One of the things I really enjoy is unique, interesting or out-of-the box game design. It doesn’t have to be AAA game, it doesn’t have to be a perfect game, it can be pretty rough - but if it has a mechanic or design element that is somehow unique or original, I’m instantly in love with the game.
The problem is that such games do not usually get a lot of exposure, since it is after all a niche. And that is really a shame - in the past few years the most fun had with video-games was playing such smaller and shorter indie games with something unique or pretty clever, where I can obsess over the design and more importantly - get inspired. That leads me to my question - are there any communites or blogs or content curators that are about this kind of smaller, maybe unpolished, but original games? Or what games would you recommend that would fit into this description? I don’t mind if it’s a 5 minute experience. It’s ok if it’s more interactive art than a game.
To better illustrate what I’m looking for, I’d compare it to modern art - the kind where you get a single colored square on a canvas. I never got it, and it always felt just weird - until I had to start doing flyer design and started researching and reading about composition, space and all that stuff. And now I see there’s so much going on even on a picture with a single line, that it’s really interesting to think about why the square is where it is, and what kind of composition rules was he working with.
And I think it’s the same for game design - sometimes you see a clever mechanic or design on otherwise really ugly and unpolished game, and it still gets you inspired and thinking.
I understand that my question is a little bit vague, so I’ll give you a list of some games I consider unique, some of them are well known, some of them not-so-much:
Immortality - you probably know about this one, but a game where the plot twist is discovering a hidden game mechanic, you could’ve done all the time? And the fact that you watch three movies at once in random scene order is also a really good experience.
Against the Storm - I really like how they solved the issue with management sims - that they tend to get boring once you set everything up, by making it a roguelike.
Different Strokes - an online persistent collaborative museum of art, where you can either leave a new painting, or edit someone’s else. Each painting can be edited only once, so there are always two authors of a single piece.
Sayonara Wild Hearts - I really like the idea of making what’s basically an interactive music album. While the game design isn’t anyting that interresting, the focus on music is cool - there should be more music albums with video-games instead of video-clips.
Project Forlorn - Again, not really a game - this time I think there’s no actuall gameplay, but it’s the best interactive music album presentation I’ve ever seen. And again - I like the idea of exploring music and games together.
Playdate - Not exactly a single game, but rather a console - but the idea behind giving you a game per day (which is I think how it started, they may all be available now looking at it) sounds amazing - which I’d also consider a game design (or rather, experience design?).
Baba is You - Another probably well known game, but the puzzle mechanic is just mindblowing.
Before Your eyes - In this game, the main mechanic is that you go through the memories of someone who has just passed away, but the time advances every time you blink - physically blink, because the game can use your camera. That is such a clever idea, that it definitely fits onto this list.
Nerve Damage - This is my favourite recent discovery. The game is trying so hard to be uncomfortable to play, with it’s main design build around just being unplayable. But it somehow works and once you get into the flow, it’s such an unique experience.
So, does anyone has some recommendations about where to look for more experimental games? A curated list, blog would be awesome - since clicking through pages of games on itch.io is pretty hit and miss. Also, feel free to share some of your favourite unique design or experimental experiences and games!
A fairly unique game that I’ve played and have never experienced anything like it since, is Doki Doki Literature Club. It’s very easily spoiled, but one must be forewarned it is psychological horror and it’s warning at the beginning of the game is on point. It’s radically different than anything else here, but there’s also nothing like it that I can think of to compare it to. Sure, it’s basic gameplay is “visual novel” but it goes way beyond that. Again, it’s absolutely a psychological horror and it does touch on extremely sensitive topics. So avoid if that sounds problematic, but as a standalone work, it honestly creates a category all its own and I’ll likely never play a game that recreates anything close to it.
And totally different but a lot closer to other suggestions is the game Bastion. Very interesting time-manipulation puzzle solving with a intriguing plot story that doesn’t steal the focus but is still good enough to add value to the game.
I’ve played Doki Doki Literature Club, and I really love how did they approach the horror genre. IIRC Undertale is doing something similar at it’s ending, but you are right that from the top of my head I don’t remember many games experimenting in this direction.
There’s also Pony Island that has similar fourth wall breaking mechanics. I think the developer Daniel Mullins has made a couple other games in a similar vein, though I haven’t played any of them. Stanley Parable comes to mind too, though that’s a little different.
YOU and ME and HER does something similar, but it’s way longer. The story takes a bit to get started, but it’s one of my favourite games of all time. You should check it out.
It’s also on Steam, but for that version you need to install the Director’s Cut patchto get the intended experience.
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A fairly unique game that I’ve played and have never experienced anything like it since, is Doki Doki Literature Club. It’s very easily spoiled, but one must be forewarned it is psychological horror and it’s warning at the beginning of the game is on point. It’s radically different than anything else here, but there’s also nothing like it that I can think of to compare it to. Sure, it’s basic gameplay is “visual novel” but it goes way beyond that. Again, it’s absolutely a psychological horror and it does touch on extremely sensitive topics. So avoid if that sounds problematic, but as a standalone work, it honestly creates a category all its own and I’ll likely never play a game that recreates anything close to it.
And totally different but a lot closer to other suggestions is the game Bastion. Very interesting time-manipulation puzzle solving with a intriguing plot story that doesn’t steal the focus but is still good enough to add value to the game.
I’ve played Doki Doki Literature Club, and I really love how did they approach the horror genre. IIRC Undertale is doing something similar at it’s ending, but you are right that from the top of my head I don’t remember many games experimenting in this direction.
There’s also Pony Island that has similar fourth wall breaking mechanics. I think the developer Daniel Mullins has made a couple other games in a similar vein, though I haven’t played any of them. Stanley Parable comes to mind too, though that’s a little different.
YOU and ME and HER does something similar, but it’s way longer. The story takes a bit to get started, but it’s one of my favourite games of all time. You should check it out.
It’s also on Steam, but for that version you need to install the Director’s Cut patchto get the intended experience.
Hmm, I feel like I’ve already played YOU and ME and HER, but I’m not really sure. Gonna check it out, but the names and characters feel familiar.