Have you played a game that stayed in your head long after you played it?
For me, Outer Wilds would be that game. I feel like I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I beat it a couple years ago.
Vampires, The Masquerade: Bloodlines. The whole vibe of the setting, the story, the locations, and then when I finally understood what the plot was really about. Masterpiece of a game, couldnt stop thinking about it.
Easily RimWorld for me. The stories that play out over time, and how to make productivity more efficient live in my head rent free.
A few that come to mind:
- Gris - such a beautiful game. I was going through something when I played it and I just felt such a connection.
- Undertale - just an all around incredible game. I’m a big fan of Earthbound and this scratched a similar itch.
- Beneath a Steel Sky - I love point and click adventures and this one will live forever rent free in my head. (bonus: it’s free on GoG)
The Witcher 3 (mainly the DLCs), the story was so good, like it’s the only game I can remember where I was waiting to play it every weekend just for the story.
Ocarina of Time - the music is so amazing, I can still remember all of it.
Runescape Classic (like 2002) for making me impervious to scams - you get scammed by some players once and that sticks with you.
Thief. The first three, at least. (*)
Splinter Cell as well.
Basically, Splinter Cell got me into what became my favorite genre: stealth.
Then I went and played Thief because stealth, and just everything about those games furthered my love for not only stealth, but it was my gateway to immersive sims as well.
Also, the level “Robbing the Cradle” in Deadly Shadows will always stick with me. As someone who hates survival horror, that level was both fucking incredible and also a nightmare that I had to use a walkthrough to get through quickly.
KOTOR got me into RPGs, and New Vegas came around and has stuck with me ever since.
And Skyrim I guess, since I’ve played it way too many times.
Should probably add Prey (2017) as well. Incredible game. For that matter, Dishonored. Both have a permanent place in my mind. And when I say Dishonored, I mean the first two, although I also enjoyed Death of the Outsider.
(*) I actually enjoyed Thief 2014 for what it was. Not nearly on the level as the originals, but it was still okay, if a sadly forgettable entry which kind of put the nail in the coffin for future releases.
For me, that game would definitely be Disco Elysium. I’ve never connected with a game as much as with that one. I’m actually reticent of playing it again for fear of it not living up to the first experience; I felt like my first playthrough was perfect, even if technically speaking it wasn’t.
Other than that, I also still think about Mass Effect a fair bit.
On a side note: if you liked the investigating and “detective-ing” of Outer Wilds, then you will probably also enjoy Return of the Obra Dinn, The Forgotten City, and The Case of the Golden Idol. I’d also add Disco Elysium to that list, but be aware it’s a lot more text heavy.
Great recommendations there, each got under my skin. I feel the same about David Lynch films, they connect with something inside me, and lodge permanently in my brain.
I’d put What Remains of Edith Finch, Dear Esther, Talos Principle, Stanley Parable, Metroid Prime and maybe Portal 1+2 in there too - they share an authentically mysterious vibe.
Obra Dinn and Outer Wilds hit me hard, they nailed the atmosphere perfectly. Haven’t actually played DE, was a bit put off by the sheer amount of dialogue, but I need to try it.
Oh Disco Elysium all the way, it’s possibly my favorite game. I have a notebook filled with lines in the game that stuck with me.
I want more of it, but it looks like that lightning won’t strike twice.
fwiw I did play it through twice, and maybe enjoyed it even more the second time - caught more of the little details
Subdue the regret. Dust yourself off, proceed. You’ll get it in the next life, where you don’t make mistakes. Do what you can with this one, while you’re alive.
Interstate '76. I love the whole vibe of it.
I’ll never forget loading Myst on my performance 5200 and getting lost
Portal 1.
Something about the ambiance mixed with the puzzles really stuck with me. I replay it almost once a year just to relive it.
Half life Alex. I’m the only person I know IRL with a VR headset, so playing such an incredible and unique game feels like having an amazing dream that leaves you with intense euphoria , but knowing no one around you really cares as much about it as you.
Nier:Automata
I still remember vividly how ending E broke me back then. Maybe because I have weight of the world in my playlist.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. When I finished it I couldn’t stop thinking about it for a couple of days. It was quite the experience, hearing the voices and learning to trust them. Factorio. The factory must grow.
Shadow of the Colossus. The entire vibe of the world just got to me.
SOMA. The ending still freaks me out until this day.
This. SOMA lives rent free in my head to this day.
Cyberpunk 2077. Say what you will about the state of the game, especially when it released. But there’s something about the endings that keeps me thinking about the game and has me really excited about coming back after enough updates have passed.
Yeah, the story and side quest are really well made, and the soundtrack is so good, I can’t wait for the expansion, apparently it will overhaul so many things that it will probably feels like a different game.
