6 Genuine Video Games That Were Made With Pure Passion And Love

For as long as one can remember, developer studios from across the world have been pumping out video games in myriad fashions, but at the end of the day, you and I both sit down in front of a screen to play only those few games — if not a single one — that have us emotionally and mentally hooked.

Now, more often than not, it’s the charm of these games’ devs that attract us toward their product this good, but that isn’t always the case, mind you. There are heaps of examples out there of games that don’t exude passion, but then again, there are plenty of those on the flip side as well that seem as if their creators poured all their heart into them. 

I decided to round up six such titles that speak volumes about their respective developers. Check these out ahead in more depth and glance at the pinnacle of video game development.

These Six Titles Do It Like No Other 

Just to be clear: This is not a definitive list and only reflects what is my personal opinion on the matter. However, I would love to hear your opinion in the comments section, whether you disagree with some of my selections or have a game to add here.  

1. A Plague Tale: Requiem 

• Developer: Asobo Studio
• Release Date: October 18, 2022
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch

Asobo Studio’s latest installment in the A Plague Tale franchise is as genuine a video game as it gets, offering one of the most thrilling experiences in the AAA gaming sphere. Both titles in the series — Innocence and Requiem — are worth picking up, especially if you wish to carefully follow the story of Hugo and Amicia. Innovative gameplay coupled with the title’s visuals put Asobo right up there at the top for me. 

Just so you know, A Plague Tale: Requiem earned 3.5/5.0 in eXputer’s review, with author Asad Ahmed calling it “an absolute delight to play from start to finish.”

2. Deep Rock Galactic 

• Developer: Ghost Ship Games
• Initial Release Date: May 13, 2020
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Selling more than 8 million copies to date, Deep Rock Galactic is one masterpiece of a co-op shooter, and I’m sure so many more will be able to resonate with me on that statement. It features world-class, rewarding gameplay, and just enough challenge to keep you enticed and never bored out with its intriguing level design, which too, by the way, is procedurally generated. 

3. Stardew Valley 

• Developer: ConcernedApe
• Release Date: February 26, 2016
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS 

Now this is one of those titles that literally come from nothing but passion. The developer, Eric Barone, behind the project goes by the alias of ConcernedApe, but really, he’s just a one-man-army who happens to be Stardew Valley’s composer, writer, animator, producer, and all of the above too. Incredible, to say the least, considering that the man worked 70-hour weeks for 4 and a half years to make Stardew Valley. 

The novel farming sim brings forth fantastic gameplay and catchy visuals, but perhaps, the biggest highlight here is the developer still remaining committed to the project 8 years later, pushing out new content and all, while working on his next game. 

4. Outer Wilds 

• Developer: Mobius Digital
• Release Date: May 28, 2019
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch 

Outer Wilds (not to be confused with The Outer Worlds) is Mobius Digital’s finest work to date, sporting top-tier first-person gameplay with a heavily involved storyline. It’s not just me—dozens other wish they could forget this title and play it for the first time all over again. 

P.S.: Outer Wilds is currently 40% off on Steam. The time is nigh to act quick. 

5. Hades

• Developer: Supergiant Games
• Initial Release Date: September 17, 2020
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS

Hades is a daringly cutthroat RPG that traces its release back to 2020 for the then-current-gen platforms (thank God a sequel is coming). It’s a rogue-like dungeon crawler at its core, loaded to the brim with insane replayability value, which automatically makes it all the more enticing to pick up and play. 

Related Content to Check Out:

• Hades 2 Is A Completely Standalone Project; Has Been In Development For Three Years
• Hades Close to Becoming All-Time Highest Rated Game on Steam
• Hades Is Coming To iPhones And Other iOS Devices Via Netflix Games

I find Hades’ combat to be the most attractive, especially when it paves the way for players to obtain different weapons on different runs, thereby making the gameplay experience novel and unique every single time. 

6. Grounded 

• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment 
• Release Date: September 27, 2022
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch

Last but not least, we got ourselves another gem of a game from the highly well-reputed Obsidian Entertainment, known for working on titles like The Outer Worlds, Pentiment, and the upcoming Avowed. Grounded is pretty much the gold standard in PvE survival games, thanks to its lush gameplay, fantastic soundtrack, sublime character progression, and challenging enemies. 

If you do happen to pick up the game, make sure to go through our comprehensive Grounded walkthrough for important guides, helpful tips, and additional content.