I came up with the idea for this piece whilst playing the new title Dear Esther (which features within if you don’t know what it is). Dear Esther’s appeal to me stemmed from my excitement to play something that qualified more as an interactive experience than a classic ‘game’. I wondered to myself, how many titles have managed to evoke strong feelings in me and make me think about the world around me? Gaming gets hard rap for being mindless, ultimately pointless fun, but it can be beautiful when it has a real message underneath. So, without further ado, here is my laundry list...
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15 games on FIFTEEN pages? That's a NO from me.
Superliminal
Antichamber
Manifold Garden
Portal & Portal 2
The Stanley Parable
Monument Valley
Gorogoa
Thumper
Inscryption
Q.U.B.E. 2
Darq
Quantum Break
Perspective
Inside
The Swapper
I think Inscryption is the best game on that list. PT and Returnal i would offer. Returnal deserves a spot over some of the listed games. Especially after chapter 3. Maybe even Alice MR? Death Stranding? Kojima all together. To much smaller degree Dead Space. I'm spitballing.
I didn't play Thumper enough to see beyond the visual spectacle. Curious choice.
I'd add FEAR and RE7 (when Ethan starts getting visions, especially in the boat) to that list.
Edit: and Here They Lie
Only makes me think of gatcha loot crate game specifically built to play your mind into becoming an addict.
