J
Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
Guest
September 24, 2025
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
Each month, the ID@Xbox team has the privilege of exploring dozens of titles from our indie publishing and development partners to handpick standout experiences we think you’ll love. These games range from highly polished gems to laugh-out-loud absurd adventures and deeply moving stories.
This month, we’ve chosen six Indie Selects that push genre boundaries in exciting ways. Whether it’s a first-person shooter infused with deckbuilding mechanics, a combo-driven tactics game, or a survival horror title where enemies merge with the dead. These picks reimagine familiar genres and take them to bold, unexpected places.
Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
When I first stepped into Cronos: The New Dawn, I thought I was ready for another survival horror adventure. I wasn’t. This game doesn’t just throw monsters at you—it puts you in a world where every decision, every resource, and every mistake feels like it could be your last.
You play as the Traveler, an agent of the Collective, sent to fight back against the “Change”—a catastrophe that’s turned humanity into terrifying creatures known as Orphans. What makes Cronos stand out is its dual setting: one moment you’re navigating a ruined, post-apocalyptic future, the next you’re pulled into 1980s Poland, reliving moments from a world that no longer exists. The constant back-and-forth keeps you unsettled and invested in equal measure.
But it’s not just the story that got under my skin—it’s the gameplay. Resources are scarce, your inventory is tight, and every encounter feels like it could spiral out of control. I quickly learned that defeating an Orphan isn’t the end of the fight. If you don’t burn their remains or dispose of them properly, other enemies can merge with their bodies, evolving into even deadlier threats. That mechanic alone had me second-guessing every move, weighing whether I could spare the matches or fuel.
Cronos: The New Dawn isn’t here to comfort you. It’s here to challenge you, scare you, and make you think twice about every step forward. And honestly? That’s what makes it unforgettable – Steven Allen
Bloober Team S.A
☆☆☆☆☆ 201
★★★★★
$59.99
Get it now
Cronos: The New Dawn is a brutal third-person survival horror where you fight for the future by salvaging the past. Burn monsters before they merge. Extract souls from the living. Adapt or die. SURVIVE THE FUTURE. SALVAGE THE PAST Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future. In the past, you will witness a world in the throes of The Change, a cataclysmic event that forever altered humanity. Meanwhile, in the ravaged wastelands of the future, every moment is a fight for survival against dangerous abominations that will test both your reflexes and your tactical thinking. You are a Traveler working for the enigmatic Collective, tasked with scouring the wastelands of the future in search of time rifts that will transport you to 1980s-era Poland. ADAPT OR PERISH In a desolate world filled with ever-present danger, your survival hinges on your ability to strategize and plan ahead. The enemies you’ll encounter are nightmarish creatures, born from the remnants of humanity – defeating them will require you to make full use of your arsenal. You can manipulate temporal Anomalies to clear a path through the desolate environment, and will have to scavenge for resources to replenish your limited ammo and supplies. Good preparation is key. Once in battle, split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death. DON’T LET THEM MERGE The creatures you kill won’t stay dead for long. Fallen enemies can be absorbed by others — through a grotesque process called Merging — to become faster, tougher, and far deadlier. The only way to stop them? Burn their bodies. And do it fast. If you don’t, you’ll face ever-evolving abominations that will push your combat skills to their limits. HARVESTER OF SOULS Your mission is to locate key people from the past who perished in the ensuing apocalypse. Using your all-powerful Harvester, you can extract their Essences and have them accompany you into the future. But be wary: these essences have a profound impact on your journey. The more you carry, the more haunted your suit becomes — increasing your prowess on the battlefield but also bringing with them whispers in your ear and flickers into your vision, edging you ever closer to madness.
Dorfromantik is a calming tile-building game that blends strategy and relaxation. You begin with a stack of hexagonal tiles, each one representing features like forests, houses, fields, rivers, train tracks, or farm fields. Placing them is simple, but there’s a strategy to how you place them – combining adjacent tiles unlocks higher-scoring tile types, and can unlock quests for additional special tiles.
On the surface, Dorfromantik is a Zen-like experience with a beautiful art style and music, but underneath it has a highly strategic element, where every tile matters. To help you get the experience you want, it also offers multiple game modes: Classic is the core, board game-like experience; Creative offers you total freedom; Quick mode gives you a smaller set of tiles; Hard mode offers more complex tiles and challenges; and a Monthly mode sees all players get the same set of tiles and competing for the highest leaderboard score.
