Hello!
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!
Virtamate fits your description
I’ve on my way to work but I’m commenting so I can come back and give you a list and see what everyone else suggests.
I’ve been using the save button for that function quite a lot. So when you go to your history you can look at saves. Rather than comments. It helps differentiate between conversations I’ve had and things I want to return to
At least in Voyager app it’s very intuitive. The save buttons right there on every post
I’ve got a few unusual suggestions. I think most of these flew pretty far under the radar.
Sethian: This one is about decoding an alien language, and is carried out mostly in that language. I don’t think it’s entirely successful, but it’s a very interesting concept.
Heaven’s Vault: also about decoding an alien language, but with a lot more other bits about archaeology, social wrangling, and a weird minigame about sailing between planets? I dunno. I didn’t love this one either but the language thing is so unusual that it’s pretty easy to win me over with it.
Gateways: by Smudged Cat Games, since there are a couple of other games with a similar name. This one is a 2d puzzle platformer; it starts out pretty similar to Portal, but it gets way more involved when you have to manipulate rotation, size, and even time. Really, really challenging by the end.
TIS-100: This one is pretty well-known. This is a “zach-like” puzzle game, along with games like Shenzhen IO and Magnum Opus (also made by Zachtronic Games), but this one is my favorite. It’s about programming an unusual computer. It’s quite hard, but extremely engrossing for the right kind of brain.
Yon Paradox: This one is almost entirely a time travel puzzle game. In it you have to explore a facility, periodically traveling back in time; but with you do, your previous selves still exist, and do what you previously did. So in order to avoid causing a paradox, you have to avoid being seen by your previous selves. I didn’t actually spend much time playing this one–I got it to try in VR, and it gave me motion sickness like that. But I’ve meant to go back and try it in flatscreen. You’ve got to admit it’s an unusual premise.
Oh, and I suppose I should mention Achron as well, since I bought that one for its unusual premise. It’s a realtime strategy game, along the lines of starcraft, but with a timetravel mechanic built in. The mechanic is intended to be balanced even in multiplayer. I never really learned to play it, though–it seemed really complicated and not necessarily all that fun. But it’s pretty unique.
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.
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.
So I would also recommend Antichamber, Manifold Garden, and Unfinished Swan. I would also add the following:
What Remains of Edith Finch - while technically a walking simulator it really does provoke a child like sense of exploration while providing a very adult storyline.
Thomas was Alone - this is a platformer at heart but the minimalist design, innovative mechanics, and great storytelling make this game a must play.
The Spectrum Retreat - this is technically a Portal clone but the puzzle mechanic is based on color and manipulation of environment. The story is bleak but compelling. And as the story progresses your view of the hotel changes adding to the tension.
The Bridge - not going to lie this puzzle game gets brutal but the mechanics are like nothing I’ve ever played before or since. You navigate through Escher-like environments. If you can get it cheap and don’t mind using a help guide I’d say go for it.
Honorable mention/good time wasters:
Hexalogic - number puzzler and great zen experience. I’ve not found another game like it and I wanted more when I finished it.
Inbento - a cute puzzle slider game where the board is a bento box. The game introduces more mechanics as it progresses and it gets hard.
