“Dear Diary… Did I tell you I saw a bird? It had brown feathers and a red chest – it gleamed against the sky…Then I heard the gun shot…Seeing the way they treated this innocent, beautiful thing. I snapped…I’m what the COI made me. And I’m not going back.”

This is an abridged version of the first words you’ll hear playing I Am Your Beast, spoken by the main character, Alphonse Harding. Harding is a retired Covert Operations Initiative (COI) agent, burnt out after years of “one more job” too many. So, when the COI surrounds his home in the forest and offers him another “one last job”, Harding decides to hand in his notice. That notice comes in the form of kicking a COI agent in the face, grabbing their gun in mid-air and moving forwards.

Fast-Paced, Revenge Thriller FPS

Turn the tables on the military-industrial complex who are hunting you down with lightning fast, tree climbing, kick delivering, knife throwing, gun catching FPS action. From guns, to bear traps, to beehives, there are plenty of ways to use your environment to get to the end of the level. At that end, you’ll find a score and rank, so if you’re into speedrunning, or just getting the best times you can, you’ll probably end up going back to these levels a few times!

I Am Your Beast  comes complete with all the free extra content we released. This includes the story expansion Support Group, where a group of COI Agents sit and retell the fantastical sounding tale of what happened to them in the main game at the hands of a seemingly superhuman Harding. The second, Cold Sweat is a no     story, all challenge, all weird set of challenges. It’s our love letter to the speedrunners who have latched on to I Am Your Beast.

Tyrants Better Run

If you’re looking to speedrun, enjoy the fully voice acted, funny, intense, touching and slick story or enjoy an FPS that can be played in short bursts over more than 20      levels, I Am Your Beast is for you. Oh and I nearly forgot the soundtrack! Let me tell you, the soundtrack is, to borrow a term from the internet, “a banger”. If it was in the Eurovision Song Contest, I’d give it 12 points. (That’s the most points you can give one song, it’s not important to know that for the game, but it’s good to learn new things.)

“I want players to come away feeling cool” says Dan Pearce, Lead Developer on I Am Your Beast. “The experience we really wanted to create, and having a structure of short levels with timers running helps create this, is that we really wanted to push the player to a place where high skill play always results in you having this action sequence. You’re throwing a gun, you’re catching a gun, you’re stomping…” and all of this leads to a sense that you’ve just been through one of the best action scenes you’ve seen, and you didn’t just watch it, you created it!

“The feeling of discovery…is a large part of what makes games like this so interesting. You’re not just playing it once and forgetting, we added a lot of elements for replay ability” says Jim Brown, Level Designer on the game. “Players finding the secret things we have in the world, creating their own challenges and discovering their own ways to play” are something they take a lot of pride in. “The fun part is playing around and figuring it out.” I Am Your Beast features a score system, and you get a rank at the end of each mini-sandbox level. Getting an S Rank will mean finding all the paths and different ways you can take out enemies.

I asked both to describe I Am Your Beast in one word.      Jim went with “Dynamic. The ways you move around this environment is not static, it’s not set in stone. You should feel dynamic as you move and play it the way you want to play it.”

Dan, who pointed out that this is a nightmare question as they worked on this game for eight months      settled on “Visceral. When you’re getting a good run down, it makes you feel like a dog tearing apart      someone’s homework. Visceral is the closest word I can find to that experience. The homework is the military industrial complex, and you are the dog!”    

This game is a labor of love from all of us here at Strange Scaffold, and a game we’re very proud to present to you. We’re a small, remote first, collective of games people and we hope you enjoy this one as much as we do.

I Am Your Beast is available on Xbox right now.

I Am Your Beast

Strange Scaffold

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$17.99

Get it now

Hunt the military-industrial complex across stylish comic book micro-sandboxes in this fast-paced covert revenge thriller FPS from the developers of El Paso, Elsewhere.

Break out the beach blankets, dust off the ice chest, and unfold those camping chairs because summer is here. The barbecue grill is out and the ID@Xbox team is serving up our hottest indie game picks. It wasn’t easy putting together these Monthly Selects as everyone on the team wanted something different for this cookout.

Being the considerate cook, I made sure to ask everyone the important questions, “How do you like your stakes: cozy or world-ending? Who wants puzzles in their game? I can add RPGs, but let me know if you want skill tree leveling or just upgrades? How many would like some terraforming? How many birds should I throw on? Who brought the duck?” When it was all said and done, our handpicked indie games for June turned out to be quite the spread.

Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is what happens when a life sim and an RPG collide with a dash of time travel for good measure. Developed by Level-5, this sequel to the beloved Fantasy Life lets players take on one (or all) of 14 different Lives, from combat-oriented classes like Mercenary or Paladin to creative paths like Woodcutter, Cook, or Alchemist. The twist? You’re not just leveling up, you’re also building and rebuilding an island across two timelines.

What keeps me coming back is its sheer sense of freedom. Want to fish all day? You can. Want to dive into dungeons? Absolutely. Feel like forging armor in the morning and baking cakes at night? Go for it. Each “Life” (class) feels rewarding and distinct, and the ability to switch between them whenever you like means no playstyle ever feels locked in.

