Xbox Game Pass has been a great platform for many indie games to find a larger audience than what they may have originally found, and this year’s ID@Xbox showcase had plenty of exciting titles to confirm for the subscription service. There are many solid AAA and AA games on Xbox Game Pass, too, but it’s become a go-to indie service for a lot of gamers.
ID@Xbox has been going strong for over a decade now, and it’s brought a long list of great indies to Xbox. This year is no different. A lot of interesting titles were showcased, and the majority of them were confirmed to be added to the growing Xbox Game Pass library. From a cozy cooking-based game to an action-packed medieval roguelike, these upcoming Game Pass additions cover a diverse variety of genres.
Best Crossplay Games On Xbox Game Pass (April 2026 Update)
These great Xbox Game Pass games support cross-platform multiplayer, granting players access to PS5 and PC players.
Every Game Pass Title Announced at ID@Xbox
Albion Online
- Available on Game Pass now
This is by no means a new game. Albion Online has been around since 2017, but it’s now finding a new home on Game Pass. This sprawling medieval fantasy game is inspired by Arthurian legend and embraces player freedom with its sandbox open world. Albion Online‘s approach to a fantasy MMORPG foregoes class system. Instead, a player’s equipment is what mostly influences their play style. Another aspect that makes Albion Online so unique is that the in-game economy is run completely by players.
Aphelion
- Release date: April 28 (day one with Game Pass)
Aphelion is a third-person cinematic story with beautiful visuals that takes place on a mysterious ice-covered planet. After astronaut Ariane crashes on this planet and finds her crewmate Thomas missing, she must search this harsh new world to find him. A sci-fi story centered around a stranded explorer who has to fight for survival sounds really reminiscent of games like Returnal and The Alters, so fans of these games may want to give Aphelion a chance when it comes out on Game Pass.
Beastro
- Release date: May 21 (day one with Game Pass)
This one in particular will be a great option for cozy fans and deckbuilder lovers. Players take on the role of a chef named Panko who is in charge of cooking for the town of Palo Pori. There are dangers beyond the walls of this peaceful village, and Panko finds himself having to cook and feed the Caretakers who go to the outskirts to fight off monsters that threaten the town. Panko has to make sure that every Caretaker is properly fueled for a good, successful fight. With Beastro, success comes with feeding each Caretaker their preferred meals. If one prefers spicy food but is given a meal that’s sweet, they will be less effective in battle. Beastro blends deckbuilding mechanics with cooking sim games in a wonderfully unexpected way.
Crashout Crew
- Release date: May 28 (day one with Game Pass)
Developed by Aggro Crab, the makers of 2025 indie hit PEAK, Crashout Crew adds to the fun list of co-op games that the service offers. Crashout Crew on Game Pass is a four-player party game that revolves around a team of warehouse workers trying to successfully fulfill orders at a shipping company. If a player’s in-game stress levels get too high, their forklift becomes harder to control. Crashout Crew takes the fun-filled and chaotic co-op formula of PEAK and brings it into an exciting new environment.
Deep Dish Dungeon
- Release date: Fall 2026 (day one with Game Pass)
Deep Dish Dungeon combines dungeon crawling with in-depth exploration. The game supports co-op with up to three players, but it can always be enjoyed solo. The main premise of Deep Dish Dungeon is to embrace curiosity and let it lead players through unknown corridors and doorways. There is a bit of a survival twist, too, with its emphasis on collecting resources, crafting, and maintaining a base camp. Deep Dish Dungeon might be a good choice for those who love games with good resource management and challenging exploration.
Echo Generation 2
- Release date: May 27 (day one with Game Pass)
There are a lot of games on this list that are visual feasts for the eyes, and Echo Generation 2 definitely fits in that category. Echo Generation 2 is a deckbuilding turn-based RPG set in a retro-futuristic sci-fi world. There has been a renewed interest in turn-based RPGs ever since Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 revamped the genre. So, gamers who are looking for more turn-based stories may have a fresh new title to jump into. Echo Generation 2‘s vibes feel like an interesting blend of Cyberpunk 2077 and Stranger Things, while the gameplay is bound to resonate with turn-based RPG lovers and fans of deckbuilders, like Balatro.
Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School
- Release date: TBA (day one with Game Pass)
This sequel brings plenty of open-world exploration, dangerous puzzle rooms, and a larger conspiracy that players have to work to investigate in either solo or co-op. Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School brings another new Game Pass puzzle game front and center, and developer iam8bit is boasting its status as the first open-world escape room experience.
