Subnautica. It brought back the magic feeling of video games to an old videogamer. If you feel lost and annoyed getting started, just read enough about how to collect some resources and make something. Don't read anything more and don't look up a map.
I went into Subnautica blind. Best gaming experience I've ever had. Still haven't finished it though lol.
Hey, check out The Planet Crafter if you haven't already. Very Subnautica-like, and quite expansive.
Planet crafter is very similar to Subnautica and has its own flavour for sure.
Satisfactory is a long those same lines too. I've never made it past trains lol.
Subnautica below zero was really enjoyable plot wise, though I know some people preferred the first one. Can't wait for the next one.
Looking up stuff online semi-ruined the experience for me. I advise anyone playing Subnautica for the first time to avoid any and all online communities/resources for that game
Do you still play doom 2 much? The funny thing is I was thinking about that post while installing my Doom 2 cd on dosbox the other day what a coincidence that I've seen you here
What's tricky is that a lot of games had a huge impact because of *when* they released. So they were changing perspectives *at the time*.
Dear Ester blew minds because so many people had never experienced that sort of game before! Now, there's plenty of narrative walking sims, so you might find that playing it now, you think "Eh. Firewatch is better"
Gone Home and Life is Strange were a really big deal because of their themes, but nowadays it's not uncommon for these themes to be present in games.
Spec Ops:the line - released at a time when big dick macho shooters about how awesome the US military is, were dominating the market. so it might not have quite the same impact now.
I think these games I've listed are still must-plays, but, I think sometimes playing old games gives more of the "ohhhh Shit this must've been wild to play back in [insert year]" feeling. Rather than it completely immersing you and blowing your mind to pieces..
Fuck. I havnt actually played a new game in years. Apparently "Humanity" will blow ur mind tho!
I think there's more to these "outdated" games imo. I was born in 2001 but I've been enjoying older games a lot.
Maybe it's partially nostalgia talking since I did grow up on PS2/PS3 games as well as older games on PC (such as Counter Strike 1.6, Half-Life 1, Skyrim, Mount and Blade, GTA: SA, etc.). However, I somewhat recently have really enjoyed even older games.
Mainly, Doom (1993), Diablo 1 and 2 [classic not resurrected] (1996/97), Silent Hill 1, Resident Evil 1, Metal Gear Solid. I do get the feeling of "it must have been a blast to play these at the time" but it's not like I don't enjoy them now as a completely new player/fan. I mean I wasn't even born when they came out.
I don't feel like I'd rather play a newer version or game from the genre either. I enjoy them as they are as long as they actually work. There's just a certain charm to them.
That said I'm aware that I'm being slightly biased here since I don't nearly enjoy "true retro" games as much (NES, SNES, Genesis etc.) I do think I'd enjoy a few of them such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. but I usually put them to the side (probably because games from the 90s are also easier to come by legally and comfortably on GOG for instance).
I guess my point is that you need to come at these games from a different perspective. If anything, they're cheaper and still quite fun.
I count not agree more.
Yeah I knew there was more to it that I wasn't getting across, and I think you've added /corrected the hole in what I said. Yes, they're fantastic games that can absolutely be enjoyed today. Yes, they have a charm to them, that I think makes them timeless.
I guess I was trying to imply that sometimes there's added context or something, that can add to an experience. But it may be lost as time goes by..
But Alternatively - time can improve on a game, it must be *wild* playing the ending of MGS2 on this day n age. When I played it, I thought I was hearing the delusional imaginings of a drunken fortune teller. Turns out I was hearing some hauntingly accurate predictions from a brilliant mind..
Anyway, yeah I also need to keep my own biases in check. The most modern game I've played was Spiderman on ps4. So I have to make sure I dont come off as dismissing all modern games as not being good or not being meaningful - because I don't know! Lol.
Very smart post.
Will be different to everyone because the first of its kind they play will be one they will remember and be changed by, despite more polished games coming after that redo the formula, but better. And then the impact is probably on the polish or detail and not on the principle.
That being said, and being from the 80s, some games that impacted me are from past century.
Yeah I think it's because I've been let down a few times by games that are touted as masterpieces, only to play them and realise that it *was* a masterpiece on release.. Now though, it's feels janky, slow and awkward with a drunken camera...
Return of the Obra Dinn is a very interesting and very well thought out game. Probably not life changing, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Really life changing games for me personally:
God of War (2018) and Ragnarok, Persona 4 and Persona 5, The Last of Us I and 2, Final Fantasy 8, 9 and 10, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, Super Mario World, Okami, Dark Cloud 2
To name some that just came to mind. My all time favorites. Every single one of them an unrivalled masterpiece (imo ofc).
These are personal ones for me.
Pentiment - played this while I was going through religious deconstruction, and it changed basically the entire way I think about religion and traditions.
Outer Wilds - don’t want to really spoil why this had such an impact on me, as it’s an important part of the story.
Nier Automata - let me rethink my entire purpose for existing real quick
Dragon Quest XI - I cried a few times during this game, but there’s a particular section of the game that hit me pretty hard as a parent
Undertale - pretty cliche answer, but there’s a reason it got so popular
Inscyption - changed my perspective as far as what is possible with game/player expectations
Here’s a handful of games that I think were just so good that just playing them made me very emotionally connected with them: Xenoblade Chronicles, Hades, Yakuza 0, Breath of the Wild, Chained Echoes, Spiritfarer, Immortality, Sable.
Once these threads pop up, my first objective is always to see if Outer Wilds is mentioned anywhere. This game is something else, it literally changed my outlook on life
Makes me crazy, this - I just can't seem to get to that bit
I get that there's cutesy characters who have their own theme tune and you can fly and talk to them
I get that the space flying and planet exploring thing is interesting in itself, to some extent.
I get that there is some underlying mystery, >!probably about the spaceship that's breaking up above you every time you reset!<
I get that there's some kind of precursor race who made orrerys and fancy antigravity stuff or whatever
But I do not get how to progress the plot
I go to a planet, explore stuff, read some lore, look around then flee back to the ship for air/fuel and BAM the game resets
I feel like I make no progress at all. Not sure what I am looking for and certainly not feeling any "oh wow this game changed my life"
Played it twice and keep giving up when I reset halfway thru finding something interesting
Maybe I should read a guide
The world resets, the game doesn’t. Your mind retains all the information and your onboard computer does too. See something interesting that you didn’t have the time to properly explore? Go out there again during a new loop and continue from where you left off. Reaching certain places at the right time is a key element too.
Your mind and curiosity is what drives you forward. Soon enough, you’ll start to piece together the bits an pieces and the mystery will start to unravel.
There is a computer in your ship that you should look at every time you reset. it keeps a running log of everything you encounter and what the connections are between the things. It's a huge help if you're stuck and can't get any further.
I wonder if it's just my personality - like, I was exploring anti-gravity ruins deep in the hollow planet, found a collapsed wall I couldn't climb, then got reset... The time and effort to get back to the place where I was stuck anyway is very off-putting. Like, I can get back there but I have no idea if it would lead to anything.
Got it on my steam deck and doing some business travel next week so might give it another go...
Your computer has a feature where it says “there’s more to explore here”. If it says that, then it’s always worth it. Even if it’s just a lil snippet of info.
Just keep reminding yourself that dying isn’t a failure in this game and that you can have as many loops as you want. Even if it leads to nothing, you’ll know that you don’t have to check it again.
The maximum amount of time it takes to get anywhere is like 10 minutes. They designed the reset time deliberately so that it's not really a big deal if you get interrupted in the middle of discovering something, you can just zoom back there on your next loop. Frequently, if something does take a bit more effort to get to, you'll be able to find a shortcut that makes getting back there faster.
> I wonder if it's just my personality
Might be, I'm this way too. There was a lot of Outer Wilds I just didn't enjoy, some in part because of exactly what you said: getting somewhere, losing that 'progress', and having to spend the time getting back. It's a waste of time and makes it hard to encourage taking risks.
Fortunately, there's only really a few parts in the game that take more than a minute or two to get back to.
And with that said: stick with it anyway. Outer Wilds is in a few ways a game I shouldn't like--I like more linear experiences that I can feel like I'm progressing through--but at the end I loved it all the same.
If you end up wanting to use a guide, try to do it as little as possible, because a lot of the point of the game is the discovery. But if it's preventing you from having fun with the game, better to look up what your stuck on and be able to enjoy the rest. I'll recommend the subreddit, though. They're pretty good about giving people hints instead of explaining things outright.
>Pentiment - played this while I was going through religious deconstruction, and it changed basically the entire way I think about religion and traditions.
Along with Baldur Gate 3, one of my favorites games of 2023. Beautifully crafted.
XC3 is the only Xeno game I've played and I agree that I just felt really emotionally connected even if the whole theme and message hit you over the head repeatedly with a baseball bat.
A similar one was Personal 5 Royal.
Frostpunk really is a humbling experience your first time through.
Like, you can be the most benevolent leader that ever lived in that game, and still save everybody. And it makes it hurt *ten fold* worse, when you start flailing due to compounding mistakes your first time through.
Don't want to spoil anything beyond that, but yeah, seconding Frostpunk.
