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 ]
Ori wakes up in a hotel bathtub, unsure of where he is. He soon meets the frightened and mistrustful Rem, and together, they travel through the corridors and rooms of the hotel and make their way through veils that only allow entry once certain conditions are met. Combines the surreal leanings of walkabout-type RPG Maker games with religious imagery and cryptic lore regarding beings called Celestials.
Ori wakes up in a hotel bathtub, unsure of where he is. He soon meets the frightened and mistrustful Rem, and together, they travel through the corridors and rooms of the hotel and make their way through veils that only allow entry once certain conditions are met. Combines the surreal leanings of walkabout-type RPG Maker games with religious imagery and cryptic lore regarding beings called Celestials.
[ 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 ]
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 / HORROR ]
A '90s point-and-click cult classic, translated and remastered for mobile devices. Take the role of a robot fished up from the sewage of a rickety town full of other robots, and discover the dark secrets behind the world of Garage. Very captivating, tackling lots of deep topics while managing to frame them in an easy to understand and very literal way. Navigating the world is a dizzying experience at first, but the game as a whole is surprisingly accessible for being both a surrealist art piece and a '90s adventure game.
A '90s point-and-click cult classic, translated and remastered for mobile devices. Take the role of a robot fished up from the sewage of a rickety town full of other robots, and discover the dark secrets behind the world of Garage. Very captivating, tackling lots of deep topics while managing to frame them in an easy to understand and very literal way. Navigating the world is a dizzying experience at first, but the game as a whole is surprisingly accessible for being both a surrealist art piece and a '90s adventure game.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
A large collaborative Yume Nikki fan game in which players must guide Urotsuki, a girl who won't leave her room, through her dreams.
A large collaborative Yume Nikki fan game in which players must guide Urotsuki, a girl who won't leave her room, through her dreams.
[ 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 / INT FIC ]
A companion piece to the serial experiments lain anime, in which a girl named Lain is troubled by nightmares and signs of mental illness—including hallucinations, delusions, and depersonalization. Her story is told through audio clips of diary entries, counseling logs, and diagnostic reports. Despite the difficult UI, it's actually easier to follow than the anime, and is a bit more grounded, though it's also much darker. Playable in-browser with subtitles.
A companion piece to the serial experiments lain anime, in which a girl named Lain is troubled by nightmares and signs of mental illness—including hallucinations, delusions, and depersonalization. Her story is told through audio clips of diary entries, counseling logs, and diagnostic reports. Despite the difficult UI, it's actually easier to follow than the anime, and is a bit more grounded, though it's also much darker. Playable in-browser with subtitles.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Brightly-colored exploration game about navigating trans spaces as a person going through their own transition. There are a few small areas to explore, and their inhabitants' reactions to your transition change depending on how you spend your skill points (hormones), which you also accrue through dialogue options.
Brightly-colored exploration game about navigating trans spaces as a person going through their own transition. There are a few small areas to explore, and their inhabitants' reactions to your transition change depending on how you spend your skill points (hormones), which you also accrue through dialogue options.
[ 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 ]
Binky stuck in Labyrinthe.
Binky stuck in Labyrinthe.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
Destroy objects that seem out of place. They are parasites. Remove them.
Destroy objects that seem out of place. They are parasites. Remove them.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
You're a sardine, and you're faced with a choice: up, or down? And will you stick to your guns?
You're a sardine, and you're faced with a choice: up, or down? And will you stick to your guns?
[ ADVENTURE / INT FIC ]
Short psychological visual novel in which you must help a girl buy milk.
Short psychological visual novel in which you must help a girl buy milk.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
A fan recreation of the titular video game of the web series Petscop. Very well-made and convincing, despite the "Recreation" text always on the upper-right.
A fan recreation of the titular video game of the web series Petscop. Very well-made and convincing, despite the "Recreation" text always on the upper-right.
[ ADVENTURE ]
Explore peaceful, procedurally-generated islands.
Explore peaceful, procedurally-generated islands.
[ 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 ]
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.
[ ADVENTURE / HORROR ]
Yume Nikki fan game in which a lost pistol must be returned. Still very early in development, but certainly worth keeping an eye out for—with a completely unique, grain-heavy, color-blasted aesthetic that sears the back of the brain and overwhelms the senses. A revitalizing experience for those looking for something fresh in their YNFGs.
Yume Nikki fan game in which a lost pistol must be returned. Still very early in development, but certainly worth keeping an eye out for—with a completely unique, grain-heavy, color-blasted aesthetic that sears the back of the brain and overwhelms the senses. A revitalizing experience for those looking for something fresh in their YNFGs.
[ SANDBOX / SIMULATION ]
A simple game in which the player is tasked with cross-breeding plants on an alien world. There's no goal, so it's really up to the player to make their own fun, trying to get interesting new plants to sprout from their little experiments. It strikes a chill, cozy vibe without being twee about it.
A simple game in which the player is tasked with cross-breeding plants on an alien world. There's no goal, so it's really up to the player to make their own fun, trying to get interesting new plants to sprout from their little experiments. It strikes a chill, cozy vibe without being twee about it.
[ 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 ]
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.
[ PLATFORMER / PUZZLE ]
When the King of All Cosmos goes on a drunken bender and destroys all the stars in the sky, the little Prince must take his katamari and roll up objects on Earth with it, creating stars in the process. A very not-indie entry into the list, and certainly one of the least "arthouse" games here, but its outlandish absurdism, its unique control scheme, and my favoritism all conspire to include it here.
When the King of All Cosmos goes on a drunken bender and destroys all the stars in the sky, the little Prince must take his katamari and roll up objects on Earth with it, creating stars in the process. A very not-indie entry into the list, and certainly one of the least "arthouse" games here, but its outlandish absurdism, its unique control scheme, and my favoritism all conspire to include it here.
[ ADVENTURE / INT FIC / SPORTS ]
An individual goes fishing for their grandmother's bones, ruminating on the end of her life.
An individual goes fishing for their grandmother's bones, ruminating on the end of her life.
[ HORROR / PUZZLE ]
Stuck in a looping corridor, players must find Exit 8 by turning back around every time they come across an "anomaly."
Stuck in a looping corridor, players must find Exit 8 by turning back around every time they come across an "anomaly."
[ ADVENTURE / PLATFORMER ]
Take on the Trial of Lizards by lighting all four beacons in the void.
Take on the Trial of Lizards by lighting all four beacons in the void.
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