Edit for clarity: I love indies, that’s where pretty much all of my gaming resides these days because that’s where all the cool, amazing shit is happening. But I just want fun, goofy games with a budget again, in a way that echoes genuine happiness and not corporate greed
This may seem like an odd thought, with new releases trending towards a distilled, “just the gameplay” model compared to the $60 full-package releases of before, but I’m talking about things that break the 4th wall, let you peek behind the curtain, and remind you that you are in fact playing a video game created by somebody.
I miss easter eggs, cheat codes, mini-games, galleries, wild unlockables, etc. I miss all the things that established a connection between developer and player, a cheeky mutual nod in agreement that we’re both gonna take a pause from the “serious” stuff and have a little fun.
Nowadays there is no distinction, all the wackiness is on full display in every micro transaction you can fit in your wallet, or is completely non-existent so as to not detract from the experience.
Gimme an achievement for running over just a few too many people in GTA, gimme a goofy costume for completing a level in an inhumane time, just give me SOMETHING that shows that someone actually enjoyed making this game, without completely derailing the entire thing altogether (usually into a soulless cashgrab)
Now I get why things are like this: the industry has gotten too big for its own good, and the medium is either treated as a glorified storefront or an artistic statement, either one needing to appease shareholders. But please, video games are supposed to be fun, let them be fun for fun’s sake
Side-discussion: Bring back ARCADE-Y GAMES!!! Why is NFS the only big-name arcade style racer on the market now? Where’s all the the goofy sports games like NBA Street and Mario 3-on-3 (that game was fire btw)? Where’s my 3D fighters that care more about crazy characters and ring-outs than making the EVO roster?
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What kind of games do you play? These days that is, the ones you’re complaining about. If you don’t mind me asking.
It’s all still there, if you stop focusing on ‘AAA’ games.
There is a lot of this, it’s just all that stuff has migrated to “indie” games, where “Indie” can generally be defined as the person in charge of creating it is the one who owns it. Being beholden to CEOs/managers and stockholders drains artistic integrity from the soul.
It’s definitely an issue with modern AAA titles. It’s all so design by committee, bland, widest market demographics possible these days.
Whenever I see another “narrative driven, cinematic, open world adventure” I immediately lose interest.
The fact you can only get these experiences going into the indie market is kinda sad. The industry sometimes needs to remember these are games, they are meant to be fun to play. I miss being able to break games in weird and wonderful ways…
I do agree I mean there are probably games which still do this now but I guess it’s mainly smaller AA or indie games compared to how it used to be with AAA games. Alot of indie games are straight up better than most AAA games nowadays due to the devs listening to the community and actively trying to make the game better while AAA is just a one and done scenario where it is released and it might be buggy but if you are lucky there will be a patch in 6 months. Obviously not the case for all AAA games as there are also alot of great ones just saying that more and more smaller titles that release become more well known due to being well optimised and less serious.
They most definitely still exist. You just have to stop buying the regurgitated soulless AAA trash like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, and so on. Those games are the same objectives just on a new map. And their stories are worse than fiction you can find at your local bookstore in the teen reading section.
I think what you’re getting at is more or less the passion project feeling. Where it feels like someone has a great vision for a game and executed on it with a team. The “connection developer and player” can be found in some indie games and their communities for sure. I can’t really recommend any without knowing what you play though. Stardew Valley could be one example. Inscryption was another great indie game with lots of twists and changes to mechanics. Ravenswatch feels like it has soul and lots of flavor to it. But it ultimately depends on what you’re looking for.
I recently started playing Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and it very much feel like an old school fun gamey game but with all the polish of a modern game
The trouble is a lot of AAA games can’t afford to have fun and be wacky because there’s too much on the line and it’s too much of a cost to let them add anything that’s not in their formula.
They’re definitely out there though. Baldur’s gate 3 is goofy as hell, and has those achievements for just having fun, and has tons of easter eggs and little jokes from the devs. JRPG’s are good about having fanservice (in terms of silly side quests and costumes, and references to other games for fun. Not the other kind of fanservice. But that’s usually there too)
Mario Wonder is full of silliness (but lacks that developer connection for sure) cause Nintendo finally let them have fun with mario and add some new stuff.
I am 100% with you on the arcade sports games though. I want a new NFL Blitz or NHL Hitz.
But yeah. indies are where all the personality in gaming lives now.
You sound like someone who REALLY needs to play The Wonderful 101: Remastered.
I too wished for games to be game-y and then I got it in the form of TW101 and my life is now complete forever :3
what you are looking for is called Final fantasy 7 rebirth
Try yakuza
Go check out the Yakuza series.
Games that are not ashamed to be games
The Resident Evil 4 Remake is praised for many things and one that sometimes comes up is its ability to balance over-the-top action gameplay and just enough seriousness to not be a complete clown fiesta. I definitely reccomend checking it out based on your wants! There’s even options for challenge runs too with outfits and weapons as rewards.
The one aspect of “gamey-ness” I’ll comment on is that there’s definitely a modern focus on immersion and realism in the triple-A space. They work really hard to make it feel like you’re NOT playing a game. That’s certainly the right direction if your goal is to make an experience that pulls the player into its world and story and tries to make them feel, but it has meant that big-budget “gamey” games are harder to come by.
There are still big games that feel gamey, but yeah, indies are the true home of arcadey-ness now.
I had this feeling around 2019-2022
Since last year more gamey games did come out once companies were finally releasing proper games for PS5
That realism trend & the game design was the PS4 era. Ever since Returnal/Rachet it was obvious this era would be different.
I feel game feel is designated in eras with the technology. PS2 was game-y. PS3 era already aimed for more physics, the development time shifted from little things like easter eggs & achivements to other things.
try dave the diver. thats a game with that special magic that games used to have. if possible dont look into the game, just load it up and chill without knowing anything about it
In Nier:Automata the first protagonist shoves the camera away if you try to look up her skirt and there’s an achievement for trying it too many times.
I couldn’t draw a specific line between I Expect You To Die and anything you said, but I think you’d enjoy it.
The little Easter eggs hidden around the maps in Walkabout Minigolf come to mind too
The only ones that are gamey are Nintendo, indie/fan games on steam or games filled with microtransaction gimmicks (ruined by greed)
My favorite era for Sega was the Dreamcast era into those really years of being 3rd party. That’s when most of their games were like full high quality arcade experiences on your home screen: Crazy Taxi, Monkey Ball, F-Zero GX, Jet Set Radio, Billy Hatcher, Sonic Adventure, etc.
Inb4 people disagree the industry became shit, because Fromsoft exists. I get what you mean OP.
Insomniac’s Spider-Man games have a ton of this: strange collectables, goofy unlockable suits, elaborate references and easter eggs. My first thought for a modern big budget title in that space.
You know how there are game creation toolkits like Construct, 001 Game Creator, Easy Game Creator, RPG Maker, and so on?
In time there will be creation kits that incorporate AI and they will let indie devs create artwork like sprites, 3D models, textures, and so on. They will help indie devs make music and code, write NPC dialog, create quests, and so on. I think in time it will be possible for an indie dev to make the equivalent of an Elder Scrolls game with AI assistance using something a creation toolkit like this.
I miss soul Calibur 3 level of unlockabkes, a fighter game that you can never play multiplayer and worth hundreds of hours.
The Halo easter eggs really were the best