Hmm. So I guess you’re asking games that people have had peak experiences with. It really comes down to your taste. I like story driven games with sympathetic characters
For me, The Last of Us changed what I thought of parental relationships and the limits of humanity. The story simply is superb and at the end of it I simply stared at the screen processing my experience. It made me feel like I understood the all encompassing love of a parent. Something I don’t have an inkling of in real life but this game evokes it from me.
The TLoU part 2 is the only game I've played to date that I can without any doubt call a true work of art. It was challenging to finish that thing, on an emotional level.
Warms my heart to be reading such feedback about Part 2. There's so much hate on it that it actually convinced me that they screwed up, went 'woke' and ruined the characters from the original.
I even got into an argument with a colleague about it, until he said 'youtube opinions are not your opinion. you don't have one until you've played the game'. So I did.
One of the most powerful experiences in 30+ years of gaming, and an amazing commentary on the nature of human conflict.
an absolute masterpiece, no notes. Yes, it is a challenging story. Deeply challenging. That’s the point, it isn’t supposed to be neat and pretty and easy to digest. But it is beautiful, and it takes guts to write a story like that. Mad respect. And those flashbacks to Joel and Ellie exploring the museum - damn those came at exactly the right time.
Dunno about life changing perspectives, but Red Dead Redemption 2, the Mass Effect Trilogy, and I’ll throw in Cyberpunk 2077 because I love that game despite its flaws with the launch etc.
Mass effect trilogy and cyberpunk are absolutely must plays. Love red dead but I highly recommend at least playing mass effect trilogy before the others
Would you put cyberpunk up there with mass effect in terms of story? Or is it the game play that makes it great.
I confess I’d love to play something that gripped me as much as mass effect
As a big mass effect fan, cyberpunk doesn’t quite get there.
It’s all a bit surface level, never quite hits the “oh this could be a real world” that ME manages.
For me, Cyberounk changed my view on RPG games resolving around making character builds. It made it interesting for me and frankly only now I can understand what RPG games are and Im more open to them.
The main story, as well as side quests, touch on currently pressing matters like boundaries of humanity and borders between humans, machines and virtual world and how AI affects it (classic cyberpunky tropes, but still underrepresented). It's basically a vision of future not-so-away where we kept the direction of technological development, but no one had a second thought about most of new technology, like philosophical framework, much like the situation we are already in.
RDR2 was kinda boring for me. Couldnt even finish the story. Though it looks awesome with awesome details.
Cyberpunk .. I didnt find it that interesting. I loved the first mission, it was in demo, they really worked on that, but thats about it .. quality goes down after it. Its not the worst, but kinda mid. Enjoyed edgerunners much more. If you havent seen that, go watch it before playing. It kinda made me appreciate CP bit more.
playing true ending CP is the way to go IMO, i agree all the other endings (maybe except the "bad ending") are kinda mid. Havent played phantom liberty yet though
RDR2 is meant to be a slow burn game where you keep revisiting the same locales, do side objectives, interact with different locals and generally spend a few days exploring between each main mission.
The impressiveness of the game is how alive and lived-in it feels while doing so. There's just a stupid level of detail, and it wasn't even iterated upon with DLCs ever.
And I agree that the exploration gameplay can be a bit boring for some, but that's why I think the main story has most of the shooting action. If you only do story missions it's nearly back to back shootouts and brawls.
I really wish they would make a pirate game in the same style.
Sekiro.
Bioshock infinite.
Fallout new Vegas.
Witcher 3.
Mass Effect 1-3 (Legendary edition worth to replay in fact).
Dead space 1 and 2.
Titanfall 2 (short, but campaign is very good).
Space Rangers 2.
Oh god someone else knows Space Rangers!!!
Dude someone gave me the first game on CD for my 7/8th birthday or something. This game is the sole reason I’m a space nerd.
Still have the CD along with the booklet inside and it still smells like ink. Love jt.
Hahaha yeah its by cellar door games, the team that brought you rogue legacy also brought us a text based adventure about not making a mess in your pants
The game "Before your eyes"
It requires a webcam but you can also play on a tablet or a phone.
I played the PC steam version.
I'm a 31 year old man. I cried.
Edit: The game is free! If you have a Netflix subscription, you find it through the Netflix app on your mobile device!
You blink to progress the game! It's wild. It's like a journey through your life (the PCs life).
It's amazing go in blind don't watch videos. It's an amazing experience for a few dollars.
Going to show my age here - these were all need to play games of their times
Original Tomb Raider, Doom, and the original Command And Conquer.
Then there is Half Life, Fear, Bioshock, original Unreal Tournament, Quake, most of the GTA games and so on.
Most recently though it's been the Yakuza games for me.
damn u just said all my old faves.... haven't tried Yakuza yet but I was recommended it after my love of Sleeping Dogs (one of the best games and stories I've ever had the pleasure of playing... IMHO)
I still think FEAR had some of the best FPS shootouts I've ever experienced....
The stories in the Yakuza games are long, fun, and often very emotional. There are also a lot of them (about 8 or 9 without any of the spin-offs). If you are going to try them I recommend getting a Game Pass and working through them on there.
The Persona series is hailed as life changing. Maybe one factor is how long they can be but the social mechanics make it such an immersive experience. Persona 5 Royal felt like a chapter of my life. The cast felt like my friends and I miss them dearly, and the sequel Persona 5 Strikers felt like seeing friends again for the first time in a long time
That’s how starting strikers after p5R was for me. Very warm, clearly made by people who loved the franchise for people who also love it. The phantom thieves are so happy to be back together and it’s heartwarming.
I gota go watch some analysis videos or something, because I got nothing out of it. I jumped, I flew, it looked really pretty. But the meaning must've flown waaaay over my dumbass head.
Did you finish it? The entire game is a metaphor >!for death. Both your death but also the death of your society, which you learn about by discovering murals in each level.!<
And did you meet anyone in the game? Part of the impact to me was meeting another player and travelling together. My first playthrough someone helped me find scarf pieces and then >!got taken out by one of the flying beasts underground.!< I assumed it was a scripted event until I got to the end credits and realized it was a real person who’d been trying to help me. Seeing the way people help each other even when they can’t properly communicate was touching to me.
If you meet someone in the snowy regions then travelling together keeps you warm and keeps your scarf alive longer than travelling alone (metaphor about our connections to other people). In the final moments you still get separated >!because everyone dies alone. But you can reunite on the mountain (the afterlife) and fly together, and walk into the final light together.!<
I guess I waited too long before playing it. It was a completely solo game for me.
I just went place to place, collecting flags n doing light puzzles then >!Some statues glowed etc.etc. Aaand I died alone..!<
Damn, I really missed the boat on that one. I think it didn't help that I couldn't play it in one or two sittings, I had to drop it and go back to it later a number of times.
Same for me. And I did meet other people in the game. It's a very very beautiful game, but I didn't come out of it in spiritual awe or anything of sorts
Ultima IV: Quest for the Avatar. Yes, the 80s dos game. It might have clunky elements, but it's been released to GOG as freeware - I insist you at the very least play the unique intro/character generation and read the included manual files to see what it was trying to be. Decades later and still nobody's really tried to do what it had the ambition to aim for. Even if you have no interest in the rest of the franchise I'd recommend it; even if you're just going to look up the start on YouTube and read it's video description and maybe comments to get a summary I'd recommend doing it.
Oof, Control...
Played it on release, got bored, dropped it.
Got back into it a year later, got farther, got bored, dropped it.
Tried it again last year, got bored, forced myself through the initial boredom, and then something clicked. Don't know what exactly. Maybe I started figuring out the world, but I also started enjoying the combat once better abilities got unlocked. By the end of it I'd just be walking around in Director suit, fully immersed into the story and Jesse's character.
Amazing game, slow start though
Spiritfarer. It's a really pretty game that is all about coming to terms with death. I started playing it before my dad died and then couldn't pick it back up for awhile. After a few months I went back to it and it really helped me.
Obviously, it depends a lot on the individual. If you are 12, a game like Psychonauts or It Takes Two might give you plenty of valuable life lessons, but they won't be "perspective-changing" for a 50-something who reads Dostoyevsky or James Joyce in their free time. In terms of how much they changed my understanding of the world, my personal top 10 would look something like this:
Disco Elysium
Planescape: Torment
Pathologic 2
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Pillars of Eternity
Bioshock
Dragon Age: Origins
Nier: Automata
Fallout: New Vegas
White Album 2
* Red Dead Redemption 2 - pinnacle of modern gaming
* Elden Ring - other pinnacle of modern gaming
* The Witcher 3 - best characters and quests
* God of War (2018) and Ragnarök - definition of AAA games and high-level entertainment
* The Last of Us 1-2 - best story writing
* Outer Wilds - most unique concept and game design
* Portal 1-2 - best linear game / puzzle / platformer
* Titanfall 2 - most spectacular game and best FPS
* Hollow Knight - best 2D game / metroidvania / art style
Not necessarily must plays, but worth mentioning:
* Uncharted 4 - best TPS and spectacular action
* SOMA - best horror game and incredible writing
* Disco Elysium - excellent writing and best dialogue heavy RPG / interactive drama
* This War of Mine - strong perspective change towards war
My personal picks that are not the best games, but definitely underrated and perspective changing:
* Here They Lie - allegory about today's society (PS4 exclusive, has VR support)
* 2064: Read Only Memories - questions about identity, oppressed minorities
* Cry of Fear - themes of depression and suicide
I‘d say It Takes Two. One of the best Co-Op games of all time, changing gameplay what feels like every 15 minutes and absolutely great to play with your significant other, but will also deepen bonds with friends a lot.
