If You Build It, They Will Come!
A few days ago, Xbox held its latest ID@Xbox and IGN Showcase, and I have to say, I was pretty impressed with what I saw. Were there one or two games that didn’t particularly interest me? Absolutely. But overall, there were some interesting titles shown, and a couple of them definitely caught my attention.
The two games that stood out to me the most were Waveling Island and Paper Shredder. They are two completely different games, but that’s part of what I enjoyed about this showcase. Not everything has to be another massive open-world adventure, another shooter, or a game trying to compete for hundreds of hours of your life.
Sometimes, you just need something different.
Waveling Island: One to Keep an Eye On
Waveling Island immediately caught my attention with its colorful pixel-art presentation and cozy creature-collecting gameplay. The game revolves around exploring an island, discovering creatures called Wavelings, crafting, battling, making friends, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding the island.
I’m always interested in games that offer something a little different from the usual formula. Waveling Island looks like it could be one of those games you pick up to relax and end up spending much more time with than you originally planned.
It’s scheduled to arrive on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC in early 2027. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one as we get closer to release. I really hope its worth the wait. There are many creature collecting clones and sometimes, they just don’t hit the mark. So once again, I will put this on the backburner until it releases.
Paper Shredder: Sometimes You Just Need to Destroy Something
Now, Paper Shredder is a completely different animal.
The premise is pretty straightforward: shred company paperwork, upgrade your operation, and work toward a million-dollar payout. What starts with destroying individual sheets of paper eventually grows into dealing with enormous piles of documents.
It sounds ridiculous, and honestly, that’s part of the appeal.
Not every game needs an elaborate story or an enormous world to explore. Sometimes, a simple gameplay loop can be enough to keep you entertained. Paper Shredder looks like it understands that concept, and I’m interested to see how far it takes the idea.
The game is scheduled for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC in winter 2026, and it will support Xbox Play Anywhere.
Xbox Is Still Giving Indie Developers a Platform
This is where I think the showcase deserves some credit.
With all the conversations surrounding layoffs, studio closures, and the changing direction of the gaming industry, it’s encouraging to see Xbox continue to showcase independent developers and give their games visibility.
Indie games have always had a place in gaming. Some of the most memorable experiences don’t come from the biggest studios or the games with the largest budgets. Sometimes, they come from developers willing to experiment with an idea that a larger publisher might never approve.
That’s why I appreciate what ID@Xbox brings to the table. It gives players a chance to discover games they might otherwise overlook, while giving smaller developers an opportunity to reach an Xbox audience.
Of course, showcasing games is only part of the equation. Continued support for developers and a platform that makes their games accessible are just as important.
My Other Standouts and Honorable Mentions
There were several other games shown that deserve attention, even if they weren’t my primary picks.
ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut caught my attention as another game worth watching. It’s an espionage RPG centered on Hershel Wilk, a spy returning for one last chance at redemption. The game is scheduled to arrive on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC on November 3, 2026.
A Game About Digging a Hole Together takes a simple concept and turns it into a cooperative experience. Players work together to dig, collect resources, sell what they find, and upgrade their equipment. It arrives December 4, 2026, and is also coming to Game Pass.
Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game is another interesting addition, combining roguelike deck-building with a sinister premise. It’s expected in early 2027 and is planned for Game Pass at launch.
Love is a Roguelite also deserves a mention. Its combination of tactics, deck-building, and dating-sim elements is another example of the variety indie developers are bringing to the table.
These aren’t necessarily all games I’m ready to jump into immediately, but I like seeing developers experiment with different genres and ideas. That’s how we get something that stands apart from the crowd.
Xbox Play Anywhere Needs to Keep Growing
Here’s where I want to see Xbox do more.
With so many indie games coming to the platform, I’d love to see more of them support Xbox Play Anywhere and work seamlessly across the Xbox ecosystem, including the Xbox Ally where compatible.
I appreciate the idea behind Xbox Play Anywhere. Buy a supported game once and play it on your Xbox console and Windows PC without purchasing separate copies. That’s the kind of convenience that makes the Xbox ecosystem more appealing.
And with Xbox expanding its presence beyond the traditional console, that convenience matters even more.
However, we still have to pay attention to which games actually support Play Anywhere. Not every Xbox game automatically includes it, and we shouldn’t assume that a game will work on every device simply because it’s part of the Xbox ecosystem.
I’d like to see broader support become the norm rather than something players have to check title by title.
If Xbox wants its ecosystem to connect consoles, PCs, and handheld gaming devices, then making our libraries as accessible as possible should be a major priority.
While We’re Talking About Xbox, What About Backward Compatibility?
I know Xbox has plenty of things to work on, but I still want to see more movement on backward compatibility.
There are games from previous generations that I would love to add to my collection and play again. For me, preserving access to older games is an important part of what makes Xbox special.
We’ve already seen Xbox demonstrate how valuable backward compatibility can be. Being able to revisit older games on newer hardware is a great feature, and I’d love to see that commitment continue.
I understand that licensing, technical limitations, and other factors can make bringing older games forward complicated. I’m not suggesting that every game can simply be switched back on overnight.
But I would still like to see more effort put toward expanding the program and making more of those older games accessible.
The industry is constantly moving forward, and that’s great, however I still need access to those games. Im patiently waiting Xbox…….LMAO
Final Thoughts
Overall, I came away from the ID@Xbox Showcase feeling pretty good about what I saw.
Waveling Island and Paper Shredder were my personal standouts, while ZERO PARADES: Director’s Cut, A Game About Digging a Hole Together, Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game, and Love is a Roguelite gave me a few more titles to keep on my radar.
More importantly, I like seeing independent developers get the opportunity to show what they can do.
Now I want Xbox to take that same energy and apply it to the rest of the ecosystem. Give us more Play Anywhere support. Make the Xbox Ally experience as seamless as possible. Keep working on backward compatibility and give players more ways to preserve and enjoy the games they already love.
The games are coming. The creativity is there. Now Xbox needs to keep building an ecosystem that makes those games easier to access and enjoy.
AshdrowGaming — Real Gaming Without The Hype.