As someone who loves optimizing systems and exploring interconnected mechanics, I was drawn in and captivated. Every Life has its own skill tree, equipment, and crafting systems, and they all feed into each other in clever ways. For example, leveling up as a Miner means you can gather rare ore to use as a Blacksmith, which you can then sell as a Merchant. It’s a gameplay loop that rewards multitasking without being overwhelming.

I’ve found great satisfaction building out my village, experimenting with classes, and diving into both timelines, and it’s the kind of game that scratches multiple itches. Want a bit of combat? Explore a dungeon. Want to relax? Go fishing or furnish your home. The pacing is gentle but steady, with just enough story to keep you curious.

If you’re a fan of games like Dragon Quest Builders, My Time at Portia, or even Stardew Valley, this offers a similarly satisfying sense of progression and control. While the tone is lighthearted and accessible, the depth is there for anyone willing to explore it. Fantasy Life i is more than just charming, it’s cleverly designed and genuinely rewarding. – Steven Allen

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time

LEVEL5 Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
136

★★★★★

$59.99

Get it now

Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so called “Lives,” and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world.
Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.
It’s up to you to choose what kind of Life you’ll live!

■A Dragon Guides You to a Mysterious Island
You are an adventurer who sets sail with the archaeologist Edward and his team.
Following the light emanating from a dragon’s fossil, you discover an uncharted, deserted island.
A vast abyss, a dragon made of bone, and a girl’s message that begs you to save the world…
Travel between the island that thrived 1,000 years ago and the present-day island to unravel the mystery of its downfall!

■14 Unique Lives to Make Yours Brighter
In this world, a “Life” is the equivalent of a job.
Each has its own characteristics and provides various ways to enjoy yourself.
Collect ingredients or materials with Gathering Lives, create weapons or cook dishes with Crafting Lives, or fight monsters with Combat Lives. You can switch between any Life at any time, creating a life that’s uniquely yours.

■Shape the Island! Create Your Town!
Use Lives to gather materials and restore the island to its former glory!
Not only can you place houses and objects, but you can also alter the landscape and draw rivers and roads to create a truly unique island.
Expand your house, place some furniture, and decorate the interior however you like!

■Embark on an Open-World Adventure!
Freely explore the largest continent in the series!
Climb ledges, swim across rivers and lakes, or ride on mounts – With these new actions you can explore the world without limits!

■Endless Fun with Multiplayer!
Enjoy multiplayer with up to 4 players!
Invite friends to your island, explore dungeons, or find your own ways to have fun together!
If you have two controllers, you can also use the 2 Player Family Co-op feature where one player can join the adventure as your travel companion without needing to connect online!

30 Birds

Part 2D-ish narrative puzzle adventure, part creative mythmaking, 30 Birds is a journey through a super fantastical world built based on Persian art and music, asking you to find all the birds to help a world restore their goddess to her rightful throne. If you need something a little more chill, look no further than this quasi-psychedelic, diorama-style adventure that puts you smack dab in the middle of a teeming, incredibly beautiful world as Zig, an intrepid explorer and kind-of-detective.

You’ll navigate a rotating set of panels meant to artfully represent a visually dense metropolis populated by all manner of trippy citizens while attempting to rescue the goddess, Simurgh, from the clutches of a mysterious captor called The Scientist. Is this some parable about Science vs. Art? Possibly, but with its five hour-ish run time, I was more captivated by all the sights and sounds of the ongoing festival that the wildly inventive 30 Birds is stuffed with.

There are puzzles to solve (failure isn’t punitive in this game, you can try as much as you want to solve any given puzzle) and curious creatures/people to meet. You’ll fiddle with musical instruments, collect dropped feathers and paintings, and complete quests in order to restore Simurgh to her rightfully dreamy place in the game’s equally dreamy world. The pace is sedate – all the better to lull you into this game’s imaginative clutches. If you’re looking for a short narrative experience, with some extremely creative design and surprisingly funny, well-written dialogue, then 30 Birds needs to be on your itinerary.

30 Birds

ARTE France

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$17.99

Get it now

A court of feathers

In 30 Birds, you play as Zig, a young detective sent to bustling Lantern City to track down The Scientist. Alongside Hoop, a talented hoopoe stand-up comedian, you’ll encounter a whole madhouse of feathered friends and quirky characters as you explore dazzling Lantern City from top to bottom. Solve a variety of puzzles to foil the plans of the obnoxious Scientist behind the kidnapping to save the bird Goddess Simurgh.

A dazzling burst of art

Experience a seamless blend of 2D and 3D in this mesmerizing narrative adventure, with hand-drawn visuals inspired by Persian miniatures. Wander through the gorgeous neighborhoods of Lantern City while enjoying a ska – dub – reggae inspired soundtrack and help Zig gather thirty charismatic and chatty birds to save Simurgh! But beware, you might come across puzzling challenges on your way…

A mind-spinning adventure

Discover a gorgeous universe laid out on the surface of rotating lanterns. Wander through a beautiful city inspired by Middle Eastern ****legends, meeting the local goofs, quirky djinns, and regular weirdos along the way. Solve puzzles and interesting challenges to help Zig rescue Simurgh!