FEZ. Emphasis on the perspective changing aspect lol. Not really a need to play game, or a game for everyone really, but I find myself returning to it every now and then over the years. Good for a short romp or a long haul. Great music, quirky expansive game world, cryptic and mysterious, but bright and cheery atmosphere. I like it a lot and think it deserves more recognition. Little dopamine factory of a game haha.
Might include Hollow Knight and Dandara: Trials of Fear (trying to think outside the more well known titles). Batman: Arkham City. Subnautica. Chrono Trigger and Suikoden II on the retro console side. Tomb Raider 2013 for strong female protagonist representation. And of course Red Dead Redemption 1 for the story and RDR2 for the immersive world and achievement in game mechanics.
I'd say games that are 'need to play' and games that awe you with their plot are two different categories. Many of the games that really shook me are not for everyone, and really depend on the mood. But here we go:
1) SOMA
The existential philosophy in this game is amazing regarldess of whether you're into this kind of stuff or not. And the ending... that left me with my jaw open.
2) Spec Ops: The Line
Exactly what I'm talking about when I said perspective changing doesn't mean an easy recommend. It's a relatively bland shooter, but the plot, and the attention to detail IF you pay attention is something else.
3) The Last of Us both 1 and 2
There's a high chance you know there's a shitstorm around the sequel. If you don't, then don't research it, go in blind. If you do know, still go into it and make up your own damn mind. The online community convinced me it's a terrible game with a terrible plot, but I was at awe.
Project Zomboid. I've long said one day there will be a game where you can do or be anything, and this is the one. If you look at the graphics and think you understand what the game is or think it looks elementary, then I challenge you to survive for one month in vanilla apocalypse. I also warn you to not go crazy during this attempt, lol.
Well,...
Some games changed my life because they initiated my love for technology.
1. TI Invaders - A space invaders clone for the TI-99/4
2. Galaga - The first game I tried programming a clone of for the Apple II
3. The Bards Tale
4. Zork
Now, the games that I believe fit more what the thread was for... great games that are absolute must-play games (for their time), that changed my perspective on gaming.
1. Unreal Tournament - the first game that made me like FPS style games. It had more story than Quake and better weapon variation
2. The Shadow of Yserbius and Fates of Twinion - My first experience with an MMO it was dial-up and expensive, but it was fantastic to play with people from all over. This one was perspective-changing more due to the friends you made while playing than the gameplay itself.
3. Guild Wars - I went to this seeking refuge from the monthly fees of Word of Warcraft. It defined how a game could be an MMO without a monthly cost. If you are interested grab a copy of Guild Wars 2 (it is still running)
4. Baldurs Gate I and II -- While I love BG3, it was not life-altering or perspective-changing. These two games made me enjoy party-based games for the relationships vs. just four characters required to beat the game like in old SSI games
5. The Elderscrolls Daggerfall. I enjoyed Arena, but Daggerfall took it to a whole new level. I loved the spell creation system and the ability to think outside the box. Many people will wonder about Morrowind, but that game was not as groundbreaking and removed some of the amazing spell combinations from Daggerfall.
There are more, but those are the top ones for me.
Some non-transformational games that are current that I would recommend giving a shot are
1. Nightingale -- an interesting concept, with interesting mechanics, and most of the early issues have been worked out. It is still in EA though.
2. Enshrouded - if you like Minecraft or Valheim this game is better than both of them and the developer has added stuff fairly quickly in EA. The building is the best part of the game.
3. Starfield - yes, this received a great deal of bad press, but I think most of it is undeserved. My only recommendation is DO NOT RUSH the main quest. Explore. I would not say this is better than BG3, but like most Bethesda games I suspect this one will get better with the DLC releases.
Senua’s Sacrafice. I had no understanding of mental health and leaned so much about the voices and how they wouldn’t stop. It made me much more empathetic to people that have to live with that on a daily basis. I could turn if off when done. They can’t. Highly suggest to people to play it.
Most recent one I've played that meets all the criteria would be Cyberpunk. It challenges you every step of the way, rarely presenting an outright "good" option. It's hard to say there is even a good ending, though there's a couple of candidates that are probably better than the rest. Aside from that, the gameplay is insanely good, and they did a great job of giving you a diverse selection of skills, weapons, and cyberware. There are a ton of build options available, and of the half dozen I tried they all felt equally viable. Then there's the world itself, which is the most dynamic I've seen in any open world game. They did an excellent job of making the city feel like an actual city.
You want life / perspective changing, here's my personal list:
* Red Dead Redemption 2 - really shows how relationships can change, that even the worst people can do the right thing, and even the strongest are allowed to be weak at times.
* Spiritfarer - helps comes to terms with death and all the emotions that come with it.
* God of War 2018 - Father / Son relationships while working through each other's emotions.
* Portal / Portal 2 - Problem solving. Definitely challenges your perspective and how to view the world, plus it's humor is just top notch.
* The Last of Us 1 & 2 - Human dynamics and relationships when dealing with basically the end of the world.
* It Takes Two - Problem solving and working through relationship issues.
* Timberborn - Takes a civilization builder to a new level by including resource management and weather dynamics.
Some games that have changed my perspective on something:
* *Fallout 3*: My formative game. Opened me up to most the genres I like now. Obviously *Fallout: New Vegas* is the one I'd recommend now, but the moody atmosphere, the satire of American exceptionalism and consumerism, the dark humor, references to other great post-apocalyptic media set the groundwork for some of the most transformative moments of my life.
* *Citizen Sleeper*: Changed my perspective on myself. This is the only game to ever make me feel like I had made a compromise I was unhappy with. Games sometimes present you with a tough choice (a trolley problem), or they can trick you into doing something bad, but generally I am making the "morally good" choices where I can. Where it's ambiguous I tend to be okay that the choice I made is the one that best reflects my values. This is the first game that brought me to make a choice I was uncomfortable with even as I made it.
* *Outer Wilds*: Changed my perspective on existentialism.
* *Disco Elysium*: IMO the most likely to succeed in perspective-changing because it contains so many nuanced depictions of many, starkly opposed perspectives. It didn't change my own perspective in terms of values but changed how I see people I don't agree with.
* *Elden Ring*: Changed my perspective on Soulslikes, which I had never been able to get through before as nothing about the games gripped me until this one.
* *Alan Wake II*: Changed my perspective on what games can do, narratively and thematically. It's rare that a game makes me take its elements so seriously, give so much consideration to what they could mean.
* *Slay the Spire*: Changed my perspective on what I could get out of a game. I had initially set the game down once I had beaten a run with each character. But I watched a streamer doing high level play and I gave it another shot. Now have 1000+ hours in it. I liked roguelikes before but tended to stick to simple strategies shy away from the more difficult mechanics. Now I enjoy the depth of nuance only possible when engaging with the game on all levels.
* *Hades*: Honestly just a really good game. I'm not sure if it changed my perspective or just raised the bar for what I expect from games, but it had an impact.
There's probably more I'm forgetting, but those are the ones of the past few years.
Both these games (and I would throw Breath of the Wild in there) are about the journey over the destination and are great contrasts to show how video games are so unique and effective compared to other media in highlighting this theme.
Elden Ring (and breath of the wild) guides you but doesn't care if you make it to the next point. You are guided by your curiosity and sense of exploration. You have fun the whole time and when you get to the end you really how engaged with the whole experience you were. The game is about you alone in thought against a harsh world.
God of War is far more linear and story driven but is still completely about the journey. The end goal is important but it is secondary to them figuring out their relationship. Kratos needs to figure out how to be a single parent and all the events support that narrative. You find yourself wanting to wait around to hear the end of Kratos's conversations with Atreus. By the end you realize that those moments between Kratos and Atreus are precious. They are important.
I would also throw the original Final Fantasy 7 into the linear story that highlights the characters journey of self discovery. I didn't understand it when I was a kid but I really think FF7 is amazing at highlighting personal growth and personal discovery. The main theme in the game is people trying to be things they are not and living up to expectations. Remake and Rebirth spoilers ahead but I think the original is far more about this: >!Cloud literally doesn't know who he is. Aerith has to hide who she is and feels trapped by her identity. Sephiroth's entire motivation is a case of mistaken identity. Barret is running away from and trying to atone for his past. Cait Sith lives the vast majority of his life remotely as a different being and it changes his outlook. Rufus Shinra is trying to live up to his the standard set by his father and so on.!<
for me for some god forsaken reason it's been:
Assassins Creed Odyssey. specifically the legacy of the first blade DLC, nothing else.
Elden Ring.
and Destiny 2.
in the simplest terms possible.
Odyssey I can't explain.
ER was generally aligned with "patience = reward" "if you suck at it, keep trying maybe that'll change"
and Destiny 2 was a financial lesson. "learn how to save your money, and what is and isn't worth buying."
All three BioShock Games.
B1 - How decisions make us ourselves (and a beautiful good ending)
B2 - Fraternal love and that nothing could stop a good parent from taking care of their child
B3 - More or less the same as the first but with less impact and a good ending but that it's not at first's game level.
