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Any good games that break the mold

It feels like new games are just more of the same, with no real meaning. However I recently started playing “Return of the Obra Dihn” and love open ended deduction in it. It feels like I’m actually figuring things out by myself without being handheld through it. Are there any other games that don’t coddle the player that you guys recommend?

Spyro ,

The Talos Principle - It’s pretty much purely a puzzle game with a nice dose of philosophy to drive the story along. Some of the later puzzles can get pretty difficult, and some of the optional challenges will likely take you a good while to figure out without guides.

Anderenortsfalsch ,

Patrick’s Parabox - Single developer, unique idea, mind bending - think outside and inside the boxes inside boxes.

DamienGramatacus ,

It’s not difficult but I really enjoyed Super Liminal. Very short but fun.

Mr_Blott ,

Have you looked into the Rusty Lake series? Really odd

DamienGramatacus ,

Love the Rusty Lake games!

dwindling7373 ,

I enjoyed Carto and Paradise Killer, as far as “different and creative” goes.

whyrat ,

Check out Fez if you haven’t already. Also Tunic does a great job of starting out basic & breaking precedent.

Console_Modder ,
@Console_Modder@sh.itjust.works avatar

There’s 4 puzzle games called The Room that I found really interesting. It starts with a puzzle box that opens up with each solved puzzle to eventually reveal spaces within the box that are bigger than the box itself. There’s something supernatural about these puzzle boxes and you get little clues about where it came from and who made it.

bionicjoey ,

If you like Obra Dinn, you’ll love Outer Wilds

Kecessa ,

The Case of the Golden Idol, can’t believe no one mentioned that…

deluxeparrot ,

It uses the same puzzle solving mechanic as Return of the Obra Dinn in diorama style scenes.

Fantastic game.

themoonisacheese ,
@themoonisacheese@sh.itjust.works avatar

I heard good word about Paradise Killer, in which you’re also a detective and must figure out the truth

The outer wilds is amazing. You should play it.

B0NK3RS ,
@B0NK3RS@lemmy.world avatar

The Long Dark

Survival game set in the cold Canadian wilderness. Most “survival” games are actually just boring crafting games but TLD is very different for me as it is mostly about exploring in the freezing cold with natural predators around to keep you on edge.

Eyck_of_denesle ,

I love Sam and Max

ImplyingImplications ,

Personally, I really liked Papers, Please. You play as a customs agent checking people’s paperwork as they seek entry into your country. The idea of the game is very simple but it’s surprisingly good at telling a story and putting you in situations that are morally difficult.

bionicjoey ,

Funny, that game is by the same creator as the game OP mentioned.

Wrufieotnak , (edited )

Specifically similar to RotOD is Heaven’s Vault in that its pretty nonlinear, not hand holdy and that you figure out (a foreign language in this case). But it is more adventure style than RotOD.

Another one already mentioned Outer Wilds (not Outer Worlds!) and I completely agree and recommend it as well!

In general I have to say I disagree that new games are more of the same. We are in a golden age regarding new games and game genres. It’s just, that there are so many games, that there are also many similar ones. And the big studios are the worst in that regard, just bury AAA and start to love Indie games!

As example, games which are different from others and not already mentioned in this thread:

  • Eastshade (you are a painter exploring a fantasy world, solving quests by painting pictures)
  • Rain World (you are a small animal trying to survive a hostile simulated world, you need to learn how the interaction between you, NPCs and the world works)
  • INSIDE (nearly pure atmosphere & no gameplay, but still great!)
  • Papers, Please (you are a government worker who has to check people coming over the border)
  • Her Story (you try to figure out what happened to a person via searching videos from her interrogation by the police)
  • What Remains of Edith Finch (part game anthology, part great story to connect those “mini games”)
  • A Little To the Left (OCD in game form)
  • Ancestors: Humankind Odyssey (you play a primate tribe and evolve it towards Homo Sapiens in an african tropical forest)
  • Edit: and how could I forget: Disco Elysium, the greatest RPG! without combat, only social encounters and technical problems to solve in a wonderful world full of memorable and interesting characters.
Tellore ,

Dread Delusion:

  • Great plot, lore, and writing in general
  • A lot of moral dilemmas to solve and hard choices to make
  • Choices don’t change much in gameplay, but they change a lot in writing and that is interesting to read
  • Doesn’t handhold player much, but is way smaller than Morrowind for example, way less content and side quests and thus feels more linear
  • Lowpoly/lowres and kinda rough even by lofi standards, but certain consistent aesthetic which creates coherent worlds that are fun to explore
  • Combat is way too easy, even bosses are not challenging; recently hard mode was added, but I haven’t tried
  • There are some minor bugs and glitches
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