The spiritual, imaginative worlds ofgames such asSilent Hill, the Oddworld series, and titles such asAlan Wake 2andControloften provide some of the most creative and experimental experiences in the industry. When it comes to indie games, experimentation is in abundance, and this often leads to other-worldly experiences that immerse players in strange, at times spiritual settings.
Games such asOuter Wildsfeature immersive spaces for players to explore, with other-worldly aspectssuch as time travel, alien creatures, and fictional planets. On the other hand, games such asKentucky Route Zeroharness magical realism to submerge players in a surreal world.
Rain Worldis a wholly immersive 2D survival game that tasks players with exploring a vast, harsh, and truly unforgiving world. The game puts players in the role of the fictional “slugcat,” hunted by a variety of vicious predators and just as prone to the danger of the titular rain.
This brutal tale of survival is told across hauntingly beautiful landscapes rife with rundown, industrial architecture and a variety of overgrown regions. By depriving the player of information,Rain Worldkeeps its setting mysterious, and the vague and somewhat subtle nature of its narrative only adds to its other-worldly atmosphere. It’s the visuals and the imaginative designs ofRain World’sinhabitants, however, that really sell its distinctive world.
Developed by the studio that brought audiencesLIMBO,INSIDEisa puzzle-platformerwith an immense and highly immersive atmosphere. Similar to games such asLittle Nightmares,INSIDEis a narrative-driven adventure that relies on environmental and visual storytelling.
The world in whichINSIDEis set is depicted in vague detail, painting a murky picture of adark and dystopianfuture. The dense, foggy atmosphere, creepy undertone, and surreal nature ofINSIDE’sdark setting is practically palpable, resulting in a truly immersive experience that’s equal parts unsettling and serene.
6HROT
An Unhinged, Surrealist Journey Through 1980s Czechoslovakia
HROTtakes place in the relatively grounded setting of 1980s Czechoslovakia after an unspecified disaster, but as a game it’s layered with a dark sense of whimsy and layers of surrealism that provide an otherworldly atmosphere to its brown, rainy environments.For fans of 90s shooterssuch asQuakeand downtrodden, quiet atmospheres,HROTis a veritable gold mine.
HROT’sgameplay is a relatively simple loop that will be immediately familiar to any fan of old-school first-person shooters; blast through enemies while collecting keys to open doors and progress through the level, gathering health and ammo pickups along the way to stay alive. WhileHROT’sgunplay is far from perfect, the other-worldly atmosphere, facilitated by a surrealist world and highlighted by the game’s dark humor, propels players through the angular architecture of its drizzly missions.
Set in the turbulent, troubled, and entirely fictional city of Revachol,Disco Elysiumis a surreal, hard-boiled RPG that’s packed with biting realities and unhinged characters.Disco Elysium’spainterly art-style depicts Revachol in surreal beauty, brought to life through evocative writing and unique RPG mechanics.
Disco Elysiummay be an RPG, but the city of Revachol is its heart and soul. Interacting with its diverse ensemble of characters and exploring the possibilities of its painterly world are where the game’s strengths lie, and while some of its themes may be more grounded,Disco Elysium’sheightened reality provides the perfect playground for an RPG.
From the alien nature of the player’s homeworld, to the broad variety of environments across the game’s solar system, to the never-endingGroundhog Dayloopthat it traps its players in,Outer Wildsis a truly otherworldly experience that’s almost spiritual in essence. The heartwarming characters, unknown dangers of the solar system, and wholly comforting music result in a game that feels, at times, like a warm blanket.
Outer Wilds’lack of hand-holding and refusal to give the player much if any direction results in gameplay that’s refreshingly freeing, championing player agency by allowing them to explore at their own pace. This also assists in facilitating a sense of wonder, as the world is presented to the player as a space of opportunity, a space in which each discovery is truly the player’s own.
Rusted caverns, expansive desert, ruined cities, strange nomads, magical cats,the science-fantasy worldofCaves Of Qudis a tremendous place to be; players could spend hours exploring its many nooks and crannies, traversing its vast expanses, meeting its quirky characters, immersing themselves in its culture. From banana groves to the rotted, rusted dungeon of Golgotha, the evocative locations are just one piece ofCaves Of Qud’sotherworldly atmosphere.
The strange, almost alien soundtrack provides a fitting backdrop, intensifying the tone and more than making up for the game’s minimalist visuals by sparking the imagination. The writing is also otherworldly in nature, highlighting the weird and wonderful intricacies of the world and its characters through nuance and a subtle sense of humor.
2Paratopic
An Unsettling Walking Simulator With An Other-Worldly Atmosphere
Paratopicis short. Incredibly short. However, players shouldn’t let that deter them from experiencing this one-of-a-kind title, as its surreal, otherworldly tone and thick, foggy atmosphere is unnerving in the best of ways. Swinging to-and-fro from tranquil to disconcerting with violent whiplash,Paratopicis a wild, experimental ride with little gameplay but plenty of interesting ideas and visuals.
This low-budget indie title is essentially a walking simulator, though it encourages multiple playthroughs with its subtle storytelling, which ensures players are likely to miss details the first time around. Fans of grungy, low-poly visuals, experimental stories, and gameplay-light experiences should certainly consider at least one playthrough, especially considering the affordable price.
Most fans of video games will naturally expect gameplay to be present in the titles they purchase, and whileKentucky Route Zerodoes technically meet this requirement, it’s clear that the developers createdKentucky Route Zerowith more atmosphere, narrative, and pure feeling in mind than anything else. Fans of experimental narratives, quiet, contemplative atmospheres, slow-paced gameplay, and the vague and unhinged style of David Lynch’s work are sure to enjoy this mellow title.
Kentucky Route Zerois a bittersweet, surrealist dreamscape that’s at times grounded and full of heart, other times utterly strange and deeply bizarre. The game’s narrative twists and turns, sometimes bordering on insanity, provide moments of emotional warmth while remaining unafraid to unsettle the audience. The slow, even plodding plot leaves so much room for the story and its characters to breathe that, if players allow themselves to sink into its otherworldly setting, it’s all too easy to get lost.