Key features

– Meet riotous and (not-so) charming birds, collect your new feathered friends’ contacts on your phone. Thwart diabolical and (not-so) powerful foes and find the fabulous Goddess, Simurgh.
– Explore a mythical, colorful, and beautifully hand-drawn world inspired by Persian art! Uncover Lantern City’s stunning sights and fantastic characters.
– Take on all kinds of thrilling challenges to advance the story! Solve intriguing and fun puzzles, wander around bars and cafes, create funky music using synthesizers, and play cards to gather clues and bring light to Simurgh’s kidnapping.
– Vibe out to the energetic ska – dub – reggae soundtrack, sprinkled with unexpected twists, as you stroll down the bright streets of Lantern City.

History

30 Birds is developed by Ram Ram Games, a Belgium-based studio whose founders, Coline and Laurent, went through many ideas before this video game came to fruition:
“The project started 10 years ago after a trip to Istanbul. Originally, we were making an interactive travel diary using a Persian miniatures-inspired art style to tell people about our journey. But our concept evolved towards a whole new interactive experience of this art through gaming.”

“Persian miniatures are vertical pictures used as book illustrations, and we came up with the idea of connecting them through a cube layout. By doing so, we connected and expanded the miniatures, introducing a third dimension of depth to the setting at the same time. Halfway between a kamishibai—a Japanese paper theater—and a projection lantern, we created a magic 3D city ready to be explored.”

“From the lively city of Istanbul to the mystery novel ‘My name is Red’ by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, our inspirations are many. The character of Simurgh, a giant god-like bird, comes directly from Persian and various Middle Eastern mythologies. Even, the title of the game—30 Birds—is a play on words with the name “Simurgh”, which means “thirty birds” in Farsi. This title is also echoed in the mystical poem, “The Conference of the Birds”, by Attar of Nishapur. The poem tells the story of a group of birds led by a hoopoe who go on a journey to meet their god, Simurgh. Thirty of them make it to the ultimate valley only to find a big lake in which they can see their own reflections…”

“30 Birds takes inspiration from mythological and philosophical aspects of Middle Eastern and ancient Persian cultures to create Lantern City, and invites players from all over the world to experience the city’s mesmerizing atmosphere.”

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping

Eugene McQuacklin is back in this sequel to the acclaimed Duck Detective: The Secret Salami. In this narrative detective adventure, you’ll need to interview a cast of animal suspects, thoroughly inspect every piece of evidence, and quack this case. And yes, there are more duck puns in this game. If you haven’t played the first game – which was a previous Monthly Select – just go do it. You don’t need to play the first in order to enjoy or understand this standalone sequel, but it’s just a great series.

These games are bite-sized, super fun, wholesome, and silly. It has all the great film noir detective tropes you could ever ask for, funny writing, great animation, and solid voiceover work. I got through the game over the course of a weekend in around 3 hours, and it’s an experience I absolutely loved.

In this sequel, you’ll explore a glamping site (glamorous camping for the uninitiated), talking to various characters and interacting with the environment in order to solve a set of cases. Using your magnifying glass, you can hover over objects and characters to unlock words that can be used when you’re ready to solve a case. There’s a hint system and the game also lets you know how many words you have wrong, so the game leans more into being entertaining than frustrating. You’ll also find other puzzles you’ll have to figure out like passwords and lock combinations. The gameplay is identical to the first game though a bit more refined, with the big difference being that you now have a sidekick who adds some new puzzles to work through.

Duck Detective is a series I would love to see more of every year. The games are so charming, self-aware, and light-hearted, that you just want to tell everyone to play these games for a long afternoon. If you need something cozy, short, and fun, this fits… the bill (pause for applause). – Raymond Estrada

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping

Happy Broccoli Games

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$9.99

$8.99

Get it now

BREAD RED REDEMPTION
This campsite might have ghosts, but the real thing haunting Eugene McQuacklin is his failed marriage and bread addiction. Can he escape the shadows of his past?

EVERY DETECTIVE NEEDS A SIDEKICK
To the annoyance of the Duck Detective, he is joined by a new partner in (solving) crime. Work together to unravel the truth and nibble on the crumbs of justice!

THE DETECTIVE RETURNS
The Duck Detective is back! Get ready to interview suspects, inspect evidence, and deduce the truth in another stand-alone mystery!

Preserve

Preserve is an eco-terraforming puzzle game that invites you to slow down and build beautiful biomes. It’s a peaceful, meditative experience that rewards curiosity and care. The core gameplay revolves around creating biomes on a map, but it’s far from rigid. You have cards representing terrain, flora, fauna, and even structures and objects, how you place them determines how your biomes evolve. Grouping three of the same kind forms a habitat, which lets you introduce species and earn harmony points. As your harmony points increase new cards are added to your deck and the map expands.

