Expanding on melancholic and atmospheric gaming experiences, take a look at my preferred somber games of late years.
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In the realm of video games, there's a growing trend towards creating immersive and atmospheric worlds that are as much a part of the story as the characters themselves. These games transport players into bleak, grim, and often terrifying landscapes, where survival is a constant struggle and hope feels like a distant memory. Let's delve into some of these games and their hauntingly beautiful settings.
"Hell is Us" is one such game, set in a world that is described as "bleak but fantastically realized". The protagonist, Rémi, a soldier, returns to his war-torn homeland of Hadea to find his parents amidst a brutal civil war and supernatural threats called Hollow Walkers. As Rémi uncovers mysteries involving his father's involvement in a secret organization aiming to stop a catastrophic event called the Calamity that unleashed these entities, the land around him is pounded by wretched weather, with relentless rain and mud adding to the overall gray and grim tones. The second part of the bleakness in "Hell is Us" comes from the very feel of the landscape itself, which is torn and feels like the end of days at times.
Another game that plunges players into a dark and oppressive world is "The Last of Us Part 2". This game tells the combined tale of Ellie and Abby, featuring themes of endless violence, revenge, and cyclical darkness, complete with PTSD and torture in a world of relentless danger and doom.
"Metro 2033" takes place in a post-apocalyptic world filled with danger and oppression, with the majority of the game taking place in the Moscow subway system. Life in the tunnels is grim, with people living in dank and dark conditions and barely having enough food to make it by. The atmosphere in "Metro 2033" is deeply claustrophobic and dark, with barely any flashes of light or hope.
"Dead Space" is a game set on the USG Ishimura, a spaceship that has been overrun by monsters. Every turn and corner could be the last for the protagonist, Isaac, due to the terror that has befallen the crew members.
In "A Plague Tale: Innocence", a child, Amicia de Rune, travels through 14th-century France fighting for survival against soldiers, rats, and the plague. The setting of the game is not as bleak as some others on this list, but the grim circumstances and the relentless danger make it a harrowing journey nonetheless.
"Shadow of the Colossus" is a game that features a solo adventurer's journey through a mournful, empty, and devoid landscape. The setting of the game is the perfect place for a sombre story, and the sadness in the story combines with the environment beautifully to acutely encapsulate tragedy and desperation.
"Dear Esther" is a game that takes place on a haunted, barren, and wind-carved Hebridean island. The setting of the game is the perfect place for a sombre story, and the sadness in the story combines with the environment beautifully to acutely encapsulate tragedy and desperation.
Lastly, "Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2" is a game that explores the depths of complex mental health conditions, set in the dark and brooding journey across Iceland's barren lands. The world of "Hell is Us" contains deeply miserable tales and circumstances, such as abandoned people hiding for days in dungeons and grim remnants of a terrible civil war.
These games offer a unique and immersive experience, transporting players into dark and bleak worlds that are as much a part of the story as the characters themselves. Whether it's a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a haunted island, or a spaceship overrun by monsters, these games offer a chance to explore the depths of despair and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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