I Was a Teenage Exocolonist &vert Northway Games, 2022
Slipways &vert Beetlewing, 2021
In Stars and Time &vert Adrienne Bazir, 2023
Signalis &vert rose-engine, 2022
I do not like survival horror games. But Signalis is beautiful.
OneShot &vert Nightmargin, 2016
An RPG maker adventure game. Great story, great characters, incredible gameplay mechanics. Don’t play World Machine Edition first.
Hack ‘n’ Slash &vert Brandon Dillon/Double Fine Productions, 2014
A combination hacking/adventure game where you get in-game tools to modify aspects of the game’s actual code. From DoubleFine, the developer of Psychonauts. I wrote an article about it here!
The Stanley Parable demo &vert Galactic Cafe, 2013
Did you know The Stanley Parable has a free demo? Did you know it’s completely original content? Go play that sucker.
Hypnospace Outlaw &vert Jay Thoolen/No More Robots, 2019
90s internet simulator in an alternate history. Explore a network of terrible geocities template sites and find out a plot along the way.
Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer &vert Jay Tholen/No More Robots, 2023
Glittermitten Grove &vert 2016
2064: Read Only Memories &vert Midboss, 2015
A Snatcher-like point-and-click adventure game. It’s got a robot friend!
The Turing Test &vert Bulkhead Interactive/Square Enix, 2016 An interesting Portal-like from Square Enix. “Talos Principle meets Portal” vibes.
The Talos Principle (Series) &vert Croteam, 2014-2023-
The Beginner’s Guide &vert Davey Wreden/Everything Unlimited Ltd., 2015
From Davey Wreden, the creator of The Stanley Parable. “The story of a person struggling to deal with something they do not understand.” An incredible experience.
Gunpoint &vert Suspicious Developments, 2013
A break from all the high-concept stuff. A stealth puzzle platformer set in a noir conspiracy plot.
Superliminal &vert Pillow Castle Games, 2020
A 3D non-euclidean puzzle game that uses forced perspective and strange loops to explore dreamscapes. I remember seeing the first tech demos for this, way before the game released.
Antichamber &vert Alexander Bruce, 2013
A 3D non-euclidean puzzle game that uses an upgradable cube gun to solve a very wide array of lateral thinking puzzles.
CrossCode &vert Radical Fish Games, 2018
A mock mmorpg with a pixel art top-down perspective. Really interesting combat, great characters, interesting story. Has a few rough spots difficulty-wise, but includes options to tweak that if you need to.
Bad End Theater &vert NomnomNami, 2021
Environmental Station Alpha &vert Hempuli, 2015
Manifold Garden &vert William Chyr Studio, 2020
Analogue: A Hate Story &vert Christine Love, 2012
Factory Idle &vert 2016
A free “idle clicker” style game where you automate a factory workflow to make a profit. A combination between a clicker game and Factorio. Play with fimod.
Universal Paperclip &vert Frank Lantz, 2017
Another web clicker game, this time where you play as an AI whose job it is to make paperclips. An experiment in scale and AI objective optimization.
Megaman Christmas Carol &vert ACESpark, 20XX
A series of megaman fan games. Boss rushes against christmas themed enemies, with very nice feeling mechanics and easter eggs to explore.
Not Tetris (2) &vert Stab Yourself games, 2011
Tetris but with physics.
Rimworld &vert Tynan Sylvester/Ludeon Studios, 2018
A dwarf fortress/gnomoria like sci-fi settlement simulation game.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action &vert Sukeban Games, 2016
Not For Broadcast &vert NotGames, 2022
A FMV game where you manage the broadcast of the TV news during dystopian political upheaval. Also very funny. People compare it to Papers, Please but it’s much more like The Republica Times. Jeremy, you’re an inspiration.
Virtual Virtual Reality &vert Tender Claws, 2017
A VR game about VR, inception, tech bros, and late capitalism.
What Remains of Edith Finch &vert 2017
A walking simulator that explores the strange house and lives of the Finch family tree.
The Hex &vert Daniel Mullins, 2018
A mystery about a video game universe, explored from the perspective of six characters in their own games. By Daniel Mullins, who wrote Pony Island. Play that too.
Inscryption &vert Daniel Mullins, 2021
A strategy card game. Sacrifices must be made.
The Forgotten City &vert Modern Storyteller, 2021
Originally a Skyrim mod (2015), lovingly adapted into a standalone mythographical time-loop mystery adventure.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling &vert Dangen Entertainment, 2019
ANNO: Mutationem &vert 2022
A cyberpunk RPG. Personally I felt there were some rough spots in the plot and translation but I love the characters and the visuals are gorgeous and fascinating, and it’s worth playing through the game for them alone.
Evoland 2 &vert Shiro Games, 2015
Evoland walked so Evoland 2 could fly.
Hexcells Infinite &vert Matthew Brown
A logic puzzle game that sits somewhere between Minesweeper and nonograms. And by “sits between”, I mean “does both, all the way, at once.”
Ikenfell &vert Happy Ray Games, 2020
Buddy Simulator 1984 &vert Not a Sailor Studios, 2021
Shadow Generations &vert 2024
peak
Nier: Automata &vert Yoko Taro/Square Enix, 2017
Okay, I said I wouldn’t include the obvious stuff on this list, but Nier Automata is so incredibly good I can’t not recommend it. Possibly the best video game.
Mobile
Device 6 &vert Simogo, 2013
Downwell &vert 2015
Flipflop Solitaire &vert Zach Gage, 2017
The Silent Age &vert House on Fire, 2012
You Must Build a Boat &vert EightyEight Games, 2015