There are two main ways to play: Puzzle Mode and Classic Mode, the latter of which lets you gradually expand your map and unlock new cards by reaching harmony point milestones. I started with the tutorial and was surprised to realize I’d quickly spent hours building, adjusting, and just enjoying the moment before I even started the main game. There’s also a Creative Mode letting you build your perfect ecosystem.

Preserve offers four major environments: Continental, Marine, Savanna and, my personal favorite, Jurassic. The visuals are beautiful without being overwhelming, and the music soft, ambient, and spa-like. Camera controls can feel tricky at first, but it quickly becomes natural. The game trusts you to learn naturally – for example bees are placed in open and flowery fields, not forest or rocky terrains.

Preserve is more than a strategy game, it’s an open invitation to slow down, listen to nature, and create something beautiful. If you’re looking for a thoughtful escape with stunning visuals and a deeply calming atmosphere, Preserve brings harmony, one biome and habitat at a time. – Oscar Polanco

Preserve

Grindstone

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

Preserve is a puzzle nature-building game that takes players on a journey into a harmonious ecosystem. The objective is to foster and sustain a thriving and diverse biomes, where each component coexists in a symbiotic harmony. By utilizing strategic thinking and a keen eye for balance, players are granted the power to position a wide array of plants and animals, curating an environment that caters to their preferences and aspirations.

Vertical map expansion – In Preserve, you can expand the map not only horizontally, but you also posses an ability to stack layers of nature, forming a vertical network of interconnected habitats.

Diverse biome habitats – From alpine forests and savannas to carribean reefs, each biome will have its own unique set of plants, animals, and environmental challenges to discover and overcome.

Multiple Game Modes – Besides regular harmony and puzzle game modes, creative mode lets you build the land without limitations and photo mode allows you to capture and share your creations at the end of each session.

Natural Wonders – Nothing can beautify your map more than natural wonders like the snowy Alps, lavender fields or redwood forests, which you can acquire thanks to a unique card upcycle system.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is the finale of a series of tactical, dramatic RPGs that began on Xbox back in 2021. The series has received critical and audience praise, so if you have some room on your backlog, we’d recommend picking up the Fuga: Melodies of Steel 1 & 2 Double Pack. However, if you’re like me and struggle with way too many games to play and too little time, it’s not necessary to play the first two games, as the game does a great job of trying to catch you up with a summary of both games.

The main plot revolves around a group of anthropomorphic children that discover Taranis, a giant super-tank, after their village and families had been attacked by an evil empire. They use the tank to take down the empire along with some dark gods and other formidable foes. This game immediately picks up after the 2nd game’s true ending, where our main character is kidnapped and the remaining children must rescue him and prevent a new war.

The game is split into 12 chapters, with each chapter seeing our group of a dozen or so kids hitting major plot twists, mysteries, and character moments along the way. You take control of the Taranis in turn-based combat –  the tank has three gun slots, each controlled by two characters. Depending on who you have slotted will determine the type of gun (machine gun, cannon, grenade launcher) and the gun’s passive boost. The enemies have different weaknesses based on one of those three gun types. You can swap characters at any time, but there is a cool down period, so you have to be careful not to do so at inopportune time.

There’s also a combo system that rewards you with bonus damage each time you attack enemy weak points. Between missions you will hit intermission periods for a chance to regroup and interact with all the characters to build affinities between characters. You can also take the opportunity to unlock new skills and upgrade your tank.

The most unique and dark aspect of the gameplay I found was the Soul Cannon ability, which will allow you to win any fight of the game, but you have to sacrifice the life of one of the characters (yeah, dark). Even worse, if you’re under half health, the longer a fight goes on, the more likely the game will force you to pull the trigger in order to escape the loss. Here’s the real kicker: the game instantly saves once you use the Soul Cannon in order to prevent you from redoing the fight. When this finally happened for me, it felt truly tough, but the game really pushes you to press on even with the loss. This gameplay aspect created a very distinctive set of stakes that I don’t think I’ve experienced before.

Visually and musically the game is very appealing, with fantastic character designs and a score that always seems to match the tone. Turn-based RPG fans with a love for dramatic narratives need to jump into this series, but if you’re already a fan of the series, this is the conclusion you’ve been waiting for –  it’s a no-brainer to pick up. – Raymond Estrada

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3

CyberConnect2

☆☆☆☆☆
7

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-Order Bonus:
Receive this bonus content by pre-ordering Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Standard Edition
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – 10000 In-Game Currency
・Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 – Early Game Upgrade Materials

Unveil the Source of the World’s Despair!

Malt has vanished without a trace! The children are led by a mysterious voice into the forbidden cave, where they discover the Taranis—the powerful tank thought lost in the sea of clouds. Determined to save Malt, the children reboard the Taranis and set off on a daring mission to infiltrate the heart of the Berman Empire. However, the Crimson Knights stand in their way, strongest of the Berman!

