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
One that popularized the walking-sim genre. On love, queerness, and growing up.
A brutalist digital gallery of sorts.
Metanarrative that links the protagonist and the player experience. Emotional story on tragedy and escapism.
Weird Lynchian game with a non-definitive narrative.
Experimental game where you talk to a couple in a dysfunctional relationship.
Cinematic game with interesting traversal and cryptic story.
Experimental levels and boss visual designs.
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.
On strangeness and parasocial links.
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.
Well written text-based horror game. Like an A24 movie turned into text.
Same as Dark Souls, but highlighting Maiden Astraea, and the Tower of Latria lore.
Cinematic presentation. Weird premise.
Experimental gameplay loop, and narrative on human connection.
One of the games to popularize the walking-sim genre. A game without gameplay. Disjointed storytelling on grief.
Experimental storytelling, with a game mechanic that also works on a meta-level.
Cinematic presentation, interesting art.
A meditation on compassion.
Weird surreal game with a non-definitive narrative.
Obscure cathartic game on depression, loneliness, and trauma.
Weird symbolic(?) ambient game.
Meta-game on friendships and loneliness.
An interactive movie, a game that tries to be a movie or vice versa.
Commentary on capitalism, objectivism, and the player experience.
On the relationship between art and the artist.
An impactful story about memories, family, tragedy, life. Experimental game mechanic that uses your eyes to play.
Experimental analogue horror working on a metanarrative where you explore abandonware.
Weird game with interesting art style and traversal mechanics.
Bridges the gap between the videogame medium and the documentary genre.
Interesting art style and sound interactions. FREEDOM.
Cinematic retro game with great imagery and framing.
A unique representation of trauma.
A game simulating the experience of being on a commercial flight.
Meditation on the negative effects of isolation and the importance of social links.
Somewhat-emotional and visually interesting walking (swimming) simulator.
An esoteric game that works as a metaphor for industrialization.
