This Yr, We’re Leveling Up with Indie Games: Indie Selects for January

Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub — your gateway to a recent, curated indie assortment plus 4 themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can at all times discover this assortment hub within the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.

Our purpose for 2026? Make it one of the best 12 months but for Indie Selects! Late November and early December indie releases usually fly underneath the radar, so this month we’re giving them the highlight they deserve. Our assortment is stacked: a classy ways RPG, a difficult roguelite creature collector, a retro-inspired metroidvania with fashionable twists, a gripping text-based political sim, a mind-bending 47-minute time loop journey, and sure—the psychic-powered child simulator you by no means knew you wanted. Here’s what we’ve acquired for you this month (in no explicit order):

Demonschool is a joyride of a tactical RPG that follows the charismatic demon hunter Faye, on an apocalypse-preventing quest stuffed with gangsters, quirky academics, classmates, and, effectively… demons. Players are tasked with exploring a mysterious island and school campus by means of varied missions and minigames, managing relationships and college schedules, discovering new expertise, and continuously preventing waves of enemies. While all of it was enjoyable, I believe the fight captivated me essentially the most! It encompasses a two-phase turn-based construction that leverages motion sequencing in a method that appears like fixing choreography puzzles. Each character has totally different talents, and if moved to the precise house and triggered in the precise order, you’ll be able to maximize injury in the course of the motion section. This carries an analogous depth and degree of participant expression to that present in its friends, however its distinctive presentation enhances the satisfaction when profitable. Paired with varied enemy varieties, a mission rank system, and a forgiving rewind function, the expertise felt thrilling, difficult, rewarding, and approachable.

Aside from fight, I used to be delighted by the element proven by means of interactivity and easter eggs inside every surroundings. Pet the canine and it would offer you one thing. Throw a coin in a fountain. Talk to an NPC on the docks and learn the way their great-grandpappy died as a demon-hunting fisherman. I discovered myself interacting with all the things I may to search out one other mini-game or learn one other hilarious one-liner, like the child who claimed they “marked their seat” throughout orientation. As a gamer who doesn’t usually play RPGs, I mockingly discovered myself glued to this. The soundtrack is FIRE, the modern-retro aesthetic is fantastically designed, and the storytelling by means of its different character personalities and appeal stored issues recent and entertaining.

– Deron Mann

Demonschool

Ysbryd Games

☆☆☆☆☆
9

★★★★★

$24.99

Demonschool is a new-style ways RPG the place movement equals motion. Defeat huge weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, whereas navigating college life on a mysterious island.

My first few runs in Morsels taught me an necessary lesson: getting too hooked up is a quick observe again to the beginning display screen. Developed by Furcula and printed by Annapurna Interactive, Morsels is a roguelike motion sport that rewards flexibility, experimentation, and the power to confess when your present plan isn’t working. Rather than committing to a single character, gamers acquire a number of “Morsels,” every with its personal talents and fight fashion. I shortly realized that success depended much less on choosing the “best” creature and extra on figuring out when to change. Stubbornness, it seems, just isn’t a viable technique.

The sport follows acquainted roguelike conventions, together with procedurally generated rooms, escalating problem, and protracted development between runs. What helps Morsels stand out is its deliberately unusual visible fashion. Creature designs are unsettling in one of the best ways, and the gritty environments really feel like they have been designed to maintain you barely on edge—simply in case the enemies weren’t already doing that. Progression is pushed by unlocking new Morsels and card-based modifiers. Some of those methods took just a few runs to click on, however experimenting with totally different mixtures usually led to these satisfying moments the place issues all of a sudden begin going your method—proper earlier than they don’t.

Morsels doesn’t reinvent the roguelike style, however its deal with adaptability provides it a transparent persona. For Xbox gamers who get pleasure from studying by means of trial, error, and the occasional snicker at their very own expense, it’s an enticing and memorable expertise.

– Steven Allen

Morsels

Annapurna Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆
17

★★★★★

$14.99

You are a hungry mouse, scrounging for scraps within the sewers, whenever you meet a magical sentient fatberg who teaches you to rework right into a mighty little Morsel. With your new powers, set off to harmful higher worlds the place you battle towards the cats’ oppressive forces and acquire new Morsels, strategically swapping as you go.

From developer Furcula, Morsels is an oddball top-down, creature collector roguelite with a rotating roster of playable characters you turn between at will. Packed with frenetic motion and persona, gamers use magical playing cards to rework into little monsters, acquire and nurture a troop of your individual monster mates to battle cat dominance, and persist in any respect prices to outlive.