Brand-New Battle System
The battle system has undergone substantial changes. Weakness combos allow you to exploit enemy weaknesses and deal escalating damage with every hit, and assist attacks allow erstwhile enemies and a legendary warrior from past games to join forces and turn the tide of battle!

Upgraded Intermission
Intermission now features an upgraded system to evolve the Taranis to its ultimate form! Unlock its hidden powers with the Omega Terminal and master new Taranis Skills to aid your journey!

Strategic Route Progression and Event Battles
Explore new strategic features like Power Spots to unlock the Taranis’s hidden abilities and Assist Transmissions that allow you to interact with supporting characters. Discover secret events through the Akasha Panel, which lets you navigate a timeline to change your fate!

Step beyond despair, anger, and tragedy in Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3, where heart-wrenching decisions lead to the series’ most emotional and shocking story yet!

*It’s not necessary to play Fuga: Melodies of Steel or Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 to enjoy Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3.

The Sinking City Remastered

The Sinking City Remastered is a 3rd person, eerie, investigative horror game that blends survival elements with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian weirdness. You play as Charles Reed, a private investigator whose string of disturbing visions lead him to the partially submerged city of Oakmont, Massachusetts. As soon as you arrive, you can tell something is off with Oakmont. Beyond the obvious, “our city was destroyed, and our economy has been whittled down to bullets, cigs and booze” energy displayed by all the characters, the atmosphere always gives off the impression that there’s something else going on behind the scenes.

At its core, The Sinking City is an open-world detective game. Investigations are central to the experience, and the game leans into that with mechanics like the Mind’s Eye and Mind Palace – Mind’s Eye lets you uncover hidden clues in the environment, while the Mind Palace allows you to connect evidence and draw conclusions. These systems work well together and make clue-gathering feel like a real part of the gameplay loop—not just a checklist.

Combat is available, but limited by design. Ammo is scarce and resources need to be crafted, meaning you’ll spend just as much time avoiding conflict as you will confronting it. This engaged me with the core work of investigation, allowing me to dive deeper into the exploration aspects rather than running through guns blazing. You’re eventually introduced to the Infested Zones which are high-risk areas full of enemies and rewards, forcing you to weigh every decision before stepping inside. The first time I entered one, I saw a chest, looted it, and dipped. I’m the type that will survive the horror movie – but, of course, I eventually became curious as to what really lurked in them.

What I love most about the game is the atmosphere. The city is layered with tension – political, supernatural, and social. The flood didn’t just reshape the geography; it reshaped how people live, interact, and treat outsiders. It’s a small and often overlooked detail in most games, but it adds weight to the worldbuilding and left me wanting more as the story developed.

If you’re into slow-burn mysteries, survival horror, and games that prioritize investigation over action, The Sinking City is one worth exploring. Just be prepared, Oakmont doesn’t hand out answers easily. – Deron Mann

The Sinking City Remastered

Frogwares

☆☆☆☆☆
80

★★★★★

$49.99

$24.99

Get it now

Experience the Lovecraftian horror of The Sinking City in a whole new light. This Unreal Engine 5 remaster brings the game’s eerie atmosphere to life with stunning visuals and enhanced features. Dive into Oakmont’s mysteries and unravel the city’s descent into madness.

Remaster Highlights:
– Lumen Global Illumination and ray tracing
– 4K textures and extra environmental details
– Performance (prioritizes frame rate) and Quality (prioritizes visual fidelity) modes
– Photo mode
– Improvements to controls, combat, game balance, crowds, and tutorials

Game Description:
The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of Horror. The half-submerged city of Oakmont is gripped by supernatural forces. You’re a private investigator, and you have to uncover the truth of what has possessed the city… and the minds of its inhabitants.

Game Pillars:
– An oppressive atmosphere and story inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft.
– A vast open world that can be explored on foot, by boat, in a diving suit…
– High replay value thanks to an open investigation system: each case can be solved in a number of ways, with different possible endings depending on your actions.
– An arsenal of weapons from the 1920s with which to take on nightmarish creatures.
– Manage your mental health to untangle the truth behind the madness.

The island just got deadlier, and a whole lot better looking. Rust Console Edition is officially powering up for Xbox Series X|S, bringing a massive next-gen upgrade to one of the most unforgiving survival experiences on console. Whether you’ve logged hundreds of hours or you’re waking up on the beach with nothing but a rock for the first time, this upgrade changes everything.

A new journey has already kicked off for Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners, who get exclusive early access to the new-gen version. Everyone else joins the fight tomorrow, June 26 with the full Base Edition launch. If you already own any version of Rust Console Edition on Xbox One, the upgrade to Xbox Series X|S is completely free. We provide an automatic one-to-one edition match, so if you have the Base Edition, you’ll get the Series X|S Base Edition. The same applies for Deluxe and Ultimate owners.

Bigger, Better, Sharper

From the moment you boot it up, the difference will be clear. Textures are richer, and the lighting is more dynamic. Foliage sways, weather shifts, and shadows stretch across the terrain, creating an atmosphere that pulls you in from the very first moment. On Xbox Series X|S, Rust Console Edition finally looks the way it was always meant to. Gritty, raw, and strangely beautiful in the moments between all-out chaos.