Inkonbini: One Store Many Stores
Release date: April 30 (day one with Game Pass)
Inkonbini will add another cozy game on Game Pass that centers around a Japanese convenience store clerk and their daily interactions with customers and tasks that involve organizing the store. This slice-of-life, narrative-driven story follows main character Makoto as their time working at the store evolves into a charming story with a lot of heart.
Mistfall Hunter
Release date: July 2026 (day one with Game Pass)
Labeled as a “dark fantasy action-extraction RPG,” Mistfall Hunter takes place in a world being destroyed by a mysterious force called the Gyldenmist that turns its victims into mutated and warped versions of their former selves. Mistfall Hunter‘s combat looks incredibly reminiscent of games like Elden Ring and other soulslikes, which could make the RPG a great option for FromSoftware fans who are wanting a co-op experience that isn’t Elden Ring Nightreign.
RV There Yet
- Release date: May 2026 (day one with Game Pass)
RV There Yet was one of the best indie games on Steam last year, and it’s finally coming to other platforms. This co-op adventure follows a group of campers headed back from a relaxing vacation, only to find themselves having to take an alternate route back home. The way out of the rural woods is no walk in the park, and players have to work together to make sure everyone gets out safely. RV There Yet is a goofy and challenging physics-based game that perfectly captures what it feels like when vacations don’t go according to plan.
Screenbound
- Release date: TBA (day one with Game Pass)
Screenbound is a tribute to the best puzzle platformer games that have made their mark on gaming. The game features a stylized 3D-rendered main character who has to use their 2D Game Boy-inspired handheld to traverse through a platform-filled world. It’s a trippy blend of retro-inspired visuals and a fun modern 3D art style that is bound to make platforming and puzzle-solving feel fresh again.
Speedrunners 2: King of Speed
Release date: July 2026 (day one with Game Pass)
As the name implies, Speedrunners 2: King of Speed is all about going fast. Speedrunners and its upcoming sequel bring racing games and platformers together for one high-energy experience. Speedrunners 2 is a fun couch co-op game that pits players against one another to see who can make it through each 2D level the fastest. There is also an online multiplayer mode for players to challenge strangers and friends. Utilizing power-ups and quick-thinking in order to get ahead of the competition is key, and it makes Speedrunners 2 an exciting combination of heart-racing action and strategic gameplay.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
- Release date: TBA (day one with Game Pass)
Astroneer fans now have a fun spin-off to look forward to with Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions. The main difference between these two games is that Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions leans far more into co-op gameplay. Astroneer is more focused on long-term terraforming and base-building, but Starseeker is a better option for gamers who like shorter sessions that are more action-oriented. It may seem like a sequel to Astroneer at first, but it’s a completely different experience.
Tears of Metal
- Release date: TBA (day one with Game Pass)
This medieval roguelike takes a really fun aesthetic and blends it together with a dark fantasy concept. Players control a Scottish battalion that is trying to defend their island after a mysterious meteor wreaks havoc on the area. Both co-op and single-player, this stylish roguelike promises plenty of intense enemy encounters and upgrades that offer diverse gameplay options. Fans of roguelikes and medieval games will want to check out Tears of Metal on Game Pass when it launches later this year.
There Are No Ghosts at the Grand
- Release date: TBA (day one with Game Pass)
Part musical, part renovation sim, and last but not least, part Lovecraftian-inspired ghost hunting story, There Are No Ghosts at the Grand is a wild and charming blend of ideas. There have been a lot of video games inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, but this may be the first one that has PowerWash Simulator vibes combined with touches of Coraline (there’s a talking black cat). All the games on this list are unique in their own ways, but There Are No Ghosts at the Grand is definitely one of the more outside-the-box concepts.
Vampire Crawlers
- Available on Game Pass now
If the Vampire Crawlers reviews are anything to go by, this might be the next big roguelite deckbuilder. After Vampire Survivors did a Balatro crossover, it was clear that the series could work well as deckbuilder. Thus, Vampire Crawlers was born. This isn’t just a mere copy, though. What makes Vampire Crawlers so special is that it combines roguelite elements, deck-building, turn-based combat, and dungeon crawling into one thrilling experience. It’s a deeply addictive title that is well worth checking out on Game Pass.
Vapor World: Over the Mind
- Release date: June 2026 (day one with Game Pass)
Combining soulslike combat with side-scrolling platforming, Vapor World: Over the Mind promises a beautifully dark world that immediately calls to mind games like Lies of P. A bleak, dream-like setting filled with monsters and soulslike mechanics also seems like the perfect indie offering for someone eagerly waiting for a new Bloodborne game. Vapor World: Over the Mind might not be the Bloodborne remake that gamers have been hoping for, but it looks like it has been heavily-influenced while still maintaining its own unique identity as a 2D platformer.
