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
An esoteric game that works as a metaphor for industrialization.
Somewhat-emotional and visually interesting walking (swimming) simulator.
Meditation on the negative effects of isolation and the importance of social links.
A game simulating the experience of being on a commercial flight.
A unique representation of trauma.
Cinematic retro game with great imagery and framing.
Interesting art style and sound interactions. FREEDOM.
Bridges the gap between the videogame medium and the documentary genre.
Weird game with interesting art style and traversal mechanics.
Experimental analogue horror working on a metanarrative where you explore abandonware.
An impactful story about memories, family, tragedy, life. Experimental game mechanic that uses your eyes to play.
On the relationship between art and the artist.
Commentary on capitalism, objectivism, and the player experience.
An interactive movie, a game that tries to be a movie or vice versa.
Meta-game on friendships and loneliness.
Weird symbolic(?) ambient game.
Obscure cathartic game on depression, loneliness, and trauma.
Weird surreal game with a non-definitive narrative.
A meditation on compassion.
Cinematic presentation, interesting art.
Experimental storytelling, with a game mechanic that also works on a meta-level.
One of the games to popularize the walking-sim genre. A game without gameplay. Disjointed storytelling on grief.
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.
Well written text-based horror game. Like an A24 movie turned into text.
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.
On strangeness and parasocial links.
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.
Experimental levels and boss visual designs.
Cinematic game with interesting traversal and cryptic story.
Experimental game where you talk to a couple in a dysfunctional relationship.
Weird Lynchian game with a non-definitive narrative.
Metanarrative that links the protagonist and the player experience. Emotional story on tragedy and escapism.
A brutalist digital gallery of sorts.
One that popularized the walking-sim genre. On love, queerness, and growing up.
Works as a metaphor for grief. Interesting art style.
On dreams, trauma, and industrialization.
I know, I know... but it's the one that popularized the "interactive movie" genre so might as well add it. Same with Bandersnatch.
Autobiographical story on sex work, trauma and being transgender.
Portrays the effects of psychosis, while building gameplay design around it.
An experimental FMV game with a non-linear story.
Main themes on hope, free will, hubris, regret. Distinct art style.
Metanarrative that works as a critique of players that enjoy violent games.
Reflection on the cycle of violence, nationalism, propaganda, and the film industry.
A nihilistic narrative on existentialism.
Experimental game with really cryptic messages.
Surreal game with no real plot.
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.
Liminal game where you can use its environments as a sort of photo-playground.
Arthouse surreal game on various themes: Poverty, solitude, addiction, relationships, etc. Dream logic with no real plot.
A digital museum.
On the pressures of society (very vague though). No gameplay.
Musical/sound experimentation
Silent cinema framing
A metaphor for capitalism. Distinct art style.
Experimental use of the medium. One of the most well known walking-sims.
Visual mindfuckery.
Short visual novel portraying OCD/Anxiety disorder.
Unique art style with hand-drawn textures. Cinematic story portrayal.
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?
Brutalist digital gallery.
On escapism and loneliness. About trying to find meaning in life.
Metanarrative analogue horror.
Cinematic presentation.
A warm meditation on hope. Death mechanic also reflects on the theme.
A simulation of a handyman in a gloomy setting. It's not made to be fun.
On bureaucracy, authoritarianism, morality. Gamifies work routine.
Arthouse cinematic game with a cryptic Lynchian story.
Gameplay works as a metaphor for chemotherapy. Anti-smoking sentiments.
About memories, resembling slow-cinema.