Although Xbox Game Pass wasn't without its quieter months this year, 2024 was generally another solid year for Microsoft's subscription service. Last month was a particularly good one for Xbox and PC Game Pass subscribers, with great games such as Age of Mythology: Toldand third-party titles such as Frostpunk 2 accessing the service on the respective release dates.
The September 2024 line-up of Xbox Game Pass was full of early, high-profile releases. But while the October 2024 Xbox Game Pass lineup doesn't have that many Day 1 releases in the wings, it does bring some of the best indie games of recent years to Xbox, PC, and the Cloud. .
The October 2024 Xbox Game Pass lineup is full of must-have indie games
Open Roads – Now available on Xbox Game Pass
Although Open Roads wasn't nearly as critical a success as the two titles listed below, it's still an indie game worth playing, especially since it's now available through Xbox Game Pass. Predominantly a walking simulator, Open RoadsThe gameplay is fairly simple, but its story is engaging and effectively told through hand-drawn cutscenes that play after inspecting an object in the environment.
Open Roads tells the story of Tess and her mother, Opal, as they embark on a journey of family discovery. while Open RoadsThe narrative is solid, it's the performances of Kaitlyn Dever and Keri Russell that really sell the story and its dialogue. Although some critics have disputed Open Roads' overly simplistic gameplay, most praised the game's underlying relationship and important domestic themes.
Sifu – Now available on Xbox Game Pass
Sifu is probably the most well-known indie game on this list, but it's one that still deserves a much larger audience. Sifu is a third-person action game that strikes a unique balance between methodical Soulslike combat and fast-paced beat-em-up action. Developer Sloclap took everything he learned from 2017 Absoluteand distilled it into a refined, immersive experience that leaves fans wanting more in the best way.
Although SifuHis combat can be punishing, fair, and rewards those who master the game's systems. SifuHis stylized art direction is also a major strength, giving his fast-paced battles an even more frantic feel. In addition to his main campaign, Sifu it also has plenty of challenge levels that have been added post-launch, ensuring that newcomers have plenty of content to work on. With Sifu Now on Xbox Game Pass, there's no reason not to try one of the best indie games of 2022.
Encryption – Available on Xbox Game Pass on October 10th
A real hidden gem when it first launched in October 2021, Decryption has finally begun to gain the recognition it deserves. Decryption is a roguelike deck-builder in a similar order to games like Slay the Spirebut it has a few unique tricks up its sleeve. The biggest thing that sets Decryption apart from its contemporaries is its strong atmosphere of horror.
Despite being a card game, Decryption it can get pretty scary at times, with a found footage aesthetic, some extremely difficult boss encounters, and some creepy visuals that keep the player on edge the entire time. Xbox Game Pass doesn't have many horror games currently lined up for the scary season, but Decryption it's off to a great start, hitting the subscription service on October 10th.
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