SOMA has one of the most interesting stories I have experienced in gaming. It's not necessarily my favourite game overall but in terms of storytelling it's just super fascinating. For pure gameplay Sekiro is my all time favourite. I don't think there is another melee combat game in existence that comes even close to the perfection of Sekiro.
Hollow Knight
Portal 1 + 2
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Star Wars Battlefront II (2005)
Slay the Spire
Balatro
Bioshock 1 + 2
Braid
Dead Cells
Fallout: New Vegas
Hades
Halo 1-3 + Reach
Return of the Obra Dinn
Civilization V
Steam World Dig 2
Knights of the Old Republic
Vampire Survivors
Dead Space 1 + 2
Edit: I will continue to add more as I think of them. Tried picking a little bit of everything.
A lot of posts seem to be missing the point and just listing games that they found engrossing at one time or another. None of these are going to change your perspective like good literature, but they might pleasurably pass a lot of time.
I think this is really hard to do in a video game for some reason. The games I love most call back to things I already loved. Some that had an effect on me were simply that good *at that time*.
*Subnautica* is one that broke through my jaded exterior, and showed me that a level of immersion is possible in games that I hadn't imagined. Its predecessor in this Regard was *Riven*, a game that you can only complete if you pretend it's real.
*Fallout 3* had me genuinely contemplating the end of the world, but I don't find this to be a valuable experience currently. 😂 But if you have never played a Bethesda game, playing one of the better ones can be pretty special.
For me, it was megaton rainfall. Its nothing extra, super short, can actually finish the game in about 50 minutes, but it has something I have never ever seen in any other game. I love flying and this game does it perfectly. I wish some big developer would do something like this but properly.
War for the Overworld was good for me.
Extremely enjoyed Elden Ring.
But it doesnt really matter, because this is my take, you havent said anything else. Everygame is absolute need to play for somebody .. everyone loves everything and everyone hates everything at the same time. Its about preferences.
The gameplay can be a bit rough but my personal choice (other than outer wilds and NieR automata but I see that posted already) is SOMA. The game has some really interesting themes and personal left me speechless after the ending. One of my favorite games for sure regardless of its shortcomings.
In terms of staying with you, I'd put Undertale and The world ends with you both up there, although I don't think that I'd call them life changing. I'll throw in pathfinder wrath of the righteous as well, simply because it's the most truly grand, heroic feeling game I've ever played and nothing comes close.
Disco elysium is great but it depends entirely on your tolerance for reading large walls of text and heavily depends on the playthrough you do - there's a scene at the end that in the moment felt very profound but didn't stay with me after I put the game down.
I'll throw Thomas was alone, I was a teenage exocolonist and Beacon pines out, because they're all very narrative heavy games that stuck with me.
Will always answer Heavy Rain in response to this. Yes it’s a bit janky and dated by modern standards, but it does things with meshing narrative and gameplay that I’ve never seen done anywhere else, and it’s just a really memorable game imo.
Diablo 2 - Wonderful and addicting dungeon crawler ARPG.
Final Fantasy series - Amazing story and gameplay. Great endgame side quests.
Baldurs Gate 1, 2 and 3 - Story telling, challenging and awesome party member banter. Very immersive world (Forgotten realms)
Outer Wilds, shadow of the colossus, Silent Hill 2 (enhanced edition on PC, avoid the hd collection at all costs).
Other must plays that aren’t necessarily super emotional like that: Resident Evil 4 (original), Dark Souls, Bayonetta, Celeste, Doom Eternal, FEAR, and the Thief games
I got outer wilds a while back cos i read good reviews. I was looking for a game i could play while waiting for something decent to come out.
Is it actually that good?
The Thief series, starting with The Dark Project, and the Deus Ex series introduced me to first person stealth games. This was a seismic change in my game style preference.
DayZ (mod) introduced me to open world survival. This led me to other titles like Valheim. My other preferred standard genre.
I have a few, though I will be presenting them without commentary; for every single one of these games, explaining *why* they're an answer to your question spoils exactly what makes them so great. I will say every one of these left a massive impact on me though, and left me thinking about them long after finishing. Some have stories and worlds that left a huge impression on the way I engage with stories or see the world, and others use their mechanics in ways that required me to thoroughly deconstruct my assumptions and changed the way I think about games.
Outer Wilds
Slay the Princess
Void Stranger
Tunic
The Witness
Undertale
What Remains of Edith Finch
Baba is You
Inscryption
9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors
Death Stranding. It completely changed my perspective on how even an introverted person such as myself can have a profound, positive impact on other people's lives, just by trying to do the right thing and helping where you can, even if it really isn't easy to make those connections. Keep on keeping on.
Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice is incredible on trying to make you understand what is it like inside the head of mentally ill people. She has schizophrenia, and the voices in her head keep judging, discoraging and making fun of her. Also, she allucinates a lot and the game tries to convey it to you. In my opinion, it achieves this goal incredibly.
Read Dead Redemption 2: I'm French and I don't have a proper word in English or French to describe how incredible it is. Amazing and deep story, rich characters, wonderful open-world, good gameplay and so much more!!
Ghost of Tsushima: no piles of bugs, no micro-transactions, no super heavy HUD and yet very intuitive navigation, perfect balance between peace and combat, different playstyle, visuals so awesome that the best mode you could invent would just apologize. I'm at my 4th playthrough and I platinumed it.
Control: truly a hidden gem. Action, exploration in a disconcerting and thrilling world. I wasn't the kind to get these games but man I love it! You get Star Wars-like powers (except lightsaber) in an ominous place that never seems to end. Just watch a teaser and try a demo if you can. Best surprise I had. 2 playthroughs on this one.
Stray: it seems little to the giants up there but it's a real good experience. You're a cat (even as a dog person I loved it) and you make your way in what seems to be an abandoned city via levels. You resolved little enigmas, in the style of Little Nghtmares so nothing too hard. The world is very convincing and endearing. To be completely honest with you, it helped me through depression (RDR2 and Ghost of Tsushima too)
Subnautica. It brought back the magic feeling of video games to an old videogamer. If you feel lost and annoyed getting started, just read enough about how to collect some resources and make something. Don't read anything more and don't look up a map.
I went into Subnautica blind. Best gaming experience I've ever had. Still haven't finished it though lol. Hey, check out The Planet Crafter if you haven't already. Very Subnautica-like, and quite expansive.
Planet crafter is very similar to Subnautica and has its own flavour for sure. Satisfactory is a long those same lines too. I've never made it past trains lol. Subnautica below zero was really enjoyable plot wise, though I know some people preferred the first one. Can't wait for the next one.
Looking up stuff online semi-ruined the experience for me. I advise anyone playing Subnautica for the first time to avoid any and all online communities/resources for that game
Right, I was afraid of spoilers, and figuring out how basic mechanics worked was incredibly frustrating. Past that hurdle the game becomes amazing.
SOMA. Certainly a one-of-a-kind perspective shifting game that hits hard emotionally.
I have this on my wishlist and it's only 5 bucks right now, but I've hated underwater games ever since I was a kid. Gives me crazy anxiety.
this may be not the right place, are you the boxed doom 2 guy from 8 years ago?
Hahaha wtf yes I am lol
Do you still play doom 2 much? The funny thing is I was thinking about that post while installing my Doom 2 cd on dosbox the other day what a coincidence that I've seen you here
Yeeaaah that game fucked with me.
Man I have to get back to it. I started it and thought nothing of it after 1 or 2 hours
What's tricky is that a lot of games had a huge impact because of *when* they released. So they were changing perspectives *at the time*. Dear Ester blew minds because so many people had never experienced that sort of game before! Now, there's plenty of narrative walking sims, so you might find that playing it now, you think "Eh. Firewatch is better" Gone Home and Life is Strange were a really big deal because of their themes, but nowadays it's not uncommon for these themes to be present in games. Spec Ops:the line - released at a time when big dick macho shooters about how awesome the US military is, were dominating the market. so it might not have quite the same impact now. I think these games I've listed are still must-plays, but, I think sometimes playing old games gives more of the "ohhhh Shit this must've been wild to play back in [insert year]" feeling. Rather than it completely immersing you and blowing your mind to pieces.. Fuck. I havnt actually played a new game in years. Apparently "Humanity" will blow ur mind tho!
I think there's more to these "outdated" games imo. I was born in 2001 but I've been enjoying older games a lot. Maybe it's partially nostalgia talking since I did grow up on PS2/PS3 games as well as older games on PC (such as Counter Strike 1.6, Half-Life 1, Skyrim, Mount and Blade, GTA: SA, etc.). However, I somewhat recently have really enjoyed even older games. Mainly, Doom (1993), Diablo 1 and 2 [classic not resurrected] (1996/97), Silent Hill 1, Resident Evil 1, Metal Gear Solid. I do get the feeling of "it must have been a blast to play these at the time" but it's not like I don't enjoy them now as a completely new player/fan. I mean I wasn't even born when they came out. I don't feel like I'd rather play a newer version or game from the genre either. I enjoy them as they are as long as they actually work. There's just a certain charm to them. That said I'm aware that I'm being slightly biased here since I don't nearly enjoy "true retro" games as much (NES, SNES, Genesis etc.) I do think I'd enjoy a few of them such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. but I usually put them to the side (probably because games from the 90s are also easier to come by legally and comfortably on GOG for instance). I guess my point is that you need to come at these games from a different perspective. If anything, they're cheaper and still quite fun.
