We’re approaching the end of 2022 and the seasons are changing, bringing chill winds, swirling leaves, and the urge to wear every jumper you own. Here are some great Xbox game to play to match that autumnal mood!
Despite the fact that I am usually the coldest person in the office — I have a designated office blanket — I love autumn, even with all its chilliness. Whether it’s the cosier side of the year that you like, or the fact that autumn ushers in the spooky season, autumn brings its own rich atmosphere of golden evenings and frosty mornings. If you’re looking to curl up with a good cosy autumnal game — or something a little more unsettling as we get closer to Halloween — check out our list of some great Xbox games to play in autumn.
Night In The Woods
We couldn’t really start this list with anything other than Night In The Woods, which is often referred to as a great autumnal game. Visually, the game’s a great fit for autumn; our character, Mae, runs through piles of fallen leaves on her way through the town of Possum Springs, which is set against a backdrop of orange, brown, and russet colours. The game feels like it’s on the colder end of the autumn scale, which seems to match Night In The Wood’s discomfiting atmosphere. Home doesn’t feel the same to Mae, who’s unsure of where she fits and what she wants in life. Strange things are also happening in Possum Springs — along with that eeriness, the game has a bleak streak which seems fitting when viewing autumn as a time of endings; the end of summer, and the lead-up to the end of the year. It’s a game that resonated with a lot of players, and also usually happens to be the first one to pop to mind when thinking of autumnal games.
A Short Hike
It might not look like the most autumnal game on here, but if autumn as a season asks you to bundle up in warm layers, A Short Hike asks you to bring at least a scarf. As it makes clear, A Short Hike is a shorter game, but this in no way detracts from the experience — A Short Hike is a beautifully relaxing exploration-focused adventure, in which we gradually make our way to the highest point of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. Everything from the game’s visuals and soundtrack to its gameplay add to this enjoyable experience. Gliding above the tall trees and winding paths is wonderful, and the game encourages you to take your time: to check out every path and soak up the Park’s peaceful atmosphere. If you decide to glide back down the mountain, you’re not worrying about undoing your progress; you’re enjoying the freedom of movement, and the breezes swirling across the screen. It’s a lovely bit of escapism if you’re looking for something cosier this autumn.
Life is Strange
If there’s anything that captures both the beautiful and bleaker autumnal feelings, it’s Life is Strange. Visually, it fits the bill; it’s set in the fall, with Max starting out at Blackwell Academy, and is full of golden sunsets and hazy landscapes. Like Mae in Night in the Woods, Max in Life is Strange is returning to a familiar town to find things aren’t quite the same. She doesn’t quite know where to fit in anymore, and the town is plagued by strange and tragic events. Max can’t just return to life as it was before, but is made to face difficult choices as the game explores complicated themes and the darker side of Arcadia Bay. It’s a sombre, melancholy, and beautiful game, and, after consulting resident Life is Strange expert Sean, he has deemed it fitting for our autumnal list.
Fall of Porcupine: Prologue
The Fall of Porcupine prologue gives off some big Night in the Woods vibes, both in its autumnal setting and in how it explores some more sombre themes. The prologue is a free introduction to the full Fall of Porcupine narrative adventure, and sees Finley starting a new job in his journey to become a doctor. Like Night in the Woods, there’s a sense of unease under the charming appearance of the town of Porcupine. We’ll be attending patients, completing minigames to treat them, dealing with our overbearing boss, learning more about the villagers, or exploring the town and its surrounding forest. It’s all set against a backdrop of autumnal colours and the changing of the seasons — it looks lovely, but it seems Finley won’t be there long before finding out there’s more going on than meets the eye.
Wytchwood
If you’re looking for something that gives off purely autumnal vibes, Wytchwood is a good bet. It’s got gothic tales, witches, graveyards, and monsters, if you’re hoping for something with a suitably Halloween theme. If it’s autumn landscapes you’re after, it’s got forests of golden and berry-red trees, foggy swamps, and yellow and orange fields of crops. In Wytchwood, we play as the witch of the woods who’s entangled in a pact she can’t remember making. Crafting and exploration are key to Wytchwood’s gameplay, as we gather magical ingredients to create spells and potions, while passing judgement on the bizarre cast of characters we meet.
The Wild at Heart
If you’re looking for another magical autumnal adventure, The Wild at Heart could be one for you. It’s a whimsical game set among the ancient trees of The Deep Woods, and sees friends Wake and Kirby running away to a magical land full of strange creatures. The order of the Greenshields, which had stood as protectors of The Deep Woods, is fractured. Wake and Kirby can command a herd of small creatures called Spritelings, which help them solve puzzles, defeat enemies, aid the Greenshields, and restore pathways through the woods. There are different types of Spritelings with different strengths, and Wake is also armed with something of his own invention called a Gustbuster. Everything in the woods lives in fear of The Never — ghost-like beings that emerge at night and will go straight for the Spritelings — and this gives a darker edge to what is otherwise a tale of childhood adventure set amongst a chilly autumnal world.
Costume Quest
Another one that just had to be on here — set during Halloween, RPG Costume Quest brings a fully nostalgic sense of childhood adventure as we trick-or-treat our way through Auburn Pines, Autumn Haven Mall, and Fall Valley Carnival, changing costumes, fighting monsters, and gathering together new allies as we go. Costume Quest is packed full of charm and imagination, as well as a rich autumnal atmosphere consolidated with a Halloween-themed story. Having just been added to Xbox Game Pass makes it even better.
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon games are more the area of the racing fans in the office, but they argued that Forza Horizon 4 definitely has its own autumnal atmosphere and should be included in this list. Forza Horizon 4 did introduce changing seasons, so it does have a dedicated autumn season, but a lot of the trailers and images we saw in its initial marketing also gave an autumnal atmosphere to the game in general — its cover art showed a car racing through fallen red and orange leaves, with a golden tree in the background, and its English setting gave us a number of chilly regions to race in. If you’re not in the mood for a narrative-driven game but still want something to match the season, Forza Horizon 4 might be what you’re after.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch has both that chillier autumnal setting, and that initial unsettling atmosphere of unease you might be looking for as we get closer to Halloween. We play as Edith herself, who, as the last member of her family left alive, is heading back to explore the Finch house. She’ll be digging into her family history by seeing what happened on the day each of her family members died. It’s an unusual game full of the unexpected, and an experience that will keep you thinking about it even when you put the controller down.
Potion Permit
Potion Permit’s story might not feel too autumnal, but its setting certainly hints at the chillier season; our character runs through hazy evenings, falling leaves, and forests with the occasional golden and orange trees. We play as a chemist of the Medical Association, heading to the town of Moonbury to heal the mayor’s daughter. Moonbury’s residents have for a long time only trusted their local witch doctor, and we’ll need to win their trust, cure their ailments, and grow our reputation. Potion Permit is a cosier sort of game — in our Potion Permit interview, developer MassHive Media’s creative director Andika Pradana told us they were aiming for “heart-warming vibes” — so we thought it’d be a good addition to this list.
What do you think? Are there any games you think match this season well, or that you find yourself returning to in autumn? Let us know in the comments!
