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.

Bastion
Bastion
Baba is You
Baba is You
An interesting game about manipulating the rules of a video game.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch
LSD: Dream Emulator
LSD: Dream Emulator
Ico
Ico
Blue Stinger
Blue Stinger
Illbleed
Illbleed
Yume Nikki
Yume Nikki
L-Zone
L-Zone
Five Nights at Freddy's
Five Nights at Freddy's
The idea of staying in one place whilst the monsters come to you is still a really interesting concept for a horror game.
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
Outsmarting a single character without the ability to move is really interesting to me.
Five Nights at Freddy's 4
Five Nights at Freddy's 4
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.
Ape Out
Ape Out
One of the most interesting examples of integrating music into gameplay that I have ever seen.
Rayman
Rayman
Still one of the best-looking games I've ever played. That mixed with some of the most creative level concepts ever seen in a 2D platformer made this game an obvious choice for this list.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Perspective
Perspective
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin
Neon White
Neon White
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy II
The impact of the villain can be felt throughout this game much more than any other NES game I've played.
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV
Turns the idea of a road trip into a video game.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Rabbids Go Home
Rabbids Go Home
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure
Interesting example of a game being made to get people fit.
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
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.
Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition
Control
Control
Control: AWE
Control: AWE
Alan Wake II
Alan Wake II
Sacrifices Must Be Made
Sacrifices Must Be Made
Inscryption
Inscryption
Exo One
Exo One
Minecraft
Minecraft
Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire
Sunset Spirit Steel
Sunset Spirit Steel
Oxenfree
Oxenfree
Wii Sports
Wii Sports
Dreams
Dreams
No Players Online Classic
No Players Online Classic
The Messenger
The Messenger
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Flower
Flower
Depression Quest
Depression Quest
An interesting game about living with depression.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Tetris Effect
Tetris Effect
Unpacking
Unpacking
Transistor
Transistor
A Short Hike
A Short Hike
Gorogoa
Gorogoa
Papers, Please
Papers, Please
Persona 4
Persona 4
Persona 5
Persona 5
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3
Ōkami
Ōkami
Killer7
Killer7
Journey
Journey
The Silver Case
The Silver Case
The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
The 25th Ward: The Silver Case
Abzu
Abzu
Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
Moon
Moon
Perception
Perception
The Exit 8
The Exit 8

2 Comments


5 months ago

Would be great if you could elaborate in the game notes what (spoiler free) makes those games so special.

4 months ago

Ditto!


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