Since the beginning of video game history, artists have used games as a medium of expression, but the concept of games as an art form has only recently become more mainstream. Some newer games, like Gris and Ori and the Blind Forest, have received acknowledgment and success as visually stunning experiences.
But, there are plenty of beautifully designed games that are either overlooked or unknown. Despite their obscurity, however, these games truly prove that video games are a form of art and that the interactivity of games makes the beauty and emotions much more powerful than other forms of media.
The Nevermore Trilogy
While there are plenty of iconic Flash games that push the genre's limits, the Nevermore trilogy stands out on its own for its unique art style. Created by "westykid" on DeviantArt, these platforming games follow a young boy named Olek who lives in a land known as Nevermore. After Tuomas the Shopkeeper finds a treasure map, Olek goes on a journey to find the treasure in order to help his poor hometown.
Although each Nevermore game is only about 15 minutes long, the detailed environments and cute characters easily bring the player into the universe, which leads to the games being impactful long after they end. Also, since the artist designed everything themself, the player gets to see the developer's skills improve with each subsequent release.
Rez
Although Tetsuya Mizuguchi and the rest of United Game Artists' previous game Space Channel 5 has received some retrospective recognition as a hidden gem on the Dreamcast, the subsidiary's other main title Rez is still usually forgotten. Released towards the end of the Dreamcast's life, Rez is a musical rail shooter that follows a hacker who is traveling through cyberspace to try to find an A.I. named Eden. To reach Eden, the player must fight through firewalls and swarms of viruses.
However, the game is much more than a simple rail shooter because the areas correspond with the background music. Each time a player destroys an enemy, the impact affects the music, which is meant to simulate synesthesia. Over the years, this game has had a few ports, a spiritual successor titled Child of Eden, and a virtual reality version called Rez Infinite.
Knytt Stories
Created by Swedish game developer Nicklas "Nifflas" Nygren, Knytt Stories is a 2007 Metroidvania where the player controls a character named Juni who must traverse obstacles, avoid enemies, and collect upgrades that allow Juni to explore more of the world. The game is a follow-up to Nygren's previous game Knytt, which was based on the works of the famous children's author Tove Jansson.
Although the game by itself only comes with a short tutorial and one level titled "The Machine - A Save-the-World Adventure," the game has a built-in level editor, which has been used by Nygren and hundreds of other players to create more levels. These levels can easily be ed and dragged into the game for players to experience. Because the game has a beautiful art style and soundtrack, many of these levels are more focused on scenic beauty rather than serious Metroidvania gameplay.
Resonance of Fate
Similarly to the PS3 Rain, Resonance of Fate is a game that used the dull aesthetics of the seventh generation of video game consoles to its advantage. Set in the distant future, this 2010 JRPG takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where almost all life on Earth has been destroyed by air pollution. To save the last of humanity, a machine called Basel was created that made the surrounding area habitable, but its core, Zenith, also controls the lives of every person.
Within the city surrounding the Basel, the player controls three mercenaries named Zephyr, Leanne, and Vashyron as they take on various jobs. Slowly, the characters discover that several of the ruling Cardinals in the city are planning to go against Zenith. While the lack of color and added video effects - which were common for the time - made most games look lifeless, this title uses the style to help convey a detailed steampunk world.
Another Code: Two Memories
Created by the Japanese video game developer Cing who also made one of the best visual novel games, Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Another Code: Two Memories is a point-and-click adventure game for the Nintendo DS that follows a 13-year-old girl named Ashley Mizuki Robbins who travels to Blood Edward Island to search for her father. After befriending an amnesiac ghost named "D," the two characters decide to explore the Edward Mansion to solve the mysteries surrounding their pasts.
Even though the game is short, the hand-drawn artwork, well-written story, and implementation of all of the mechanics available on the DS make the game a worthwhile experience. In 2009, a sequel titled Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories was released for the Wii.
Apotheon
Released in 2015, Apotheon is another gorgeous Metroidvania, but this time the art style is based on Ancient Greek pottery. The game follows a young warrior named Nikandreos who goes on a journey to save humanity after his home, the Village of Dion, is destroyed. Because the gods have grown tired of humanity, they have stopped giving their gifts of life, so Nikandreos, with the help of Zeus' wife Hera, must defeat them and get the gifts back.
As Nikandreos collects various weapons and the gifts of life, the player meets plenty of interesting characters and learns about Greek Mythology. With an art style modeled after Black-figure pottery painting, the game is a beautiful and immersive experience.
The Bridge
Inspired by the work of famous Dutch artist M. C. Escher, The Bridge is a 2013 puzzle game that follows a nameless man who, while sleeping under an apple tree, is woken up by a falling apple that hits his head. The man then walks to a house, which acts as the game's main hub where the player can access the various levels.
In each of these levels, the player will have to guide the man to the exit door. To get there, however, the player will have to navigate through impossible structures by manipulating gravity.
Electronic Super Joy
Released in 2013, Electronic Super Joy is a difficult platformer where an evil wizard has just stolen the main character's entire buttocks. To get revenge, the main character must now navigate through many vibrant pixel-art platforming levels and defeat several bosses in order to reach the wizard. Each level is accompanied by its own electronic music track that matches perfectly with the pulsing lights and bright colors.
Although the levels are difficult, they are never rage-inducing, and there are plenty of silly jokes throughout the experience that keep the mood from turning sour. After the success of this title, the creator, Michael Todd, has made multiple sequels and DLCs.
STRAWBERRY CUBES
While there are many amazing indie horror games available on Itch.io, none of them are as weird or unsettling as the 2015 surreal puzzle exploration game STRAWBERRY CUBES. Created by artist Loren Schmidt, this retro-inspired pixel-art game has the player control a young girl who cannot jump.
Instead, the player can either use one of the many seeds scattered across the world to create flowers that they can climb or stumble upon one of the girl's game-breaking abilities by pressing random buttons on the keyboard. As the player explores the strange world filled with skulls, weird birds, and other strange things, they can collect 29 different items that will slowly cause the game's world to start glitching until it eventually crashes.
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Created by Japanese game company Millennium Kitchen, Boku no Natsuyasumi or My Summer Vacation is a series of games where the player controls a young boy named Boku who is spending his summer vacation with his relatives in the countryside. During each of the in-game days, the player is free to explore the world. While there are a couple of minigames, such as fishing, the series is mostly just a chill walking sim with secrets to discover and scripted events to see.
Even though there are several mainline games in the series, the only game to get an official English release is the 2013 spin-off title Attack of the Friday Monsters for the Nintendo 3DS.