Star Wars Battlefront (Classic) and Star Wars Battlefront II with bonus maps and heroes. Traverse the galaxy in Campaign Mode and Galactic Conquest. Fight on the ground, drive iconic vehicles, and piloty legendary starships as you battle it out across iconic Star Wars locations.
An engaging puzzle and narrative game that offers a short and relaxing experience. In a charming medieval setting, players can carve their own path, choosing the next story block at each stage. With a library of journeys filled with intriguing variations of the main storyline, players are invited to unravel all possible outcomes.
Unables is all about physics, puzzles, and comedy. Welcome to a world where characters are so lazy, that even the player is unable to control them. Take matters into your own hands by controlling the environment instead, with the innovative gameplay mechanics!
A courier arrived at the Argonauts Agency one calm morning. He delivered a wedding invitation for Jason and Medea from Pelias, their old friend and a fellow collector. A secret plea for help was also in the letter. Jason and Medea won’t let their friends down! Play the new time management game with the Argonauts, find out about Circe’s story, and rescue her captives!
Knights and brigands run rampant throughout the land, sowing destruction. But an even greater evil is lurking and plotting in the shadows. At the helm of your domain, lead the fight against the forces of evil in this turn-based tactics and strategy game.
20 years after the award-winning action adventure hit, Outcast, pioneered the genre of non-linear open-world games, the long-awaited sequel sees Cutter Slade return to the spectacular alien world of Adelpha. Resurrected by the almighty Yods, he has returned to find the Talans enslaved, the world stripped of its natural resources, and his own past intertwining with the invading robot forces. It’s up to him to go on a mission and save the planet again.
Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko are teaming up with An Yu, Newton Star, Ice Cub, Lilyfay, and Bastet to form a Mighty Alliance. Hop into the Explorider and search The City, Mystery Mountain, and Ice World for lost parts. But be quick! Before Romeo, Luna Girl, and Night Ninja get to them.
Hidden deep in the foliage of the forest, between the blades of grass and mushrooms, there’s a place where tiny people coexist with animals. Our little hero Max suddenly interrupts the search for his father when he is called home to help his mother save his childhood home. Help Max to unravel mysteries, find clues in hidden objects and defeat all puzzles that stand in his path.
After attracting over 1 million players during Game Preview, Hugecalf Studios are proud to announce Turbo Golf Racing will be launching into 1.0 on April 4! Before then, you can download Turbo Golf Racing’s Game Preview on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series S|X and Xbox One, or PC Game Pass for Windows Store.
If Turbo Golf Racing is new to you, let me explain: picture yourself playing golf, but instead of the conventional club, you’re using a turbo-charged car to putt the ball. Throw in 7 other players vying to achieve the quickest time (in race mode) or the fewest shots (in golf mode) – not to mention a variety of Power Cores that change your car’s abilities – and you have a recipe for a very different game of golf.
Since launching into Game Preview, we’ve added new Power Cores to the beloved race mode, including Sticky, a core that allows you to attach your ball to your car, and Grapple Hook, a core that tows your car towards your ball, totaling 18 unique Power Cores to date. This has resulted in over 130 possible unique core combinations, including my personal favorite, Magnet and Hyper Glider, which increases my speed while gliding and enables me to pull the ball towards my car with the press of a button.
Frost Beam, Air Strike and Boost Canister have also been added since Game Preview launch. The 3 new pick-ups in race mode have allowed for more ways to sabotage or take the lead on opponents.
Three seasons of content have flown by, including the Aztec and Space seasons, which featured themed cosmetics, fresh biomes, and innovative mechanics. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed utilizing water features to propel my ball closer to the hole, and there’s something truly thrilling about a shot that is rescued from going out of bounds by a shift in gravity on the course.
