Xbox is wrapping up the year by giving indie games the spotlight, launching a brand-new Indie Selects Demo Fest that’s now live across the Microsoft Store. Instead of a single showcase stream, the platform is letting players jump straight into hands-on previews; a chance to try in-development projects long before they hit their final form.
The event features dozens of demos spanning multiple genres and visual styles, with everything from atmospheric adventures to high-energy action titles represented. Xbox notes that these demos are early builds, meaning mechanics, visuals, and performance will continue to evolve as developers push toward release. That’s part of the appeal: A rare window into the creative process.
Here’s where you’ll insert your full list of games:
- Aikyam (Thousand Stars Studio) – Console
- Amazing Frog? (Fayju) – Console
- Awaysis (17-Bit / Cult) – Console / PC
- Biped 2 (Meta Publishing) – Console
- Boxes: Lost Fragments (Big Loop Studios / Snapbreak) – Console
- Cash Cleaner Simulator (Mind Control Games / Forklift Interactive) – Console
- Cassette Boy (Wonderland Kazakiri / Forever Entertainment) – Console
- Coffee Talk Tokyo (Chorus Worldwide) – Console
- ColorBlend FX: Desaturation (Pi-Dev Bulgaria) – Console
- CyberWar Neon City (CyberMonkey Studio / GoGo Games) – Console
- Deck of Haunts (Mantis Games / Dangen Entertainment) – Console
- Empire in Decay (Siesta Games) – Console
- Froggy Hates Snow (Crying Brick / Digital Bandidos) – Console
- Go North (Gazuntype) – Console
- Incantation (Softstar Entertainment / Eastasiasoft) – Console
- Junkster (Stormcloud Games / 4J Studios) – Console
- Kejora (Beranjin Creative / Soft Source) – Console
- Knuckle Jet (Rain Games) – Console / Handheld
- Limbot (Ionized Studios) – Console
- Lost in Loss (Soroka Games) – Console / PC
- Mark of the Deep (Mad Mimic / Light Up Games) – Console / PC / Handheld
- Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland (Pepita Digital) – Console
- Megabattle (MadCat) – Console
- Pathologic 3 (Ice-Pick Lodge / HypeTrain Digital) – Console
- Raging Bill (Artpunk Studio) – PC / Handheld
- Realm of Ink (Leap Studio / 4divinity) – PC / Handheld
- Reef Defense (Swift Creek Games) – Console / PC / Handheld
- Relooted (Nyamakop) – Console
- Rhythm Towers (Innoloop) – Console
- RoadOut (Rastrolabs / Dangen Entertainment) – Console
- Showgunner (Artificer / Klabater) – Console / PC
- Star Ores Inc (BlackBeak Games / Three River Games) – Console
- STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator (Ternox) – Console / PC / Handheld
- Tenebris Somnia (Saibot Studios / New Blood) – Console / PC
- Townseek (Whales and Games / Super Rare Games) – Console
- Under Par Golf Architect (Broken Arms Games) – Console
- Worshippers of Cthulhu (Crazy Goat Games / Crytivo) – Console
Once installed, each demo can be played freely throughout the event, but the collection won’t be permanent. Most of the titles will be removed from the store at the end of the month as studios shift back into full development mode. If you’re curious about what’s coming to the indie scene in 2026, this festival is the easiest way to scout early standouts.
With blockbuster releases dominating December, this indie-focused celebration is a refreshing detour; a chance for smaller teams to shine and players to discover something unexpected.
Which demo are you trying first? Share your playlists and stay tuned to VGNW and follow us on X for our picks from the festival and full impressions soon.
What is the Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest?
It’s a limited-time event featuring over 30 indie game demos that players can download and try directly from the Microsoft Store.
How long will the demos be available?
Most demos will remain available until the end of the month, after which they’ll be removed as developers return to full production.