What stands out the most about Dorfromantik is how easy it is to pick up for a quick session of casual gaming, come back later, and pick up right where you left it. What stays with you isn’t just the score you hit, but the landscapes you created. Each board becomes a story shaped by your choices, whether is a sprawling train track network or a cozy riverside town, a gentle and thoughtful escape that rewards your patience and imagination. Dorfromantik is strategy – but it’s also art – Oscar Polanco
Headup
☆☆☆☆☆ 11
★★★★★
$14.99
Get it now
In Dorfromantik you start with a stack of procedurally generated tiles. One after the other, you draw the top tile of the stack, place it on one available slot and rotate for the best fit. Thereby groups and combinations of landscapes are formed, such as forests, villages or water bodies, and you are rewarded with points depending on how well the tile fits. On some tiles you will also encounter special objects that give you a quest: For example, the windmill wants to border 6 grain fields, the locomotive wants to be connected to 10 tracks or the deer wants to inhabit a forest with at least 50 trees. Fulfill these quests to get more tiles to continue the expansion of your landscape. The game ends when the tile stack is used up. As you expand the landscape, you can advance into new, colorful biomes and discover pre-placed game objects that give you long-term tasks. Through these tasks you can unlock new tiles, new biomes and new quests. What Dorfromantik offers • Building endless and beautiful landscapes • Unique mix of strategy and puzzle mechanics • Relaxing and calming gameplay • Idyllic village scenery • Strategic placement to beat the highscore • High replay value – every session is different • Many unlockable tiles and biomes • Original Artstyle with handpainted boardgame feel • Different game modes for different player types • New challenges at monthly intervals What Dorfromantik does not offer • 4X Strategy • Trading • Resource Management • Combat & Violence • Multiplayer
There’s no shortage of roguelike horde-survivor games and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s such a satisfying genre for me, but I’m always looking for something that stands apart from the others. Enter Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel. This game seamlessly weaves Norse mythology into its gameplay, delivering stunning visuals while cleverly shaking up the traditional formula.
As with games in this genre, it challenges players to survive increasingly intense waves of enemies across an open map, with XP earned allowing you to add upgrades – in this case, the favor of randomly chosen Norse gods. Unlike most horde-survivor games, however, Jotunnslayer offers seamless control flexibility: you can switch between auto-aim and twin-stick aiming simply by engaging or disengaging the right analog stick, with no menu toggling required.
Two things that really stood out to me while playing were the level of polish, and replayability. The visuals are stunning, with the war-torn battlefields and the action effects never feeling obnoxious or distracting. The UI and static art are also sharp and stylized and the music always feels appropriately epic. The gameplay has a ton of depth that I haven’t even touched yet. Subclasses, skill trees for classes and gods, unlockable weapons, character skins and more. If you enjoy Horde-survivor games like Vampire Survivors or roguelikes like Hades, this can easily go into your game queue – Raymond Estrada
Grindstone
☆☆☆☆☆ 26
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a gripping roguelike horde-survivor game set in the dark realms of Norse Mythology. Fight waves of enemies to earn divine blessings of ancient Viking Deities, explore hostile worlds and face powerful bosses. Become a god-like warrior in this ultimate showdown. Engage in adrenaline-fueled battles, fighting off endless waves of enemies as you strive to survive. Complete varied objectives, defeat the final boss, and earn the ultimate prizes. Take on challenging missions during each run to test your skills and enrich your journey through the Nine Worlds.These quests may involve completing specific objectives or overcoming additional obstacles as you battle relentless enemies on your way to the final challenge. Improve your abilities with meta-progression systems that offer unlockable perks, in-game skills, or upgrades. As you progress further, you'll gain access to new abilities, weapons, and bonuses that allow you to customize your playstyle and improve your chances of survival. Select from a roster of diverse characters, each equipped with unique skills, abilities, and weapons. Mix and match combinations to refine your builds and overcome the many challenges posed by the Hordes of Hel. Face a variety of increasingly challenging Boss enemies as you progress through the game. Outmaneuver and defeat these formidable foes using the environment, your skills, and abilities to gain the advantage and achieve victory.
