“ Walking simulator” is a term often thrown around as a derisory one, but there’s no denying that combat-free titles have surged in popularity as developers experiment with new ways to tell stories. Silksong, the DLC that became an entire sequel, is due out this year, so now is the perfect time to catch up on the story so far. Similarly to FromSoft’s tough franchise, things simply “click” into place after a few hours, with Hallownest offering up more and more secrets in return for players’ time and mastery. Our titular protagonist explores Hallownest’s tunnels and caves, battling enemies and exploring secrets, but where Hollow Knight outdoes its contemporaries is in the style it exudes from every pore.Įvery one of the Knight’s animations flows beautifully, be that in difficult Dark Souls-inspired combat, or simply when navigating the world.
#BEST INDIE GAMES FOR XBOX 360 FULL#
This successful Kickstarter project is set in Hallownest, a stunning subterranean kingdom full of insects. While Dead Cells is a side-scrolling Metroidvania title with an emphasis on every level being built using complicated algorithms and wizardry, Hollow Knight is solely focused on presenting a hand-crafted world. And, when you die, it’s time to do it all over again.ĭead Cells has only grown since launch, with 2019 seeing the Rise of the Giant DLC added for free, and developers Motion Twin have even added a sister studio called Evil Empire to build on the game in the years to come.
What doesn’t change from one run to the next is that combat is always thrilling, and exploration is always rewarded – either with fresh gear or another boost. That means while in one play through you may rely on a trusty sword and bow combo, you could end up using a tripwire next time around. So far, so gross, but each level in Dead Cells is procedurally generated, and all loot is randomised. In this rogue-like adventure, players assume the role of an amorphous blob of green goo that inhabits a freshly deceased carcass to fight its way out of a labyrinthine prison and beyond. When you couple that with a stunning synth-based soundtrack, there really is nothing we’d change about Celeste.Ī game that keeps on giving, Dead Cells is one of the Xbox One’s best Metroidvanias – with a heavy focus on combat. There are all kinds of assist options, as well as tricky collectibles for hardcore players to find. In fact, as far as 2D platformers go, the game is accessible, too. On the surface, Celeste may seem straightforward – it’s a 2D platformer, and those aren’t exactly uncommon in the indie space.Ĭeleste differentiates itself by being a touching story about overcoming adversity and battling mental illness – as well as being a pixel-perfect platformer, too.
#BEST INDIE GAMES FOR XBOX 360 SERIES#
If you’ve not played the game yet, it’s worth jumping into, especially with the “Delicious Last Course” expansion due in 2020, and a Netflix original series also on the way. Instantly recognisable for its stunning art style, reminiscent of 1930s cartoons, it truly looks incredible in motion – something that hasn’t changed despite its E3 unveiling all the way back in 2014. With that in mind, here’s eleven Xbox indies that are sure to keep you entertained in these chilly months.Ī rare example of a game being worth the wait, Cuphead finally launched in September of 2017 (since making its way to Switch – with a downloadable costume in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, no less) after multiple delays – and became a global phenomenon.Ī tough-as-nails boss-rush with platforming elements, the game is entirely playable in co-op – but that only tells half the story. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of the ten best Xbox One indie games, ranging from platformers, to Metroidvanias, to world-conquering blockbusters. Xbox Game Pass, Backwards Compatibility, and have all proven to be tremendously popular – with the latter incubating plenty of exciting independent titles like Capybara’s Below, PlayDead’s Inside, and plenty more.īetween, and gaming going through a second “golden age” of indies, there’s almost too many titles to catch up on. While it would be fair to say that the Xbox One has been handily beaten by the PlayStation 4 in this console generation, there have been some bright spots for Microsoft – including Xbox One’s indie titles.