For those players seeking a more traditional golf experience, 1v1 golf mode was introduced. This new mode allowed players to unwind and focus on accuracy over speed, because victory is awarded to the player who putted in the fewest shots. Though this mode was previously limited to 2 players – more on that later…
Being part of Game Preview meant that many community-requested features were added, including missions, timed events, leaderboards, ranked mode, bots, custom games, tutorial improvements, core balances and many more. All in all, Turbo Golf Racing now features 5 Game Modes, 18 Power Cores, 5 Pick-Ups, 75 Levels, 5 Biomes and over 400 cosmetics. So what can players expect for 1.0?
April 4 will mark the start of Season 4, a Launch Party themed season with 40 new rewards! Pump up the jam or act a clown with the new Bassline and Jester car bodies. Other goodies include party shades, musical boosters, pork pie wheels, and my go-to party hat wheels.
I mentioned earlier golf mode was limited to 2 players, well not anymore! With the launch of 1.0, Turbo Golf Racing will include a new 8-player golf mode. Players will be able to enjoy their favorite mode with more of their friends. Instead of the consecutive turn-taking that occurs in 1v1 golf, players will take their shots simultaneously, competing to sink their ball in the fewest shots.
What’s more, 10 new levels will be added to the roster, and Urban, Wild and Industrial biomes have been revamped with thrilling new themes! Players will also notice new night levels, garage loadouts, a new core, shop items and so much more.
I’m excited to see you all on the starting line, mark April 4 in your calendar, let’s get this party started! Turbo Golf Racing is available in Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
Turbo Golf Racing (Game Preview)
Secret Mode
☆☆☆☆☆250
★★★★★
$9.99$7.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Free Trial
This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game. 1v1 Golf Showdown
Step into the ultimate 1v1 showdown, where precision triumphs over speed, and victory is achieved by fewest shots. Scope out the course with the exclusive aerial camera, and hit your ball further than before with the combined power dash mechanic. Put your golfing skills to the test in casual or custom games! 8 Player Online Race
Take on up to seven other competitors in a Grand-Prix style competition. Boost, dash and glide to be the first to get your ball into the hole. Hit the boost pads to charge past your rivals, take shortcuts to outwit them and utilise pick ups to stop them in their tracks. Time Trials
Race against the clock to earn stars and unlock new courses! Compare your best time on each course against those of your friends, or secure your place on the global leaderboards! Power Cores and Pick Ups
Control the way you play by equipping unique Power Cores to suit your playstyle. Hit your ball with more power, spin, or bounciness, whilst using powerful abilities to grapple onto, freeze or stick to your ball. Customisation
Stand out from the crowd in your personalised vehicle. Enjoy over 1 trillion different combinations with customisable car bodies, balls, wheels, spoilers, shields, paints and boosters! Traverse The Courses
Use your wings, wheels and wit to navigate the terrain, taking advantage of boost pads and boost rings, while avoiding rough, bunkers and trees! Journey through unique biomes, including ancient Aztec temples, gravity defying space courses and industrial wastelands! Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at [https://turbogolf.racing/].
Science isn’t just done in laboratories. Some studies require the presence of experts in the field, or at least the collection of data in remote locations. And being able to transport all these elements that are essential for research to progress, it’s sometimes necessary to brave the traps and dangers of nature. To do this, as an explorer and skilled driver, you will have to travel to the remote forests of the Carpathians or the rocky hills of Arizona in the upcoming Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game, launching March 4, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Getting behind the wheel of nimble scouts as well as larger, more powerful trucks, you’ll have to tackle the deepest forests and steepest slopes. But don’t expect to triumph without proper preparation — here’s how to make your way through the wilderness.
Select the Best Gadgets
Like Indiana Jones, who never set off on an adventure without his trademark whip, it’s very important to take something with you to deal with any situation. Here are just a few:
Winch: Indispensable for getting out of most difficult situations. You can cling to a tree to get out of the mud or climb slopes that are a little too steep or use a portable anchor to abseil down cliffs and save time.
Echo Sounder: Sometimes, lakes or rivers are deeper than expected and become traps that will drown your engine. To avoid this problem, use the Echo Sounder, which displays the depth of the surrounding water.