Most turn-based tactics games I’ve played lean heavily into either fantasy or hyper-militaristic themes (or both). So, when I heard there’s one set in the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, my 8-year-old inner child couldn’t help but hum the theme song. But then my skeptical adult brain chimed in, “could this actually work?” I am happy to report that not only does it work, it works really well.
The game opens with the Turtles at a crossroads. Without the guidance of their master, or the chaos stirred by their longtime nemesis, they find themselves adrift. But with a new threat emerging, the game’s story and setting strike a balance between the playful charm of the original Turtles animated series and the darker, more serious tone of the ongoing IDW comic series. As a longtime TMNT fan, the tone felt familiar in spirit, yet a compelling shift from the usual team-centric adventures we’ve come to expect.
This bite-sized experience puts TMNT fans into a cleverly accessible strategy game packed with slick move-sets and a solid story true to the turtles’ legacy. Each of the levels are solo missions carried out by a predetermined turtle showcasing their unique abilities. The game’s pacing is surprisingly quick, thanks to a generous six action points per turn and a battlefield swarming with squishy henchmen. It often feels like you’re slicing through the board with relentless momentum. But don’t get too reckless, as those mindless minions can quickly overwhelm you, and with only six health and three continues (a nod to classic arcade games), every move counts. Tactical Takedown ups the stakes by grading your performance with an arcade-style scoring system.
Over the past 35 years, TMNT has carved out an impressive legacy in video games across nearly every console generation, but with games like Tactical Takedown, we’re seeing the franchise stretch into new genres without losing its core identity. This one may be short, but it’s a fun and satisfying experience that easily earns its place alongside the classic Turtle games – Raymond Estrada
Strange Scaffold
☆☆☆☆☆ 14
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is the first-ever turn-based TMNT video game. Inspired by the classic cartoon, you'll experience a bold new approach to the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Splinter and Shredder are dead, and as the Turtles approach adulthood, they're not just growing up… they're growing apart. Battle the Foot Clan as a powerful new leader takes control in action-packed campaigns that showcase each Turtle individually. Carve through enemies in 20 constantly-mutating levels that grow, shrink, and add new threats with each turn, inspired by classic TMNT games! Rack up points for high scores while experiencing a powerful original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story from acclaimed indie studio Strange Scaffold. This is the next step for Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael–and you can experience it with flying, slashing figurines in graphic novel-inspired splendor.
If you love side-scrolling beat ’em ups with a modern twist, Ra Ra Boom is a game you’ll want on your radar. It blends classic arcade beat ‘em up action with vibrant visuals and a team of fierce, witty heroines who bring personality to every punch.
I approached Ra Ra Boom expecting a fun throwback but discovered a game that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The tight controls make every combo rewarding, and the diverse characters encouraged me to experiment with different playstyles. Personally, I gravitated toward Saida, whose speed and special moves made each fight feel electric.
What truly impressed me was the rhythm in the gameplay. It’s more than just button-mashing; it’s about timing, flow, and finding your groove. There’s definitely a learning curve, but once you hit that sweet spot, it’s incredibly satisfying. Fans of games like Streets of Rage 4 or River City Girls will find this a natural and exciting progression.
Whether you’re drawn by the stylish combat, the quirky characters, or the sheer thrill of smashing through waves of enemies, Ra Ra Boom delivers. This game rewards persistence and creativity—and, quite frankly, it’s an absolute blast to play – Jessica Ronnell
Gylee Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 5
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Ra Ra BOOM is a 4-player local co-op brawler. Perfect to play solo on a weekend, but even better with friends (Remote Play Together supported). Choose your hero, bash some robots, and upgrade to increase the chaos. Who needs perfect grades when rogue AI is trashing Earth? The planet’s in pieces, robots are running wild, and only four high schoolers from outer space have the moves to save it. Choose to play as Aris, Saida, Ren, or Vee through nine colorful levels. Collect Scrap by beating baddies and then spend it to upgrade your stats or unlock abilities. With casual pick-up-and-play, but just a touch of choice and customization, Ra Ra BOOM brings the spirit of retro arcades into a fast, modern co-op brawler.
Friends vs. Friends is an interesting take on the FPS genre as it pairs the beloved arena shooter formula with deckbuilding games – and the results are weirdly compelling Players choose from a set of anthropomorphic characters and head into round-based arena combat. Just like traditional arena shooters, map knowledge, loadout, and good aim are important here, but understanding how cards work is the most vital component.
