Recommended Oddities
Exploration games, abstract experiences, unique, experimental, surreal, off-beat, left-field, and arthouse stuff. Or, occasionally, normal games with a touch of weird in them. All with at least a light recommendation from yours truly! A good variety of genres in here. This list will continue to grow.
Newest additions (entries cleared after about one month or when I get to it):
Newest additions (entries cleared after about one month or when I get to it):
125 Games
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
When all of the children in town receive visions of an oncoming apocalypse, it becomes the player's duty to prevent it any way they can. A dark, occult-themed Game Boy homebrew game that works well on the system.
When all of the children in town receive visions of an oncoming apocalypse, it becomes the player's duty to prevent it any way they can. A dark, occult-themed Game Boy homebrew game that works well on the system.
[ ADVENTURE / INT FIC ]
A short text adventure game in which you attempt to haggle a shopkeeper's food prices down. Or you could take a look around?
A short text adventure game in which you attempt to haggle a shopkeeper's food prices down. Or you could take a look around?
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
Very short, jarring game about the fairness of being born at the expense of another. Use Flashpoint to play it. Full review on its page!
Very short, jarring game about the fairness of being born at the expense of another. Use Flashpoint to play it. Full review on its page!
[ ADVENTURE ]
Very abstract exploration game. Nice colors.
Very abstract exploration game. Nice colors.
[ MUSIC / SANDBOX / VR ONLY ]
Music-reactive particle physics sandbox. Great if you like looking at shiny things. My full review of this is on its page!
Music-reactive particle physics sandbox. Great if you like looking at shiny things. My full review of this is on its page!
[ ADVENTURE / PLATFORMER ]
Human corporations cultivate worlds to assess their lifeforms for useful applications. As a camera-equipped scout working for one of these corporations, track down strange alien creatures so your bosses can determine their fate. Lovely low-poly PS1-esque open world exploration mixed with a bit of low-key monster hunting. Really enjoyed the environment in this one, and it's fairly short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Human corporations cultivate worlds to assess their lifeforms for useful applications. As a camera-equipped scout working for one of these corporations, track down strange alien creatures so your bosses can determine their fate. Lovely low-poly PS1-esque open world exploration mixed with a bit of low-key monster hunting. Really enjoyed the environment in this one, and it's fairly short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Collect likes and go viral in this adventure game about exploring a set of vaporwavesque virtual worlds.
Collect likes and go viral in this adventure game about exploring a set of vaporwavesque virtual worlds.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Surrealist Yume Nikki fan game. Unfortunately, it wasn't translated yet when I tried to play it. This normally wouldn't matter for a YNFG, but it was very dialog and puzzle heavy. I understand that it has a translation now, and will have to check it out again soon.
Surrealist Yume Nikki fan game. Unfortunately, it wasn't translated yet when I tried to play it. This normally wouldn't matter for a YNFG, but it was very dialog and puzzle heavy. I understand that it has a translation now, and will have to check it out again soon.
[ ADVENTURE ]
A small Yume Nikki fan game in which you must find and serve drinks to customers by entering each of the surreal worlds they provide access to. This one is on the more humorous side of things, without forgoing that classic YNFG atmosphere.
A small Yume Nikki fan game in which you must find and serve drinks to customers by entering each of the surreal worlds they provide access to. This one is on the more humorous side of things, without forgoing that classic YNFG atmosphere.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
A surrealist graphic adventure in which a girl named Bree tries to find her sister, Sarah, who has become lost within the pillars of static that have cropped up in their small town—one that's becoming increasingly harder to live in due to the local mill shutting down. A bit clunky, with some odd bugs and unfriendly camera angles, but compelling and aesthetically powerful nonetheless.
A surrealist graphic adventure in which a girl named Bree tries to find her sister, Sarah, who has become lost within the pillars of static that have cropped up in their small town—one that's becoming increasingly harder to live in due to the local mill shutting down. A bit clunky, with some odd bugs and unfriendly camera angles, but compelling and aesthetically powerful nonetheless.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Binky stuck in Labyrinthe.
Binky stuck in Labyrinthe.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Explore a vibrant space colony. Has an upcoming sequel of the same name.
Explore a vibrant space colony. Has an upcoming sequel of the same name.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Slightly off-beat exploration game with light platforming elements about leaving the sparse and brutalist environment of BABBDI.
Slightly off-beat exploration game with light platforming elements about leaving the sparse and brutalist environment of BABBDI.
[ ACTION / HORROR / PLATFORMER ]
Surreal horror run and gun.
Surreal horror run and gun.
[ PLATFORMER / PUZZLE ]
Surreal puzzle-platformer with non-standard solutions and impossible geometry.
Surreal puzzle-platformer with non-standard solutions and impossible geometry.
[ ACTION-ADVENTURE / PLATFORMER ]
As Nova, clean up the Dust that has settled in sick people's bodies while tackling the meaning of the work you do as well as life itself. Not particularly abstract, and only surreal in certain sections, but fits well in this collection regardless. You can play this without playing the first one—you will only miss a few references.
As Nova, clean up the Dust that has settled in sick people's bodies while tackling the meaning of the work you do as well as life itself. Not particularly abstract, and only surreal in certain sections, but fits well in this collection regardless. You can play this without playing the first one—you will only miss a few references.