Let’s be sincere: hauling round an enormous sword is about as impractical because it will get for an adventurer—particularly when vertical traversal is concerned. I may write a hundred-page thesis on why that’s absurd, however truthfully, GigaSword says all of it. This action-puzzle Metroidvania from single-developer-led Studio Hybrid, feels prefer it leapt straight out of an NES traditional assortment, difficult your fight and technique expertise whereas confronting the cruel actuality of our childhood dream: “the biggest sword ever.” Spoiler alert: swords are heavy, and also you’re nowhere close to as agile as Cloud Strife led you to consider.

Once you dive in, you’ll shortly notice the GigaSword’s weight is each a blessing and a curse. Combat feels easy but honest—each swing is deliberate, and that further wind-up means you’ll have to time assaults fastidiously or threat consuming injury mid-swing. Things escalate whenever you face large bosses that demand sample recognition and precision.

But the sword isn’t only for preventing—it’s central to the sport’s intelligent environmental puzzles. Detaching from it turns into important as you navigate obstacles, utilizing its heft to set off stress plates and even as a makeshift lever to shift platforms. The vibe? Think Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest meets the ingenious puzzle mechanics of Legend of Zelda.

The sport doesn’t pull its punches relating to its stiff fight, however in contrast to its NES predecessors, you’ve acquired save factors to protect your sanity. The sword’s weight continuously reminds you that speedrunning isn’t an choice—however then come these moments whenever you sort out a whole dungeon with out the blade, introducing an entire new layer of problem. If you’re a fan of intricate puzzle platformers like Animal Well, it is a distinctive expertise value including to your assortment.

– Raymond Estrada

GIGASWORD

Akupara Games

☆☆☆☆☆
8

★★★★★

$14.99

Balance the load of the GIGASWORD, battling between mind and brawn on this action-puzzle metroidvania the place the would possibly of the sword will decide all. As tensions rise in Thoenhart, a metropolis affected by famine and illness, the people inside set their hopes on a closing resolution: invade the traditional tower Nestrium, slay the Nocturne, and take the God Crystal, Gnosis, for themselves. Said to grant prosperity to those that wield it, Gnosis has been lengthy wanted by humanity for generations. However, upon raiding its resting place, the disturbance of this historic energy awakens an evil able to destroying the very material of actuality. Can Ezra attain the highest of the Nestrium in time to cease this cataclysm, or will humanity’s ignorance lead the world to its doom?

Oh child! What a sport!  Not sufficient persons are speaking about this one.  Goodnight Universe just isn’t a child sim… it’s a supernaturally gifted child sim. You tackle the position and perspective of Isaac who’s a sensible, keenly conscious, and succesful toddler, capable of sort out surprisingly complicated issues.  That and the telekinesis capability, of which an evil company could be very conscious and wish to use for their very own functions.

Before we even contact gameplay, the voice performing and writing are excellent and charming.  The narrator connects with the participant as we each witness so many performances between totally fleshed out characters highlighting their household dynamics, their struggles, and their successes. The writing is heartwarming and enjoyable, exploring themes of the messiness of home life and what it means to be human.  The general narrative is, for me, the spotlight of the sport.

Gameplay begins out easy, seen by means of the newborn’s eyes in first individual. You click on on objects for narration or interplay, however as soon as powers kick in, that’s when issues get attention-grabbing.  You will have the ability to transfer objects along with your thoughts and even dive into somebody’s ideas. As the sport progresses, you unlock new powers and sort out sequences the place you will need to use your powers on the proper time. 

The console model lacks the eye-tracking function Nice Dream launched in Before Your Eyes. I examined it on Steam, and whereas the mechanic provides an intimate twist to the first-person expertise, albeit with occasional awkwardness, it isn’t important right here. Unlike Before Your Eyes, skipping it doesn’t compromise the core gameplay. The sport took me about 4-5 hours to finish and I can’t suggest this sufficient, particularly for anybody that loves distinctive, narrative-driven video games… and infants.  Gamer dad accepted.

– Raymond Estrada

Goodnight Universe

Skybound Games

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

$19.99

From the creators of Before Your Eyes. You are Isaac, a 6-month-old child, growing mysterious psychic powers. What you need most is to be liked and accepted by your loved ones, however a secretive tech company desires you for their very own.

Suzerain is a critically acclaimed, narrative-driven authorities simulator that’s much more addictive than its area of interest style suggests. At 11 p.m., I reminded myself that I used to be solely purported to play for just a few hours. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure the place you’re the newly elected president of a fictional nation, tasked with shaping its future. Will you lead with integrity and construct a brighter tomorrow or plunge into corruption, spark wars, and line your individual pockets? The alternative is yours.

This is a text-based journey, so count on loads of studying as occasions unfold and characters communicate, adopted by dialogue selections that form your path. But it’s not all dry coverage.  Beyond signing payments or reviewing financial reviews, you’ll navigate scandals, shady offers, and ethical dilemmas. The intro alone lays out 50 years of wealthy lore to your homeland, and as soon as I acquired into it, it felt like studying a really nice novel. Thankfully, the writing, presentation, and UI are top-notch.  Otherwise, I truthfully haven’t learn this a lot since my deep dive into Blue Prince.