Performance keeps up with the visuals. Powered by Xbox Series X|S hardware, the game runs smoother and faster than ever. Load times are quicker, frame rates are higher, and even the wildest battles stay locked in. This isn’t just an upgrade – it’s a full rebuild, designed to make every moment feel a lot more intense.

Chaos Rains From the Skies

Visual upgrades are just the beginning. The rebuilt version of Rust Console Edition brings brand-new content to the island, adding new layers of chaos, unpredictability, and opportunity.

Scrap helicopters and minis will now slice through the skies, giving raiders and builders alike new ways to explore the landscape or ambush the other survivors below. Hot air balloons drift slowly across the landscape, offering a bird’s-eye view for those planning their next move (or making the world’s slowest getaway). And to counter it all, SAM sites are here to bring those high-flying adventures crashing back to Earth in the most brutal way possible.

Throw in new building animations, refined gameplay improvements, and a few surprises waiting to surface after launch, and the experience starts to feel like something entirely new. For returning players, it brings back everything you remember while giving you fresh reasons to dive in all over again.

Survival Comes with Serious Perks

If you’re jumping in for the first time, or thinking of upgrading, there are plenty of reasons to go with the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition. Each one comes with its own set of exclusive rewards designed to help you stand out from the crowd. And no matter which version you choose, every pre-order includes a unique garage door skin to make your base feel like home from day one.

Base Edition – Launches June 26 and gives players everything they need to begin their survival adventure. You will wake up on the beach with nothing but a rock, a torch, and a dangerous world ahead. Pre-ordering the Base Edition also unlocks the Press Start red garage door skin, a bold way to make your base stand out from the very beginning.

Deluxe Edition – Go Deluxe, and you’ll hit the ground running with access already available. It also includes 1,100 Rust Coins to spend in the in-game shop and a combat ready outfit with the Tech Noir skin pack. Players who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will also receive the Green Press Start garage door skin.

Ultimate Edition – If you want to make a statement, the Ultimate Edition is the real showstopper. Along with all the Deluxe rewards, you will receive 4,600 Rust Coins and the legendary Orion’s Fury skin for the L96 sniper rifle. You will also unlock the most exclusive of the pre-order garage door skins, the Press Start Blue version.

A New Era of Rust

At its core, Rust has always been about chaos, creativity, betrayal, and survival. On Xbox Series X|S, that vision comes to life with more intensity than ever before. This is not just the best way to play Rust on console. It is the version players have been waiting for.

If you have taken a break, this is the perfect time to return. The game looks better, runs smoother, and introduces new systems that change the way you fight, build, and survive. Everything feels familiar, but sharper and more refined in all the right ways. And the best part is that you can get the upgrade for free if you already own the Xbox One version of the game.

So grab your scrap, get ready to unlock some new blueprints, and jump into action. In Rust, trust is rare and danger is never far away.

Your next chapter has begun. Just make sure to lock your doors.

Rust Console Edition

Double Eleven Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
1245

★★★★★

$49.99

Get it now

Welcome to Rust.

The only aim in Rust is to survive – Overcome struggles such as hunger, thirst and cold. Build a fire. Build a shelter. Kill animals. Protect yourself from other players.

Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear, released in 1987, defined what we know today as the Stealth-Action genre. Not long after, the second installment of Thief along with the burgeoning series of Hitman and Splinter Cell further expanded on the concept and shaped our modern understanding of what makes a good stealth experience. Nowadays, Stealth-Action games are ever expanding in their complexity; however, during this pursuit the brilliance of the original core gameplay became somewhat lost and that is what No Sun to Worship wishes to recapture.

A Return to the Roots of the Art of Infiltration

The premise of the game’s six bite-sized chapters is quite simple: enter the area, eliminate the targets and extract safely. Your character is given the same set of tools and resources and here the developer, Merlino Games, asks the questions – how will you make the most of it? This limitation starkly contrasts with a with total freedom of how to approach each level, giving the player the power to master their craft. By sneaking, crawling, disabling surveillance, smashing light sources and moving undetected precious bullets are saved for key target or isolated threats with each mishap becoming a drain on resources. However, even once these run out, your creativity can shine: no one needs to know your trained gun is empty – as they yield all the same.

Art and the Echoes of a Dying World

No Sun To Worship not only recreates the gameplay of the pioneers of the genre, but also the retro aesthetics and the mood of the games from that era. The game’s world is a bleak  one, where your role emerges through action and environment as you travel through a dying post- nuclear world .

If you yearn for the stealth games of old and wish test your infiltration and assassination skills today, then No Sun to Worship is here for you to play.

No Sun To Worship

Hyperstrange

☆☆☆☆☆
8

★★★★★

$12.99

$11.69

Get it now

No Sun To Worship is a minimalist, stealth-action game that captures the brilliance of the first pioneers of the stealth genre and recreates their retro-aesthetic charm within an echo of a dying world.

