It may be easy to write off their triumphant appearances over such a short time frame in an otherwise barren genre as an anomaly, but that would be doing a tremendous discredit to the game’s developers. Not to mention that when you put aside their subject matter and look solely at the structure of these games, you see they share some common aspects that could very well help form a blueprint for the creation of further great gaming comedies.
GB: "Some games reduce stress while others like to play with your mind."
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.
"From winks & nods to straight-up gameplay-altering sequences, video games often break the fourth wall. Read on for some of the best moments." Mike @ Thumb Culture
Ever since it was released as a mod for Half-Life 2, The Stanley Parable has been a cult phenomenon.
Some of my favorite recent games. Hopefully good gaming comedies become much more common from now on.
All three are thoroughly brilliant. To me The Stanley Parable is the best. It is a parody of everything we have been playing for years. It is a razor sharp satire of storytelling in games and the creation of them.