[ ACTION / HORROR / SHOOT 'EM UP ]
Somewhat short horror-themed multi-directional shooter about an old village that threw everything it didn't want down into a pit. Tanky controls makes this feel like 2D Resident Evil. Blood is your health in this game, but also the currency you'll use to get bullets. Not as weird as many other games on this list, but it has the right "vibe" and needs more love and attention.
Somewhat short horror-themed multi-directional shooter about an old village that threw everything it didn't want down into a pit. Tanky controls makes this feel like 2D Resident Evil. Blood is your health in this game, but also the currency you'll use to get bullets. Not as weird as many other games on this list, but it has the right "vibe" and needs more love and attention.
[ ACTION / HORROR / PLATFORMER ]
Surrealist horror run and gun.
Surrealist horror run and gun.
[ ADVENTURE / DRIVING / SIMULATION / VR ONLY ]
Flying car simulator in which you explore a rainy cyberpunk city. Very chill experience with some nice tunes. Looks beautiful, though the setting is admittedly a bit small. Requires a high nausea tolerance but well worth checking out.
Flying car simulator in which you explore a rainy cyberpunk city. Very chill experience with some nice tunes. Looks beautiful, though the setting is admittedly a bit small. Requires a high nausea tolerance but well worth checking out.
[ ADVENTURE ]
An AI named Bit needs help from the player to create the perfect procedurally-generated world. Using your feedback, Bit will create semi-random low-poly environments for you to explore as they move closer to their goal. Short and sweet.
An AI named Bit needs help from the player to create the perfect procedurally-generated world. Using your feedback, Bit will create semi-random low-poly environments for you to explore as they move closer to their goal. Short and sweet.
[ ADVENTURE / INT FIC ]
Absurdist visual novel with plastic-y 3D graphics about an elf princess named Dam telling a fellow elf about her attempts to find an elftopia. In her adventures, she's aided by Roland the BraveCat, who seems half-intent on confessing his love to her and half-intent on eating her. It's got a weird logic-based "battle" system of sorts and the writing is chock-full of 2010s-era Internet-isms, but the charm is undeniable. Brimming with creativity and actually has a couple heartfelt moments towards the back half.
Absurdist visual novel with plastic-y 3D graphics about an elf princess named Dam telling a fellow elf about her attempts to find an elftopia. In her adventures, she's aided by Roland the BraveCat, who seems half-intent on confessing his love to her and half-intent on eating her. It's got a weird logic-based "battle" system of sorts and the writing is chock-full of 2010s-era Internet-isms, but the charm is undeniable. Brimming with creativity and actually has a couple heartfelt moments towards the back half.
[ ADVENTURE / MINIGAMES ]
An abstract and surreal game flickering between small interactive segments with an eerie atmosphere.
An abstract and surreal game flickering between small interactive segments with an eerie atmosphere.
[ ACTION / ACTION-ADVENTURE / SHOOT 'EM UP / SPORTS ]
The first half of this is a tennis and bullet hell fusion—hard to describe, but easy enough to understand when seen or played. Gets difficult, but can be cheesed a bit. The second half is more in-line with some of the other games listed here, but I won't spoil it.
The first half of this is a tennis and bullet hell fusion—hard to describe, but easy enough to understand when seen or played. Gets difficult, but can be cheesed a bit. The second half is more in-line with some of the other games listed here, but I won't spoil it.
[ ADVENTURE / VR OPTIONAL ]
Abstract and colorful exploration game. A lot of variations on just a few environments, but the visuals are brilliant. Compatible with Oculus Rift and, when beta is enabled, SteamVR and Vive.
Abstract and colorful exploration game. A lot of variations on just a few environments, but the visuals are brilliant. Compatible with Oculus Rift and, when beta is enabled, SteamVR and Vive.
[ ADVENTURE ]
A small, mostly lighthearted exploration game in a blobbish environment with a couple blobbish people in it. The motion blur is pretty intense (seemingly on purpose) but the sound design and overall aesthetic are really good.
A small, mostly lighthearted exploration game in a blobbish environment with a couple blobbish people in it. The motion blur is pretty intense (seemingly on purpose) but the sound design and overall aesthetic are really good.
6 Comments
Looks like it'd fit in, but I haven't played it. I think Jacob Geller touched on this game in one of his vids, or maybe it was another from this dev? Looks neat, though.
Post Void for sure, seems tailor made for this set. I guess Cruelty Squad as well, if it qualifies.
Oh, Post Void looks really cool! And yeah, I'm sure Cruelty Squad would fit right in here, I just haven't played it yet. It's been sitting on the backlog for a while but I'm waiting until I'm in the mood for it
May I recommend some platformers?
The first one is a classic: Jet Set Willy for the ZX Spectrum. Arguably one of the creators of the collectathon genre; inarguably odd and surreal.
The second one is Closure. A puzzle platformer with a great sense of style and atmosphere.
Finally, Birdsong, a short metroidvania that with, uh, unique approach to mapping.
The first one is a classic: Jet Set Willy for the ZX Spectrum. Arguably one of the creators of the collectathon genre; inarguably odd and surreal.
The second one is Closure. A puzzle platformer with a great sense of style and atmosphere.
Finally, Birdsong, a short metroidvania that with, uh, unique approach to mapping.
Such a neat, well put together list! There's so much to look at here.
Gonna have to check out more of your lists.
Gonna have to check out more of your lists.
saintfrog
2 years ago