Everything announced during April's ID@Xbox Showcase

Microsoft's first ID@Xbox Showcase for 2023 featured 11 games from indie developers, including Game Pass hit Vampire Survivors, Coffee Talk Episode 2, and more. Here's everything that was shown.

The April ID@Xbox Showcase offered up a number of announcements for indie games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC this year, including a couple of games coming to Game Pass. If you missed the show and fancy catching up on all 11 announcements, take a look at the list down below — we even got a look at some DLC coming to one of the best games on Game Pass!

Cassette Beasts

Described as a "turn-based RPG with an 80's vibe," Cassette Beasts is a Pokémon-inspired monster catching game that explores the fantastical world of New Wirral. The latest gameplay trailer introduced us to one of the companions we'll meet on our journey, Kayleigh, and gave us a look at how to collect, fuse, and transform our monster friends.

Developed by Bytten Studio and published by Raw Fury, Cassette Beasts will release on April 26th for PC and PC Game Pass, while its Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass versions will arrive later this spring.

Closer the Distance

Slice-of-life sim Closer the Distance explores the effect tragedy has on the connections between friends and family. We'll aid a young girl called Angela in looking after her loved ones after a fatal car accident in the town of Yesterby as they attempt to come to terms with their loss and work through their grieving process. The choices Angela makes will determine the fate of the town and the people she's trying to help.

Closer the Distance is developed by Osmotic Studios and published by Skybound Games. We don't have a release date yet, but it'll be coming to Xbox Series X|S soon.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

In this sequel to 2020's charming Coffee Talk, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly will once again see us return as a barista happy to lend their ear to customers that just want a chat with their brew. We'll be knocking up numerous concoctions as we help the coexisting orcs, succubi, humans, and more in the fantastical version of Seattle. Lo-fi beats will set the tone, and we might even see some familiar faces walk through our coffee shop door.

Developed by Toge Productions and published by Chorus Worldwide, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly arrives on April 20th for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

The Explorator

Rocking a cel-shaded art style, The Explorator is inspired by old-school FPS games and sees us exploring a mystical island known as Ospolis. It might be dangerous to explore, thanks to the roaming goblins and monsters, but legends say that Ospolis sits atop the lost city of Atlantis, so exploring the far-reaching tunnels that harbour the creatures could be worth the risk.

Developed and published by Remnant Studio, The Explorator doesn't have a release date yet but will be launching on Xbox Series X|S.

Homestead Arcana

Aided by our trusty familiar Huckleberry, we'll take on the role of a farming witch attempting to uncover the mysterious appearance of a deadly substance known as Miasma in Homestead Arcana. By using nature magic to help heal the land, growing a range of plants to help power our spells, and crafting new gear, we'll explore the range and stop the spread of Miasma.

Homestead Arcana is developed by Serenity Forge and published by Skybound Games, launching on April 21st for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, as well as launching straight into Xbox Game Pass.

Kabaret

Filled with fantastical characters, Kabaret is a visual novel that tells the story of a boy cursed to be a monster in a world of monsters. We'll spend our time chatting to fellow monstrosities to learn their stories and partake in a host of mini-games.

Developed and published by Persona Theory Games, Kabaret is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

The Karters 2: Turbo Charged

As the name suggests, The Karters 2: Turo Charged is a kart racing game, offering a slew of game modes that can be enjoyed in local and online multiplayer. Featuring power-ups, challenging tracks, and frantic racing action, you'll need to polish your skills if you hope to make it to the top.

The Karters 2: Turbo Charged is developed and published by Pixel Edge Games, and will be heading to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One later this year.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox

Exploring the ways Benedict and his demon companion find the deepest part of limbo and fight their way through a number of enemy factions, the latest trailer for The Last Case of Benedict Fox has us excited for its release. Combat is only one part of the fun in this game, and it looks like it'll be an exciting adventure indeed!

The Last Case of Benedict Fox is developed by Plot Twist and published by Rogue Games. It'll launch straight into Xbox Game Pass when it arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on April 27th.

Lil' Guardsman

Playing as a 12-year-old hero by the name of Lil, we'll be covering our father's shift at the guard shed to decide the fate of over 100 visitors to our castle. Lil' Guardsman is a deduction adventure game, which will see us determining the fate of the kingdom by the choices we make — will you let a visitor in, send them to the cells, or zap them into pieces? The choice is yours.

Developed and published by Hilltop Studios, Lil' Guardsman will launch sometime later this year for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Omega Strikers

Using rocket boosts, tofu as a weapon, and slime for slinging, Omega Strikers is a 3v3 free-to-play "footbrawl" game. Knocking your opponents out of the arena is always a good strategy when attempting to score goals, and with a selection of colourful Strikers to choose from, it looks like there will be a ton of fun to be had!

Omega Strikers is developed and published by Odyssey Interactive, launching on April 27th for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Vampire Survivors: Tides of the Foscari DLC

The second DLC pack for Xbox Game Pass smash-hit Vampire Survivors, Tides of the Foscari heads to Western Europe for some more chaos inspired by fairy tales and folklore. With rolling hills and woodland areas filled with demons, spirits, angels, magical beasts, and more, it looks like we'll be in for another adrenaline-fuelled rush.

Vampire Survivors is developed and published by Poncle, and its Tides of the Foscari DLC will launch on April 13 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC for $1.99.

Have any of these games got your attention? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think!

ID@Xbox

Written by Tom West

Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.