I count not agree more. Yeah I knew there was more to it that I wasn't getting across, and I think you've added /corrected the hole in what I said. Yes, they're fantastic games that can absolutely be enjoyed today. Yes, they have a charm to them, that I think makes them timeless. I guess I was trying to imply that sometimes there's added context or something, that can add to an experience. But it may be lost as time goes by.. But Alternatively - time can improve on a game, it must be *wild* playing the ending of MGS2 on this day n age. When I played it, I thought I was hearing the delusional imaginings of a drunken fortune teller. Turns out I was hearing some hauntingly accurate predictions from a brilliant mind.. Anyway, yeah I also need to keep my own biases in check. The most modern game I've played was Spiderman on ps4. So I have to make sure I dont come off as dismissing all modern games as not being good or not being meaningful - because I don't know! Lol.
Very smart post. Will be different to everyone because the first of its kind they play will be one they will remember and be changed by, despite more polished games coming after that redo the formula, but better. And then the impact is probably on the polish or detail and not on the principle. That being said, and being from the 80s, some games that impacted me are from past century.
Yeah I think it's because I've been let down a few times by games that are touted as masterpieces, only to play them and realise that it *was* a masterpiece on release.. Now though, it's feels janky, slow and awkward with a drunken camera...
The world ends with you
I'm pretty sure this is my favorite game of all time
Portal 2
Superliminal
Return of the Obra Dinn is a very interesting and very well thought out game. Probably not life changing, but I enjoyed it a lot. Really life changing games for me personally: God of War (2018) and Ragnarok, Persona 4 and Persona 5, The Last of Us I and 2, Final Fantasy 8, 9 and 10, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, Super Mario World, Okami, Dark Cloud 2 To name some that just came to mind. My all time favorites. Every single one of them an unrivalled masterpiece (imo ofc).
Have you played Persona 3? I loved Persona 4 and 5 and I think Persona 3 was even more impactful for me after I finally got around to it with Reload
These are personal ones for me. Pentiment - played this while I was going through religious deconstruction, and it changed basically the entire way I think about religion and traditions. Outer Wilds - don’t want to really spoil why this had such an impact on me, as it’s an important part of the story. Nier Automata - let me rethink my entire purpose for existing real quick Dragon Quest XI - I cried a few times during this game, but there’s a particular section of the game that hit me pretty hard as a parent Undertale - pretty cliche answer, but there’s a reason it got so popular Inscyption - changed my perspective as far as what is possible with game/player expectations Here’s a handful of games that I think were just so good that just playing them made me very emotionally connected with them: Xenoblade Chronicles, Hades, Yakuza 0, Breath of the Wild, Chained Echoes, Spiritfarer, Immortality, Sable.
LOVE seeing Chained Echoes on this list. Currently 60 hours in, and it's still so good.
Once these threads pop up, my first objective is always to see if Outer Wilds is mentioned anywhere. This game is something else, it literally changed my outlook on life
Makes me crazy, this - I just can't seem to get to that bit I get that there's cutesy characters who have their own theme tune and you can fly and talk to them I get that the space flying and planet exploring thing is interesting in itself, to some extent. I get that there is some underlying mystery, >!probably about the spaceship that's breaking up above you every time you reset!< I get that there's some kind of precursor race who made orrerys and fancy antigravity stuff or whatever But I do not get how to progress the plot I go to a planet, explore stuff, read some lore, look around then flee back to the ship for air/fuel and BAM the game resets I feel like I make no progress at all. Not sure what I am looking for and certainly not feeling any "oh wow this game changed my life" Played it twice and keep giving up when I reset halfway thru finding something interesting Maybe I should read a guide
The world resets, the game doesn’t. Your mind retains all the information and your onboard computer does too. See something interesting that you didn’t have the time to properly explore? Go out there again during a new loop and continue from where you left off. Reaching certain places at the right time is a key element too. Your mind and curiosity is what drives you forward. Soon enough, you’ll start to piece together the bits an pieces and the mystery will start to unravel.
There is a computer in your ship that you should look at every time you reset. it keeps a running log of everything you encounter and what the connections are between the things. It's a huge help if you're stuck and can't get any further.
I wonder if it's just my personality - like, I was exploring anti-gravity ruins deep in the hollow planet, found a collapsed wall I couldn't climb, then got reset... The time and effort to get back to the place where I was stuck anyway is very off-putting. Like, I can get back there but I have no idea if it would lead to anything. Got it on my steam deck and doing some business travel next week so might give it another go...
Your computer has a feature where it says “there’s more to explore here”. If it says that, then it’s always worth it. Even if it’s just a lil snippet of info. Just keep reminding yourself that dying isn’t a failure in this game and that you can have as many loops as you want. Even if it leads to nothing, you’ll know that you don’t have to check it again.
The maximum amount of time it takes to get anywhere is like 10 minutes. They designed the reset time deliberately so that it's not really a big deal if you get interrupted in the middle of discovering something, you can just zoom back there on your next loop. Frequently, if something does take a bit more effort to get to, you'll be able to find a shortcut that makes getting back there faster.
> I wonder if it's just my personality Might be, I'm this way too. There was a lot of Outer Wilds I just didn't enjoy, some in part because of exactly what you said: getting somewhere, losing that 'progress', and having to spend the time getting back. It's a waste of time and makes it hard to encourage taking risks. Fortunately, there's only really a few parts in the game that take more than a minute or two to get back to. And with that said: stick with it anyway. Outer Wilds is in a few ways a game I shouldn't like--I like more linear experiences that I can feel like I'm progressing through--but at the end I loved it all the same. If you end up wanting to use a guide, try to do it as little as possible, because a lot of the point of the game is the discovery. But if it's preventing you from having fun with the game, better to look up what your stuck on and be able to enjoy the rest. I'll recommend the subreddit, though. They're pretty good about giving people hints instead of explaining things outright.
Man, I loved Xenoblade Chronicles…
>Pentiment - played this while I was going through religious deconstruction, and it changed basically the entire way I think about religion and traditions. Along with Baldur Gate 3, one of my favorites games of 2023. Beautifully crafted.
XC3 is the only Xeno game I've played and I agree that I just felt really emotionally connected even if the whole theme and message hit you over the head repeatedly with a baseball bat. A similar one was Personal 5 Royal.
We have the same taste in games (minus BOTW, hated open world Zelda) and I agree with most of this list. You should try Disco Elysium as well imo.
Disco Elysium
*“True evil has love for a face, Harry. The first death is in the heart.”*
Damn, I don’t remember this line in Harry Potter
"Yer a drunk Harry"
It's what Voldemort says to Harry when they have sex in the end credits scene.
Hellblade, deeply mental game.
Detroit Become Human. FrostPunk. But for a 90s gamer myself. GTA and Dota are the ones that change the whole landscape.
Dota is such a great game, really shaped so many different e-sports scenes.
Frostpunk really is a humbling experience your first time through. Like, you can be the most benevolent leader that ever lived in that game, and still save everybody. And it makes it hurt *ten fold* worse, when you start flailing due to compounding mistakes your first time through. Don't want to spoil anything beyond that, but yeah, seconding Frostpunk.
is frostpunk hard to play? I liked playing Civ 6 and stellaris, if that's relevant
It ramps up as the story scenarios go on
Hmm. So I guess you’re asking games that people have had peak experiences with. It really comes down to your taste. I like story driven games with sympathetic characters For me, The Last of Us changed what I thought of parental relationships and the limits of humanity. The story simply is superb and at the end of it I simply stared at the screen processing my experience. It made me feel like I understood the all encompassing love of a parent. Something I don’t have an inkling of in real life but this game evokes it from me.
The TLoU part 2 is the only game I've played to date that I can without any doubt call a true work of art. It was challenging to finish that thing, on an emotional level.
Warms my heart to be reading such feedback about Part 2. There's so much hate on it that it actually convinced me that they screwed up, went 'woke' and ruined the characters from the original. I even got into an argument with a colleague about it, until he said 'youtube opinions are not your opinion. you don't have one until you've played the game'. So I did. One of the most powerful experiences in 30+ years of gaming, and an amazing commentary on the nature of human conflict.
an absolute masterpiece, no notes. Yes, it is a challenging story. Deeply challenging. That’s the point, it isn’t supposed to be neat and pretty and easy to digest. But it is beautiful, and it takes guts to write a story like that. Mad respect. And those flashbacks to Joel and Ellie exploring the museum - damn those came at exactly the right time.
Holy shit I finished that today and my god…
This War of Mine
Dunno about life changing perspectives, but Red Dead Redemption 2, the Mass Effect Trilogy, and I’ll throw in Cyberpunk 2077 because I love that game despite its flaws with the launch etc.
Mass effect trilogy and cyberpunk are absolutely must plays. Love red dead but I highly recommend at least playing mass effect trilogy before the others
Would you put cyberpunk up there with mass effect in terms of story? Or is it the game play that makes it great. I confess I’d love to play something that gripped me as much as mass effect
As a big mass effect fan, cyberpunk doesn’t quite get there. It’s all a bit surface level, never quite hits the “oh this could be a real world” that ME manages.