Drone: The perfect gadget to scout surroundings from the sky to detect some dangers and define the best path to follow. A good companion also for detecting equipment and goods caches in the wild.
But tools and gadgets are not your only support in organizing an expedition. The human aspect is equally important as well.
Hire a Balanced Team
Even if you’re alone at the wheel of your scout or your truck, you have a whole team at your side to help you on your adventures, like a bunch of specialists whose skills can give you some advantages in conquering wilderness.
Mechanics offer reduced fuel consumption or truck damages, Logisticians increase the range of binocular or repair parts number, and Jaegers allow the player to discover shortcuts. So you need to choose carefully before setting off to maximize your chances of success. Every one of them can be a mission savior, so don’t hesitate to use these adventurers. Of course, they are not all available in the beginning of your explorations and you have to finish certain missions to gain them.
Manage Your Vehicles
Your collection of scouts and trucks also plays a major role in emerging victorious from an expedition. Buy new vehicles with the money earned in successful missions and customize them to face every situation. Of course, you can change their colors and add some decoration in order to be the best-looking vehicle in the surrounding areas, but there are not any win or lose modifiers.
On the other hand, every piece of equipment has its significance, and you must select your scout or truck equipment strategically. Add a snorkel to cross the deepest rivers without drowning your engine, equip a roof rack to carry more fuel and repair parts, or upgrade your engine to increase the power of your vehicle or decrease its fuel consumption.
Organize Your Base Camp
Finally, setting up your base camp is an excellent way of adapting to possible changes and events happening during a mission. An extra truck may be needed, or you may run out of new wheels or spare parts.
Adding a dedicated base module in exchange for a certain sum of money (e.g. Gas Station, Tow Truck, or Repair Station) gives you access to these needs. It’s up to you to gauge the situation and use one or several of these solutions. Every choice is an adventure, every departure, an expedition.
Now that you know what to expect from an exploration and how to prepare for it, pack your bag and pre-order Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game today on the Xbox Store for exclusive content and get ready to roll out on your adventure starting March 5, 2024, on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
Focus Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆30
★★★★★
Embark on ever-rewarding scientific expeditions as you adapt to nature’s challenges and unravel the mysteries of uncharted lands. Venture into the vast wilderness of arid deserts and rugged forests to the steepest mountains, brimming with hidden treasures and forgotten ruins. Lead research missions as you drive a variety of all-terrain vehicles through treacherous paths, using advanced technologies and high-tech tools to overcome obstacles. Build and manage your base and equip your vehicles with essential gadgets like drones or scanners to ensure your success in the wild. Hire a team of top-notch experts to improve your skills in the field, unlocking new possibilities for exploration. ● Experience a new take on the most advanced physics-based, off-road adventure from the creators of MudRunner and SnowRunner.
● Plan your itinerary wisely by flying over the landscapes with your reconnaissance drone, use your metal detector and camera drone to locate caches of valuable equipment.
● Chart through extreme landscapes with your vehicle’s arsenal of cutting-edge gadgets, like planting anchors to ascend difficult slopes or activating echo sounders to probe water depth.
● Manage your camp by building research structures and hiring experts to unlock new skills and possibilities during your expeditions.
Last month, we announced the Indie Selects program, through which the ID@Xbox team highlights recent indie faves with our weekly “Featured Indies,” along with great older titles showcased via rotating themes.
The program culminates in our monthly “Indie Selects,” where we choose six games from the month’s featured indies to be the team’s picks for the month. We don’t like to say “best,” as there are undoubtedly going to be some amazing games that don’t end up getting chosen, but these are the ones that the whole team has voted on and that come out on top. With Indie Selects, we want to shine a spotlight on games you might not otherwise see – and you’ll get an incredible selection of new, revolutionary, or just downright strange games to play every month.
