genuine question. what is a game you played that felt like a true gift? i think a lot of us could use more of whatever this feeling is rn
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Lis ➡️ GDC
i’m replaying hades because i’m teaching it to my literature students atm and damn. i forgot how truly wonderful it is. every detail is a delight
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Relaxed, chill, fun to do, the quest the Devs added for free close to the point where you unlock everything from research tree, had me hooked and I openly cried at the end, both from sadness and joy
Otherwise, this year, I've been blown away by UFO 50 : there are shining gems in the collection for all sensibilities
From the story to the art to the mechanics I just can’t get enough of it.
Maybe Horizon Forbidden West just got pure level of execution.
From many years ago: Gran Turismo and Tomb Raider although neither translate today.
Archimedes Elite if you want a game that pretty much no one knows about today :)
Played the remaster earlier this year and it's such a gem
And also this dolt is my beloved lil scrungly rogue and I will not let them go.
Cocoon is also up there in terms of level design and just the way it flawlessly communicates its mechanics.
Total bangers
Ex. Lethal Company, Content Warning, Pilgrim, Webfishing and Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies to name a few.
I wish I could forget it to see
It new again.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/204060/Superbrothers_Sword__Sworcery_EP/
Short enough to play mobile, I still remember the atmosphere. Sad we never saw more of this.
Felt like a beautiful large expansive world, yet small enough that I could make a difference.
It's rare to find a game where the overwhelming feeling I have at the end is just gratitude. ❤️
Grateful for its existence!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1284190/The_Planet_Crafter/
My lord. It is the gift that keeps on giving even now.
When younger, the sense of exploring and doing quests in Star Control 2 as well; that game just kept opening up.
Transistor's vibes were immaculate.
It looks like a little Game Boy styled block puzzle game, Sokoban style.
I'm not a puzzle guy. I've never cared for Sokoban.
*Fifty* hours later I'm coming to the end of a wild, twisty story-led epic that left me in tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSkOdL2zJM4
It plays a lot like Zelda OOT or Megaman Legends, and it had me grinning ear-to-ear my whole time with it.
There was a lot packed into its simplicity and the way it drove emotion was such a fresh experience from a game.
I vividly remember the first play through.
Genuine treasures. Core memories. Wish they existed when I was younger 🙏
Picked up Stardew Valley at a time when that kind of tranquillity was very much needed.
I've also lost myself in Football Manager during some bad times too.
Also must mention Outer Wilds and Tunic, both immaculately built games wife and I enjoyed solving together
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1340480/The_Cosmic_Wheel_Sisterhood/
Katamari Damacy
It inspires me as a narrative designer and I think really pushed the boundaries of what narrative design in games can be.
Hollow Knight
AAA… Death Stranding Directors Cut
https://youtu.be/L61_crFYCys?si=myZRs5MYJSKYnp5q
@thepluckysquire.bsky.social just made me smile every time a new mechanic was introduced, the characters, the narrator, art, everything about it was joyful to me. I am just smiling again as I type this, hehe.
And also recently, Spiritfarer.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Stardew Valley
Those are the three that immediately come to mind.
Digging deeper I can’t not think of Ultima III 😍
IV+ always get the most accolades, but III is my fav
Between that, DM2, Questron, Wasteland
Babbdi for it's crude and oversimplified world building that still says so much
MIBOM for the incredible multilayered story
And DE for the gut wrenching dialogs
I've been pretty tired of all of the common formulas and styles. This game was quirky and unique. Loved the art, music, and humor.
I had no idea what it even was when I got the demo, and was pleasantly surprised.
I need to go over my gaming history to see what else fits the bill that aren't coming to mind but ghost trick is a cute little treasure. And the way mother 3 thanks the player at the end hit really different during the height of lockdowns
I’ve talked about it before but I have never played a game that centers me the way Flower does. It is genuinely the most relaxing experience I’ve ever had playing a video game.
Astroneer.
Persona 5.
The scene where they see the giraffes made me cry.
It was so unexpectedly thoughtful and full of existential questions. The allegories and parallels characters have to philosophers gave me pause for thought. The other being cast as not at all like 'us'. It's all very wonderful stuff. 💜 Yoko taro
Bioshock does the same in ways too
This game was such a gift. So much so I translated it so everyone who understands English can play.
Pokémon HG/SS
Animal Well
I absolutely loved the negotiation and characters from potionomics and the dialogue/interaction systems from Citizen Sleeper.
And powerwash simulator is weirdly cathartic.
It's gotta be played in one like 4ish hour sitting and with a controller but man is it cool as fuck what it does.
If you haven't played it you should. By far the most impressive environmental storytelling I have ever experienced in a game. A true masterpiece IMO.
So many unexpected perfect moments. The environments really have you connect with characters you never see. It's beautiful!
one very important was playing Journey for the first time... It really opened my eyes to the medium