Best Of
10 Best Indie Games on Xbox Game Pass (December 2025)
One of the best advancements in the gaming industry is the success of indie games in the market. The titles are mainly known for their innovative and bold storylines. Additionally, they portray the level of genius that could arise from small studios with dedicated developers. Xbox Game Pass is a treasure trove for games in this genre. Moreover, it is a great space for the titles to gain recognition from seasoned fans. Below, we discuss the 10 Best Indie Games on this platform that you can play alone or with friends.
10. Spiritfarer
Gamers embody a character named Stella and her cat. Their job is to transport the spirits of the deceased to the afterlife. The game centers around the protagonist performing tasks given to her by the spirits aboard her ship. They include feeding them and building new additions to the ship to give the place a homey touch. Additionally, you get to uncover more of your passengers’ backstories as you facilitate their crossover in the Spiritfarer game. You also engage in side quests where you can earn rewards.
9. Tunic
You follow the story of a fox in a post-apocalyptic world. He is on a mission to avenge the death of his father and free a fox spirit trapped inside a crystal. Players navigate through treacherous terrain, fighting off deadly creatures. You move the game with no directions or instructions. Additionally, the backstory is written in a constructed writing system that you are not technically required to decipher. You move around the world through running, rolling, or dodge-rolling. However, your paths are not restricted. You can freely course through the world.
8. Sifu
As a child of a martial arts school master, your objective in this title is to avenge the death of your father. Players can employ over 150 unique attacks. Additionally, you can pair up the basic moves to create powerful combos or gain tactical opportunities, such as knocking down your enemies. The main character, as well as all other hostile enemies, has a structural gauge in the game Sifu. When it fills up, your guard breaks, leaving you vulnerable to finishing attacks. However, you can block strikes or evade your enemies before they hit you.
7. Slay the Spire
It is a roguelike game where you attempt to ascend through multiple floors. Your goal is to defeat the monsters and bosses lurking in each level. You start by picking one out of four characters. They come with a starting amount of health, gold, a relic that gives you a unique ability, and a starting deck of cards. Furthermore, each avatar has specific cards that can be used to start and throughout the match. You gain new cards as battle rewards. Alternatively, you can build effective decks to complete the climb.
6. PowerWash Simulator
The match is a simulation game that places you as a manager in the power washing business. You must then complete various jobs to earn money. The main career mode had a total of 38 jobs and additional bonus jobs. Players clean off dirt, grime, lichen, moss, and rust from vehicles, houses, and other areas. Different locations require different cleaning methods. But, your machine has four nozzles, each with varying power and spray diameters that make your job easier. Additionally, the cleaning solutions in the match are designed for specific surfaces and must be used correctly.
5. Firewatch
Players embody a fire lookout named Henry in this adventure match. He works under the supervision of a lady named Delilah who communicates with him through a walkie-talkie. However, over the course of their summer, unseen forces begin to attack them. Now, you must uncover and take down your enemies. Players explore a vast land, collecting clues to help solve the game’s mysteries. Additionally, they can interact with people, objects, and their environment through several dialogue options in order to effectively navigate their world
4. Superliminal
Superluminal is an amazing puzzle game where the protagonist takes part in a dream therapy program. Although, during the study, he gets trapped in a dream cycle. Dr. Glenn is your overseer, and his voice guides you on how to escape the dream. The game blends elements of optical illusions and forced perspective. Hence, certain objects when picked up, can be moved towards or away from the player. However, when placed back down, they scale to the size the player had viewed them. That allows you to solve that game’s quests easily and finish the game.
3. Death’s Door
2. Hades
It is an Indie game where you play as the son of Hades as he tries to escape his unloving father. His goal is to reach his mother, a mere mortal. But, he receives help along the way from other Olympians to help him fight against his rivals. Aside from that, other beings from the underworld join his noble quest to help him succeed. It features multiple runs inside a series of rooms where you collect rewards and face other obstacles. You combine main weapons, special attacks, dash abilities, and magic to vanquish your enemies.
1. Inside
In this title, you dive into a thrilling puzzle platformer as an unnamed male character. He explores a fantasy world trying to avoid death. The game generally has dark visuals that create a scary environment. Additionally, it is mostly silent, with a few musical cues and effects that make it more mysterious. Your avatar can die in many gruesome ways, such as drowning, getting shot or blown apart, being destroyed by security machines, or being mauled by dogs. Other than that, the game has multiple hidden rooms that you discover as you progress further in the game.
