Story Highlights
- Violence is one of the many cornerstones of the majority of video games ever made.
- Some titles, however, don’t have to be that way necessarily, allowing you to have a different experience.
- Games like Outer Wilds, Disco Elysium, and Firewatch are absolute thrillers you have to try out.
So, here’s how it goes in gaming usually: You, as the hero of a particular game, take center stage in eminence, go from one point to the other, kill enemies in between, kill some more enemies, and complete the given objective right afterward. In one way or the other, this is the format that most games implement, and while I’m not saying that this is bad, it’s certainly something that can grow on a player as time goes by.
If you find yourself in a similar boat right now, I’ve got you covered. The purpose of this piece is to cast a lens on games that are doing something different out there in the most spectacular way possible. If anything else, this is certainly an opportunity to explore the medium further, and look forward to more special experiences as compared to before.
Top-Tier Games That Don’t Sport The Usual Package
Make sure to post a comment down below in case you have a suitable suggestion to make for the listicle.
1. Firewatch
Campo Santo — the developer — has worked up a real piece of magic with Firewatch, a fairly hidden single-player experience that I recommend you to finish in one sitting. The game’s runtime is somewhere between 3-4 hours, making it short yet super ephemeral. It’s totally mystery-driven, so you’ll probably have more questions than answers, but the whole experience comes across as very well worth it at the end of the day.
It’s pretty relaxing, the dialogue is on point, the atmosphere hits the nail on the head with the overall theme of the game, and the title itself pushes out excitement levels throughout the mainline campaign. It’s an easy recommendation from eXputer here. Oh, and thanks to the Steam Summer Sale, the title is up for grabs for as low as $1.62.
- Get it on Steam.
2. The Talos Principle 2
If you like Valve’s Portal franchise, I have a feeling you’ll love The Talos Principle 2 as well. It’s an exceptionally creative puzzler that didn’t even take long to become Croteam’s most well-received game in 30 years. It’s got a lot of depth to it, the visuals are amazing, the setting is phenomenal, and the overall experience is just nothing short of a delight to have on a frequent basis.
You’re not going to regret this one, that’s a promise. Plus, eXputer held an interview with the devs of The Talos Principle 2, confirming that more similar projects could be coming down the road as well.
We always have lots of ideas brewing in our heads; we aren’t fond of limiting ourselves to a single genre. Our next project could indeed be another puzzle game, or it might delve into an entirely different genre. You can be sure that we still have plenty of creative ideas left, and we’re excited about the many possibilities that lie ahead.”
- Get it on Steam.
3. What Remains Of Edith Finch
Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch also happens to be one of the best games that you can finish under 5 hours, considering the level of quality on display here. It’s a visual masterpiece, but it is a walking simulator. Here’s hoping that those types don’t put you off, because the title in question is a sure-fire thriller all the same.
I will tell you this: What Remains of Edith Finch’s story is going to make you teary-eyed, especially at the end of it. If nothing else, it’s genuinely going to make you feel, instead of putting you through the same routine format of most AAA games in the business.
- Get it on Steam.
4. Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is as dark as it really gets to be fair, but the game’s unfiltered humor coupled with great gameplay makes it a top recommendation for those who are looking to escape regular video games. You take on the role of a detective who has to solve murder mysteries, but there’s a problem:
The guy’s drink. It’s really the cat’s meow in many aspects, especially in the narrative sense because later on, the game takes a super dark turn. Do yourself a favor, pick it up, and thank me later. It’s available for dirt-cheap right now; costs less than $2.
- Get it on Steam.
5. Outer Wilds
Now here’s one gem of a game that I really urge everyone out there to experience at least once. Outer Wilds is many things. It’s action, it’s knowledge, it’s contemplation, and above all, it’s fulfillment. Harboring a near-perfect progression system where the real tools you gather along your journey is learning, it’s a video game treasure in my eyes that does not get recommended enough.
- Get it on Steam.
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