Xbox Countdown Sale 2020 hidden gems

By Luke Albigés,
We've already rounded up the easiest and fastest completions from the Xbox Countdown sale and highlighted a few choice mid-tier games you may be interested in picking up, but feedback suggested that many of you would be keen to discover some even deeper cuts from the sale. You asked, we listened — here's a selection of low-key awesome games for anyone looking to try out something a little different on the cheap.

Chicken Police — Paint it Red! (20% off)


Just your standard gritty noir detective story... oh, except all the people are anthropomorphic animals. Chicken Police is pretty wild, but get past its strangeness and you'll find a cast of oddly relatable characters, some fantastic performances and dialogue, and gameplay that combines point-and-click adventure fundamentals with more visual novel-like elements. Imagine Sin City if Bruce Willis was a chicken and... well, outside of the palette, you're not actually that close. Still, it's fun to imagine Bruce Willis as a chicken. Chicken Police sits at a solid TA rating of 3.92/5 and with the rarest achievements having been unlocked by 17% of players on the site, it doesn't seem like the list should cluck you around too much.
Chicken Police - Paint it RED!
Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

A wild tale of love, death, chickens, and redemption! Chicken Police is a buddy-cop noir adventure, with a carefully crafted world, a gritty story, and lots of absurd humor. The game mixes elements of classic adventure games with visual novel-style storytelling.



Cloudpunk (30% off)


As wildly unlikely as it seems, if you've found yourself disappointed by any games set in futuristic cityscapes lately, it's good to know that there are alternatives like this out there. Cloudpunk is a narrative adventure set in the sci-fi city of Nivalis — a bustling future metropolis packed with towering skyscrapers and garish neon glows, where flying cars abound. As a delivery driver, you'll be shipping packages all over this stunning voxel-powered urban sprawl, and meeting a host of intriguing characters along the way. There's even the odd opportunity to hop out and explore parts of the city on foot, although aerial travel is where the game really shines. With a TA score of 4.14/5 and over 5,000 positive reviews on Steam, it's clear that this kind of setting is a hit with players, and Cloudpunk lets you see its vision of tomorrow from a whole new perspective.
Cloudpunk
Cloudpunk

A neon-noir story in a rain-drenched cyberpunk metropolis. It’s your first night on the job working for the Cloudpunk delivery service. Two rules: Don’t miss a delivery and don’t ask what’s in the package.



Fuser (35% off)


Harmonix, creator of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, has long been one of the leading innovators on the music game scene, and 2017's DropMix — a musical card game that creates custom mixes in real time based on the cards played — was one of its most inventive projects to date. Fuser is basically an extension of that same core premise, trading the card-based gameplay for crowd requests that shift the focus to be wholly on the music. You can mix and match individual parts from 100+ popular songs (even more with the DLC, where each track you add to your library boosts mix potential exponentially) and the game matches tempo and key dynamically as you swap parts in and out or add in custom effects. Like DropMix, the tech is arguably more impressive than the game itself, but the sense of satisfaction when you nail a perfect mix is like nothing else. Fuser: VIP Edition (which includes the first wave of DLC tracks) is also on sale but only at 20% off, and the price difference between the bundle and buying the tracks individually is minimal anyway. The game's TA score currently sits at 4.23/5, so it looks like a lot of you superstar DJ wannabes are just as taken with the musical mayhem of Fuser as we are.
FUSER™
FUSER™

From the creators of Rock Band™ & Dance Central™ comes FUSER™ - a nonstop virtual music festival where you control the music!


FUSER™ VIP Edition
FUSER™ VIP Edition

From the creators of Rock Band™ & Dance Central™ comes FUSER™ - a nonstop virtual music festival where you control the music!



Ikaruga (50% off)


Time for a blast from the past now with Treasure's classic shooter Ikaruga, which turned 19 years old this week. Considering it's one of the greatest shmups of all time, it's a little strange to see the TA score hovering at just 3.76/5, but we suspect that the difficulty of the achievements probably has something to do with that. Ikaruga's key gimmick is its polarity switching mechanic, with your ship able to flip between light and dark modes. Each deals bonus damage to its opposite, and bullets of the matching shade can be absorbed to fuel powerful special attacks. Widely regarded as an all-time classic, Ikaruga may seem like a bit of an odd choice for a list like this. But if you're new to Xbox gaming, or perhaps not old enough to remember the original release or this Xbox Live Arcade re-release, there's a good chance this legendary shooter might have passed you by. Considering we paid £80-odd for an imported Dreamcast version back in the day with no regrets, this price is an absolute steal.
Ikaruga
Ikaruga

Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 2, Local Multiplayer 2, HD (High Definition). Looking for more polarity-switching, freedom-fighting gameplay? Upgrade to the full version of Ikaruga to access five exciting levels, cooperative multiplayer, leaderboards, achievements, and the ability to record and replay levels, thus immortalizing your magnificent and awe-inspiring skill. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.



Maneater (35% off)


The main issue we had with Maneater when it first released was that as entertaining as the core premise of playing as a shark might seem, it doesn't take long to realise just how limiting it is. As such, it's the perfect kind of game to pick up on sale, where you're much more likely to get your money's worth before the novelty wears off. Maneater is the only game featured here that has an Xbox Series X|S upgrade (it uses Smart Delivery, so you'll get that version right away if you pick it up on one of the new consoles), and it must be said that it looks absolutely fantastic, not that the base game was a slouch in the visual department. Judging by Maneater's 4.20/5 TA score, you lot are more forgiving of the one-note gameplay than we are, but we're still more than happy to recommend this sharp-toothed curio at a price like this.
Maneater
Maneater

Experience the ultimate power fantasy as the apex predator of the seas - a terrifying SHARK! Maneater is a single player, open world action RPG (ShaRkPG) where YOU are the shark. Devour nutrients to grow and evolve far beyond what nature intended. Become a massive shark, an apex predator of legends, to get revenge on the cruel fisherman that dismembered you. Eat. Explore. Evolve.



