Indie Selects for June 2026: Completely Stacked Indie Video games – XBOX Wire

Each Wednesday, dive into the Indie Choose Hub — your gateway to a contemporary, curated indie assortment plus 4 themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You’ll be able to at all times discover this assortment hub within the XBOX Retailer and on XBOX.com/IndieSelects.
What a wild month for indie video games. Straight bangers high to backside, and our queues are overflowing in one of the best ways. The ID@XBOX crew had no scarcity of picks, and this lineup? We stand by this listing ten toes down.
Coming-of-age tales that hit you within the feels? Examine. Love letters to group, creativity, and the folks behind the artwork? Double examine. Fighters with actual depth that also welcome a lil’ button-mashing chaos? You’re coated. Survival horror in area? Say much less. Claw machine roguelikes? In some way… sure. Cute child boars exploring nature? The actual fact you needed to ask hurts just a little.
June Selects is right here: stacked, various, and able to take over your backlog. I have to go sit down now (in no specific order):
Curve Video games
Do you’re keen on music and ever catch your self daydreaming about working in a comfortable little report store? I undoubtedly do—which might be why Wax Heads instantly resonated with me. It’s the sort of sport that looks like stepping right into a report retailer you’ve at all times hoped to search out: equal elements welcoming hangout, punk-spirited chaos, and thoughtfully crafted, narrative pushed life sim. Set contained in the struggling Repeater Data, Wax Heads blends simulation, storytelling, and light-weight puzzle fixing as you assist a solid of quirky prospects observe down the proper album, dig by way of crates of hand drawn information, and slowly deliver the store’s groove again to life.
What drew me in immediately was the vibe. The sport describes itself as “cozy punk,” and that feels precisely proper. It blends the heat of a slice of life sim with the splendidly messy vitality of a spot the place everybody has robust opinions about music. In the event you love character-driven storytelling like Night time within the Woods or the easygoing office camaraderie of Espresso Discuss, you’ll really feel immediately at dwelling.
I fortunately spent hours flipping by way of fictional albums—every one full of its personal lore, fanbase, and sometimes unhinged backstory—whereas chatting with prospects who felt strikingly much like folks I’ve met in actual report retailers. The sunshine puzzle components, like piecing collectively clues to suggest the proper observe, add simply sufficient construction with out disrupting the laid-back movement.
What actually makes Wax Heads particular, although, is how private it feels. It’s a real love letter to music obsessives, group areas, and the splendidly bizarre individuals who make them unforgettable. In the event you take pleasure in witty character banter, uncovering considerate particulars, or just settling in with an excellent soundtrack, this one really hits the precise notice.
– Jessica Ronnell
Skybound Video games
Invincible VS is a 3v3 tag preventing sport primarily based on the hit animated sequence and comedian. Gamers construct a crew of fan-favorite characters and throw down in brutal, fast-paced fight, swapping between all three fighters in actual time.
Invincible VS is the byproduct of recent preventing sport design assembly one of many hottest superhero IPs in recent times. As a lot as I like preventing video games, I’ve traditionally been horrible at them. I perceive ideas like enjoying impartial, overheads, conditioning, zoning, mix-ups, and even numpad notation, however I’ve at all times lacked the finger self-discipline and persistence to grasp combos. On the spectrum from novice to professional, I’d name myself an intermediate degree “strategic button masher,” and I recognize Quarter Up designing their core expertise round gamers like me. That’s to not say you gained’t hop on-line and get your butt handed to you by a style vet, however you may nonetheless pull off cool-looking combos with out grinding hours within the lab.
Past approachability, there’s quite a bit to understand right here. Visually, it captures the spirit of the present effectively whereas evoking the blood-soaked brutality of Mortal Kombat, the tag-team chaos of Marvel vs. Capcom, and a few of the fighting-game DNA you’d count on from a studio led by Killer Intuition (2013) veteran builders. The sport consists of Arcade mode, a cinematic authentic story mode that includes Ella Psychological — a brand new Invincible character voiced by Tierra Whack — on-line and offline versus, and a sturdy coaching suite with tutorials and lab choices. Whereas it’s approachable and flashy, it stands out in its depth by way of a sandbox-y combo system and help play. It’s enjoyable experimenting with assaults and help mechanics to see what works—most of it simply does. It virtually feels damaged, however in a enjoyable approach that encourages creativity and mastery. Invincible VS is a straightforward advice for followers of the present, preventing sport gamers, or anybody within the style however intimidated by the standard barrier to entry.
– Deron Mann
Supermassive Video games
Directive 8020 is the subsequent entry in The Darkish Photos Anthology, launching the sequence into full-on sci‑fi survival horror and it’s terrifyingly good. Set aboard a colony ship fleeing a dying Earth, the sport blends cinematic storytelling, branching decisions, and tense stealth sequences as a shape-shifting alien menace begins infiltrating the crew. Suppose tense paranoia within the spirit of video games like Useless Area or the creeping mistrust of “The Factor” however filtered by way of Supermassive’s signature choice-driven type.
At one level, I grew to become so suspicious of each crew member that I began treating informal conversations like I used to be trapped on the earth’s worst workplace Groups assembly. Somebody would calmly ask a query, and I’d instantly assume, “That sounds precisely like one thing an alien pretending to be Steve from accounting would say.” Directive 8020 has a approach of constructing even routine interactions really feel harmful, and actually, that paranoia grew to become a part of the enjoyable.
