There is no denying that we have seen a significant rise in the popularity of Asian-developed video games in recent years, dropping absolute bangers like Elden Ring, Black Myth: Wukong, Dynasty Warriors: Origins and the list goes on. MKAU Gaming recently attended the Xbox Asia Developer Sessions, where we got an early look at some of the upcoming titles coming to the Xbox. Here is everything that we learned during the session hosted by Jun Shen Chia | Strategic Markets, SEA, Xbox.

Five upcoming titles were showcased during the event. Still, before I go into those details, it is only right to mention how mind-blown I was to learn that over 1,400 titles were in active development in Southeast Asia as part of the ID @ Xbox and Developer Acceleration Programs. This fact quickly made me realise that my backlog was about to get a hell of a lot larger. As a fan of Asian-developed titles, I also realised that I would be missing out on many amazing games if it wasn’t for programs like these bringing these titles to the broader world stage. With that out of my system, it is with great anticipation that I share the details of the five upcoming titles.

13Z: The Zodiac Trials

From the incredibly talented studio that delivered the ever-brilliant Hellsweeper VR, developer Mixed Realms introduced their upcoming title, 13Z: The Zodiac Trials. Inspired by Eastern Zodiac lore, this frantic hack-and-slash roguelike action adventure will see players embark on a quest to become the 13th Zodiac.

Take on a celestial trail of grit, speed and power, and rise stronger after each fall as you upgrade your skills. Face the trials solo or team up with up to 3 friends, and play Co-op for tougher challenges and strategic twists. 13Z: The Zodiac Trials looks set to have quite the trial ahead for players looking to experience relentless action with fluid, fast-paced combat built for replayability. The wait for launch in Q2 2026 will certainly be an eager one for me, and I look forward to experiencing what Mixed Realms delivers.

Agni: Village of Calamity

Next, we have one for fans of cinematic psychological survival horror Agni: Village of Calamity, developed by Separuh Interactive. Agni, a fearless investigator from an elite Indonesian police unit, defies orders to uncover the truth in a secluded village despite ominous warnings. What begins as an unauthorised investigation quickly plunges Agni into a horrifying reality.

A mere 30 seconds into the showcase footage of this title, I was hooked. I felt as if I was about to sit down to a classic Indonesian horror film or about to dive into the horrors of Silent Hill or Resident Evil. Features that were shown off, like the fixed hybrid camera and strategic inventory management system, gave a good sense of tension and strategy that players can expect on release. If you’re a fan of psychological horror, keep your eyes out for this one.

Nightmare Circus

The developers of the well-received The Land Beneath Us, Fairplay Studios, return with their newest title, Nightmare Circus. This action-adventure game has the player taking on the role of a puppeteer trapped in the Nightmare Realm. As a wandering Circus troupe member, you suddenly find yourself lost in an unknown land. You must fight enemies that wander the lands, save your fellow troupe members who are also stuck within the realm, uncover the mysteries, and make it back to the real world

This title is one that I look forward to playing, mostly because of how unique I found the “Puppet String” mechanic. Watching the player use the puppeteer’s two puppet sticks as a weapon and fending off enemies gave it a very hack-and-slash combat vibe. What made this game pique my interest was how the puppeteer’s string could be used to traverse the environment and maneuver and attack enemies with a unique “Collision Combat” system. I can’t wait to see just how expressive this combat style will be when the game launches in 2026.

Vapor World: Over the Mind

ALIVE Inc. introduced us to their upcoming title, Vapor World: Over the Mind. Vapor World is a narrative-driven, souls-like platformer focused on deflection combat set in a dark, atmospheric world of dreams. Telling the story of a boy drawn into a twisted dream, lost in darkness with no way out. Descend within a shattered mind, seeking lost memories while facing trauma born of anguish and regret in a beautifully dark, hand-painted world.

Vapor World draws inspiration from the souls-like combat experience given in games like Sekiro and Bloodborne. It fuses it into an atmospheric mood, like Inside or Little Nightmares. If that isn’t enough to draw you in, the unique, lovingly hand-painted art style will do the job. Souls-like fans should keep their eyes out for Vapor World: Over the Mind, as it seems to have quite a challenge ahead.

Kriegsfront Tactics

Kriegsfront Tactics, developed by Toge Productions, is a turn-based, mecha tactical strategy game set in an alternate 1970s during an era of conflict in Southeast Asia. Play as a special mechanised infantry unit commander and lead your mech squad on a mission behind enemy lines, descending into horror and madness.

Watch the mayhem and destruction unfold, metal against metal, in a modernised retro low-poly visual that gives this game the classic Front Mission vibe. Meet interesting characters and recruit them to join your cause and build your squad, each character having skills, traits, and stories. Customise your mech’s livery, salvage or swap parts, and equip weapons to give your squad the best chance at a successful mission. You will need to plan, strategise, and use your tactical prowess to outsmart your enemies as you explore the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Having mechanics like being able to target specific mech parts is certainly a big draw card for this title. What interests me the most is exploring the psychological toll of combat and seeing how the effects of a lengthy battle will have on my squad. I am not a big fan of turn-based games, yet I could still see myself being drawn into playing Kriegsfront Tactics.

As the Xbox Asia developer session draws to a close, I am struck by the talent and potential each of these development studios has. I eagerly look forward to experiencing these titles as they launch on Xbox.