Punishment Delivered
Each of 6 bite-sized chapters will challenge your art of infiltration and assassination by giving you freedom to approach the levels as you see fit. Sneak, crawl, disable surveillance and smash light sources to move undetected. Isolate and eliminate targets silently or start firefights on your own terms. Manage your resources wisely or be forced to get creative – The enemy doesn’t need to know the gun aimed at their head is empty.

Echo of a dying world
Discover your role and the broader canvas through environmental and non-verbal storytelling as you travel through an echo of a dying world, left in agony after a nuclear war with its inhabitants trying to stitch its broken pieces back together as the onlookers from another world observe in silence.

Coming to Xbox Series X|S

The Heroes in a Half Shell have arrived on Xbox—and they’re ready to kick shell! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate brings fast-paced, roguelike action to your console, featuring chaotic co-op gameplay, powerful power-ups, and a cast of iconic characters. Whether you’re jumping in solo or teaming up with friends, we’ve put together some tips to help you get the most out of your first runs and beyond.

From character selection to upgrade strategies, here’s everything you need to know to start strong in the streets (and sewers) of New York City.

One of the best parts of Splintered Fate is its cast of playable characters. Each Turtle—and Casey Jones—brings their own combat style and strategic advantages to the fight. Not sure who to pick first? Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Leonardo: The oldest brother and Leader of the Turtles. Leo is a balanced fighter with fast, reliable attacks and a focus on getting into and out of combat swiftly. Great for beginners.
• Raphael: A hot head with a fiery temper. Raph is a heavy hitter who shines in one-on-one combat. His abilities pair well with critical damage upgrades.
• Michelangelo: The soul of the gang that keeps them going through the toughest of times. Mikey is a crowd-control specialist. His fast nunchuck attacks and AoE damage work great with status effects like Ooze.
• Donatello: The brains of the team. Donny is the toughest Turtle in the team and excels at manipulating the battlefield through the use of tools.
• Casey Jones: The newest addition, Casey’s puck attack is the first true ranged attack in the game. He’s a brute of a fighter with a powerful melee combo and the ability to pick off groups of enemies at a distance with his hockey puck.

Each character has powerful synergies depending on your chosen upgrades—don’t be afraid to experiment!

Story Mode: Kick Back and Enjoy the Ride

Not every player is here for high-stakes roguelike chaos. If you’re looking for a more relaxed experience, Story Mode is a great way to enjoy Splintered Fate‘s narrative at your own pace. With reduced difficulty, it’s perfect for soaking in the atmosphere—or playing alongside younger fans.

Dash Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)

One of the earliest game-changers you’ll unlock is the Dragon Coin Station, where you can invest the Dragon Coins you’ve collected to gain permanent upgrades. We strongly recommend prioritizing getting that first extra dash.

Dash is your best friend in Splintered Fate—it lets you avoid damage, reposition quickly, and escape danger. Upgrading your dash ability early will help you survive longer, especially in tougher rooms or boss encounters.

Upgrade Smart: Damage, Health, and… Pizza?

When it comes to Dragon upgrades, damage and health boosts are always solid picks. But don’t sleep on other options! Abilities like “Slice of Life” can be a game-saver, especially when you’re deep into a run and low on health having an enemy drop a slice of health boosting pizza is delicious!

Look out for upgrades that complement your chosen Turtle’s strengths. As you progress through the game upgrades can be unlocked that boost each Turtles area of focus. If you’re new to the game, consider picking passives that boost survivability early on and add complexity as you gain confidence.

Master the Power Combos

Each run offers you new Turtle powers—some of which can evolve into legendary powers if combined correctly. Pay close attention to the synergy between the turtle powers, Fire, Water, Ooze, Utrom, Ninja and Astral.

Here’s a hint: stacking turtle powers of the same element will unlock more powerful abilities but the most powerful abilities require combining two elements, like Fire and Water. You never know when your next reward could turn a good run into a legendary one.

Boost Your Build: Tools, Inspirations and Masteries

Beyond the Turtle powers, you’ll find tools (active abilities), inspirations (passive character buffs), and character-specific masteries. Here’s how to get the most out of them:

• Tools are great for controlling the flow of battle but take a while to charge back up—use them strategically.

• Inspirations are unique to each Turtle, each starting every run with their two inspirations defining their unique play style. Sometimes though you can be rewarded with the inspiration of another turtle, leading to game changing builds.
• Masteries can be found during runs and boost the playstyle of your chosen Turtle. Many masteries are unique to each turtle and can change up how they are played.

Don’t Ignore Artifacts

Artifacts are powerful items that can give you major advantages during your run but you need to earn them. Some grant passive bonuses, while others trigger effects in battle. Unlocking and equipping them can make a huge difference, especially in later levels or co-op play.

You’ll earn artifacts as you progress through the game. Keep them in your sight—they’re worth the effort.

