Video games have been in the public consciousness since the '70s and Pong, but they weren't really seen as artistic mediums that could openly make people cry like movies can. That is, until a handful of indie games emerged in the 2010s that proved they could not only tell great stories worthy of novels and TV shows, but also make Twitch streamers cry on camera.
The indie boom at the time was a huge step forward for the industry, and these are some of the best games ever made (no matter how sad they are). If you want to play a powerful and emotional story, these are the best way to go.
Gone Home (2013)
In this first-person exploration game, you roam alone around your family's new home at night during a rainstorm. What at first seemed like the setting for a horror game (lights go out, people find creepy things in the house, etc.) turns into a beautiful story about the parents and sister and what their lives are really like. It turns into a story. We won't spoil the twists and turns, but rest assured, this game can be an emotional gut punch.
“The Ruins of Edith Finch” (2017)
Another FPS adventure game, What Remains of Edith Finch, explores a cursed family tree and what happened to each member who died. Instead of examining objects, we dive into their stories and explore what's inside their heads, dealing with subjects such as murder, poisoning, mental illness, suicide, and being pushed off a cliff by a deer. For a game about death, the depiction of these accidents is certainly very gorgeous and elegant.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013)
Losing a loved one, especially a sibling, is extremely difficult, but video games make it even more difficult when two siblings have to solve a puzzle together. If he loses one of them, he loses half of his control scheme and only half of his abilities. The blend of storytelling and gameplay mechanics is what makes Brothers so memorable. So much so that a remaster with new graphics will be released soon.
“The Walking Dead” Season 1 (2012)
A Game of the Year contender at the time of its release, it is the most critically acclaimed project in The Walking Dead series to date. This episodic “choose your own” adventure game features Lee's Everett and Clementine, two of the strongest protagonists in gaming history. Their journey through America's zombie wasteland is shocking and unforgettable.
“Beginner's Guide” (2015)
The game's story seems believable, but the game developer who created the game you're playing isn't telling you the story you're playing about the game you're playing. However, everything is made up and completely fictitious. But this is proof that Davey Redden has written something very relatable, human and vulnerable. Moving from level to level, learning about his friends who may be real, with interactive elements coming and going, Leden voices his own story as he tells his story in this meta . But what makes this game a song is the relationship between the two characters and how they deal with loneliness.
“Kentucky Route Zero” (2020)
This point-and-click adventure took years to be released in partial form, and was finally released in its entirety in 2020. You play as Conway, a truck driver, and it's very avant-garde in the way it tells the story and in a lot of different ways. play games. The soul-crushing nature of capitalism is a common theme, as is the evolving nature of America and the uncertain unfolding of life. If you're on a mission to unravel the mysteries of this game, reading all five elements will give you a life-affirming and deeply profound new perspective on video games.
“Life is Strange” (2015)
If you've ever regretted a life choice and wished you could go back in time and start over, you'll love Life is Strange as well as being human. You play as Max, a teenage girl who has acquired some pretty unique powers. Your choices have serious consequences as you witness an alternate reality where people's lives are affected completely differently depending on your choices. All of the Life is Strange games are great, but if you're looking for a fresh start in the series, give the first game a try. It may bring some tears to your eyes.
“Valiant Hearts” (2014)
It's World War I, and you have a canine companion. I know exactly where this game is going and how sad this game can be. Ubisoft's The Great War-inspired puzzle game uses character ingenuity to keep you hooked, but only serves to remind you of the inevitable and cruel reality of war. But at least the art is adorable, which makes playing through all of Death and Famine a little more bearable.
[Image: YouTube]
