Games That Do Something Interesting With The Art Form
Slowly adding notes to these to explain why they're on the list as I get the time.
Just a list of games I've played that remind me why I love video games. Every game on this whether a masterpiece or simply just ok explores concepts that can only be explored within video games. This includes games with interesting aesthetics that are worth exploring in the medium of video games, games that are about video games, games that let you explore an interesting environment in a way that other art forms wouldn't allow, to games that simply have a few interesting scenes or techniques that could only exist in a video game. These aren't my favourite games just the ones that make me excited about gaming as an art form.
These games also have to be interesting from a modern-day perspective. I want someone to be able to pick up any of these games and experience something unique. That wouldn't happen if this list was filled with influential games that shaped video games, yes, but without the context of when they came out wouldn't seem that unique.
Just a list of games I've played that remind me why I love video games. Every game on this whether a masterpiece or simply just ok explores concepts that can only be explored within video games. This includes games with interesting aesthetics that are worth exploring in the medium of video games, games that are about video games, games that let you explore an interesting environment in a way that other art forms wouldn't allow, to games that simply have a few interesting scenes or techniques that could only exist in a video game. These aren't my favourite games just the ones that make me excited about gaming as an art form.
These games also have to be interesting from a modern-day perspective. I want someone to be able to pick up any of these games and experience something unique. That wouldn't happen if this list was filled with influential games that shaped video games, yes, but without the context of when they came out wouldn't seem that unique.
183 Games
An interesting game about depression.
Virtual museums have been made before and have always fascinated me. What puts Monuments to Guilt on this list whilst other virtual museums are absent is its dedication to replicating a real museum. If you told me this was a one-to-one replica of a real-life museum I would 100% believe you if I didn't know any better. Monuments to Guilt also deserves a spot on this list for being a game that taught me a lot. I thought I knew about hostile bench design before this but Monuments to Guilt really opened my eyes to just how hostile most cities are for homeless people.
This (and its sequel) are the only games that I've played that look truly photorealistic. If you took a random screenshot of this game it would look like a photograph nine times out of ten. Whilst I'm not the kind of person to demand realistic graphics in games (in fact I normally prefer something more stylised), achieving photorealism is something that should be celebrated on a pure artistic front. It's what games have been moving towards since the beginning and now it's finally been achieved, albeit in a setting that's relatively speaking easier to make look photorealistic than other locales would.
Before Your Eyes uses your webcam to monitor when you blink which it then uses as a gameplay mechanic. This alone would give Before Your Eyes a place on this list but where the game really shines is how it uses this gimmick to communicate the story and themes of the game. The hardest part of this game is trying not to blink when your eyes are full of tears.
An interesting game that deals with the idea of out-of-bounds locations in games. I would love to see this concept expanded on in the future.
Every game that is a part of Haunted Cities Volume IV is fascinating in its own right. Each of them gives off a unique feeling of horror that I haven't experienced elsewhere.
A puzzle game that uses perspective itself as a puzzle mechanic.
Interesting example of a game being made to get people fit.
Untitled Goose Game is one of the only comedy games I can think of where the humour comes from the gameplay instead of the writing. It's comedy and more specifically slapstick translated into a gameplay mechanic.
An interesting game about manipulating the rules of a video game.
One of the most interesting examples of integrating music into gameplay that I have ever seen.
The perfect celebration of all things Nintendo and to a lesser extent gaming as a whole.
A game that truly makes you feel like Spider-Man. Is a great example of how video games can put you in the shoes of an iconic fictional character.
A really interesting VR game. It's a shame about the Justin Roiland shaped elephant in the room.
Resident Evil VII: Biohazard is straight up the scariest game I've ever played which would on its own warrant it a spot on this list, but weirdly that's not why this game sprang to mind when compiling these titles. No, it's two other things.
One, the idea of viewing a tape in-game and then playing out what's on that tape is a really interesting concept.
And two, the first boss fight against Jack is one of the tensest boss fights in anything. Scrambling together to find any way to kill this seemingly immortal man is just amazing. It's a very scripted boss fight that manages to feel more free-form. You get into the car to ram him not because that feels like the obvious way to do damage but out of a sense of desperation to do anything to slow him down. There have been few times in a game where my only thought has been "I need to kill this guy now" but this was one of them.
One, the idea of viewing a tape in-game and then playing out what's on that tape is a really interesting concept.
And two, the first boss fight against Jack is one of the tensest boss fights in anything. Scrambling together to find any way to kill this seemingly immortal man is just amazing. It's a very scripted boss fight that manages to feel more free-form. You get into the car to ram him not because that feels like the obvious way to do damage but out of a sense of desperation to do anything to slow him down. There have been few times in a game where my only thought has been "I need to kill this guy now" but this was one of them.
Turns the idea of a road trip into a video game.
An interesting game that helps teach the thought process needed for programming.
I don't even really like this game. It's just one of the first examples of a short game about a darker topic going viral and paved the way for better games to gain recognition.
To play this game you really need to have your volume high preferably with headphones. This is just a great way to make jumpscares work. Yeah, jumpscares are normally one of the laziest forms of horror but the way Five Nights at Freddy's 4 plays around with that concept is interesting.
2 Comments
Ditto!
snimat
5 months ago