Bored of the same games that have been released recently?
Massive online multiplayer games that’s been recently released by competing game publishers, trying to one-up each other?
Or how about the numerous battle royale games that have been clogging the newsfeed recently? I mean how many battle royale do gamers really want to see?
Are you looking for something fresh, or just to take a break from your triple-A multiplayer game routine? Feeling burnt out from the repetitiveness of the genres that you’ve been playing?
Well, you’re in luck. You’re going to find new games to check out on this list. Refreshing plots and game mechanics, as well as less explored themes and genres. And with the upcoming Steam Halloween Sales, the timing could not be better.
Just to give you a perspective that there’s more to the gaming world behind the massive wall of marketing of triple-A games, both on console and PC.
7. This Is The Police – Story-Driven, Strategy
Ever wanted to know how it feels to be the chief of police for a city? Want to learn on the bureaucracy and processes that go along with the job title, paving your way to become the beacon of justice and an exemplar of the law?
Well, you might want to try another game because this game is nothing close to anything close to the path of morality. In this game, you’re a police chief who’s about to retire and has 180 days to collect $500,000 before the due date.
Surrounding this game is the management of your forces to be dispatched to various calls and assigning detectives to cases. You’ll be doing this, while also fulfilling wishes from the local mafia as well as minor requests which promises huge returns.
Hire new talent, fire deadweights, and sometimes, dispatch those who are trying to ruin your operation. It’s up to you on how you would like to run the game. There’s no clear right and wrong. The only way to play this game is to stumble around the gray area trying to survive till the day of your retirement. Watch out for snitches.
6. Cuphead – Extremely Hard Action Platformer
There’s always something disturbing when it comes to the early days of animation. The creepy faces on inanimate objects. Let’s just say cartoons in the 1930s were material for trauma inducing nightmares.
Now use the same art style as villain bosses in a game? Now we’re heading somewhere. The developers incorporated the old animation style throughout the game that we “love” so much while adding to the authenticity of the game feel with jazzy soundtracks.
Don’t let the simple premise of the game’s 2D scrolling adventure game fool you. The common census for this particular game is “rage inducing but fun”. If you’re up for the challenge, then, by all means, test your skills. You’ve been warned.
5. Moonlighter – Rogue-like Pixel Adventure
Ever wanted something Zelda-esque that revolves around dungeon crawling, but at the same time, you play as the guy who manages his store? Well, you’re in luck because there’s no way you’ll find that extremely particular combination in any other game out there except for Moonlighter.
It’s Zelda meets Stardew Valley at its best. Slay dungeon beasts and collect loot. Manage your inventory and sell them to prospecting customers. Enjoy the dual life you’ll play in this game as dungeon explorer and a quiet shopkeeper.
Moonlighter is guaranteed to keep occupied for a long time. Keep your eyes on the customers. There might be looters.
4. Where the Water Tastes Like Wine – Story Driven Indie RPG
We can’t have a complete list without some Old Western theme. The old Americana has provided the world with great narratives enjoyed by millions over the years. And this game brings exactly that. A great narrative with attention to details to make the immersion a much enjoyable experience.
Yes, you get to be the giant skeleton man walking through the map. But you won’t get to satisfy your lust for destruction because that is not what this game is all about (sorry).
You’ll be able to roam around to collect various stories from strangers around the map, as well as the ability to retell them in your own liking, spinning them as you see fit, which would unlock new interactions.
If you’re looking for hours of well-crafted stories with a gameplay that revolves around narrative (meta), then look no further.
3. Tooth and Tail – Indie RTS
Ever fancied yourself the leader of a resistance against a ruling class that has oppressed the population for a long time? Would you like to topple the bourgeoisie class? Well, this game will give you what you need.
Based loosely on the revolution in Russia, you lead a band of specialized units, with each unit being a different animal and function which you’ll be able to recruit once you’ve built the corresponding structure to spawn it.
The gameplay is mostly on conquering the enemy’s base after pushing forward to their front gates and depending on the enemy, this might take awhile.
The details that come with this game is great. It gives a vibe of the early pre-Industrial era, with every character either in rags, covered in soot or just in their World War 1 uniforms. The pixel graphics for this game is rendered perfectly, without sacrificing any details.
2. They Are Billions – Base Building RTS
The zombie outbreak trope has been overused, repackaged throughout the game genre and became kinda lame.
But what if there’s a game which ups the scale? Instead, a couple of zombies roaming around, swarming you in the 100s once you accidentally alarmed them, how about a BILLION zombies trying to get through to you?
Enter They Are Billions. You’re given the task of building humanity’s final stronghold against the massive zombie waves that will hit your walls hard over and over again.
Think RTS tower defense with zombies. Build a base, harvest and process natural resources, build a strategic base and defenses. Survive.
1. House Flipper – Simulation, Management
Ever wanted to own property, even though the current economy is not designed for millennials to thrive due to generations of mismanagement? Fear not for you can own and renovate your own property…..virtually.
Sure, the premise of the game is somewhat of an uphill battle to explain to someone who has not explored games of this genre (simulation). You basically take a rundown property, clean it up, start fixing it up, make additional renovation and flip it for a huge profit.
Now in terms of gameplay, it seems to bring a cathartic experience of slowly turning something that was in a horrible state into something people would buy. Check out the Steam reviews and you’ll see that the first thing that people talk about is how this game sort of pulls them into a state of focus on the virtual task.
Perhaps the game tackles the bigger problem that the new generation faces where we’re constantly bombarded by noise and everything around us hijack our attention every second, and being in the game out of the real world provides some peace and quiet that the real world could not provide. Or maybe it’s just a game about renovating houses.
Put on some sweet tunes and hammer away. Don’t forget to get rid of the rats in the attic.
There are countless games on Steam which employ a plethora of game style and game mechanics which could give you an amazing time exploring something totally new. Unique gameplay, bizarre game ideas, tons of games waiting to be discovered.
Ramesh Radhakrishnan
“I’m a content outreach specialist for OffGamers. I establish connections with gaming sites,
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