Shell Up and Dive In

Whether you’re a TMNT superfan or a newcomer to the franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate offers something for everyone: deep progression, tight combat, couch co-op, and nostalgic charm. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be ready to face whatever Shredder throws your way.

So, grab your favorite Turtle (or Casey), power up, and jump into the action. New York City isn’t going to save itself! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is available today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – Launch Offer

Super Evil Megacorp

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

FREE CASEY JONES DLC!

We’re excited to announce a special offer: the Casey Jones DLC is free for all Xbox players for a limited time! There’s never been a better time to jump in, simply buy the Launch bundle for the price of the base game, and Casey Jones plus the Junkyard level are yours to keep forever. But don’t wait too long -the offer ends on July 8th, so don’t miss out!

UNLEASH TURTLE POWER!

Grab your friends, pick your favorite Turtle and jump into a roguelike adventure to save Master Splinter from the foot clan! Master ninja skills, unite in bodacious online and local co-op gameplay, and conquer iconic NYC locales.

BODACIOUS CO-OP GAMEPLAY

In Splintered Fate, brace yourself for fast-paced, roguelike action where no two runs are the same. With randomized power-ups, room layouts, and boss modifiers, the excitement never ends. Take control of all four Turtles, each wielding unique powers, and team up with friends for bodacious co-op gameplay. Explore iconic NYC locations, upgrade your Turtle powers, and prepare to face off against formidable enemies.

BUILD YOUR POWER

Master the powers of water and fire, utrom and ooze, light and darkness, and -most importantly- Ninja to create unique and bodacious builds for your Turtles. Every run brings new challenges and opportunities – explore and perfect your favorite builds, and combine them with allies to conquer your enemies.

A THRILLING STORY

When Splinter is kidnapped by Shredder, mysterious portals simultaneously appear across NYC. With April and Metalhead analyzing recovered artifacts for clues, the Turtles battle to recover their father from the clutches of the Foot Clan. However, as the gang gets ever ​closer to Splinter’s otherworldly location, an even greater threat lingers in the shadows…

With additional settings, balance and tuning enhancements for PC, Splintered Fate promises to keep you engaged in the FIGHT, ADAPT, REPEAT portal loop. Be ready to restore peace to the city!

Today, in collaboration with Meta, we are excited to announce the launch of the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition limited edition release- the first limited edition ever for Quest – is part of our ongoing partnership and celebrates the expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Meta Quest headsets.

Over the past several years, Xbox has expanded the Xbox cloud gaming experience to more places and more players. Since the announcement of the Xbox app on Quest, our goal has been to empower more people to play their favorite games whenever and wherever they want. Today, with the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, we are bringing this vision to life with a new design that celebrates Xbox’s iconic aesthetic.

The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition Bundle

For the first time, we’re thrilled to deliver a Quest headset that not only delivers incredible mixed reality experiences but is also crafted for Xbox fans. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available today for $399.99 USD, and it comes loaded with everything you need to start gaming on a massive virtual display the moment you open the box.

This bundle includes:

• Custom 128GB Meta Quest 3S in Xbox Carbon Black and Velocity Green
• Matching Touch Plus controllers and a limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller
• Elite Strap
• 3 months of Meta Horizon+
• 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

With its sleek design and vibrant accents, the headset embodies the spirit of Xbox while delivering the great gaming experience players love on Quest.

While you can pair any Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, or Xbox Adaptive Controller to Quest using Bluetooth, the included limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller will share the same look as the other accessories, with a carbon black chassis and green highlights on the face buttons and analog sticks, and it comes pre-paired with the headset. 

New Look, Same Great Experience

Using the Xbox app on Quest, players can instantly access hundreds of games directly with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), including South of Midnight, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Avowed, and moreas part of their Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. Game Pass Ultimate members can also stream select cloud-playable games they own, even if they are not included with Game Pass Ultimate. You can find the full list with over 100 supported titles in the Stream Your Own Game collection here.

And don’t forget, with your Game Pass Ultimate membership, players also have access to stream and play supported Game Pass titles across different devices. With features like cross-play and cross-progression support, your progress seamlessly follows you, no matter which device you choose to play on. Start a game on your Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, pick up where you left off on your console, and continue the adventure with Xbox on PC without ever losing your achievements or saved data. No matter where you play, your games, progress, and achievements travel with you, ensuring a truly connected and flexible gaming experience.

With cloud gaming and the launch of the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition bundle, there have never been more ways to play with Xbox. Whether you prefer to jump into action on a console, stream to your TV or phone, or immerse yourself in the world of VR, Xbox has you covered across more devices than ever before. Check out all the different devices where you can play Xbox: This is an Xbox

Limited Edition, Unlimited Possibilities

The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available now at meta.com, Best Buy (USA), Argos (UK), and EE (UK), but quantities are extremely limited. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

We’re proud of what we’ve built together with Meta, and we can’t wait for you to dive into everything the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition has to offer. Whether you’re streaming the latest Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, exploring the ever-expanding world of VR, or kicking back with immersive entertainment, this is just the beginning of what’s possible when great teams and great technology come together.