While you’re hopping around the map and shooting each other, you have several game-altering cards at your disposal. Some cards turn your opponent’s gun to ice, another will give you samurai sword or a sniper rifle, and one might nuke the entire map, leaving you and your opponent in a desolate wasteland until your next round. It’s a fantastic way to help a familiar genre feel fresh, round after round.
I’ll be honest and say that I’m not the best at this game – I mean, my aim is there but I’m not great with building decks and studying meta, but that doesn’t stop me from having fun. I think what really keeps me coming back to it is what surrounds that core gameplay – the presentation is fire from the top down! The music slaps, the character models are clean and the cards? Well, if the developer decides to sell physical cards at any point, I’m first in line! – Deron Mann
Raw Fury
☆☆☆☆☆ 26
★★★★★
$9.99
Get it now
Play 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 or even Free-For-All in online, fast-paced, chaotic combat! Gain player levels, get new cards, improve the ones you already have, and get to know an array of eclectic characters with their own unique passive skills. The best part? At this price, you can invite all of your friends to get wrecked, guilt-free! ●Friends vs Friends: Matchmake with players worldwide in 1v1 or 2v2 combat, or host private matches with your friends. Need Support? Invite your friends to spectate! ●A Game with Character: Choose from a stylish cast of characters, each with their own abilities that improve the synergies of your deck. ●Low Price + High Quality = How?!: In order to keep the crew together, we made sure to level the playing field on cost so jumping in is a big-brain move. ●Progress to Impress: Level up and get new cards through matched bouts and timed challenges. ●Stack Your Deck: Collect weapon, trap, and curse cards, then level them up to increase their power. ●Updates and Seasonal Content: Expect post-launch content including new unique characters, cards, maps, and upgrades to your home base. ●Play Dress-up: Unlock cool cosmetics like skins and card design variants for bragging rights! ●Practice, Practice, Practice: Go up against bots to try out new card combos and improve your skills for when it counts.
The post Indie Selects for September 2025: Genre-Bending Greats appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Indie Selects for September 2025: Genre-Bending Greats
- Raymond Estrada, Steven Allen, Oscar Polanco, Jessica Ronnell, Deron MannID@Xbox Leaf Blowers
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
Each month, the ID@Xbox team has the privilege of exploring dozens of titles from our indie publishing and development partners to handpick standout experiences we think you’ll love. These games range from highly polished gems to laugh-out-loud absurd adventures and deeply moving stories.
This month, we’ve chosen six Indie Selects that push genre boundaries in exciting ways. Whether it’s a first-person shooter infused with deckbuilding mechanics, a combo-driven tactics game, or a survival horror title where enemies merge with the dead. These picks reimagine familiar genres and take them to bold, unexpected places.
Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Cronos: The New Dawn
When I first stepped into Cronos: The New Dawn, I thought I was ready for another survival horror adventure. I wasn’t. This game doesn’t just throw monsters at you—it puts you in a world where every decision, every resource, and every mistake feels like it could be your last.
You play as the Traveler, an agent of the Collective, sent to fight back against the “Change”—a catastrophe that’s turned humanity into terrifying creatures known as Orphans. What makes Cronos stand out is its dual setting: one moment you’re navigating a ruined, post-apocalyptic future, the next you’re pulled into 1980s Poland, reliving moments from a world that no longer exists. The constant back-and-forth keeps you unsettled and invested in equal measure.
But it’s not just the story that got under my skin—it’s the gameplay. Resources are scarce, your inventory is tight, and every encounter feels like it could spiral out of control. I quickly learned that defeating an Orphan isn’t the end of the fight. If you don’t burn their remains or dispose of them properly, other enemies can merge with their bodies, evolving into even deadlier threats. That mechanic alone had me second-guessing every move, weighing whether I could spare the matches or fuel.
