I’ve always appreciated that interactivity lies at the core of video games, as it’s the fundamental factor that differentiates this industry from any other within digital entertainment.
However, I don’t consider myself a mechanical purist; I believe it’s a wide spectrum where low and high levels of interaction can coexist depending on what the developer wants to convey.
10 Amazing Open Worlds That Feel Most Alive
Although the land is wartorn, full of horrors and people suffering left and right, it is one of the most lively open worlds we’ve ever seen.
While I prefer having agency to none, I occasionally enjoya story that doesn’t want intermediaries or influences, but rather wishes to manifest its tale with as little influence as possible from the player.
They’re not my favorite kind of title, but when done well, they can produce a series of exceptional experiences, just like the ten best games with barely any gameplay.
10Firewatch
Existentialism via Radio
Beforewalking simulatorsbecame an increasingly accepted and popular genre,Firewatchwas one of the pioneers that truly established it in the video game industry with acclaim.
Do I agree that it’s a transcendental and life-changing video game? No, honestly not. Do I agree that it’s a title with a sensational setting, whoseimpersonal conversations between strangers via walkie-talkie make you reflect on every aspect of your existence? Definitely.
Although I don’t give it the same rating as its average player,Firewatchis a masterful demonstration of how to create an immersive narrative, so much so that you forget that, mechanically speaking, you’re not doing anything other than walking or being captivated by its beautiful landscapes.
As an introduction to walking simulators, I think it’s perfect even for those new to video games. Firewatch has just theright amount of interactionto hold your attention but not overwhelm you.
9The Artful Escape
Lots of Music, Few Mechanics
The Artful Escape
The Artful Escapegameplay is completely inconsequential, andyou’ll most likely forget what kind of mechanics the title even hasonce you finish it.
What you definitely won’t forget is its story and audiovisual design, which are truly marvelous and a complete ode to art, both metaphorically and literally.
The game not only narrates the creative experience of creating music and becoming an artist, but also leverages it through the game’s own soundtrack and art direction to further immerse us in its world, filled with designs and songs that leave you in awe.
Playing Simon Says through the entire campaign to move the story forward may seem trivial, but if it’s what it takes to experienceThe Artful Escape’s glorious presentation and thought-provoking approach, it’s worth it.
8Without a Dawn
A Passive Terror
Platform(s)
19 May, 2025
Developer(s)
Jesse Makkonen
Publisher(s)
Visual novel
How Long To Beat
Number of Players
Without a Dawnhas been one of the most powerful sleepers I’ve played in the last couple of years, because it achieves in one hour what dozens of horror games three times its size can’t do in 10.
The most you can do is choose between one dialogue or another, with mechanics completely sidelined in favor of, first, symbolizing your helplessness in the face of the plot’s events and, second, increasing the tension of the story itself.
Its ASCII-like graphics and eerie sound design work wonders in what is, essentially, an interactive book, whose ability to make you feel on edge and click with absolute terror is quite surprising despite its appearance.
Without a Dawndoes a lot with little, and its art, pacing, and narrative are more than enough to warrant a recommendation, especially if you like experiences that leave you shivering (which I don’t, and I still loved it).
7Mouthwashing
You’re Going to Carry That Weight
Mouthwashing
Mouthwashingis a game with quite a few layers, and what isa psychological thriller on the surface, with sporadic puzzles here and there, turns into a gruesome story that truly draws you in.
Most of the time, you’ll be walking around, carrying items, and escaping from the intermittent inert but ghostly entity that haunts you, which does just enough to make you feel vividly in context.
10 Best Indie Games That Barely Have a Plot
The finest options when all you want to do is have a good time.
However, the game’s real appeal comes from thenarrativeitself, including the multidimensional dialogues with the Tulpar crew, the plot twists resulting from time jumps in the chronology, and frankly gruesome scenes even despite its pixelated graphics.
My favorite part has to do with its critique of corporate greed and the conditioning of capitalism that pushes people to their worst selves, but even without that,Mouthwashingis a magnificent experience and one of the genre’s best indie titles.
6Wednesdays
A Heartbreaking Novel with a Theme Park
Wednesdays
When a video game makes you reflect on a topic and feel like you’ve truly grown as a person after playing it, you know you’re dealing with something transcendental, which is precisely what happened to me withWednesdays.
Sure, it’s justa visual novel contained within a park management minigamewhere all you do is place buildings on an island and clean up trash, but the honesty of its storytelling is something I can’t compare to anything else.
By addressing a topic as sensitive as child abuse from an informed, conscious, and authentic perspective, each new conversation and shot is a whole world of emotional complexities that significantly impact the player, who has to be discreet and mature when playing the game.
The interactive layer is extremely superficial, butWednesdaysallow this thanks to telling one of the most powerful stories I can remember in my entire gaming career.
