Indie games are a wonderful way of experiencing art outside of the norm. There are plenty of titles that take troops to foreign lands in a military or otherwise competitive setting, or even fantasy titles set in a fictional universe, employing the use of healing, offensive, and defensive spells. But not many AAA titles turn the romance of a visual novel into psychological horror like in Doki Doki Literature Club or allow players to perform mundane tasks in a relaxing setting like in Moonglow Bay and Unpacking. Those experiences are typically reserved for indie games.

But oftentimes, indie games are criticized for being "too expensive." Whether or not this is actually true is widely up for debate, is a complicated and broad topic, and can't be used as a blanket term for all independently developed video games. Still, there are many frugal indie gamers out there who can't afford to spend up to $40 on a single title that may not last more than a handful of hours. This is why Xbox Game Pass is a great option for folks who enjoy playing a variety of indie games.

RELATED: Day One Xbox Game Pass Game Unpacking Explained

The Affordability of Xbox Game Pass

xbox game pass with background filled with showcase of screenshots from different games

Steam is a staple for many indie gamers who may choose to play them via PC over console. This is because many indie games aren't extremely graphically demanding—though not all, such as Valheim, for example—which means they're more accessible to a wider variety of people because most adults have access to a laptop or desktop computer these days. But unfortunately, Steam doesn't have any kind of subscription service that makes its catalog more consumer-friendly.

But Xbox Game Pass has a broad variety of indie games that players can toy with. Currently on its catalog are several indie titles that have been huge hits in the last decade such as Undertale, Celeste, and Hollow Knight, as well as some that have become popular enough to sometimes lose that indie label on a holistic level, such as No Man's Sky and Dead By Daylight. And then there are several others that have been big in the niche scene like Boyfriend Dungeon, Carrion, Ikenfell, Unpacking, Spiritfarer, and Subnautica, meaning there's something there for everyone. More games get added with each month, and some of them are even available the day they release, or Day One on Game Pass.

Additionally, there are frequent deals for folks to try out Xbox Game Pass and the many indie games available in its rotating catalog. For example, for those who play solely on the PC, Game Pass is currently available for $1 for the first three months, which is a great deal for players on the fence. While there isn't currently a deal for the console version of Game Pass which, like the PC version, is normally $9.99, players can subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate for $1 for the first month to try it out. It's normally $14.99 as it gives players access to Game Pass on both the console and their PC.

Unfortunately, despite how massive Xbox Game Pass's rotating selection might be, it doesn't encompass every indie game out there; in fact, it misses out on many indie games that get released, especially the ones made by the smallest developers. Still, Xbox Game Pass has a growing catalog, and even if the majority of indie games isn't available through the service, it still allows gamers to play a slew of titles for just $9.99 a month, many of which cost well more than, making it an exceptionally consumer-friendly option.

MORE: Xbox Game Pass Game One Step from Eden Explained