Cronos: The New Dawn isn’t here to comfort you. It’s here to challenge you, scare you, and make you think twice about every step forward. And honestly? That’s what makes it unforgettable – Steven Allen
Cronos: The New Dawn
Bloober Team S.A
☆☆☆☆☆ 201
★★★★★
$59.99
Get it now
Cronos: The New Dawn is a brutal third-person survival horror where you fight for the future by salvaging the past. Burn monsters before they merge. Extract souls from the living. Adapt or die. SURVIVE THE FUTURE. SALVAGE THE PAST Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future. In the past, you will witness a world in the throes of The Change, a cataclysmic event that forever altered humanity. Meanwhile, in the ravaged wastelands of the future, every moment is a fight for survival against dangerous abominations that will test both your reflexes and your tactical thinking. You are a Traveler working for the enigmatic Collective, tasked with scouring the wastelands of the future in search of time rifts that will transport you to 1980s-era Poland. ADAPT OR PERISH In a desolate world filled with ever-present danger, your survival hinges on your ability to strategize and plan ahead. The enemies you’ll encounter are nightmarish creatures, born from the remnants of humanity – defeating them will require you to make full use of your arsenal. You can manipulate temporal Anomalies to clear a path through the desolate environment, and will have to scavenge for resources to replenish your limited ammo and supplies. Good preparation is key. Once in battle, split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death. DON’T LET THEM MERGE The creatures you kill won’t stay dead for long. Fallen enemies can be absorbed by others — through a grotesque process called Merging — to become faster, tougher, and far deadlier. The only way to stop them? Burn their bodies. And do it fast. If you don’t, you’ll face ever-evolving abominations that will push your combat skills to their limits. HARVESTER OF SOULS Your mission is to locate key people from the past who perished in the ensuing apocalypse. Using your all-powerful Harvester, you can extract their Essences and have them accompany you into the future. But be wary: these essences have a profound impact on your journey. The more you carry, the more haunted your suit becomes — increasing your prowess on the battlefield but also bringing with them whispers in your ear and flickers into your vision, edging you ever closer to madness.
Dorfromantik
Dorfromantik is a calming tile-building game that blends strategy and relaxation. You begin with a stack of hexagonal tiles, each one representing features like forests, houses, fields, rivers, train tracks, or farm fields. Placing them is simple, but there’s a strategy to how you place them – combining adjacent tiles unlocks higher-scoring tile types, and can unlock quests for additional special tiles.
On the surface, Dorfromantik is a Zen-like experience with a beautiful art style and music, but underneath it has a highly strategic element, where every tile matters. To help you get the experience you want, it also offers multiple game modes: Classic is the core, board game-like experience; Creative offers you total freedom; Quick mode gives you a smaller set of tiles; Hard mode offers more complex tiles and challenges; and a Monthly mode sees all players get the same set of tiles and competing for the highest leaderboard score.
What stands out the most about Dorfromantik is how easy it is to pick up for a quick session of casual gaming, come back later, and pick up right where you left it. What stays with you isn’t just the score you hit, but the landscapes you created. Each board becomes a story shaped by your choices, whether is a sprawling train track network or a cozy riverside town, a gentle and thoughtful escape that rewards your patience and imagination. Dorfromantik is strategy – but it’s also art – Oscar Polanco
Dorfromantik
Headup
☆☆☆☆☆ 11
★★★★★
$14.99
Get it now
In Dorfromantik you start with a stack of procedurally generated tiles. One after the other, you draw the top tile of the stack, place it on one available slot and rotate for the best fit. Thereby groups and combinations of landscapes are formed, such as forests, villages or water bodies, and you are rewarded with points depending on how well the tile fits. On some tiles you will also encounter special objects that give you a quest: For example, the windmill wants to border 6 grain fields, the locomotive wants to be connected to 10 tracks or the deer wants to inhabit a forest with at least 50 trees. Fulfill these quests to get more tiles to continue the expansion of your landscape. The game ends when the tile stack is used up. As you expand the landscape, you can advance into new, colorful biomes and discover pre-placed game objects that give you long-term tasks. Through these tasks you can unlock new tiles, new biomes and new quests. What Dorfromantik offers • Building endless and beautiful landscapes • Unique mix of strategy and puzzle mechanics • Relaxing and calming gameplay • Idyllic village scenery • Strategic placement to beat the highscore • High replay value – every session is different • Many unlockable tiles and biomes • Original Artstyle with handpainted boardgame feel • Different game modes for different player types • New challenges at monthly intervals What Dorfromantik does not offer • 4X Strategy • Trading • Resource Management • Combat & Violence • Multiplayer
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
There’s no shortage of roguelike horde-survivor games and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s such a satisfying genre for me, but I’m always looking for something that stands apart from the others. Enter Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel. This game seamlessly weaves Norse mythology into its gameplay, delivering stunning visuals while cleverly shaking up the traditional formula.
