Best Indie Games on Xbox Game Pass in 2025: Leading Games with Indie Themes on Console

Indie producers are always releasing exciting, innovative games into the industry because of their tendency to experiment where other providers are limited by traditional guidelines. Gamers who enjoy this category of gaming options have been having a good run in 2025 with all the amazing titles that have been available since the year kicked off.Our gaming expert, Kate Richardson, has done extensive research on the indie options on Xbox Game Pass, official ratings, and what gamers are saying about each of them. It's based on this expert analysis that we have picked out the best indie titles for Xbox gamers who are interested in getting innovative and unique gaming titles with well-designed gameplay. 

Highlighting the Best Indie Games on Xbox One 

Every year, we see independent producers prepare gaming titles with new art styles, gameplay, and new innovations that you couldn't think would exist in a thousand years. New indie producers have become a popular sight in Spain, with many independent studios arising from the European nation, so it's no surprise that there are ton of Spanish players competing on multiplayer games online. Interestingly, excellent indie hits are not the only entertainment form that Spanish players have come to love. There are a ton of betting sites that work in Spain which draw patronage from lots of people within and outside the country. Players who need a break from the Xbox console, typically look to wager on their favorite sports like football, basketball and, many times, esports which share a semblance to some of the best set of Indie games you'd find on Xbox Game Pass. These sportsbooks are also renowned for player security, promotional offers and crisp mobile gaming interface.That said, let's jump back into our list of best Xbox RPGs and alternative game options. 

Stardew Valley

Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) is the developer behind Stardew Valley, and the game has been around since 2016. The release uses a pixel art style and a beautiful soundtrack to reel users into its captivating gameplay. Here, you start out as a player inheriting your grandfather's farm in this farming SIM game, but you also get to fight monsters and mine.

Balatro

This 2024 Indie release has been turning heads because of its exciting features. Balatro is a deck-building game based on poker and uses a few roguelike elements to keep players entertained.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors has been a favorite for a lot of gamers for some time now, and it is still pulling in new players. Here, you are dropped on a map, and you have to position yourself to hit your enemies with automated strikes, as they keep running at you infinitely.

Slay the Spire

Megacrit released Slay the Spire in 2019, and it has been a bit hit since then. Slay the Spire is another deck-building adventure with roguelike elements designed into the gameplay. 

Hades

Hades is packed with an interesting lineup of characters and a captivating story to give users a complete experience while playing. You're Zagreus, son of Hades, in a struggle with your father's soldiers on your journey out of hell.

Celeste

The goal in Celeste is to reach the top of the mountain, no matter how many times you have to die trying. With the fast respawn feature in the software, as soon as you fall, you are ready to get up and try again.

Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition

Spiritfarer is one of the few times developers have been able to make titles about death and still get them to be a big hit. Here, you are a ferrymaster to the dead, and you help them find rest while you upgrade your boat as you get them to the afterlife.

Cuphead

Cuphead is another exciting title that is popular among gamers because of its classic animation style and captivating boss battles. StudioMDHR designed this run-and-gun game to be one of the best indie gaming titles. As a player here, your character is Cuphead, and you navigate a new world, acquire weapons as you struggle to make a deal with the devil.

Indie Games on Xbox Series X|S with the Best Gameplay 

Looking for indie games on Xbox Series X|S that deliver top-tier gameplay? These indie gems prove you don’t need a big budget to create an unforgettable experience. We picked the titles with the best gameplay here. 

Cocoon

Cocoon was launched in 2023, but it has already become a gamer's favorite because of its interesting features. Players try to figure out their way in this puzzle adventure. To complete this puzzle, you have to use the colored orbs representing different worlds to solve the challenge.

Among Us

Since its launch in 2018, Among Us initially peaked in 2020, but years later, it is an exciting gaming option for players from around the world. Here, players participate in a social reduction challenge, where they have to figure out who the traitor from themselves.

Dead Cells

In this action-packed release, you get to play as the Prisoner trying to escape a diseased island by possessing and controlling dead bodies. There's some combat in the gameplay, but strategy is required for making good progress here.

Sea of Stars

It was Imre Jele who said, "You can make an amazing game, but you can’t make a success. Your players make the success." Well, Sea of Stars is one definition of a success by any metric. The title is a turn-based RPG developed by Sabotage Studio. Players who enjoy turn-based games will love this game as they use magical features to fight off monsters created by an evil alchemist.

Cult of the Lamb

This release has a blend of action, adventure, and strategy sections, so players experience all the emotions while playing this one. Here, the player is a possessed lamb that has to build a loyal following to repay a debt.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is set on another planet where you, as the player, explore and investigate the mysteries in the new planetary system. It was developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annarpuna Interactive, offering an experience into black holes and supernovas. If you enjoy action-adventure, you'd love this one.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

In terms of art style, Shovel Knight is a 2D side-scrolling platform game with an 8-bit graphical style. The title was first released in 2018, and it has remained an addictive option for players because of all the adventure and fighting action embedded into the gameplay.

Darkest Dungeon

Redhook released this dungeon-crawling themed title to attract an audience of goth gamers. In Darkest Dungeon, players recruit and train heroes through dark terrain to fight monsters and face disease, stress, and famine.

Honourable Mention Indie Games of 2025

Outside our main list of the best Xbox Indie games, there are additional games that didn't make the cut but remain some of the leading Game Pass games available. Here's a quick list of them. 

• Inside
• Hollow Knight
• Tunic
• Undertale
• The Witness
• Oxenfree
• A Short Hike

Conclusion: Making the Most of Your Indie Gaming Experience on Xbox

"The game designer shouldn’t be making a world in which the player is just a small part. The player’s the boss; it’s your duty to entertain him or her." These were the words of John Carmack, famous American developer. He likens gaming to beautiful art that's entertaining to the player. And it appears that most of indies on Xbox took his advice to heart with the exciting array of offers available on the platform. As an Xbox platformer, you will never have a scarcity of indie titles to try out. Not only have we picked out the best indie games you can play on Xbox, but many of them have even arrived on Xbox game pass, affording you more early access options. Why not start by discovering the best indie games that match your style, whether they be ingenious puzzles or fluid combat system games. Regardless of your preference, there's plenty of indie options with stunning visuals, writing and story that's definitely keep you hooked for the longest time. The article was provided by Kate Richardson

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