Monstrum (35% off)


Here's one for fans of games like Alien Isolation and Outlast. Monstrum is a horror game where the setting is procedurally generated every time you play, meaning you'll never know where the safe places are... if there even are any. You're stalked by one of three suitably horrific monsters as you try to make your escape, and even the conditions and items needed to leave with your life change each run. The Xbox One version has a respectable TA score of 3.75/5, but by all accounts, the PC version (which is cheaper, on account of having been out for five years) is the one to go for if you have the option. If not, Monstrum is definitely worth a look on console as it's a unique twist on the genre and one where you'll never know what to expect when you load it up. If you enjoy Monstrum, you may also be happy to hear that a sequel — which offers more monsters and 4v1 multiplayer, like a sort of horror version of Evolve — is due to enter early access on PC next month.
Monstrum
Monstrum

Set on a derelict cargo ship, you have to outsmart one of Monstrum’s terrifying predators as you try to escape. With a procedurally generated environment and permadeath, it’s up to you and your wits to stay alive, or start over against another monster. Good luck. Start running.



Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (50% off)


In theory, a courtroom visual novel should be a bit of a hard sell, let alone three of the damn things. But Capcom really worked its magic with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, a trio of games which originally released for Nintendo handhelds over a decade ago, and there's a reason Mr. Wright has developed something of a cult following. With their casts of weird and wonderful characters and a surprising mixture of gameplay types beyond simply cross-examining witnesses, these games are among the best of their kind. There were rumblings that Ace Attorney Trilogy could be coming to Game Pass, although with nothing confirmed on that front, you'd do well to check this out if you're looking for something quirky to get stuck into over the holidays... provided you're not too worried about the dozens of missable achievements. Still, you'll hear no objections from us at this price, and with a jury of our peers awarding the trilogy a glowing 4.36/5 here on the site, it seems like we've reached a near-unanimous verdict that these are some fantastic games.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
$29.99£29.99€29.99$39.95$39.99R$130
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.



Shotgun Farmers (20% off)


Shotgun Farmers is possibly one of the most innovative shooters to launch this year, but it has flown under the radar somewhat. The game features a unique twist on the online multiplayer first-person shooter formula. You’re able to plant your own ammo by shooting bullets into the ground, and the longer you leave it, the more ammo you’ll have when it’s time to harvest. Missed shots that hit the dirt will also grow into guns, sometimes allowing you to turn your opponents' own weapons against them. Currently, Shotgun Farmers has a community rating of 3.76/5 — a very respectable score from the TA cohort, but it probably deserves to be rated a little higher than that. If you’re looking for a shooter that’s unafraid to buck(shot) trends, has tons of character, and is fun to play solo or with friends, Shotgun Farmers is an excellent choice.
Shotgun Farmers
Shotgun Farmers

Shotgun Farmers is an online multiplayer shooter where missed shots grow new guns! Fire your bullets into the ground to plant your ammo. The longer it grows the more ammo you will get!



Space Crew (30% off)


Space Crew is a sequel to Bomber Crew, and with its TA score of 4.12/5, it's significantly better received than its predecessor. We'd imagine that might have something to do with Space Crew leaning heavily into mimicking a certain sci-fi TV series (no prizes for guessing which), as seen in the trailer above, but it could just be that the vastness of space is simply that much cooler as a setting. It's a management sim for the most part, although things can still get pretty frantic when you come under attack and end up racing around to micromanage the crew, making sure everyone is doing their part to keep the ship from getting blown up. This kind of game is typically quite an acquired taste, but the fact that this one boldly goes where one very popular science fiction franchise has gone before might just make it feel that little bit more accessible.
Space Crew
Space Crew

Captain's Log, Star Date 2159. This is Space Crew. Its continuing mission: To defend Earth and humankind, to eliminate the extraterrestrial threat and to boldly go where no Crew has gone before!



Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution (60% off)


If you're in any way interested in card games, Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is one of the most extensive and enjoyable options on the market, whether you're into the series or not. This revised version of the original Legacy of the Duelist adds tons of cards (to bring the overall total up to over 10,000 from across the card game's two-decade history) and brings mechanics bang up to date with the modern game, making it the most exhaustive recreation of the popular TCG so far. It does a pretty good job of explaining some of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s more complex mechanics, so little-to-no existing knowledge is required to jump in and start making killer decks. It should go without saying that the game is pretty much essential for existing fans or real life players — who we'd wager make up the majority of the 2,500 tracked players on TA, with their aggregated rating of 4.36/5 for Link Evolution — but the frankly ridiculous breadth and depth on offer with the systems here means that non-fans can have a great time as well.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist : Link Evolution
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist : Link Evolution

Experience 20 years of Yu-Gi-Oh! history with Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution! Build your Deck from over 10,000 cards and take on the most iconic Duelists from the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe. Relive the stories from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series through Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS!



Spotted a hidden gem in the Xbox Countdown sale that we've missed, or planning on picking up one of these games? Let us know in the comments!
Luke Albigés
Written by Luke Albigés
Luke runs the TA news team, contributing where he can primarily with reviews and other long-form features — crafts he has honed across two decades of print and online gaming media experience, having worked with the likes of gamesTM, Eurogamer, Play, Retro Gamer, Edge, and many more. He loves all things Monster Hunter, enjoys a good D&D session, and has played way too much Destiny.
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