The criteria is relatively simple: we look at games we consider to be Indies that have recently launched on Xbox, and the whole team votes. The top six vote-winners are our Indie Selects for the month. (Note that we are not including Game Pass games in this program, as they get tons of exposure through the Game Pass channels).
With that explained, I’m incredibly excited to announce the Indie Selects for February, which include everything from a spirited lil gator, to an incredibly deep puzzle game, to a wizard whose chosen weapon is a firearm. These are all games that the team feels confident you’re going to love. Here they are, in our own words (and in no particular order):
This month marks the second anniversary of the launch of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. As this is a massive milestone, we’re celebrating all month long. Kicking it all off was the Year of the Dragon activity, but that was just the start. Now, we’re ready to bring out the big guns in more ways than one with our first major update of 2024: the Firearms Update. We’re certain this’ll please fans as it brings with it something they’ve been asking for, for a while now: guns!
However, before we get into the nitty-gritty of what to expect from the new update, we’ve got some huge news: we’re making the ‘Bloody Ties’ DLC free for anyone who already owns the game! To get it, go to the Xbox Store and claim it. But newcomers won’t be left out either: we’re launching a new version of the game, Reloaded Edition, which will allow new players full access to the DLC once claimed, too! Now, let’s get into the update!
Firearms Update: Fully Loaded
As the name suggests, the biggest part – and arguably the most important to our players – of the update is the addition of firearms. Until now, Villedor had been a gun-free zone, with the closest you’d get to a gun being the Boomstick or an auto-firing crossbow, but neither packed the punch of a real one. Now, players will be able to get their hands on four different types of firearm: pistols, shotguns, rifles and SMGs. And players won’t have to wait long to get their hands on them, as all Pilgrims who’ve completed the prologue will find the ‘Harran Pistol’ in their stash until March 7.
But there’s a lot more to the update than just firearms. We’re also introducing Survivor Missions, which will offer a new type of challenge to players. While playable solo, these missions are intended for co-op as they will test all of your skills, especially the Elite ones. The initial set of Survivor Missions has dropped alongside the update, with more being added on February 29 and March 7.
On the topic of missions, there are some new postings on the bulletin boards of Villedor. Take them on to help out the citizens and get rewarded! And, of course, there are more in-game items for players to earn, this time with the addition of 50 more Legend Levels and a brand-new reward: the Doppelganger Legend outfit.
Additionally, the radio waves are saying a couple of familiar faces from the original Dying Light are making their way to The City. Tolga and Fatin will be arriving on February 29, and from what we’ve heard they’ll be needing your assistance. We guess, even in the future, it’s cool to be fashionably late.
Outside the game, players can find more bounties to take on at Pilgrim Outpost that are specifically designed for Community Maps. And carrying on from that, some of our best creators have already been hard at work on a collection of new maps which make the most of the newly-added firearms.
Keep the Celebrations Going
As we mentioned earlier, this month marks our 2nd anniversary and there’s plenty more reason to celebrate with Anniversary Bounties. For the next few weeks, there will be three sets of four missions (each week unlocks a new set) for players to complete to earn some awesome throwback items from the original Dying Light and the 2019 E3 trailer: the Scorpio, the Nocturnal Tribal Machete and the Acolyte outfit.
However, there’s no reason to panic as if you aren’t able to start right away, you’ll be able to complete Week 1’s bounties in Week 2 or 3 (and Week 2’s bounties in Week 3), so there’s plenty of time for you to nab your rewards! Additionally, the majority of the bounties will focus on the update’s new additions, so you can fully experience them! These special bounties are activated on Pilgrim Outpost, where you can also find out more about the entire activity.
Here’s to Many More
Pilgrims, as we are celebrating this milestone, we’d also like to thank you for your continued support for a game we put blood, sweat, tears and UV Shroomz into. Without you, we wouldn’t be here, so from all of us here at Techland, a massive thank you! We hope you enjoy the first update of 2024. Enough talk; get out there and fill the infected with lead. Party hats optional.