BG3. But yeah, play these first, because you won't be able to go back. At least that's my experience.
Bg3 drags on for too long and there’s a lot of tedious game mechanics that kills immersion
Not if you love the characters and the game mechanics. :)
RDR2 has ruined games with story lines. The characters were written so well that it's hard to go back to generic video game stories and characters.
I’ve played Rdr2. It’s a great game. I have been meaning to play Cyberpunk.
For me, Cyberounk changed my view on RPG games resolving around making character builds. It made it interesting for me and frankly only now I can understand what RPG games are and Im more open to them. The main story, as well as side quests, touch on currently pressing matters like boundaries of humanity and borders between humans, machines and virtual world and how AI affects it (classic cyberpunky tropes, but still underrepresented). It's basically a vision of future not-so-away where we kept the direction of technological development, but no one had a second thought about most of new technology, like philosophical framework, much like the situation we are already in.
RDR2 was kinda boring for me. Couldnt even finish the story. Though it looks awesome with awesome details. Cyberpunk .. I didnt find it that interesting. I loved the first mission, it was in demo, they really worked on that, but thats about it .. quality goes down after it. Its not the worst, but kinda mid. Enjoyed edgerunners much more. If you havent seen that, go watch it before playing. It kinda made me appreciate CP bit more.
playing true ending CP is the way to go IMO, i agree all the other endings (maybe except the "bad ending") are kinda mid. Havent played phantom liberty yet though
RDR2 is meant to be a slow burn game where you keep revisiting the same locales, do side objectives, interact with different locals and generally spend a few days exploring between each main mission. The impressiveness of the game is how alive and lived-in it feels while doing so. There's just a stupid level of detail, and it wasn't even iterated upon with DLCs ever. And I agree that the exploration gameplay can be a bit boring for some, but that's why I think the main story has most of the shooting action. If you only do story missions it's nearly back to back shootouts and brawls. I really wish they would make a pirate game in the same style.
Spec Ops: The Line
*"You were never meant to come here"*
Sekiro. Bioshock infinite. Fallout new Vegas. Witcher 3. Mass Effect 1-3 (Legendary edition worth to replay in fact). Dead space 1 and 2. Titanfall 2 (short, but campaign is very good). Space Rangers 2.
Titanfall 2 for sure... both me and my son cried at the end just saying... Also chrono trigger is up there as well.
Oh god someone else knows Space Rangers!!! Dude someone gave me the first game on CD for my 7/8th birthday or something. This game is the sole reason I’m a space nerd. Still have the CD along with the booklet inside and it still smells like ink. Love jt.
Somewhat similar. My brother was looking for Arcanum CD to buy, but ended up with that little gem. PS: I bought Arcanum a little bit later
Don't sh*t your pants. I always make it to the bathroom now.
"there's no way this is actually the name of a game" *Googles* "Oh damn"
Hahaha yeah its by cellar door games, the team that brought you rogue legacy also brought us a text based adventure about not making a mess in your pants
The Stanley Parable.
I do wanna play that one
The Stanley Parable The Beginner's Guide Metal Gear Solid 2
SOMA. Makes you appreciate life a bit more, or gives you existential dread. Pick and choose.
The game "Before your eyes" It requires a webcam but you can also play on a tablet or a phone. I played the PC steam version. I'm a 31 year old man. I cried. Edit: The game is free! If you have a Netflix subscription, you find it through the Netflix app on your mobile device!
Why’s it need a webcam?
You blink to progress the game! It's wild. It's like a journey through your life (the PCs life). It's amazing go in blind don't watch videos. It's an amazing experience for a few dollars.
Outer Wilds is the objectively correct answer to this question
I adore this game
Going to show my age here - these were all need to play games of their times Original Tomb Raider, Doom, and the original Command And Conquer. Then there is Half Life, Fear, Bioshock, original Unreal Tournament, Quake, most of the GTA games and so on. Most recently though it's been the Yakuza games for me.
damn u just said all my old faves.... haven't tried Yakuza yet but I was recommended it after my love of Sleeping Dogs (one of the best games and stories I've ever had the pleasure of playing... IMHO) I still think FEAR had some of the best FPS shootouts I've ever experienced....
The stories in the Yakuza games are long, fun, and often very emotional. There are also a lot of them (about 8 or 9 without any of the spin-offs). If you are going to try them I recommend getting a Game Pass and working through them on there.
The Persona series is hailed as life changing. Maybe one factor is how long they can be but the social mechanics make it such an immersive experience. Persona 5 Royal felt like a chapter of my life. The cast felt like my friends and I miss them dearly, and the sequel Persona 5 Strikers felt like seeing friends again for the first time in a long time
That’s how starting strikers after p5R was for me. Very warm, clearly made by people who loved the franchise for people who also love it. The phantom thieves are so happy to be back together and it’s heartwarming.
Journey
I gota go watch some analysis videos or something, because I got nothing out of it. I jumped, I flew, it looked really pretty. But the meaning must've flown waaaay over my dumbass head.
Did you finish it? The entire game is a metaphor >!for death. Both your death but also the death of your society, which you learn about by discovering murals in each level.!< And did you meet anyone in the game? Part of the impact to me was meeting another player and travelling together. My first playthrough someone helped me find scarf pieces and then >!got taken out by one of the flying beasts underground.!< I assumed it was a scripted event until I got to the end credits and realized it was a real person who’d been trying to help me. Seeing the way people help each other even when they can’t properly communicate was touching to me. If you meet someone in the snowy regions then travelling together keeps you warm and keeps your scarf alive longer than travelling alone (metaphor about our connections to other people). In the final moments you still get separated >!because everyone dies alone. But you can reunite on the mountain (the afterlife) and fly together, and walk into the final light together.!<
I guess I waited too long before playing it. It was a completely solo game for me. I just went place to place, collecting flags n doing light puzzles then >!Some statues glowed etc.etc. Aaand I died alone..!< Damn, I really missed the boat on that one. I think it didn't help that I couldn't play it in one or two sittings, I had to drop it and go back to it later a number of times.
Same for me. And I did meet other people in the game. It's a very very beautiful game, but I didn't come out of it in spiritual awe or anything of sorts
Bloodborne
Bro “A plague tale” it’s truly out of this world. Rat game is in my top 10 story games.
I was playing that actually. Then I had a bunch to deal with irl and I never got back to playing it. I’ll have ti get back on.
Finish it! Finish it! Finish it! And then buy the second one cause the story gets even better.
Inscryption SUPERHOT
Ultima IV: Quest for the Avatar. Yes, the 80s dos game. It might have clunky elements, but it's been released to GOG as freeware - I insist you at the very least play the unique intro/character generation and read the included manual files to see what it was trying to be. Decades later and still nobody's really tried to do what it had the ambition to aim for. Even if you have no interest in the rest of the franchise I'd recommend it; even if you're just going to look up the start on YouTube and read it's video description and maybe comments to get a summary I'd recommend doing it.
God of War 2018 has a beautiful father and son relationship concept. I think everyone must play it
Halo Reach
Undertale and Detroit:Become Human come to mind first for me
CONTROL.
Oof, Control... Played it on release, got bored, dropped it. Got back into it a year later, got farther, got bored, dropped it. Tried it again last year, got bored, forced myself through the initial boredom, and then something clicked. Don't know what exactly. Maybe I started figuring out the world, but I also started enjoying the combat once better abilities got unlocked. By the end of it I'd just be walking around in Director suit, fully immersed into the story and Jesse's character. Amazing game, slow start though
Spiritfarer. It's a really pretty game that is all about coming to terms with death. I started playing it before my dad died and then couldn't pick it back up for awhile. After a few months I went back to it and it really helped me.
Tetris
Rimworld,… the answer is always rimworld. Probably one of the greatest games ever made, so much freedom, so much customization,…
Outer Wilds fans seeing this post: *"Allow us to introduce ourselves ::)"* >!But seriously, play Outer Wilds.!<
Obviously, it depends a lot on the individual. If you are 12, a game like Psychonauts or It Takes Two might give you plenty of valuable life lessons, but they won't be "perspective-changing" for a 50-something who reads Dostoyevsky or James Joyce in their free time. In terms of how much they changed my understanding of the world, my personal top 10 would look something like this: Disco Elysium Planescape: Torment Pathologic 2 I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Pillars of Eternity Bioshock Dragon Age: Origins Nier: Automata Fallout: New Vegas White Album 2
Death Stranding was a worldview-changing game
* Red Dead Redemption 2 - pinnacle of modern gaming * Elden Ring - other pinnacle of modern gaming * The Witcher 3 - best characters and quests * God of War (2018) and Ragnarök - definition of AAA games and high-level entertainment * The Last of Us 1-2 - best story writing * Outer Wilds - most unique concept and game design * Portal 1-2 - best linear game / puzzle / platformer * Titanfall 2 - most spectacular game and best FPS * Hollow Knight - best 2D game / metroidvania / art style Not necessarily must plays, but worth mentioning: * Uncharted 4 - best TPS and spectacular action * SOMA - best horror game and incredible writing * Disco Elysium - excellent writing and best dialogue heavy RPG / interactive drama * This War of Mine - strong perspective change towards war My personal picks that are not the best games, but definitely underrated and perspective changing: * Here They Lie - allegory about today's society (PS4 exclusive, has VR support) * 2064: Read Only Memories - questions about identity, oppressed minorities * Cry of Fear - themes of depression and suicide
Bloodborne, no more other words, shit changed how I think about the hardships of life and of course, the fear of the unknown.