5The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
Tarot Cards and Political Conflicts
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
As a political scientist, I recognize all art forms are inherently political, but nothing pleases me more than a video game that embraces this head-on, likeThe Comic Wheel Sisterhood.
In one of the most realistic and accurate demonstrations of community life, advocacy, and the expression of popular will in pressing contexts,Deconstructeam’s work is a glorious dissection of our ideological identity, fully embodied in the decisions we make throughout its captivating story.
In addition to choosing outcomes, the title also features a simple yet wonderful tarot card construction system that allows you to express yourself artistically, tying it into the mythology of its engaging world and granting it the necessary magical touch a narrative of this caliber deserves.
While designing cards and reading dialogue may not be a complex composition, it’s entertaining enough, all the more so because it never gets in the way ofThe Comic Wheel Sisterhood’s goal of making a statement about the gregarious condition of humanity.
Between Simple Puzzles and Shattered Hearts
Florenceis a mobile game, with all the limitations that entails in terms of gameplay. Swiping and solving puzzles is all you need to complete it, but what a journey it is.
If you’ve seen films like La La Land, you’ll be familiar withthe romance genre where the hardships of life predominate over fantasy, creating a bittersweet aftertaste that is as painful as it is human and relatable, which I think are this title’s best descriptors.
With said idea in mind,Florenceportrays a dialogue-free story with very subtle gameplay to focus the spotlight on your interpretation of its audiovisual material, helping you connect more easily with your own experiences based on what you perceive.
It’s barely 40 minutes long, but it’s been years since I experienced those minutes, and I still struggle to get the game out of my head, which encapsulates the kind of work it is, one that expresses the complications of human relationships and adult life superbly.
3Sludge Life
Mud as a Lifestyle
Sludge Life
Besides being a political scientist, I’m an economist, and the only thing I enjoy as much as a consciously political game is a title that uses satire to critique our dominant production model. In this case, that subject isSludge Life.
I can’t deny its movement, progression, and graffiti mechanics are quite well-crafted, so it may be more than just “barely any gameplay”. However, I also can’t deny that the greatest appeal of this hilarious product lies in its characters and their critiques.
10 Best Indie Games Where Your Choices Matter
From dialogue to actions, what you do in these games will shape the story you experience.
Sludge Lifeis a never-ending discussion about capitalism, oppression, class struggle, social unions, corporate life, and other topics that are as difficult to address as they are important, and it does so with a dry, irreverent humor reminiscent of icons likeSouth Park.
Add to that a dirty, bizarre aesthetic and conversations that seem straight out of a fever dream, and you have a sensational indie that,if you like wandering in your thoughts as much as I do, will surely fascinate you.
2Night in the Woods
Wandering in Crises
Night In The Woods
Night in the Woodsis a game about wandering, not only because all you really do is walk around Possum Springs, constantly talking to everyone, but because it showcases thecrisis of young adulthood.
Mae Borowski is the voice and representation of a very specific demographic of modern civilization, one deprived of the benefits and advancements of previous generations, victims of a system they didn’t choose but who suffer thoroughly.
The town’s setting and all its characters are immaculate, portraying important themes with glorious writing and a warm and relatable audiovisual presentation that makes you feel seen and heard, easily connecting even though you’re just walking (and jumping, but not very high).
In a way,Night in the Woodsisa side-scrolling walking simulator where the true protagonist is the message, along with those who send and receive it. The game doesn’t even bother with puzzles or anything particularly convoluted, so it’s a serene enjoyment gameplay-wise and a heartbreaking memory through the narrative.
1What Remains of Edith Finch
A Fable Straight to the Heart
What Remains of Edith Finch
Shorter games have less time and content to generate asignificant emotional impact, but the fleeting nature ofWhat Remains of Edith Finchis exactly why it tops this list.
The game has the most varied gameplay of the entire article, as each chapter of the Finch family introduces you to its unfortunate outcomes through distinct mechanics within awalking simulatorstructure, but they never go beyond minigames.
Instead,the starring role goes to the narrator, who recounts the tragic lives of a household plagued by bad luck and an unpromising fate. Immersing ourselves in the house and its fantasy-inspired layout is wonderful, especially due to its calm pace and unbeatable soundtrack.
The determinism ofWhat Remains of Edith Finchis captivating, turning us into another family member whose bleak destiny is to discover the whole story, only with the burden of knowing we must continue after unveiling the full picture.
It gives off deeply melancholic vibes, though the storytelling is so flawless that nostalgia turns into a sort of sad happiness that makes you watch the credits with tears in your eyes and a smile, so it’s absolutely masterful.
10 Best Video Game Coming Of Age Stories
From heartache to heroism, these 10 video games capture the magic (and mess) of growing up with plenty of chaos, feels, and self-discovery.
