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\u2019t easy putting together these Monthly Selects as everyone on the team wanted something different for this cookout.<\/p>\n
Being the considerate cook, I made sure to ask everyone the important questions, \u201cHow 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?\u201d When it was all said and done, our handpicked indie games for June turned out to be quite the spread.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what we\u2019ve got for you this month (in no particular order):<\/p>\n Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time<\/em> 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<\/em> 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\u2019re not just leveling up, you\u2019re also building and rebuilding an island across two timelines.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cLife\u201d (class) feels rewarding and distinct, and the ability to switch between them whenever you like means no playstyle ever feels locked in.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s a gameplay loop that rewards multitasking without being overwhelming.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found great satisfaction building out my village, experimenting with classes, and diving into both timelines, and it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a fan of games like Dragon Quest Builders<\/em>, My Time at Portia<\/em>, or even Stardew Valley<\/em>, 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<\/em> is more than just charming, it\u2019s cleverly designed and genuinely rewarding. \u2013 Steven Allen<\/em><\/p>\n LEVEL5 Inc.<\/p>\n
\u25a0A Dragon Guides You to a Mysterious Island \u25a014 Unique Lives to Make Yours Brighter \u25a0Shape the Island! Create Your Town! \u25a0Embark on an Open-World Adventure! \u25a0Endless Fun with Multiplayer! Part 2D-ish narrative puzzle adventure, part creative mythmaking, 30 Birds<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll 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<\/em> is stuffed with.<\/p>\n There are puzzles to solve (failure isn\u2019t punitive in this game, you can try as much as you want to solve any given puzzle) and curious creatures\/people to meet. You\u2019ll 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\u2019s equally dreamy world. The pace is sedate \u2013 all the better to lull you into this game\u2019s imaginative clutches. If you\u2019re looking for a short narrative experience, with some extremely creative design and surprisingly funny, well-written dialogue, then 30 Birds<\/em> needs to be on your itinerary.<\/p>\n ARTE France<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n A dazzling burst of art<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 dub \u2013 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\u2026<\/p>\n A mind-spinning adventure<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n Key features<\/p>\n \u2013 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. History<\/p>\n 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: “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\u2014a Japanese paper theater\u2014and a projection lantern, we created a magic 3D city ready to be explored.”<\/p>\n “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\u201430 Birds\u2014is a play on words with the name “Simurgh”, which means \u201cthirty birds\u201d 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\u2026”<\/p>\n “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.”\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Eugene McQuacklin is back in this sequel to the acclaimed Duck Detective: The Secret Salami<\/em>. In this narrative detective adventure, you\u2019ll 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\u2019t played the first game \u2013 which was a previous Monthly Select<\/a> \u2013 just go do it. You don\u2019t need to play the first in order to enjoy or understand this standalone sequel, but it\u2019s just a great series.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s an experience I absolutely loved.<\/p>\n In this sequel, you\u2019ll 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\u2019re ready to solve a case. There\u2019s 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\u2019ll also find other puzzles you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2026 the bill (pause for applause). \u2013 Raymond Estrada<\/em><\/p>\n Happy Broccoli Games<\/p>\n
EVERY DETECTIVE NEEDS A SIDEKICK THE DETECTIVE RETURNS Preserve<\/em> is an eco-terraforming puzzle game that invites you to slow down and build beautiful biomes. It\u2019s a peaceful, meditative experience that rewards curiosity and care. The core gameplay revolves around creating biomes on a map, but it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019d quickly spent hours building, adjusting, and just enjoying the moment before I even started the main game. There\u2019s also a Creative Mode letting you build your perfect ecosystem.<\/p>\n Preserve<\/em> 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 \u2013 for example bees are placed in open and flowery fields, not forest or rocky terrains.<\/p>\n Preserve<\/em> is more than a strategy game, it\u2019s an open invitation to slow down, listen to nature, and create something beautiful. If you\u2019re looking for a thoughtful escape with stunning visuals and a deeply calming atmosphere, Preserve<\/em> brings harmony, one biome and habitat at a time. \u2013 Oscar Polanco<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Fantasy](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Fantasy-Life-051d8981024b2aebf775-1900x1080.jpg\")
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\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\nFANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tStep 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.
\nFish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.
\nIt’s up to you to choose what kind of Life you’ll live!<\/p>\n
\nYou are an adventurer who sets sail with the archaeologist Edward and his team.
\nFollowing the light emanating from a dragon’s fossil, you discover an uncharted, deserted island.
\nA vast abyss, a dragon made of bone, and a girl’s message that begs you to save the world\u2026
\nTravel between the island that thrived 1,000 years ago and the present-day island to unravel the mystery of its downfall!<\/p>\n
\nIn this world, a “Life” is the equivalent of a job.
\nEach has its own characteristics and provides various ways to enjoy yourself.
\nCollect 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.<\/p>\n
\nUse Lives to gather materials and restore the island to its former glory!
\nNot 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.
\nExpand your house, place some furniture, and decorate the interior however you like!<\/p>\n
\nFreely explore the largest continent in the series!
\nClimb ledges, swim across rivers and lakes, or ride on mounts \u2013 With these new actions you can explore the world without limits!<\/p>\n
\nEnjoy multiplayer with up to 4 players!
\nInvite friends to your island, explore dungeons, or find your own ways to have fun together!
\nIf 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!\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"30](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/30-Birds-bf1f54e70aa094398962-1900x1080.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n30 Birds<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tA court of feathers<\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Explore a mythical, colorful, and beautifully hand-drawn world inspired by Persian art! Uncover Lantern City’s stunning sights and fantastic characters.
\n\u2013 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\u2019s kidnapping.
\n\u2013 Vibe out to the energetic ska \u2013 dub \u2013 reggae soundtrack, sprinkled with unexpected twists, as you stroll down the bright streets of Lantern City.<\/p>\n
\n“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.”<\/p>\n![\"Duck](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Duck-Detective-ef6ff5331198d3b339de-1900x1080.jpg\")
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\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDuck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t$8.99<\/span>
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\n\t\tBREAD RED REDEMPTION
\nThis 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?<\/p>\n
\nTo 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!<\/p>\n
\nThe Duck Detective is back! Get ready to interview suspects, inspect evidence, and deduce the truth in another stand-alone mystery!\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Preserve](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Preserve-598b6e6b9af4f640c0bd-1900x1080.jpg\")
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