What instantly stood out to me was simply how oppressive and atmospheric every thing feels. The Cassiopeia isn’t only a backdrop — it turns into this claustrophobic maze the place each darkish hallway had me questioning whether or not I ought to hold shifting ahead or flip round instantly. I’ve spent a great period of time exploring its branching story paths already, and a few of the selections genuinely made me pause longer than I anticipated. There’s one thing uniquely tense about figuring out the individual subsequent to chances are you’ll not really be human anymore.
I additionally actually loved how rather more energetic the gameplay feels this time round. Sneaking by way of upkeep shafts, utilizing instruments to keep away from threats, and reacting rapidly below strain helped make the stress really feel extra fast. In the event you take pleasure in narrative-heavy horror video games which are finest skilled with mates reacting to each unhealthy resolution in actual time, Directive 8020 feels prefer it might grow to be a favourite Film Night time decide in a short time.
– Steven Allen
Stray Fawn Studio
Deckbuilders and roguelikes have been taking on gaming recently, and it will probably really feel robust to determine which one really matches what you’re on the lookout for. Dungeon Clawler brings a genuinely contemporary twist by swapping your deck of playing cards for claw‑machine capsules. You then have to drop a claw right into a container of talents and hope you snag those you need. It sounds ridiculous, however it calls for actual strategic planning, and it’s extremely satisfying.
You’ll have a blast experimenting with what looks like countless mixtures of weapon varieties, shields, buffs, claw‑machine synergies, character decisions, and extra. Whether or not you favor stacking shields and making use of debuffs, pushing for the best injury doable, or touchdown someplace in between, you’ll discover a playstyle that clicks for you. Simply hope that RNG treats you kindly alongside the best way.
When you’ve gotten the hold of constructing out methods, making an attempt your hand at new characters and tougher difficulties enable for unimaginable quantities of replayability. Personally, I’ve solely overwhelmed the ultimate boss on three characters to date, and my first aim is to clear it with all of them earlier than shifting onto the subsequent issue.
In the event you’re craving that Slay‑the‑Spire‑type dopamine hit, Dungeon Clawler ought to clear that up for you! I discovered myself having to return in and intention for brand new methods run after run. Whether or not I used to be profitable or not shouldn’t be for me to share… However I’m positive you’ll do higher than I did.
– Keith Muelas
Most Leisure
Just lately, I’ve come to understand from video games like Despelote, Nearer the Distance, and Afterlove EP present that video games as a medium isn’t simply viable for poignant storytelling, it’s uniquely suited to totally immersive narrative experiences. Till Then carries that ahead with a hanging 2.5D coming-of-age story that blends love, grief, and friendship in 2010s Philippines, with a delicate supernatural undercurrent that I’ll strive to not spoil.
The sport follows Mark, a slacker teen who coasts by way of faculty with little ambition and loads of isolation, spending most of his time gaming and procrastinating. Because the story unfolds, he connects with a rising solid, texting and messaging mates on social media together with forming a bond with newcomer Nicole. Once in a while mild gameplay will happen, comparable to skewering fishballs with a stick, rhythm sport sequences when Mark is studying to play piano, or enjoying a sequence of video games at a neighborhood honest, all of which add a quick quantity of selection that match into the narrative. However Polychroma’s richly detailed pixel artwork is the actual showstopper, bringing the Philippines to life by way of vibrant, lived-in areas, the place cultural touchstones and food-centric moments create a deeply immersive, emotionally resonant world, whether or not you share that background or not. Although it takes its time, the story’s endearing solid attracts you in, constructing towards a devastating emotional payoff that lingers lengthy after.
Whether or not you’re reliving your teenage years or nonetheless dwelling them, this visible novel feels immediately acquainted. Over my 18-hour playthrough, Till Then made me snigger, pause in awe, and even tear up. Whereas the coming-of-age narrative stands robust by itself, the added breathtaking pixel animation, participating thriller, and cultural backdrop firmly cement it as important for anybody who loves narrative-driven video games. 
– Raymond Estrada
PQube Restricted
Get able to fall head over hooves for Child Boris. Cute Adventures is a comfortable, low-stress exploration sport the place you play as an irresistibly cute child boar looking out the wilderness for his lacking household. Guided by a pleasant park ranger, you’ll sniff your approach by way of vibrant biomes in a superbly crafted nationwide park. There’s no fight, no strain, and nothing right here can hurt you. Even the scariest fall ends in a gentle squeak as an alternative of a splat. It’s simply you, a fuzzy little bread loaf, roaming a peaceable, picturesque world designed to soften your worries away.
After a forest hearth, you get up alone realizing that your mom and siblings are nowhere to be discovered. With little to information you, Boris’s best power rapidly emerges: a boar’s highly effective sense of scent. However as a younger boar, the overwhelming flood of latest scents can simply distract you out of your aim. Solely by monitoring sufficient of the identical scent are you able to be taught to tune it out, clearing your path ahead. As you filter by way of the noise, you’ll reunite along with your siblings, who assist you to proceed the search. Past that core loop, there are puzzles to unravel, pictures to snap, and races to run—for the completionists who need to do all of it.
The sport is visually gorgeous and quietly emotional, with a “Homeward Certain”-style coronary heart that lingers. It’s a brief journey—round 4–5 hours—however a stunning escape into nature alongside an cute fluffball named Boris, and a delicate reminder of why these wild areas are value defending.  I extremely suggest Cute Adventures for these on the lookout for their subsequent cozy outing and particularly for folks on the lookout for one thing genuinely pleasant, non-violent, and sneakily academic for his or her youngsters.
– Raymond Estrada

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