Suzerain’s best energy is its replayability. The depth of the characters round me and detailed lore make each alternative impactful, with every determination reshaping the course of my presidency. My first run centered on financial and social reforms that aligned with my precise ideology, however on this new run I’m presently going full corrupt chief, bribing my method by means of scandals and taking each unsavory side-deal that comes my method. With a 6-to-7-hour marketing campaign, a number of playthroughs can simply triple your time. If you’re keen on strategic decision-making with out twitch reflexes, that is for you—board players, I’m speaking to you!

– Raymond Estrada

Suzerain Expanded Edition

Torpor Games

☆☆☆☆☆
22

★★★★★

$31.99

The Expanded Edition contains the award-winning political drama Suzerain, and the Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia DLC.

Suzerain
As President Rayne, lead the nation of Sordland in your first time period of this text-based RPG. Navigate a political drama pushed by conversations along with your cupboard members. With looming struggle, rooted corruption, financial disaster and reform wanted, the alternatives fall in your shoulders. How will you lead?

Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia
Embrace the crown as King Romus Toras, and lead the Golden Kingdom to a brand new period. Reclaim misplaced territories by means of diplomacy or power. Engage with noble homes and oversee the sources of Rizia. How will you reign?

Rue Valley is a comfy, narrative pushed thriller journey with a touch of life sim taste—suppose mild exploration, quirky character encounters, and environmental puzzles tucked into each nook. It’s a form of small-town thriller sitting someplace between Night within the Woods and Oxenfree, however carrying its personal soft-spoken appeal. You arrive because the city’s latest resident, slowly studying the rhythms, secrets and techniques, and oddball personalities that make you are feeling welcome… and it’s simply uncanny sufficient to maintain you leaning in. Oh, and naturally you might be trapped in a wierd time loop that causes you to relive precisely 47 minutes in perpetuity.

I’ve spent numerous hours wandering Rue Valley’s winding streets—half exploring, half getting delightfully sidetracked by a neighbor who simply had another story to share. Somewhere between chatting up townsfolk and stitching collectively the city’s quiet mysteries, the sport actually pulls you into its world. The characters don’t behave like NPCs ready to dispense quests; they really feel just like the acquainted faces you at all times appear to stumble upon at your favourite café, every with quirks that make the city really feel genuinely lived in.

And sure, there’s a studying curve—particularly whenever you’re juggling exploration with dialogue selections—but it surely’s the sort that appears like easing into a brand new neighborhood. Somewhat complicated at first, then unexpectedly rewarding as soon as all the things clicks into place.

What stored me hooked most was the ambiance. Rue Valley is the form of place the place you sit down for “just ten minutes” and lookup hours later. It’s cozy, a contact mysterious, and at all times prepared with a mild shock whenever you least count on it. If you get pleasure from narrative adventures, small-town tales, or slow-burn video games the place the enjoyment comes from noticing the little issues—a flickering streetlight, a half-finished sentence, a lingering query—Rue Valley matches fantastically. It’s a world that invitations you to decelerate and let it reveal itself at its personal unhurried tempo.

– Jessica Ronnell

Rue Valley

Owlcat Games

☆☆☆☆☆
14

★★★★★

$29.99

Break free from a mysterious time loop! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Delve into the enigmatic depths of the small godforsaken city: Rue Valley.

Each day appears like an uphill battle towards the shadows of your individual thoughts. Along the way in which, you’ll encounter a charming ensemble of characters, every wrestling with their very own emotional complexities and revealing hidden depths as you get to know them.
Can you muster the braveness to unravel the secrets and techniques of this temporal anomaly? Can you uncover the energy inside your self to rise above adversity and forge a brighter tomorrow?

Craft your individual persona in Rue Valley. You could be a cold-hearted loner who overthinks all the things or a melodramatic loudmouth who at all times trusts their intestine intuition.
Whether you mirror your true persona or role-play somebody fully totally different, your character will form your dialogues and interactions within the sport.

Store recollections in a graph, unlocking intentions and mindsets as you progress uniquely by means of the story. Commit to quirky mindsets for surprising and hilarious dialogues, and expertise personality-altering Status Effects: turn out to be extra outgoing when drunk, or further delicate when anxious.

Experiment with totally different solutions and timelines, as a result of the loop will restart from the start anyway, will not it?

STAY TUNED: Indie Selects Anniversary is coming quickly!

Mark your calendars for January 28 and prepare for our huge Indie Selects Anniversary Celebration, filled with giveaways, reductions, and loads of surprises!