There were a LOT of excellent games in 2019 that didn’t make our initial list, but are definitely well-worth taking some time with. Here’s the rest of our stars of 2019!
The Game: The Game
“Created through years of research by developer Angela Washko, The Game: The Game has you detecting and deflecting the advances of prominent ‘seduction coaches.’”
The Game: The Game is available now on the developer’s site.
PLAY DOG PLAY TAG
“PLAY DOG PLAY TAG pits two to four players against one another in a wild scramble to collect the most bones in five minutes.”
PLAY DOG PLAY TAG is available now on Steam Early Access.
Blindfold
“A companion piece to the staggeringly powerful 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, Blindfold has you suffer through the interrogation of a photojournalist in VR.”
Blindfold is available now on PSVR.
Maia and the Cool Kids
“Maia and The Cool Kids sticks poor Maia with a bunch of the cool kids. Being a loner and an outcast, she doesn’t much care for these folks, but she’s trapped with them for a while and can’t do anything about it. This means the teens will all have to talk to one another for a while, and perhaps through those conversations, they’ll all learn a little something about one another.”
Maia and The Cool Kids is available for free on Itch.io.
Ritual of the Moon
“Ritual of the Moon will have you doing daily meditation activities as you explore the mindset of a witch who’s been banished to the moon, leaving her beloved behind on Earth.”
Ritual of the Moon is available now on Itch.io, Steam, and the App Store.
everybody’s sad
“All kinds of items around your apartment don’t seem to be doing so well in everybody’s sad. Luckily, they have you around to make them feel better. In VR, even! You need to go around and take a drink from sad bottles, help place some sad apples where they want to go, and help out any way you can to make your place a little happier.”
everybody’s sad is available for free on itch.io.
Online Simulator
“Online Simulator tells a story of an abusive relationship through chat logs, site histories, and other files left lying around a strange computer. You’re free to wander through the executables and programs as you see fit, opening up whatever you want to peer into someone else’s life.”
Online Simulator is available now on itch.io and Steam.
Nauticrawl
“Nauticrawl puts you in control of a massive machine filled with dials, knobs, buttons, and devices. What do they do? You’ll have to experiment to find out. Hopefully without dying.”
Nauticrawl is available now on the Humble Store, itch.io, and Steam.
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
“Anodyne 2: Return to Dust follows Nova, a Nano Cleaner with the power to enter people’s minds and clear them of sinister, emotionally-damaging dust. You’ll find those troubled, dusty folks throughout the world of New Theland, meeting a variety of alien characters both funny and deeply thoughtful.”
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is available now on itch.io and Steam.
She and the Light Bearer
“She and the Light Bearer takes you on a charming journey through the woods, following a tiny firefly as it strives to meet the Mother within the forest’s heart. The woods can be a wild place, though, filled with all manner of creatures both nice and cruel. By solving their puzzles, listening to their stories, and helping them out where you can, you may find your way to what you seek.”
She and the Light Bearer is available now on Steam.
Faith: Chapter II
“A young priest may have escaped the horrors of their initial journey to a haunted home, but their waking nightmare is only growing worse in Faith: Chapter II.”
Faith: Chapter II is available now on itch.io and GameJolt.