As with games in this genre, it challenges players to survive increasingly intense waves of enemies across an open map, with XP earned allowing you to add upgrades – in this case, the favor of randomly chosen Norse gods. Unlike most horde-survivor games, however, Jotunnslayer offers seamless control flexibility: you can switch between auto-aim and twin-stick aiming simply by engaging or disengaging the right analog stick, with no menu toggling required.
Two things that really stood out to me while playing were the level of polish, and replayability. The visuals are stunning, with the war-torn battlefields and the action effects never feeling obnoxious or distracting. The UI and static art are also sharp and stylized and the music always feels appropriately epic. The gameplay has a ton of depth that I haven’t even touched yet. Subclasses, skill trees for classes and gods, unlockable weapons, character skins and more. If you enjoy Horde-survivor games like Vampire Survivors or roguelikes like Hades, this can easily go into your game queue – Raymond Estrada
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Grindstone
☆☆☆☆☆ 26
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a gripping roguelike horde-survivor game set in the dark realms of Norse Mythology. Fight waves of enemies to earn divine blessings of ancient Viking Deities, explore hostile worlds and face powerful bosses. Become a god-like warrior in this ultimate showdown. Engage in adrenaline-fueled battles, fighting off endless waves of enemies as you strive to survive. Complete varied objectives, defeat the final boss, and earn the ultimate prizes. Take on challenging missions during each run to test your skills and enrich your journey through the Nine Worlds.These quests may involve completing specific objectives or overcoming additional obstacles as you battle relentless enemies on your way to the final challenge. Improve your abilities with meta-progression systems that offer unlockable perks, in-game skills, or upgrades. As you progress further, you'll gain access to new abilities, weapons, and bonuses that allow you to customize your playstyle and improve your chances of survival. Select from a roster of diverse characters, each equipped with unique skills, abilities, and weapons. Mix and match combinations to refine your builds and overcome the many challenges posed by the Hordes of Hel. Face a variety of increasingly challenging Boss enemies as you progress through the game. Outmaneuver and defeat these formidable foes using the environment, your skills, and abilities to gain the advantage and achieve victory.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown
Most turn-based tactics games I’ve played lean heavily into either fantasy or hyper-militaristic themes (or both). So, when I heard there’s one set in the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, my 8-year-old inner child couldn’t help but hum the theme song. But then my skeptical adult brain chimed in, “could this actually work?” I am happy to report that not only does it work, it works really well.
The game opens with the Turtles at a crossroads. Without the guidance of their master, or the chaos stirred by their longtime nemesis, they find themselves adrift. But with a new threat emerging, the game’s story and setting strike a balance between the playful charm of the original Turtles animated series and the darker, more serious tone of the ongoing IDW comic series. As a longtime TMNT fan, the tone felt familiar in spirit, yet a compelling shift from the usual team-centric adventures we’ve come to expect.
This bite-sized experience puts TMNT fans into a cleverly accessible strategy game packed with slick move-sets and a solid story true to the turtles’ legacy. Each of the levels are solo missions carried out by a predetermined turtle showcasing their unique abilities. The game’s pacing is surprisingly quick, thanks to a generous six action points per turn and a battlefield swarming with squishy henchmen. It often feels like you’re slicing through the board with relentless momentum. But don’t get too reckless, as those mindless minions can quickly overwhelm you, and with only six health and three continues (a nod to classic arcade games), every move counts. Tactical Takedown ups the stakes by grading your performance with an arcade-style scoring system.
Over the past 35 years, TMNT has carved out an impressive legacy in video games across nearly every console generation, but with games like Tactical Takedown, we’re seeing the franchise stretch into new genres without losing its core identity. This one may be short, but it’s a fun and satisfying experience that easily earns its place alongside the classic Turtle games – Raymond Estrada
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown
Strange Scaffold
☆☆☆☆☆ 14
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is the first-ever turn-based TMNT video game. Inspired by the classic cartoon, you'll experience a bold new approach to the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Splinter and Shredder are dead, and as the Turtles approach adulthood, they're not just growing up… they're growing apart. Battle the Foot Clan as a powerful new leader takes control in action-packed campaigns that showcase each Turtle individually. Carve through enemies in 20 constantly-mutating levels that grow, shrink, and add new threats with each turn, inspired by classic TMNT games! Rack up points for high scores while experiencing a powerful original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story from acclaimed indie studio Strange Scaffold. This is the next step for Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael–and you can experience it with flying, slashing figurines in graphic novel-inspired splendor.
