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 say something interesting about video games, games that let you explore an interesting environment in a way that other art forms wouldn't allow, games that do something I have never seen before, 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 say something interesting about video games, games that let you explore an interesting environment in a way that other art forms wouldn't allow, games that do something I have never seen before, 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.
206 Games
The portal gun mechanic is genius.
Manages to somehow improve upon the perfection of the original Portal. Adds tons of new interesting ideas to the original Portal Gun mechanic making the origianal Portal feel like a tech demo.
Completely redefined the open world genre.
The sheer possibilities of the physics engine in this game amazes me.
A metacommentary on game structure and the relationship between developers and those who play their games.
Both a remake and sequel to the original The Stanley Parable and a commentary on the idea of sequels and remakes.
A perfectly executed video game prequel.
Uses the main character as a way to justify turn-based RPG tropes in an interesting way in the game.
A really interesting VR game. It's a shame about the Justin Roiland shaped elephant in the room.
A horror game that manages to make you scared of your own home.
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.
One of the most interesting uses of colour I have ever seen in a game.
Does multiple interesting things. Integrates a character's illness into gameplay in a devastating way, integrates side-content in a way that most games can only dream of, and works nostalgia into the game in a way that doesn't feel pandering but instead like a true celebration of the Like a Dragon series.
A fun satire about the structure of free-to-play mobile games.
Anti-gravity is such a cool idea for a racing game.
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.
The use of gravity in this game is really fun.
The idea of becoming the enemies in the game is really interesting.
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.
Has the really interesting mechanic of going into the walls. Also allows you to explore an old world in a new way.
An interesting parody of the very concept of a demo.
An interesting game about manipulating the rules of a video game.
Interesting way of doing a remake by expanding so much on a small part of the game it's "remaking".
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.
Uses live-action in a really interesting way to craft a great mystery game.
An exploration of the concept of dreams in a way so interesting that rarely a day goes by where I don't think about this game.
A game made up of three unique movies made for the game.
An actually good liminal space game in the ocean of mediocre trash that usually makes up that genre. Has a really interesting photo mechanic.
A horror game that uses claustrophobia and a lack of visuals to elicit a feeling of fear that no other game has.
By existing it justifies the idea of smaller spin-off titles that mostly just reuse assets to exist more.
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.
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.
The vibes of this game are so dreamlike and magical.
Interesting anti-piracy measures.
The perfect celebration of all things Nintendo and to a lesser extent gaming as a whole.
A really interesting horror concept about observing a location for anomalies.
An interesting game about the perils of game development and fan culture.
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.
One of the most interesting examples of integrating music into gameplay that I have ever seen.
An interesting exploration of vapourwave.
An interesting game that communicates via a 2000s PC.
Outsmarting a single character without the ability to move is really interesting to me.
An interesting game that helps teach the thought process needed for programming.
Used the player's perspective as a game mechanic before games like Superliminal did. Whilst that game used the mechanic much better than Perspective did, Perspective still deserves some credit.
4 Comments
Ditto!
Is that the right FFII?
The_Gaming_Dog12 - thanks for pointing that out to me. All fixed now.
snimat
6 months ago