Upgrade your experience with Smart Delivery. Buy the game once to both play it on Xbox One and get its optimized version for Xbox Series X | S It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth. You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets. A WORLD AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
Fifteen years ago, humanity was devastated by the Fall — a catastrophic event that would change the world forever. With the Harran virus spreading around the globe, people quickly found out that all hope for tomorrow is lost. By 2036, only a few settlements remain, and humanity is slowly dying, making way for the new species out there — a horde of relentless zombies. DAY’S FOR THE LIVING, NIGHT’S FOR THE DEAD
Welcome to Villedor, one of the last bastions of humanity. During the day, survivors still try to have a life here and find a false sense of normalcy. Relationships are formed, dreams are dreamed, and life carries on. On the surface, everything seems… fine. Until sunset, that is. With the last ray of light dying out, other, more dreadful, dwellers of The City crawl out of their gloomy interiors, taking over the streets. If you are not vigilant and stay out too long in the dark, you may never return. YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO SURVIVE
Not all fights can be won. Sometimes it’s best to run and, thankfully, you have the skills for it. Parkour lets you escape when odds are not in your favor. Jump from rooftop to rooftop, swing across the cityscape, ride ziplines, and much more. Whatever you do, experience a unique sense of freedom as you free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot or while running away from the dangers of the night. GET BRUTAL AND BE CREATIVE ABOUT IT
In a world as dangerous as this one, only the strongest survive. Whether you prefer to smash, slice or dismember those who stand in your way, you have to be creative about it to make it through. And who says you need weapons? Utilize the entirety of your parkour moveset to get the jump on your enemies. Learn the ways of combat and parkour to feel the crunch of skulls and slices of flesh as you swing weapons or use your moves to fend off any forms of danger. And let’s not forget that Villedor has weapons that put the most advanced post-apocalyptic armories to shame. FOUR PILGRIMS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Surviving in Villedor is easier with friends. Team up with up to 3 other players and increase your chances out there. Unravel the story together, take on Pilgrim Outpost challenges, or simply wreak havoc on the city streets.
“This project wouldn’t be possible without our groundbreaking partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and their president, Bob Kendrick,” explains Russell. “It was paramount for us to give context to these amazing players and the history behind the Negro Leagues. Bob does this better than anyone. Our job was to make these stories engaging for a video game and let Bob do the teaching.”
For this upcoming MLB The Show 24 season, there will be 10 new Negro League Legends added, each with their own unique Storyline to experience. Legends like Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Hank Aaron, and Toni Stone have been confirmed to be playable at early access launch on March 15, 2024, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
The next set of three Negro Leagues players will arrive as a free downloadable content drop in April, and then again in May. In addition, all the players from Season 1 of Storylines will be included in MLB The Show 24 at launch — so if you missed out on this feature from last year’s game, you’ll have a lot to experience on day one.
“The creation and development of Storylines was a very organic process. It wasn’t perfect, and we weren’t able to include everything we wanted to in year one,” shares Russell. “However, we started this project with three goals in mind: to educate, enlighten, and inspire by celebrating the rich history of the Negro Leagues. We accomplished those goals and helped bring some much-needed attention to such an important part and often overlooked chapter in American history.”
A big part of the reason why there is so much history for Russell and the MLB The Show team to pull from is in large part thanks to the efforts of Black newspapers and Black press who worked tirelessly to document Negro Leagues history (you can learn more about them here on the official National Baseball Hall of Fame site). Without those efforts we may have never heard about these Black baseball legends.
If you have noticed the design of this year’s MLB The Show 24 Collector’s Edition, this is why it’s been made to pay homage to these important members of baseball’s history. This year’s theme, as Russell puts is, “is a tribute to those who helped give a voice to the voiceless.” Without these newspapers and the pioneering baseball writers, the Negro Leagues wouldn’t have survived; they preserved this often-overlooked chapter of American and baseball history.
