Awesome games can come from anywhere, and when it comes to Asia, the team at Xbox is determined to help its developer partners in every way possible. As part of the Xbox Asia Developer Session, we were given a deeper look at five upcoming titles from studios across the region, and there are plenty of things to get excited about if you are seeking your next adventure.
Xbox Developer Session 2025
13Z: The Zodiac Trials
Coming out of Singapore, Mixed Realms‘ 13Z: The Zodiac Trials sees players embark on a quest to become the 13th Zodiac via a frantic hack-and-slash roguelike action adventure.
As a challenger, it will be up to you to prove yourself to the existing Zodiac guardians through different challenges and combat to stand a chance. As huge fans of action games, the developers designed the combat to be fluid, fast-paced and expressive, with swift movement abilities for each playable character, such as wall climbing and gliding, to spice things up.
As a roguelike, each run will see different skills and rewards up for grabs, with elemental properties and synergy vital to unlocking powerful effects that can help you along the way. As failure is part of the equation, players can use their earned Jade to spend on persistent upgrades that will impact future runs.
“13Z has been in development for two years now. I think we have ample opportunities to really take inspiration from quite a few of our games that we enjoy,” explained game director Chalit Noonchoo. “So ultimately, we settled on something that checked all the boxes for us. So that meant, on top of this base experience, we wanted an experience that could that you could play with friends in a cooperative setting, ready to push that fun factor for this game.”
“And I think on top of that, featuring the Eastern Zodiacs was something that came a bit naturally to us as a Southeast Asian studio, and that’s how the core idea of 13Z came about.”
As revealed at the Xbox Developer Session, a public playtest will begin on April 12, and interested players can indicate their interest via Steam now.
Agni: Village of Calamity
Indonesia’s Separuh Interactive is working on a cinematic survival horror game inspired by the greatest classics of horror media with Agni: Village of Calamity.
Players will step into the shoes of Agni, a determined investigator from a covert Indonesian police unit who has defied orders and ventures into a remote village despite ominous warnings. The horrifying and unique reality that awaits is only possible with the use of Southeast Asian influences as well as the compelling cinematography and motion capture utilised for the game.
“If you’re a fan of atmospheric survival horror like Silent Hill or something like Resident Evil, or if you’re someone who loves narrative depth, unravelling hidden meanings and exploring intricate theories, this experience is created with you in mind,” shared Leo Avero, creative director.
“So there’s a wealth of perspective and stories that we can tell. When it comes to video games, I think we have the advantage because we’re not yet exploring too much in this medium, we have the advantage of the unknown, right? Because you don’t see this often. It lends itself to horror well.”
Inventory storage, fixed camera angles, and plenty of unsettling sounds and sights, it definitely looks like it’s set for success. The unkillable Algojo, playing that Nemesis role, already looks terrifying. Add to that the fact that combat isn’t the most optimal solution, and that will force you to confront these horrors in a much more intimate way.
Nightmare Circus
The Xbox Developer Session also gave us a good look at Nightmare Circus, coming out of Thailand’s FairPlay Studios. Embark on an eerie yet whimsical journey through the twisted realm of nightmares, unlock its mysteries, fend off the monstrous threats, and save your friends in this action-adventure that takes inspiration from the likes of the Souls games, Death’s Door, Tunic, and even fighting games.
With its whimsical style, it definitely ups the appeal of the game as it contrasts sharply with the dangers that are in your way. The puppet string and collision combat system is also a key distinct feature, allowing players to attack and traverse the world by creating collisions to smash, crash, and slam whoever stands in your way.
“We think that we should give the player the freedom to move freely. So we give the player the ability to move as fast as they want with a dodge cancel system. Every time you want to dodge, it can be done from any animation,” added CEO Kachain Puttiwarawut about the game’s animation in combat.
While the strings may appear to be physics-based, the complexity required meant the team took a more logic-based approach, which simplifies the combat to a certain extent. The team’s goal is that everyone can play and enjoy this game without overthinking things.
Vapor World: Over The Mind
Coming out of South Korea is ALIVE Inc.’s Vapor World: Over The Mind, a narrative-driven Soulslike platformer focused on deflection combat set in an atmospheric world of dreams featuring hand-painted 2D art. From first glance, the game already looks impressive and unique, with various gameplay systems that engage the player.
Be it the platforming, the stealth, or the combat, every step you will take in this gripping tale appears to be as smooth as butter, and the environmental storytelling will likely play a considerable role in immersion. It is reminiscent of games like Lies of P and Salt and Sanctuary, and the boss fights will be equally challenging as you block, deflect, or dodge the attacks.
Overcoming the powerful enemies and exploration will reward players with special symbols, which can then be used in a process called Inception to gain new abilities, otherwise known as Projections. Firing projectiles, clouding the enemy vision, these are but just some of the things within your grasp.
Vapor World: Over The Mind is based on an original novel written by the team. It will first launch in Early Access before its full release, which is estimated to have over 20 hours of gameplay.
Kriegsfront Tactics
The Indonesia-made game that has been consistently on our radar is Toge Productions‘ Kreigsfront Tactics, which closed out the Xbox Developer Session. Set in an alternate 1970s during an era of conflict in Southeast Asia, players will command a special mechanised military unit sent to infiltrate behind enemy lines in the turn-based tactical roleplaying game, where they must manage their squad, resources, and mechs as well as face hard, morality-testing decisions.
In combat, players hold all the keys to the next course of action. Those worried about RNG can rest easy as well, as all bullets in the game are physically simulated, making your positioning much more important. As big fans of XCOM, the developers are more conscious of the frustrations that can arise from missing nailed-on attacks, and are not willing to do the same for this game. Smart use of vantage points and guerrilla tactics will help in this aspet, but those tactics are viable for your enemies too.
Putting in the effort when preparing for sorties will see players manage their pilots and Krieger mechs. Build a squad that fits your strategy, and do the same for your mechs to prepare for all sorts of scenarios. However, everything will have a breaking point when you are deep in enemy territory, so paying attention to man and machine will be integral. This design approach of both empowering and challenging the player has even been endorsed by Toshiro Tsuchida, original creator of Front Mission.
Kreigsfront Tactics is markedly different from the studio’s previous offerings, something that Emlingga explained as a dream to pursue: “Because most of us, especially those working on this project, are huge fans of turn-based tactics games, and it’s been basically our dream to work on this project since the studio’s inception.”
Planning about 20 to 30 hours of content, Toge Productions aims for the narrative and choices players make to create an experience that is unique to each player. The game will eventually launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch.
