Lost Sea

Lost Sea features four distinct islands you can explore, each containing a massive, varied collection of islands with their own varying size and inhabitants. Each of these islands have different weather patterns and climates, and each is home to a unique creature, some that can be a very unique one.

You can only explore the islands at certain times of day, and certain weather patterns only appear during certain times of day, and you must run back and forth across the map to take out each island. While these factors can add some depth to your exploration, if you choose not to travel around at night, the island might not be as interesting. There's no need to worry about finding any hidden treasure chests, though, because there is a way to complete every single task in the island. Each island also has a different weather pattern. While only one or two of the islands have weather patterns, only two of the islands are included.

Like the maps in Lost Sea, Lost Sea features around 35 different islands that you can visit, each with their own unique ecosystems and inhabitants. From the stunning Luterra Islands to the chilling Monochrom, each island has its own different set of wildlife to defeat and puzzles to solve. You'll have to go through the game plenty to see each island, and thankfully, Lost Sea has a helpful glossary you won't find anywhere else in the game. There's a clear structure to the island's layout that you'll never get tired of, which can help you decide which way to spend your time.

The puzzles in Lost Sea are complex, but still very satisfying to complete. For one thing, it's incredibly easy to complete one of the island's puzzles without ever failing. Secondly, the sheer amount of materials you'll find lying around the map can be overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out. There are hundreds of recipes to collect, so it's a great way to slowly get more and more of everything. I didn't even finish the game at a nice pace, but once I got around to exploring, I knew I needed to dig up all the hidden treasures.

The game does have some clear platforming issues, especially when it comes to defeating enemies. At times, the level design can seem a bit underwhelming, with pretty much every environment being covered in some sort of obstacle. But if you're looking for a fast paced, challenging game, Lost Sea is a perfect title to pass the time.

Lost Sea is available on Xbox Game Pass.

An absolute classic, the original Ori series is back with Ori and the Will of the Wisps. While the gameplay may be the same, the story is completely different. You play as Ori, a little spirit who is awakened by a fragment of the Sun. In order to stop the corruption that is spreading throughout the world, the Oris must collect the Will of the Wisps to help Ori take down the game's final boss, the Shadow King.

The game's art style is top-notch, especially the characters and enemy designs, and really helps Ori take on the big boss battles. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available on Xbox Game Pass.

Moonlighter is available on Xbox Game Pass.

For a game that's known for being challenging, Celeste is perhaps one of the best-looking games of the past decade. Inspired by the platformers of old, Celeste does a great job of presenting itself as a challenging game in which players must overcome difficult levels with platforming challenges. The game follows Madeline, a young woman who's lost her mother and has to navigate through a mysterious land full of difficult obstacles and enemies.

The game's art style is so good, in fact, that Celeste can easily win over fans of platformers, thanks to its powerful writing, clever puzzle design, and characters that develop over time. The game's story is also top-notch and frequently hilarious, with many heartbreaking moments that will make players struggle to accept it.

Salt and Sanctuary is available on PC and Xbox One.

The original Spelunky was a hit indie game when it was released in 2016, and there's no surprise that the game is still going strong today. Spelunky 2 builds upon the original game's foundation in numerous ways, with new features, new items, and more added to the game over time. The Spelunky 2 builds upon the original by introducing a host of new features, like a co-op mode, new items, a whole new area, and more. The Spelunky 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

For fans of platformers, platformers, or anyone looking for a fun, challenging cooperative title to play in their downtime, Moss: Book 2 is a perfect choice. The original Moss game already had plenty of heart, and its sequel improved on every aspect of the original title and pushed it to the next level with gorgeous visuals.