“The Kansas City Call, Pittsburg Currier, and Chicago Defender are just a few of the black-oriented newspapers in the 1930s and 1940s that formed a symbiotic relationship with the Negro Leagues,” Russell explains. ““They, along with what pioneering black writers like Wendell Smith and Sam Lacy documented, are so important to this story. We’re hoping our fans love the cover art, and from the response we’ve received they in fact do. For some fans the journey will end there and that’s OK. For others, they may dig a little deeper to learn a little more about the history behind the creative.”
In their continued partnership with The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MLB The Show will donate $1 for every Negro Leagues Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and MVP edition sold in the U.S. until 12/31/24 to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. You can visit the official site of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum here to learn more about their important work.
Look for MLB The Show 24 to launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and day one with Xbox Game Pass on March 19, 2024. Xbox Game Pass members can also pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition and 4 days early access by purchasing the Digital Deluxe Upgrade Add-On Bundle here on the Xbox Store.
MLB® The Show™ 24 – MVP Edition (Pre-Order)
MLB
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$84.99
Pre-order to receive a Gold Choice Pack and Early Access on March 15, 2024. This edition of MLB The Show 24 includes: • Full Game for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
• 10,000 Stubs™
• 1 Diamond Choice Pack
• 1 Equipment Pack
• 10 The Show Packs
• 1 Double Daily Rewards
• 1 Cover Athlete Bat Skin Unlock Your Moment It’s your Show. Ready to own it?
Set out on the road to baseball greatness – whatever it is you want to achieve, MLB® The Show™ 24 has got you covered. Earn your call up from the minors to the big leagues and prove you’ve got what it takes at the top. Learn from the legends of the sport, take inspiration from their heroics and use it to improve your game. Hold your nerve when it matters and earn the right to be called World Series champions.
Chalk up the wins, pick yourself up after the losses.
Whatever happens, know you left nothing in the dugout. Celebrating History with Storylines Celebrate and learn about baseball legends throughout the sport’s history. The Storylines mode transports you into baseball’s past to relive iconic moments of baseball’s unsung and unknown heroes. Experience career-defining moments through a combination of immersive gameplay that will educate and inspire you to make history of your own. Road to the Show
Unlock your moment and build your career in the ultimate baseball role-playing experience. Become a ballplayer and journey from the minors to the majors to define your legacy. Franchise
Lead your team to World Series glory as a team manager in Franchise mode. Experience new features providing more in-depth and dynamic gameplay from March to October. March to October
Take control of your favorite team, focus on the key streamlined in-season moments and see if you can get to the Playoffs and beyond. Diamond Dynasty
Build your fantasy team of players from across all eras of baseball’s history as Diamond Dynasty returns for another season. Collect player cards, build your dream squad, and play head-to-head against other players online and offline while customizing your team’s look.* Multiplayer
Gather your friends and face off in cross-platform play.** Climb the leaderboards and compete against others online, or experience team glory together through online co-op play. With cross-progression, continue your progress and earn and use content on other console platforms.***
I’ve built decks where a simple pair is more powerful than a straight flush. I’ve built decks that mean straights no longer work the way they should, and allow me to create wild combos more frequently. I’ve built decks where I’ve experimented and discovered that there are valid poker hands here that don’t even exist in the real-life game – five of a kind, anyone?
I’ve discovered a new way to play Balatro on every single run I’ve played, quite literally –and I’ve played a lot. This isn’t a game about working within the rules to succeed, it’s about changing the rules to help you redefine what success is. I’ve already hit point scores I didn’t necessarily think were possible when I started playing – and, looking in the unlocks menu, I’ve realised that there are point scores that still feel baffling this far into my time with the game.
Speaking of unlocks, this is where Balatro offers you a meaningful sense of progression. Every new run is a total reset – you can’t keep abilities or receive passive upgrades, but hitting (often very specific) targets will unlock new cards for you to use in future runs. I’m now looking through menus between each run, working out what bizarre goal I want to hit next – a run where I somehow have 30 club cards in my deck? Let’s give it a try.
