Most surprising Xbox Showcase reveals

Summary

• NOD NOT surprises with the sci-fi game Aphelion, which is on a foreign planet-action-packed with puzzles and a mysterious monster.

• Clockwork Revolution includes character adaptation, strange characters and time -traveling mechanics.

• Obsidian began to release the foundation 2 later this year, with insect board and exploration in a public park's deadly underground.

2025 Xbox Showcase revealed many interesting announcements. There was news about Black Ops 7that seems to be returning to the strange sci-fi setting for its second and third post, a new Xbox handler in collaboration with ASUS and DLC for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It also introduced some new games like Bandai Namco's new Vampire-theme RPG Grawnwalker's blood. Although surprises are common in events like this, they can sometimes include announcements that really throw players.

The 2025 exhibition gave us some very good examples of the exact scenario happening. Many of the revelations were interesting, but some came as a shock to players. Whether it is because they defied expectations or revealed games so strange that no one could have expected them, these are some of the biggest surprises from the exhibition.

1

Afelion

Don't nick sci-fi

• Drop: 2026
• Developer: Don't nick

When people think about games by don't nod, what will usually think about? Usually, character -controlled stories that are centered around everyday life are disturbed by a strange supernatural mystery, with an emphasis on interacting with people and influencing relationships. An insulating sci-fi game is not the first thing people would think about. So imagine the surprise when nod not announced Afelion.

Although it is probably still character -driven, this one follows an astronaut stranded on a foreign planet, seemingly alone when she searches for her missing crew. The teaser means a much more action -packed experience than not Nick is normally known for, with a lot of play centered around the operation of a hostile environment and solves puzzles to move forward, and there may be a monster that lurks in the shadows about the trailer's last shot is something to move on.

2

Clockwork Revolution

It is wilder than first thought

The first teasers of Clockwork Revolution Got players excited about their chaotic time -bending mechanics. The Xbox Showcase finally revealed a little more information about the game that revealed some surprises in both Lore and games. One detail in the note is that it is more of an RPG than previously adopted. While the first teas seemed to mean a single hero as their leadership, it actually has a fairly detailed character adjustment system, and there is also much more interaction with other characters.

One of the Weirder characters was shown in the trailer-a unclear speaking doll dressed in Georgian clothing, but what his role is supposed to be is clear. Players also found out that the main character is not the only one with time travel. Obviously, the antagonist, Lady Ironwood, has systematically changed the past to stay in power, so the time Gadget is more tonight's playing field than getting an advantage. This new information makes the game look really exciting and left some people frustrated that it did not come with a release date.

3

Grounded 2

Obisidian's back with yet another game released this year

One would think the obsidian would have their hands full, with Agreed Just released and The outer worlds 2 On the road (the latter was shown in detail during the event). Surprisingly, they have apparently managed to find time and resources to work in a third game to be released later this year: follow-up of their popular co-op miniature survival adventure.

Grounded 2 See the same group of teens again shrunk and face the danger at every turn from things that would not normally be noticed by ordinary people. This one also adds a new Twist: Insect Domestication. Now players can tame and ride ants and even spiders, giving them the attachments to explore the surprisingly deadly world world in a public park.

4

Keeper

There is always a lighthouse, and it is you!

• Drop: 17 October 2025
• Developer: Double fine productions

Towards the end of Bioshock endless, Players got the famous line “There is always a lighthouse, there is always a man, there is always a city.” What Ken Levine, and for that matter most players could not have expected was a video game where the lighthouse is The man. Yes, this is a game about a lighthouse that in some way gets sensitivity (and legs) and goes on an adventure with his reliable birdmate.

The two apparently travel through a colorful dream image that includes meetings with clockwork stricles, a flying foreign choice with a forest on the back and some kind of early-wimey anomaly that causes the bird to turn into an egg. It is not quite clear what the story should be, but the game seems to be centered on problem solving where the lighthouse and the bird must draw their respective abilities.

5

Resonance: A plague story

Prequel players didn't realize they needed

There seemed to be two logical directions a follow -up of A plague story: Reguiem could go. The end of the game suggested either a continuation of Amicia's story centered on her quest to find the next carrier, or a transition to a new story during another period of time. The last thing fans expected was a prequel centered on one of DenialS supportive characters. But to be fair, if someone in the role deserved their own game, it was damn favorite smuggler Sofia.

Resonance takes place fifteen years earlier and follows a younger Sofia on a strange journey. Information about the story is a bit vague at the moment, but it seems Resonance will contain great influence from Greek mythology and probably involve a lot of diving in ancient ruins and dig up secrets about the past. Interestingly, this decision seems to have led to a major change in game – Melee -fighting seems to be given more focus, while previous items emphasized stealth supported by varied battle and improvised weapons. That may not be what players expected, but it looks pretty exciting.

6

Super Meat Boy 3D

• Drop: 2026
• Developer: Sluggerfly and Headup games

The original Super Meat Boy was a 2D Platformers centered on their titular character that navigated in a series of deadly obstacle courses in the hunt for their kidnapped girlfriend, and subsequent games took a similar attitude. So it was a pretty big surprise when the Xbox Showcase revealed plans to enter 3D. Even Meatboy itself is initially confused by the transition in the trailer's opening scene.

Although it can be a scrubbing change compared to previous games in the franchise, it is not entirely without precedent. After all, Super Meat Boy was a tribute to classic side -scrolling platform player as super Mario BrosWhich eventually made the hope for 3D themselves. And it looks like everything that accused fans of the original is back. Meat Boy has to run again through a death buckle full of nail pits, buzzing saws, lasers and other obstacles that can kill him in a gory way. Only now is it a little more challenging because he has many more movement options.

7

There are no ghosts at Grand

A musical Lovecraftian Hotel Management Spy Thriller Puzzle Game?

• Drop: 2026
• Developer: Friday Sundae

This is easily one of the strangest games that are included in announcements. What initially looks like a cozy game about a man who inherits his father's hotel and trying to get it in working condition takes a strange turn when the caretaker starts singing. Obviously, this is a fairly common event in this game, as players see at least another person break into the song later in the trailer. So maybe it's one musical Cozy game about hotel renovation with rhythmic elements? Well, not exactly – at least not quite.

It is part of it, but then there is another strange twist – apparently the player is actually a spy that infiltrates the village for … some other goal that they have to keep the secret. And there is a strange reality going on, a talking cat that may or may not be reliable and … Lovecraftian abominations that threaten everything? Strange Tentacled monsters from the deep obviously threaten the whole existence or something. This is a really strange attitude, and the trailer just leaves us with more questions than answers.