Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase highlights five promising gems

Several upcoming titles offer fresh gameplay experiences.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:20pm

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A vibrant, neon-infused 3D illustration of a futuristic cyberpunk cityscape, with towering skyscrapers, hovering vehicles, and glowing digital infrastructure, conceptually representing the innovative and technologically advanced games showcased at the event.The Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase featured several promising indie and AA-backed games that push the boundaries of gameplay and visual design.Phoenix Today

Microsoft's annual Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase featured a diverse lineup of indie and AA-backed projects, including a cyberpunk thriller with retro pixel art, a game that blends 2D and 3D gameplay, a tag-team fighting game set in the Invincible comic book universe, a rogue-like beat-'em-up inspired by 80s action movies, and a character-collecting action RPG.

Why it matters

The Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase highlights Microsoft's continued commitment to supporting a wide range of game genres and development teams, from small indie studios to larger AA publishers. These titles showcase innovative gameplay mechanics, unique visual styles, and the creative potential of the Xbox ecosystem beyond just big-budget blockbusters.

The details

The five standout games from the showcase include 'Replaced', a cyberpunk thriller with a moody pixel art style and 'Batman: Arkham'-inspired combat; 'Screenbound', a game that blends 2D and 3D gameplay in a novel way; 'Invincible VS', a fast-paced 3v3 tag-team fighting game based on the Invincible comic book series; 'Hit-Em-Up Highrise', a rogue-like beat-'em-up inspired by 80s action movies; and 'Mongil: Star Dive', a character-collecting action RPG in the style of 'Genshin Impact'.

  • The Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase took place last week.
  • 'Replaced' is set to release on April 14.
  • 'Invincible VS' is scheduled to launch on April 30.
  • 'Mongil: Star Dive' will release on April 15.

The players

Sad Cat Studios

The developer behind the cyberpunk thriller 'Replaced'.

Crescent Moon Games

The studio creating the 2D/3D blending game 'Screenbound'.

Quarter Up

The team of developers behind the modern 'Killer Instinct' who are now working on 'Invincible VS'.

Media Indie Exchange

The studio developing the rogue-like beat-'em-up 'Hit-Em-Up Highrise'.

Netmarble

The publisher behind the character-collecting action RPG 'Mongil: Star Dive'.

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What they’re saying

“Not all games need eye-bleeding graphics to impress players. Sometimes what a title needs is a compelling vision and charm, and Sad Cat Studios delivers plenty of that with this upcoming cyberpunk thriller.”

— Gieson Cacho, Author

“The magic of 'Screenbound' lies on how it melds the 2D and 3D gameplay together. It's the invisible moments when those two dimensions collide that elevate this title and makes it a project to keep an eye on.”

— Gieson Cacho, Author

“It's a fighting game that aims to be beginner-friendly while also offering the depth that the community craves.”

— Gieson Cacho, Author

What’s next

The five games showcased at the Xbox Play Anywhere event are set to release over the next few months, with 'Replaced' launching on April 14, 'Invincible VS' on April 30, and 'Mongil: Star Dive' on April 15.

The takeaway

The Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase demonstrated Microsoft's continued support for a diverse range of game genres and development teams, from small indie studios to larger AA publishers. These five titles showcase innovative gameplay mechanics, unique visual styles, and the creative potential of the Xbox ecosystem beyond just big-budget blockbusters, offering fresh experiences for players to look forward to in the coming months.