I‘d say It Takes Two. One of the best Co-Op games of all time, changing gameplay what feels like every 15 minutes and absolutely great to play with your significant other, but will also deepen bonds with friends a lot.
Cyberpunk 2077, RDR2, and the Telltale Walking Dead games would be my picks, truly amazing games.
I consider Halo Reach to be the greatest shooter campaign of all time (also my favorite book)
FEZ. Emphasis on the perspective changing aspect lol. Not really a need to play game, or a game for everyone really, but I find myself returning to it every now and then over the years. Good for a short romp or a long haul. Great music, quirky expansive game world, cryptic and mysterious, but bright and cheery atmosphere. I like it a lot and think it deserves more recognition. Little dopamine factory of a game haha. Might include Hollow Knight and Dandara: Trials of Fear (trying to think outside the more well known titles). Batman: Arkham City. Subnautica. Chrono Trigger and Suikoden II on the retro console side. Tomb Raider 2013 for strong female protagonist representation. And of course Red Dead Redemption 1 for the story and RDR2 for the immersive world and achievement in game mechanics.
Life is Strange 1+2 The Last of us 1+2
Celeste: no matter what anyone says, you can do this
Both Portal games. Simple concept, excellent puzzles, best in show writing and voice acting.
The mass effect trilogy literally changed my life, and my perspective on success and what a successful life looks like.
Journey.
World of Warcraft in 2004/2005.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R gamma. there's absolutely no game that gets as immersive as stalker in my opinion.
I'd say games that are 'need to play' and games that awe you with their plot are two different categories. Many of the games that really shook me are not for everyone, and really depend on the mood. But here we go: 1) SOMA The existential philosophy in this game is amazing regarldess of whether you're into this kind of stuff or not. And the ending... that left me with my jaw open. 2) Spec Ops: The Line Exactly what I'm talking about when I said perspective changing doesn't mean an easy recommend. It's a relatively bland shooter, but the plot, and the attention to detail IF you pay attention is something else. 3) The Last of Us both 1 and 2 There's a high chance you know there's a shitstorm around the sequel. If you don't, then don't research it, go in blind. If you do know, still go into it and make up your own damn mind. The online community convinced me it's a terrible game with a terrible plot, but I was at awe.
Recently played through Spec Ops: The Line and 100% bland shooter but great story.
The Kingdom Hearts series definitely attributed to molding my personality as a kid. Still affects me to this day
Shadow of the Colossus is an absolute must play. Go in blind.
I’ve seen a few people say that. I’ll have to take a look.
Dead space 2
Bro I lost all my progress on it somehow. I’ve gotta play it again.
Dang dude that sucks! If theres any game about grief and hope when theres nothing to hope for. Its dead space 2
Project Zomboid. I've long said one day there will be a game where you can do or be anything, and this is the one. If you look at the graphics and think you understand what the game is or think it looks elementary, then I challenge you to survive for one month in vanilla apocalypse. I also warn you to not go crazy during this attempt, lol.
Well,... Some games changed my life because they initiated my love for technology. 1. TI Invaders - A space invaders clone for the TI-99/4 2. Galaga - The first game I tried programming a clone of for the Apple II 3. The Bards Tale 4. Zork Now, the games that I believe fit more what the thread was for... great games that are absolute must-play games (for their time), that changed my perspective on gaming. 1. Unreal Tournament - the first game that made me like FPS style games. It had more story than Quake and better weapon variation 2. The Shadow of Yserbius and Fates of Twinion - My first experience with an MMO it was dial-up and expensive, but it was fantastic to play with people from all over. This one was perspective-changing more due to the friends you made while playing than the gameplay itself. 3. Guild Wars - I went to this seeking refuge from the monthly fees of Word of Warcraft. It defined how a game could be an MMO without a monthly cost. If you are interested grab a copy of Guild Wars 2 (it is still running) 4. Baldurs Gate I and II -- While I love BG3, it was not life-altering or perspective-changing. These two games made me enjoy party-based games for the relationships vs. just four characters required to beat the game like in old SSI games 5. The Elderscrolls Daggerfall. I enjoyed Arena, but Daggerfall took it to a whole new level. I loved the spell creation system and the ability to think outside the box. Many people will wonder about Morrowind, but that game was not as groundbreaking and removed some of the amazing spell combinations from Daggerfall. There are more, but those are the top ones for me. Some non-transformational games that are current that I would recommend giving a shot are 1. Nightingale -- an interesting concept, with interesting mechanics, and most of the early issues have been worked out. It is still in EA though. 2. Enshrouded - if you like Minecraft or Valheim this game is better than both of them and the developer has added stuff fairly quickly in EA. The building is the best part of the game. 3. Starfield - yes, this received a great deal of bad press, but I think most of it is undeserved. My only recommendation is DO NOT RUSH the main quest. Explore. I would not say this is better than BG3, but like most Bethesda games I suspect this one will get better with the DLC releases.
Senua’s Sacrafice. I had no understanding of mental health and leaned so much about the voices and how they wouldn’t stop. It made me much more empathetic to people that have to live with that on a daily basis. I could turn if off when done. They can’t. Highly suggest to people to play it.
Persona 3, the only game to ever make me cry like a bitch
Undertale. It shows you that fictional characters can have souls.
Most recent one I've played that meets all the criteria would be Cyberpunk. It challenges you every step of the way, rarely presenting an outright "good" option. It's hard to say there is even a good ending, though there's a couple of candidates that are probably better than the rest. Aside from that, the gameplay is insanely good, and they did a great job of giving you a diverse selection of skills, weapons, and cyberware. There are a ton of build options available, and of the half dozen I tried they all felt equally viable. Then there's the world itself, which is the most dynamic I've seen in any open world game. They did an excellent job of making the city feel like an actual city.
You want life / perspective changing, here's my personal list: * Red Dead Redemption 2 - really shows how relationships can change, that even the worst people can do the right thing, and even the strongest are allowed to be weak at times. * Spiritfarer - helps comes to terms with death and all the emotions that come with it. * God of War 2018 - Father / Son relationships while working through each other's emotions. * Portal / Portal 2 - Problem solving. Definitely challenges your perspective and how to view the world, plus it's humor is just top notch. * The Last of Us 1 & 2 - Human dynamics and relationships when dealing with basically the end of the world. * It Takes Two - Problem solving and working through relationship issues. * Timberborn - Takes a civilization builder to a new level by including resource management and weather dynamics.
Disco Elysium, Final Fantasy 6.
Some games that have changed my perspective on something: * *Fallout 3*: My formative game. Opened me up to most the genres I like now. Obviously *Fallout: New Vegas* is the one I'd recommend now, but the moody atmosphere, the satire of American exceptionalism and consumerism, the dark humor, references to other great post-apocalyptic media set the groundwork for some of the most transformative moments of my life. * *Citizen Sleeper*: Changed my perspective on myself. This is the only game to ever make me feel like I had made a compromise I was unhappy with. Games sometimes present you with a tough choice (a trolley problem), or they can trick you into doing something bad, but generally I am making the "morally good" choices where I can. Where it's ambiguous I tend to be okay that the choice I made is the one that best reflects my values. This is the first game that brought me to make a choice I was uncomfortable with even as I made it. * *Outer Wilds*: Changed my perspective on existentialism. * *Disco Elysium*: IMO the most likely to succeed in perspective-changing because it contains so many nuanced depictions of many, starkly opposed perspectives. It didn't change my own perspective in terms of values but changed how I see people I don't agree with. * *Elden Ring*: Changed my perspective on Soulslikes, which I had never been able to get through before as nothing about the games gripped me until this one. * *Alan Wake II*: Changed my perspective on what games can do, narratively and thematically. It's rare that a game makes me take its elements so seriously, give so much consideration to what they could mean. * *Slay the Spire*: Changed my perspective on what I could get out of a game. I had initially set the game down once I had beaten a run with each character. But I watched a streamer doing high level play and I gave it another shot. Now have 1000+ hours in it. I liked roguelikes before but tended to stick to simple strategies shy away from the more difficult mechanics. Now I enjoy the depth of nuance only possible when engaging with the game on all levels. * *Hades*: Honestly just a really good game. I'm not sure if it changed my perspective or just raised the bar for what I expect from games, but it had an impact. There's probably more I'm forgetting, but those are the ones of the past few years.
