Check out great games, movies, and TV series
The world’s population of Asians and Pacific Islanders embodies a complex and broad assembly of humans, histories, and heritage. Impacting the planet as we know it, we celebrate their impact in gaming and entertainment as their global communities showcase their varied dimensions across East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander cultures, shaping our present and our future.
Below, check out our collection of games, movies, and TV shows curated by Asian and Pacific Islander communities at Microsoft.
GAMES
Sable
If you fancy an open world ripe with discovery, the beauty and soundtrack (by Korean-American led band, Japanese Breakfast) of Sable will reel you in. This coming-of-age game features a young nomad seeking her clan while encountering the remains of massive spacecrafts and ancient ruins. Taking her rite of passage (the Gliding) across vast deserts and eye-catching landscapes, fans of the game have found Sable to be a serene, calming, and meditative experience as they learn more about the girl behind the mask. Sable is written by gaming narrative designer Meg Jayanth, known for her work on 80 Days and Sunless Sea.
Spelunky 2
This 2D platform game follows the adventures of Ana, the daughter of the unnamed adventurer of the original game, Spelunky. In this sequel, she must navigate a series of deadly traps and conquer multiple hostile enemies as she searches for her missing parents. Creator and director Derek Yu returns to develop a denser experience than the game’s predecessor, leading to more areas, characters, traps, items, interactivity in Spelunky 2.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
Don’t be afraid to lose your head in the epic gameplay of Skul: The Hero Slayer, developed by SouthPAW Games in Korea. Skul is a fast-paced action, rogue-lite adventure, featuring over 100 playable characters. Memorable battles await in a world bursting at the seams with uniquely skilled characters. Show up as the anti-hero’s hero as you battle humans seeking to indefinitely wipe out the demon race. Stay on your toes with ever-changing, challenging maps while revving up your skillsets by swapping up to two skulls at a time to gain unique, battle-ready capabilities.
Age of Empires IV
If you could change the course of history, Age of Empires IV’s real-time strategy platform allows you to build your cities, expand your vast kingdoms (including, China, Delhi Sultanate, Mongolia), and make your mark. Rewrite the outcomes of the world’s most epic battles. Stand in the shoes of historical heroes and heroines, then apply your modern-day know how. If you’re a first-time player of this beloved game, take on its Campaign Story Mode to become acquainted with all the power that lies in your hands.
Raji: An Ancient Epic
This beautifully designed action-adventure game (drawn in Pahari art style) follows its young heroine, Raji, as she seeks to rescue her demon-abducted brother, Golu, during an all-out war between gods and demons. Set in ancient India, Raji: An Ancient Epic’s premise draws inspiration from Hindu and Balinese mythology, while tapping into rich, history-based narratives including “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana.”
There’s more where these gaming titles came from. You’ll find a mixture of Asian and Pacific Islander creators, leads, cultures, and languages in this collection.
MOVIES and TV
Everything Everywhere All at Once
In this dark comedy by the Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), a Chinese immigrant, laundromat owner is in the middle of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit when she is confronted with the possibility that the universe is not what it seems. With a seemingly unlimited supply of versions of herself, she learns she could quite possibly be the hero in all her paths. All while juggling a possible divorce, her teenager’s dating life, and the sudden responsibility of caring for a parent, can the supposed greatest failure of all versions of herself prove to be the hero of the story? Everything Everywhere All at Once stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu.
Turning Red
Turning Red tells the story of Mei Lee, a confident Chinese-Canadian 13-year-old who discovers the women of her family share a mystical connection with giant red pandas. Now, anytime Mei experiences extreme emotion, she transforms into a large, furry animal. This coming-of-age story focuses on dealing with an overbearing parent, tight-knit friendships, and coming to terms with not striving for perfection. As the feature directorial debut of Domee Shi, the movie stars Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Maitryi Ramakrishnan, and Wai Ching Ho.
Yellow Rose
17-year-old aspiring country singer, Rose Garcia, is faced with a seemingly impossible decision—choosing between a familial reality or an unwavering dream. After her mother is apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the undocumented teen’s world is turned upside down as she begins her self-discovery journey as a Filipina chasing her country music dreams. Yellow Rose went on to win the Best Narrative Feature (Diane Paragas, Home Away Productions) at the 2019 Asian American International Film Festival.
Hot Mess Holiday
In what was supposed to be a happy, exciting Diwali celebration, a young baker finds herself dumped by her fiancée. With a push from her best friend, the women embark on a cross-Chicago adventure that inadvertently gets them involved in a diamond heist. Hot Mess Holiday stars real-life besties Melanie Chandra and Surina Jindal. On why they chose to do this Comedy Central movie, Chandra said “it would be a huge step forward for desi representation on screen in the [United States]!” Directed by Jaffar Mahmood, the comedy also features, Lily Singh, Kal Penn, and Tituss Burgess.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
The wild has never been wilder with the hunt for a 13-year-old juvenile delinquent named Ricky Baker and an ornery, mentally unstable foster dad (Hec). After going on the run in the wilderness, the young boy quickly realizes he’s out of his element, but luckily Hec easily finds him. The two begin to bond and realize they’d be better if they could disappear in the bush while the authorities seeks their whereabouts. Directed and written by Taiki Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rima Te Wiata, and Rachel House.
Interested in more movies and TV shows by Asian and Pacific Islander creators or content that features Asian and Pacific Islander leads, culture, and family? Check out this Microsoft Movies & TV collection.