Thought Provoking Games

[Vyk]

Ico was definitely one for me, even before calling it art was a thing and people started scoffing at how overrated it is. Not to sound like a hipster, but I don't think I even had internet when I played that game. And the composition and execution of both its music and narrative and game mechanics stayed with me for a long time after I was done. It was the closest thing to living/playing through one of Miyazaki's masterpieces. So I can totally agree with that one. Shadow of the Colossus didn't quite do the same for me, but I felt it had the potential, and these days I know it had that effect on others. There's actually a really good video out there about a community of fans obsessed with secrets and lore from the world who hacked the hell out of it to find every little lost piece of anything in that game. It's pretty dedicated and mesmerising

If you're talking about what I think you're talking about, I legitimately categorize those games differently in my collection from other games. The ones that aren't just "played". They are "experienced". I consider them a life experience. And generally a fantastic one. Xenogears falls in that category. KoTOR 2 falls in that category. I think Out of this World/Another World fell into that category in my early life of gaming. Hell I'd even say FF6 and 7 did that for me. The impression and obsession they left or triggered was undeniable and unavoidable. Some games just strike that chord. It doesn't happen so much these days, but I'm constantly on the lookout for those games. And I think the non-Vita Persona 4 was about to become one of them before our PS2 died. And now they've gone and mucked it up with Golden. Adding a bland and contrasting character like Marie, and giving Chie a shrieky voice, its no longer all that close to a perfect experience as a game. Now it's merely just a great game

But just like the movies Brick, or Donnie Darko, or even Dark City or The Matrix have done to me and others; there are definitely games out there that illicit the same psychological overstimulation. And I love and miss it. Can't wait for the next game to strike that chord with me

Also, weirdly enough, Cave Story was one of those games when I first came across a hack that let me play it on my PSP. PC controls were wonky to me back then, and still kind of are. The PSP made it much more accessible to me, and I got to thoroughly enjoy it for what it was, long before the remakes made it gamepad compatible. And it was a fantastic experience

And looking through my library, I have To The Moon, which I know is one of those games to some people. Sadly I haven't gotten around to playing it myself. But it probably should be on this list all the same. Edit: Same with Journey. I'll get around to these games someday~

Edit x2: Also have Planescape Torment, which I'm pretty positive was one of these games for a LOT of people

Also Papers Please had that response from a lot of people in the indie circuit. And somehow that reminds me that Braid was definitely one of those games for me. Holy crap I need to play that game again someday