this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2023
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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!

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[–] barely_aware@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

The Unfinished Swan came instantly to my mind.

Some others that might intrest you but I'm not sure really qualify with the description:

Roto force - Quirky take on a bullet hell game

Yukos Island express - Metroidvania pinball

The Witness - Well known puzzle game that has you looking for 2D shapes in 3D areas, and other things

Quantum Break - Mixing TV between chapters, didn't live up to it's potential in my opinion

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The Witness is one of those games I more enjoy reading about than playing. I really love the theory that the game was designed with the goal of just abusing the popularity of the devleoper, and trying to make a game as annoying and time-wasting to play as possible, just to see if the audience would still accept and praise it, because it's from someone who's a popular and known game designer. Which is what has happened - the game was really well received. And it's also true that some mechanics aren't making any sense and are in direct contrast with the main description of the game on Steam:

The Witness is a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. This game respects you as an intelligent player and it treats your time as precious. There's no filler; each of those puzzles brings its own new idea into the mix. So, this is a game full of ideas.

This is blatantly false. There are puzzles that requires you to wait for an hour. Slow moving lifts and contraptions. The whole first part of the game is just the same mobile-game style puzzles, with minor twists in between. And that's why I love the game from the game design perspective - because if it's true that it was indeed made to mess with players, it was a success and I really respect that the developer did that.

Also, it has inspired someone to make The Looker, and parody games are my most favorite genre.

[–] ryven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I had no idea The Witness was made by an acclaimed developer; I played it because I saw a Youtube video titled "The Witness—A Great Game You Shouldn't Play" from a Youtuber I liked, and decided that despite his warning I needed to play the game before watching the video. Since I never ended up finishing it, I also never got around to watching the video, lol.

I really liked it because "solve these puzzles without being told what the rules are or what counts as part of a puzzle" is like my favorite genre of puzzle game.

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago

I needed to play the game before watching the video

I recommend watching the video anyway - the theory about the game being made just to mess with players is actually from that video. Also - even if you didn't manage to finish The Witness, I highly recommend playing The Looker. It's free, it's short (i think you can finish it in an hour or so), it has the best ending and if you've played The Witness, you will definitely appreciate the game. It has one of the best endings I've ever saw in a video game.

[–] AMillionMonkeys@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

The developer is Jonathan Blow. You might want to give Braid a look - it's still a pretty devious puzzle game, but it's not as free-form as The Witness.

[–] Aviandelight@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I never knew that the creator meant to torture the players of this game. It completely makes sense in retrospect. I absolutely hated this game and couldn't finish it. It consistently gave me virtual vomit/migraines to the point that I rage quit and uninstalled it. Now I feel a little better knowing the game was a troll.

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 2 points 1 year ago

It's a leading theory, but I don't think it was ever officially confirmed.

[–] barely_aware@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 year ago

I honestly wasn't super found off the witness either. Not a big puzzle game fan but I was recommended to play it and I stuck with it long enough to get the achievements. The Looker however made the witness 100% worth playing for me. Absolutely hilarious.

I just want to bat for The Unfinished Swan again. It was pretty popular when it released on PS, but the first mechanic instantly pulled me into the game. The screen and scenery is all completely white, no shading, no nothing. You can't see where the floor ends and a wall begins. You throw what looks like black ink around to be able to navigate the environment. I don't find the rest off the game as interesting but I was super invested after the opening

[–] Kylamon1@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I surprisingly loved Yokos Island adventure. At first I was like what is this game, but it sucks you in.

Great weird game!