Perhaps my biggest reservation going into Balatro is that there was no story to anchor this all to – I’ve loved roguelike deckbuilders’ many approaches to slowly but surely offering up a narrative through what amount to simple games of cards. But I’ve come to realise that part of the beauty here is that this game swaps story for atmosphere.
Maneater (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 27 Returning to the Game Pass library, Maneater is a single-player action-RPG, set in the Gulf Coast’s unforgiving waters. Fight to survive in the open ocean, swamps, and rivers with danger lurking at every depth. Your only tools are your wits, your jaws, and an uncanny ability to evolve as you feed.
Madden NFL 24 (Cloud) EA Play – February 27 Ultimate members can start their season with Xbox Cloud Gaming on February 27, 2024, courtesy of EA Play. Don’t forget that until March 8, you’ll also score an Ultimate Team Supercharge Pack with your membership.
Indivisible (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 28 Making a return to the Game Pass library, immerse yourself in a fantastical world with dozens of playable characters, a rich storytelling experience, and gameplay that’s easy to learn but difficult to master. With a huge fantasy world to explore and a variety of characters to meet and fight alongside, help Ajna learn about herself and how to save her world.
Space Engineers (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 29 A sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration, and survival in space and on planets. Players build spaceships, wheeled vehicles, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses (civil and military), pilot ships, and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive. Featuring both creative and survival modes, there is no limit to what can be built, utilized, and explored.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 5 Load up your Boltgun and unleash the awesome Space Marine arsenal to blast your way through an explosion of sprites, pixels and blood in a perfect blend of Warhammer 40,000, frenetic gameplay and the stylish visuals of ’90s retro shooters.
In Case You Missed It
Diablo IV is Coming to Game Pass on March 28
The next-gen action RPG experience is coming to Game Pass with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Experience a gripping story or jump straight into Season of the Construct to unearth a new threat looming deep beneath the sands of Kehjistan.
Times & Galaxy’s unique Build-A-Story feature lets players tell the story how they see it.
Copychaser Games’ Creative Director shares how his past as a crime reporter shapedthe game’s approach to journalism.
Times & Galaxy is coming to Xbox in mid-2024.
Ever wanted to experience the rush of breaking news? In Times & Galaxy, you’ll chase down scoops as the newest robo-intern of a trusted holopaper. Your assignments might initially seem less than glamorous, like intersolar cat shows and underground dirt fairs—you are an intern, after all. But what, and how, you report is up to you: by picking your way through branching conversations and exploring each level, you’ll discover hidden information, new sources and surprising quotes, allowing you to craft your story your way through the game’s unique Build-A-Story feature.
“Branching conversations are the bread and butter of a lot of larger Western RPGs, and they are, in many ways, what you do as a reporter doing an interview,” Copychaser Games Creative Director Ben Gelinas explains. “You have to decide what to ask, and how to ask it to get the information you need.”
Gelinas knows that from experience: before he began writing for games—with credits on Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect 3, and Control, among other titles—Gelinas was working as a crime reporter for a daily newspaper in Canada. Drawing on his past career offered new opportunities for well-established conversation systems.
This is Next Week on Xbox! This weekly feature shows you all the games that are coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! You can find more information about these upcoming games below and click on their profiles for more details (release dates may vary. Let’s get started!
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big. Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress.
Control a Pong ball aching to break free of its life stuck between two paddles. Explore a dangerous, minimalist world, armed with simple two button controls: tap a button to change direction diagonally by 45 degrees, and hold down a button to unleash a cathartic dash forward.
