FOUNTAINS Is Ready To Test Your Soulslike Skills On Xbox

TheXboxHub News...PC NewsXbox Play AnywhereXbox Series X News By Neil Watton

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September 14, 2026

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FOUNTAINS has finally made its way to Xbox, bringing a dark fantasy soulslike adventure to Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Originally released on Steam in 2024 to Very Positive reviews, John Pywell’s action-RPG arrives on Xbox through its £17.49 Extended Edition – currently the only way to buy the game on Xbox.

And while the name might suggest something rather peaceful, FOUNTAINS is anything but. Its version of the One Kingdom is a sprawling labyrinth packed with demanding combat, hidden routes, ancient secrets and a mysterious prophecy surrounding the mythical Fountain of Youth.

At A Glance

• Game: FOUNTAINS
• Formats: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
• Price: £17.49 – Extended Edition
• Publisher: Crunching Koalas
• Developer: John Pywell
• Genre: Soulslike Action-RPG

A Kingdom Built Like One Giant Dungeon

FOUNTAINS puts you behind the hood of a mysterious stranger who has recently been imprisoned by a tyrannical regime. Escape is only the beginning, however, as the wider journey leads into the mysteries of a war-torn empire and the truth behind the Usurper’s Prophecy.

The world itself is perhaps the game’s biggest selling point. Rather than breaking the adventure into a collection of disconnected areas, FOUNTAINS presents one seamless, interconnected environment that twists, loops and doubles back on itself.

That Metroidvania-style structure means exploration is constantly tied to progression. New abilities, tools, powers and upgrades can open previously inaccessible parts of the labyrinth, while secrets are tucked away for those willing to poke around rather than simply follow the obvious route.

There is also an online message system, allowing players to leave hints for others exploring the same world. Of course, there’s nothing stopping someone from being considerably less helpful and sending another player towards something rather more unpleasant.

Prepare To Fight For Every Step

The combat takes the familiar soulslike approach of making every encounter matter. Enemies hit hard, hesitation can be punished and success relies on precision, quick reactions and making sensible use of the tools available.

FOUNTAINS isn’t interested in letting players simply button-mash their way through its enemies. Fights can turn quickly, creating the kind of back-and-forth battles where one mistake can change everything.

There is some flexibility for those who don’t fancy quite such a punishing experience, though, with adjustable difficulty settings allowing players to choose how intense they want their journey through the One Kingdom to be.

The Extended Edition Adds Even More To Explore

Xbox players aren’t simply getting the base adventure either. The £17.49 Extended Edition from the Xbox Store includes FOUNTAINS alongside the Shattered Shape expansion.

That takes the adventure into the forsaken Vainlands, adding a new area alongside additional enemies, weapons, skills and equipment to master. It also means the Extended Edition covers the full story, from the beginning of the Usurper’s Prophecy through to its conclusion.

With its combination of interconnected exploration, soulslike combat and a world designed to reward anyone who enjoys digging a little deeper, FOUNTAINS looks like an intriguing addition to the Xbox action-RPG line-up. The fact that the Extended Edition bundles the Shattered Shape expansion in from the outset gives Xbox players plenty of One Kingdom to get lost in. There’s Play Anywhere support for Fountains too.

• Tags
• Fountains
• pc
• play anywhere
• Xbox Series X

Previous articleFEROCIOUS Shadow Drops Onto Xbox And PlayStation Neil Wattonhttps://www.thexboxhub.com/An Xbox gamer since 2002, I bought the big black box just to play Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. I have since loved every second of the 360's life and am now just as obsessed with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S - mostly with the brilliant indie scene that has come to the fore. Gamertag is neil363, feel free to add me to your list.

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