There was a time when arcade shooters lived and died by one simple rule – survive for as long as you could while the screen filled with enemies. Zaxoid looks to recapture that feeling, arriving on Xbox with frantic twin-stick action, fast upgrades and a healthy dose of retro inspiration.
Available today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S for £12.49, the latest release from M80 Games throws players into an all-out battle to save humanity from an overwhelming alien invasion.
At A Glance
- Game: Zaxoid
- Developer: M80 Games Inc.
- Publisher: M80 Games Inc.
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Price: £12.49
- Genre: Twin-Stick Shooter
One Ship Against An Alien Armada
An alien force is descending on your city, and you’re the only thing standing in its way. Armed with twin-stick controls, you’ll blast through relentless waves of invaders while constantly upgrading your ship to deal with increasingly dangerous enemies.
But Zaxoid isn’t just about surviving in the skies.
When the battle reaches ground level, your ship can transform into a heavily armed tank, giving you another way to fight back as surface forces attempt to overwhelm your city’s defences. Switching between aerial combat and ground assaults adds a little variety to the action, while every successful run gives you new opportunities to strengthen your arsenal.
Fast Runs And Meaningful Upgrades
Like many modern arcade-inspired shooters, Zaxoid mixes classic score-chasing gameplay with roguelite progression.
Each attempt allows you to make strategic choices about how you develop your ship or reinforce your city, meaning no two runs have to play out exactly the same. Whether you focus on raw firepower, defensive upgrades or simply surviving long enough to reach the next wave is entirely up to you.
There’s no sprawling open world or lengthy cutscenes here either. Zaxoid knows exactly what it wants to be – a fast, pick-up-and-play shooter that pays tribute to the arcade classics many players grew up with.
If you enjoy twin-stick shooters packed with explosions, upgrades and relentless enemy waves, this latest Xbox arrival could be worth adding to your library.
Zaxoid is available now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, priced at £12.49 from the Xbox Store.
