Microsoft has put all the pieces together for the launch of the Xbox Series X except for one. Unfortunately for them, it may be one of the most vital pieces of the entire puzzle. Despite impressive hardware and a massive library of backward compatible classics going back to the original Xbox, the Series X and Series S are currently seriously lacking in exclusive content. As the recent demise of Stadia's internal efforts shows, exclusives drive platforms to success, and all of Microsoft's big guns are still waiting in the wings.
Halo Infinite will seemingly start the party this fall, but the Series X will have to rely on exclusive indie efforts throughout 2021. Thankfully, there are some great experiences on the horizon that should keep players booting up their Xbox throughout 2021. Also, because of this generation's unique situation regarding backward compatibility, many of these games will also be available to those who have the Xbox One as well, meaning that players waiting for an upgrade can still check out some exceptional releases this year.
From saving the family video store to exploring a rather sticky alien world, here are some of the best indie games that will be exclusive in some form to Xbox consoles this year.
A third-person action-adventure from the creators of the critically-acclaimed SteamWorld franchise, The Gunk stars a pair of space haulers making their way in the galaxy. The titular Gunk is a corrosive substance consuming the next world on the pair's radar, so they have to craft their way to survival and profits while avoiding a sticky fate. Players will continue to enjoy saying The Gunk out loud when it hits Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC this year.
For anyone that misses the 1990s, the developers at Mighty Yell understands that pain. That's why they're creating The Big Con, an adventure game about hustling the populous in order to save the family video store. Expect plenty of shopping mall exploration, a very unique art style, and all those squiggly lines that used to be in the background of Rugrats title cards. The Big Con is due for a release this year on Xbox One and Xbox Series X, with a PC release coming sometime after that.
A long-in-development adventure inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Tunic may finally hit PC and Xbox One in 2021. Originally known as Secret Legend, the game has attracted a lot of attention over several E3 presentations thanks to its striking visual design and intricate animations. It all becomes even more impressive when someone finds out that it's all the work of a one-man team.
Staring Hollywood actors Willem Dafoe, James McAvoy, and Daisy Ridley, Twelve Minutes is one of several upcoming games about time loops, although this one won't have any over the top assassination attempts.
Instead, this thriller from single developer Luis Antonio and publisher Annapurna Interactive challenges players to break a horrible cycle of violence using just the items found in a typical living room. Twelve Minutes is coming to PC and Xbox One sometime this year.
The Wild at Heart is a visually-impressive indie game published by Humble Games that takes more than a little inspiration from arcade culture and Nintendo's Pikmin series. Adventuring alongside the Spritelings, players need to venture into a deep wood housing a stygian evil and wait out the nights next to a burning campfire. Players can start hurling Spritelings at puzzles and creatures alike later this year on Xbox and PC.
So, while players won't find any uniquely huge shooters or big-budget online exclusives on Xbox Series X for a good while, Microsoft's powerhouse will power a host of long in the making projects that take advantage of its power in different ways. Warm up the machine's SSD and yank out the load times of these Xbox One releases while Master Chief prepares to usher in the bigger games to come at the end of this year.
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