Welcome to the brutal, war-torn universe of Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters, where the forces of Chaos threaten humanity’s very existence. Lead the Grey Knights to exterminate the forces of Chaos in this fast-paced, ferocious, turn-based tactical combat game in a saga penned by acclaimed Black Library author, Aaron Dembski-Bowden
A Time Traveller’s Guide To Past Delicacies (Xbox Series X|S)
A short game about a fictional time traveler raiding the past to steal recipes. Follow a sock puppet into the dark bowels of time and learn new recipes. Meet your long-dead ancestors. Exploit them to further your cooking skills. Take some pictures of dinosaurs. Appropriate what you can in this experimental story-driven adventure.
Return to a simpler style of platforming action in Froggie – A Retro Platformer, a side-scroller presented in minimalistic black-and-white style where you take the role of an anthropomorphic frog as he leaps his way through 100 challenging levels! Run, wall jump, and wall slide with fluid pixel art animation as you hop on enemies’ heads, avoid spike traps and more!
The zombifying pathogen has come out of nowhere. Society is falling apart. People are in pain. Still, they can take comfort in knowing that there is a watchful sniper always on the lookout for zombies. Take the role of that sniper in Geometric Sniper Z, a highly stylized 2D isometric shooter. Challenge yourself in different game modes, neutralize zombies using different weapons, save and escort survivors, and progress through the story.
Shoot, block, and jump your way to victory with your shotgun-rocket-launcher-that-shoots-heat-seeking-bouncy-missiles or one of the other over 11.2 million different powerup combinations. Wave your noodle arms around to assert dominance.
Use swift swordplay, explosive ordnance, and stylish combos against an army of meat and metal. Air juggling, dashes, and frequent target switching allow for you to take down foes of any size while wall-jumping and platforming can help you outmaneuver your enemies. Conquer mini-bosses, set pieces, and climactic 1-on-1 encounters that offer intense challenges against unforgettable villains.
A novel, deterministic combat system, with easy to grasp rules and astonishing depth. No random miss chances. No damage ranges. Manipulate the elements to turn the battlefield to your advantage, but beware the consequences, as nature is complex and fickle. Open chasms, raise mountains, boil lakes, drain rivers. Start fires you later regret.
An anthology of fast-paced arcade games where your goal is to reach the top of the leaderboards in each one. The games go from a dungeon crawler set in a procedurally generated temple where you must seal spirits, to a cute but challenging puzzle where you must prepare the orders of a very hectic potions shop. Come and get that good old feeling of competition you got when going to the arcade, or just having fun and challenging yourself by trying to get all the achievements for each game.
A relaxing gardening game in which you create your dream garden in a peaceful, colorful world. Plant and add ornaments at your own pace, transforming an overgrown forgotten plot into a flourishing community garden.
Play as Sir Mordred, the former black knight of the grim tales. You killed King Arthur, but with his dying breath, he struck you down. You both died – and yet, you both live. The Lady of the Lake wants you to finish what you have begun… in the twisted, dark realm of Avalon! Experience a unique hybrid between tactical games and character-centric RPGs in this dark fantasy version of the Arthurian myth.
Control your Quadroids simultaneously on four screens and make your way through more than 100 danger-filled levels. Jump to avoid acid baths, lasers, deadly spikes, and other vicious traps, or strategically sacrifice your minions to create new platforming opportunities.
Play as a little flying spirit that watches humanity in its early states evolve. You will discover a long-forgotten land with beautiful environments, and you will be able to enjoy the feeling of flying while exploring a whole world filled with beauty and little secrets.
A new action-platform game straight out of the 16-bit era. Play as Gareth, a knight of the royal guard and defeat the evil forces of Asteborg. Learn powerful spells and use them to unlock your path or defeat your enemies. Collect gold from the remains of your opponents and purchase upgrades to unlock your full potential!
The waters have risen to an alarming level, leaving merely a handful of places habitable. As a leader of a small group of survivors, you are tasked to extract resources to construct an ark and move to a safer location. Gather enough resources to flee to safety while the surrounding world gets flooded.
The Great Elevator has broken, and its cogs have been scattered all around the world. Collect the lost cogs, repair the Great Elevator, and unlock new levels in this collectathon inspired by 3D platformers.
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