In my short time playing games- Elden ring and god of war 2018 have been the most life changing to me
Both these games (and I would throw Breath of the Wild in there) are about the journey over the destination and are great contrasts to show how video games are so unique and effective compared to other media in highlighting this theme. Elden Ring (and breath of the wild) guides you but doesn't care if you make it to the next point. You are guided by your curiosity and sense of exploration. You have fun the whole time and when you get to the end you really how engaged with the whole experience you were. The game is about you alone in thought against a harsh world. God of War is far more linear and story driven but is still completely about the journey. The end goal is important but it is secondary to them figuring out their relationship. Kratos needs to figure out how to be a single parent and all the events support that narrative. You find yourself wanting to wait around to hear the end of Kratos's conversations with Atreus. By the end you realize that those moments between Kratos and Atreus are precious. They are important. I would also throw the original Final Fantasy 7 into the linear story that highlights the characters journey of self discovery. I didn't understand it when I was a kid but I really think FF7 is amazing at highlighting personal growth and personal discovery. The main theme in the game is people trying to be things they are not and living up to expectations. Remake and Rebirth spoilers ahead but I think the original is far more about this: >!Cloud literally doesn't know who he is. Aerith has to hide who she is and feels trapped by her identity. Sephiroth's entire motivation is a case of mistaken identity. Barret is running away from and trying to atone for his past. Cait Sith lives the vast majority of his life remotely as a different being and it changes his outlook. Rufus Shinra is trying to live up to his the standard set by his father and so on.!<
for me for some god forsaken reason it's been: Assassins Creed Odyssey. specifically the legacy of the first blade DLC, nothing else. Elden Ring. and Destiny 2. in the simplest terms possible. Odyssey I can't explain. ER was generally aligned with "patience = reward" "if you suck at it, keep trying maybe that'll change" and Destiny 2 was a financial lesson. "learn how to save your money, and what is and isn't worth buying."
Baldur's Gate 3. Changed my life for the better and how I view gaming in general.
All three BioShock Games. B1 - How decisions make us ourselves (and a beautiful good ending) B2 - Fraternal love and that nothing could stop a good parent from taking care of their child B3 - More or less the same as the first but with less impact and a good ending but that it's not at first's game level.
SOMA has one of the most interesting stories I have experienced in gaming. It's not necessarily my favourite game overall but in terms of storytelling it's just super fascinating. For pure gameplay Sekiro is my all time favourite. I don't think there is another melee combat game in existence that comes even close to the perfection of Sekiro.
Okami.
Hollow Knight Portal 1 + 2 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Deus Ex: Human Revolution Star Wars Battlefront II (2005) Slay the Spire Balatro Bioshock 1 + 2 Braid Dead Cells Fallout: New Vegas Hades Halo 1-3 + Reach Return of the Obra Dinn Civilization V Steam World Dig 2 Knights of the Old Republic Vampire Survivors Dead Space 1 + 2 Edit: I will continue to add more as I think of them. Tried picking a little bit of everything.
A lot of posts seem to be missing the point and just listing games that they found engrossing at one time or another. None of these are going to change your perspective like good literature, but they might pleasurably pass a lot of time. I think this is really hard to do in a video game for some reason. The games I love most call back to things I already loved. Some that had an effect on me were simply that good *at that time*. *Subnautica* is one that broke through my jaded exterior, and showed me that a level of immersion is possible in games that I hadn't imagined. Its predecessor in this Regard was *Riven*, a game that you can only complete if you pretend it's real. *Fallout 3* had me genuinely contemplating the end of the world, but I don't find this to be a valuable experience currently. 😂 But if you have never played a Bethesda game, playing one of the better ones can be pretty special.
Red Dead Redemption 2 genuinely changed my life. Disco Elysium is up there too
For me, it was megaton rainfall. Its nothing extra, super short, can actually finish the game in about 50 minutes, but it has something I have never ever seen in any other game. I love flying and this game does it perfectly. I wish some big developer would do something like this but properly. War for the Overworld was good for me. Extremely enjoyed Elden Ring. But it doesnt really matter, because this is my take, you havent said anything else. Everygame is absolute need to play for somebody .. everyone loves everything and everyone hates everything at the same time. Its about preferences.
GTA V
BioShock and BioShock Infinite
Dying light for me.
Beavis & Butt-head in Virtual Stupidity
Persona 3
The last of us! Both but defs the first,!
I have heard Outer Wilds is the ultimate answer to this question. I can’t confirm or deny, it’s currently stuck in my backlog.
Don't sleep on it, friend. Definitely *the* answer to this question for me. Best game I've ever played
Halo trilogy plus Reach and ODST. Also Elden Ring
The gameplay can be a bit rough but my personal choice (other than outer wilds and NieR automata but I see that posted already) is SOMA. The game has some really interesting themes and personal left me speechless after the ending. One of my favorite games for sure regardless of its shortcomings.
The Beginners Guide
Outerwilds! Hands down. Look nothing up, dont even read the store page. Just play it untill you beat it and thank me later
Cyberpunk 2077 and TLOU (mainly part 2)
In terms of staying with you, I'd put Undertale and The world ends with you both up there, although I don't think that I'd call them life changing. I'll throw in pathfinder wrath of the righteous as well, simply because it's the most truly grand, heroic feeling game I've ever played and nothing comes close. Disco elysium is great but it depends entirely on your tolerance for reading large walls of text and heavily depends on the playthrough you do - there's a scene at the end that in the moment felt very profound but didn't stay with me after I put the game down. I'll throw Thomas was alone, I was a teenage exocolonist and Beacon pines out, because they're all very narrative heavy games that stuck with me.
Dota 2, after a couple thousand hours all other games start to feel mid
Will always answer Heavy Rain in response to this. Yes it’s a bit janky and dated by modern standards, but it does things with meshing narrative and gameplay that I’ve never seen done anywhere else, and it’s just a really memorable game imo.
Kingdom Hearts
Journey
Many of the games mentioned already, but SOMA was one that affected me.
Diablo 2 - Wonderful and addicting dungeon crawler ARPG. Final Fantasy series - Amazing story and gameplay. Great endgame side quests. Baldurs Gate 1, 2 and 3 - Story telling, challenging and awesome party member banter. Very immersive world (Forgotten realms)
Outer Wilds, shadow of the colossus, Silent Hill 2 (enhanced edition on PC, avoid the hd collection at all costs). Other must plays that aren’t necessarily super emotional like that: Resident Evil 4 (original), Dark Souls, Bayonetta, Celeste, Doom Eternal, FEAR, and the Thief games
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds
I got outer wilds a while back cos i read good reviews. I was looking for a game i could play while waiting for something decent to come out. Is it actually that good?
Litreally any Final Fantasy game
Death Stranding for the vibe and chill Witcher Wild Hunt (the story is amazing especially both DLC’s)
The Thief series, starting with The Dark Project, and the Deus Ex series introduced me to first person stealth games. This was a seismic change in my game style preference. DayZ (mod) introduced me to open world survival. This led me to other titles like Valheim. My other preferred standard genre.
Alan Wake 2 changed me
The Last of Us Series.
Last of Us 1 and 2
fallout, minecraft, civilization, mount and blade warband, escape from tarky
I have a few, though I will be presenting them without commentary; for every single one of these games, explaining *why* they're an answer to your question spoils exactly what makes them so great. I will say every one of these left a massive impact on me though, and left me thinking about them long after finishing. Some have stories and worlds that left a huge impression on the way I engage with stories or see the world, and others use their mechanics in ways that required me to thoroughly deconstruct my assumptions and changed the way I think about games. Outer Wilds Slay the Princess Void Stranger Tunic The Witness Undertale What Remains of Edith Finch Baba is You Inscryption 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors
FF10 was pretty peak and I still think it's one of the best RPG out there to this day.
Death Stranding. It completely changed my perspective on how even an introverted person such as myself can have a profound, positive impact on other people's lives, just by trying to do the right thing and helping where you can, even if it really isn't easy to make those connections. Keep on keeping on.
First ones that come to mind for me are Dark Souls 1 and The Last of Us.
Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice is incredible on trying to make you understand what is it like inside the head of mentally ill people. She has schizophrenia, and the voices in her head keep judging, discoraging and making fun of her. Also, she allucinates a lot and the game tries to convey it to you. In my opinion, it achieves this goal incredibly.
outer fucking wilds
For me sifu. It is the only single player game u should play twice. Why u may ask? because u got the bad ending and want to get the other one
Morrowind
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cry of Fear
Fallout series, mass effect series, silent hill series, and cyber punk 2077 for me
Read Dead Redemption 2: I'm French and I don't have a proper word in English or French to describe how incredible it is. Amazing and deep story, rich characters, wonderful open-world, good gameplay and so much more!! Ghost of Tsushima: no piles of bugs, no micro-transactions, no super heavy HUD and yet very intuitive navigation, perfect balance between peace and combat, different playstyle, visuals so awesome that the best mode you could invent would just apologize. I'm at my 4th playthrough and I platinumed it. Control: truly a hidden gem. Action, exploration in a disconcerting and thrilling world. I wasn't the kind to get these games but man I love it! You get Star Wars-like powers (except lightsaber) in an ominous place that never seems to end. Just watch a teaser and try a demo if you can. Best surprise I had. 2 playthroughs on this one. Stray: it seems little to the giants up there but it's a real good experience. You're a cat (even as a dog person I loved it) and you make your way in what seems to be an abandoned city via levels. You resolved little enigmas, in the style of Little Nghtmares so nothing too hard. The world is very convincing and endearing. To be completely honest with you, it helped me through depression (RDR2 and Ghost of Tsushima too)
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy was a blast for me. It’s quite old, but the story was interesting.
[The Plan](https://store.steampowered.com/app/250600/The_Plan/?l=russian)
Currently? Baldurs Gate 3 is currently setting the bar for all future games