Ra Ra Boom
If you love side-scrolling beat ’em ups with a modern twist, Ra Ra Boom is a game you’ll want on your radar. It blends classic arcade beat ‘em up action with vibrant visuals and a team of fierce, witty heroines who bring personality to every punch.
I approached Ra Ra Boom expecting a fun throwback but discovered a game that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The tight controls make every combo rewarding, and the diverse characters encouraged me to experiment with different playstyles. Personally, I gravitated toward Saida, whose speed and special moves made each fight feel electric.
What truly impressed me was the rhythm in the gameplay. It’s more than just button-mashing; it’s about timing, flow, and finding your groove. There’s definitely a learning curve, but once you hit that sweet spot, it’s incredibly satisfying. Fans of games like Streets of Rage 4 or River City Girls will find this a natural and exciting progression.
Whether you’re drawn by the stylish combat, the quirky characters, or the sheer thrill of smashing through waves of enemies, Ra Ra Boom delivers. This game rewards persistence and creativity—and, quite frankly, it’s an absolute blast to play – Jessica Ronnell
Ra Ra BOOM
Gylee Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 5
★★★★★
$19.99
Get it now
Ra Ra BOOM is a 4-player local co-op brawler. Perfect to play solo on a weekend, but even better with friends (Remote Play Together supported). Choose your hero, bash some robots, and upgrade to increase the chaos. Who needs perfect grades when rogue AI is trashing Earth? The planet’s in pieces, robots are running wild, and only four high schoolers from outer space have the moves to save it. Choose to play as Aris, Saida, Ren, or Vee through nine colorful levels. Collect Scrap by beating baddies and then spend it to upgrade your stats or unlock abilities. With casual pick-up-and-play, but just a touch of choice and customization, Ra Ra BOOM brings the spirit of retro arcades into a fast, modern co-op brawler.
Friends vs Friends
Friends vs. Friends is an interesting take on the FPS genre as it pairs the beloved arena shooter formula with deckbuilding games – and the results are weirdly compelling Players choose from a set of anthropomorphic characters and head into round-based arena combat. Just like traditional arena shooters, map knowledge, loadout, and good aim are important here, but understanding how cards work is the most vital component.
While you’re hopping around the map and shooting each other, you have several game-altering cards at your disposal. Some cards turn your opponent’s gun to ice, another will give you samurai sword or a sniper rifle, and one might nuke the entire map, leaving you and your opponent in a desolate wasteland until your next round. It’s a fantastic way to help a familiar genre feel fresh, round after round.
I’ll be honest and say that I’m not the best at this game – I mean, my aim is there but I’m not great with building decks and studying meta, but that doesn’t stop me from having fun. I think what really keeps me coming back to it is what surrounds that core gameplay – the presentation is fire from the top down! The music slaps, the character models are clean and the cards? Well, if the developer decides to sell physical cards at any point, I’m first in line! – Deron Mann
Friends vs Friends
Raw Fury
☆☆☆☆☆ 26
★★★★★
$9.99
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Play 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 or even Free-For-All in online, fast-paced, chaotic combat! Gain player levels, get new cards, improve the ones you already have, and get to know an array of eclectic characters with their own unique passive skills. The best part? At this price, you can invite all of your friends to get wrecked, guilt-free! ●Friends vs Friends: Matchmake with players worldwide in 1v1 or 2v2 combat, or host private matches with your friends. Need Support? Invite your friends to spectate! ●A Game with Character: Choose from a stylish cast of characters, each with their own abilities that improve the synergies of your deck. ●Low Price + High Quality = How?!: In order to keep the crew together, we made sure to level the playing field on cost so jumping in is a big-brain move. ●Progress to Impress: Level up and get new cards through matched bouts and timed challenges. ●Stack Your Deck: Collect weapon, trap, and curse cards, then level them up to increase their power. ●Updates and Seasonal Content: Expect post-launch content including new unique characters, cards, maps, and upgrades to your home base. ●Play Dress-up: Unlock cool cosmetics like skins and card design variants for bragging rights! ●Practice, Practice, Practice: Go up against bots to try out new card combos and improve your skills for when it counts.
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The post Indie Selects for September 2025: Genre-Bending Greats appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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