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
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.
A unique representation of trauma.
A warm meditation on life's common anxieties. Great traversal and art style.
An impactful story about memories, family, tragedy, life. Experimental game mechanic that uses your eyes to play.
Experimental storytelling, with a game mechanic that also works on a meta-level.
Metanarrative that links the protagonist and the player experience. Emotional story on tragedy and escapism.
Portrays the effects of psychosis, while building gameplay design around it.
Reflection on the cycle of violence, nationalism, propaganda, and the film industry.
On bureaucracy, authoritarianism, morality. Gamifies work routine.
Cinematic with distinct art style. Experimental game design philosophy.
On the relationship between art and the artist.
Arthouse game that reflects on intimacy and vulnerability.
An esoteric game that works as a metaphor for industrialization.
Interesting art style and sound interactions. FREEDOM.
Bridges the gap between the videogame medium and the documentary genre.
Experimental levels and boss visual designs.
Autobiographical story on sex work, trauma and being transgender.
Arthouse FMV game with experimental non-linear storytelling. On art, sexism, and exploitation.
Unique gameplay loop. A range of detailed environments.
Cinematic presentation. On freewill and authority.
A digital museum.
A metaphor for capitalism. Distinct art style.
Experimental use of the medium. One of the most well known walking-sims.
On escapism and loneliness. About trying to find meaning in life.
Gameplay works as a metaphor for chemotherapy. Anti-smoking sentiments.
An interesting way of storytelling. Mechanically unique with a beautiful art style.
On social regression, and drug abuse. Cinematic and symbolic.
Meta-game with commentary on completionism and the relationship between game creators and players.
Same as Stanley Parable, but also with additional commentary on the game industry.
(Really) Weird visual novel on insolvency, sex, and finding meaning in life.
Experimental gameplay mechanic where you contour your character expression. Lynchian cryptic story featuring various philosophical themes.
Meditation on the negative effects of isolation and the importance of social links.
Weird game with interesting art style and traversal mechanics.
Commentary on capitalism, objectivism, and the player experience.
Cinematic presentation, interesting art.
Experimental gameplay loop, and narrative on human connection.
Cinematic presentation. Weird premise.
Same as Dark Souls, but highlighting Maiden Astraea, and the Tower of Latria lore.
On strangeness and parasocial links.
One that popularized the walking-sim genre. On love, queerness, and growing up.
Metanarrative that works as a critique of players that enjoy violent games.
Experimental game with really cryptic messages.
Musical/sound experimentation
Silent cinema framing
Short visual novel portraying OCD/Anxiety disorder.
Unique art style with hand-drawn textures. Cinematic story portrayal.
A warm meditation on hope. Death mechanic also reflects on the theme.
About memories, resembling slow-cinema.
On intimacy and voyeurism.
Somewhat-emotional and visually interesting walking (swimming) simulator.
Experimental analogue horror working on a metanarrative where you explore abandonware.
Meta-game on friendships and loneliness.
Weird symbolic(?) ambient game.
Weird surreal game with a non-definitive narrative.
Visual mindfuckery.
A digital museum made of the dev's saved images from 2017.
An "artistic experience" with distinct art style/ambiance. Seemingly works as a metaphor for...something, maybe?
Metanarrative analogue horror.
Cinematic presentation.
Experimental game mechanic.
Metagame storyline.
Cryptic narrative that seemingly works as a commentary on capitalistic work ethics and media's intrusiveness.
Well written text-based horror game. Like an A24 movie turned into text.
Weird game on devotion.
Reflection on toxic online interactions.
An interactive movie, a game that tries to be a movie or vice versa.
One of the games to popularize the walking-sim genre. A game without gameplay. Disjointed storytelling on grief.
Cinematic game with interesting traversal and cryptic story.
Weird Lynchian game with a non-definitive narrative.
A brutalist digital gallery of sorts.
On dreams, trauma, and industrialization.
A nihilistic narrative on existentialism.
Liminal game where you can use its environments as a sort of photo-playground.
On the pressures of society (very vague though). No gameplay.
A simulation of a handyman in a gloomy setting. It's not made to be fun.
Arthouse cinematic game with a cryptic Lynchian story.
Short surreal flash game
Cinematic presentation.
A shooter game that baits its audience into an anti-war narrative
An experimental FMV game with a non-linear story. Even more unconventional than Her Story.
