Artful / Thoughtful / Experimental / Unique Games
Artsy stuff I've played. I'll start adding a short description note to each game explaining why I included them.
Disclaimer: Not all of these are successful at what they're aiming, but they at least tried to stand out or be somewhat meaningful or compelling.
Disclaimer: Not all of these are successful at what they're aiming, but they at least tried to stand out or be somewhat meaningful or compelling.
142 Games
Cinematic retro game with great imagery and framing.
Experimental levels and boss visual designs.
Experimental use of the medium. One of the most well known walking-sims.
On social regression, and drug abuse. Cinematic and symbolic.
Same as Silent Hill 1; cinematic and symbolic. A self-reflection on the main character featuring various themes: Grief, trauma, lust, masculinity, mental illness, etc.
Short surreal flash game
Experimental game where you talk to a couple in a dysfunctional relationship.
Cinematic with distinct art style. Experimental game design philosophy.
Commentary on capitalism, objectivism, and the player experience.
Meditation on the negative effects of isolation and the importance of social links.
Same as Dark Souls, but highlighting Maiden Astraea, and the Tower of Latria lore.
I know, I know... but it's the one that popularized the "interactive movie" genre so might as well add it. Same with Bandersnatch.
A shooter game that baits its audience into an anti-war narrative
Metanarrative that works as a critique of players that enjoy violent games.
Obscure cathartic game on depression, loneliness, and trauma.
Arthouse surreal game on various themes: Poverty, solitude, addiction, relationships, etc. Dream logic with no real plot.
On bureaucracy, authoritarianism, morality. Gamifies work routine.
One that popularized the walking-sim genre. On love, queerness, and growing up.
Meta-game with commentary on completionism and the relationship between game creators and players.
An "artistic experience" with distinct art style/ambiance. Seemingly works as a metaphor for...something, maybe?
I don't really give my opinions on this list, but seriously stay away from this one. Nihilistic "life is worthless" views. Adding it because it does use the medium in a vaguely experimental way, nothing more.
Surreal game with no real plot.
Reflection on the cycle of violence, nationalism, propaganda, and the film industry.
A warm meditation on hope. Death mechanic also reflects on the theme.
An experimental FMV game with a non-linear story.
Philosophical story on humanity; what it means to be human.
On the relationship between art and the artist.
Unique gameplay loop. A range of detailed environments.
Metanarrative that links the protagonist and the player experience. Emotional story on tragedy and escapism.
A unique representation of trauma.
Metagame storyline.
On dreams, trauma, and industrialization.
Cinematic presentation. On freewill and authority.
Somewhat-emotional and visually interesting walking (swimming) simulator.
One of the games to popularize the walking-sim genre. A game without gameplay. Disjointed storytelling on grief.
Reflection on toxic online interactions.
Main themes on hope, free will, hubris, regret. Distinct art style.
Experimental game mechanic.
A metaphor for capitalism. Distinct art style.
Portrays the effects of psychosis, while building gameplay design around it.
On strangeness and parasocial links.
Arthouse cinematic game with a cryptic Lynchian story.
Experimental storytelling, with a game mechanic that also works on a meta-level.
Short nihilistic meditation on emptiness and god.
An esoteric game that works as a metaphor for industrialization.
A brutalist digital gallery of sorts.
An interesting way of storytelling. Mechanically unique with a beautiful art style.
A digital museum made of the dev's saved images from 2017.
Works as a metaphor for grief. Interesting art style.
An interactive movie, a game that tries to be a movie or vice versa.
Interesting art style and sound interactions. FREEDOM.
Arthouse game that reflects on intimacy and vulnerability.
Cinematic presentation.
On the pressures of society (very vague though). No gameplay.
A meditation on compassion.
A warm meditation on life's common anxieties. Great traversal and art style.
Brutalist digital gallery.
An experimental FMV game with a non-linear story. Even more unconventional than Her Story.
Cinematic presentation, interesting art.
Text-heavy with experimental game design and mechanics. Challenges your beliefs and moral compass. Features various themes from addiction, hope, loneliness, acceptance of loss, morality, etc.
Visual mindfuckery.
Weird symbolic(?) ambient game.
Metanarrative analogue horror.
Experimental gameplay loop, and narrative on human connection.
Weird game on devotion.
Experimental game with really cryptic messages.
Short visual novel portraying OCD/Anxiety disorder.
A game simulating the experience of being on a commercial flight.
About memories, resembling slow-cinema.
