10 underrated video games you can play in one evening

Game News 10 underrated video games you can play in one evening

A short hike

A Short Hike was released in 2019 and is truly a little pixel art gem that I personally had the pleasure of admiring during a long breakfast (two hours, no more). The game invites you to a peaceful hike along the trails of Hawk Peak, which is full of increasingly dizzying mountains to climb. Free as the air, we explore, we fish, we collect feathers to fly higher and higher and reach the summit. A pure moment of relaxation and an extremely pleasant exploration experience to explore. We also gave the game a very nice rating of 18/20. And another piece of good news: since it is PEGI 3+, it is accessible to everyone, from the youngest to the oldest.

The Fall of the Golden Idol

Do you want to spend an evening investigating? That’s what the recent The Case of the Golden Idol offers, a video game that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you must investigate a series of murders linked by a mysterious artifact. Every crime scene is a puzzle to be solved. Prepare to uncover a conspiracy that spans generations. Please note that the experience is reserved for people who speak English. The good news, however, is that a sequel is coming soon, and in French! Oh, and if you ever need an extra argument, know that the great Lucas Pope (genius creator of Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, a title that also inspired the game) said that he “loved every minute of the demo” and was already eager to learn more at the time of release. Convincing, right?

• Average lifespan: 6 hours

The operator

We’re staying a little on the topic of investigations with The Operator, an even newer game and this time developed by the French! Here you take on the role of an operator on his first day at work. Their mission: to track down criminals using state-of-the-art image and data analysis tools. You are the eyes and ears of the agents on the ground, who take part in exciting investigations, mixing classic cases with conspiracy theories. You can analyze images down to the pixel, listen to confidential recordings and even research scientific samples. Expect some plot twists and a deeper narrative than meets the eye. From your first case, the mystery thickens very quickly: a list of names, one of which is strangely censored. It’s up to you to find out why. It’s exciting, short and clever as hell. We also really like the sound design, it’s very intelligent and the vocal performances are perfect. So go for this first project from the Bureau 81 studio.

• Average lifespan: 3.5 hours

Dordogne

A bit of poetry and sweetness now with the Dordogne, a game that invites you to visit one of the most beautiful departments in France in the company of the charming Mimi who has explored her grandmother’s house. A cozy title that makes you collect memories, solve small puzzles and reveal family secrets. The game mechanics are extremely simple and intuitive, leaving a lot of room for emotion and contemplation. A touching story about memory and bonding that ends in a few hours. The framework is marked by two temporalities: the present of the young woman and her past as a little girl, during a summer stay with her beloved grandmother who left too soon. Note that you will never do much in the Dordogne. Every little activity is appreciated like a hot summer vacation where you do nothing but just enjoy the present moment. A little gem not to be missed.

• Average lifespan: 3.5 hours

Wide Ocean Big Jacket

This one doesn’t take longer than an hour, smells like summer holidays and is aimed at everyone who likes to dig up very well hidden little nuggets. ” In my opinion, this is a rare example of a game that is perfectly long. It’s like a camping trip: a short escape that gives you a little more space to think, breathe, and laugh », said media outlet Kotaku about Wide Ocean Big Jacket. The story is about an aunt and uncle who take their middle school niece and her boyfriend on a camping trip to participate in a royal program : Grilling hot dogs over a fire, watching birds, telling ghost stories. 20 chapters, 4 playable characters and a real little moment of peace.

• Average lifespan: 1 hour

Your history

You may already know this, but Her Story is a must-have for lovers of – good – short games. The creator, Sam Barlow, is an FMV enthusiast and offers here an unforgettable experience that you can try with a friend and a notebook. Using an intuitive search engine, you search a police database to uncover the truth behind a sordid affair. Here we report on seven interviews from 1994 in which a British woman is questioned about the disappearance of her husband. With each keyword you enter, you get closer to the solution and reveal new video sequences. It is up to you to determine whether the young woman is guilty or not. A game that will test your sense of observation and your ability to draw conclusions.

Indicate

Fans of strange games are in the right place at INDIKA. Here you play a nun who is confronted with evil in an alternative 19th century Russia. A pitch that has nothing banal about it anywayAccompanied by your own personal demon, you will go in search of your origins in this surreal horror game. Well, the game has a few flaws: good ideas that are not implemented enough and a second part that mostly runs out of steam, but we still retain some terribly welcome daring sequences, original characters and a captivating atmosphere. “Bold in tone, atypical in form, Odd Meter’s creation is like a cursed relic: it must not be given into everyone’s hands” Carnbee wrote about him.

World of Horror

Do you like Junji Ito and Lovecraft? You’ll love World of Horror. This pixelated horror RPG immerses you in a city corrupted by an ancient deity. Inspired by the work of the Japanese author, the game offers you a terrifying and surreal experience: a janitor slaughters young schoolgirls to form a team of mermaids, a security guard sneaks into the sewers of his building to strangle his tenants, and everyone seems to be more or less succumbing to inevitable madness, unfortunately including you. Each of your games is a self-contained race against death in which you solve quick cases. Perfect for short gaming sessions.

• Average lifespan: 1.5 hours

The artistic escape

We don’t understand much about it, but that’s the point: “The Artful Escape” is an unparalleled surrealist journey. Here we play Francis Vendetti, a young guitarist in search of identity, who, guitar in hand, explores dreamlike worlds full of fantastic creatures. Inspired by David Bowie, The game is clearly a homage to the rock stars of the 70s. It features a truly insane soundtrack and, most importantly, stunning scenery, although the gameplay is very much behind the scenes. “Highly contemplative, totally eccentric and absolutely m“Great, The Artful Escape offers a visual and audio experience that is as disturbing as it is thrilling,” we wrote at the end of our review, which was rated 15/20.

arrest

There is, quite frankly, a point-and-click horror classic that deserves much more recognition: Detention. In this very short game you take on the role of Wei and Rei, two students in Taiwan in the 1960s. A unique setting, as the era was marked by profound political conflict. The duo are trapped in Greenwood High School in a remote mountain location and try to escape their situation while abominations are after them. A strong and strikingly modest adventure that addresses strong, ethical, human and political themes. Absolutely to do. The Redcandlegames studio is also the origin of another very good, equally short game, Devotion, this time in 3D: the player explores a 1980s Taiwanese apartment complex and evolves in the nightmarish desires of a family addicted to religious beliefs. Thrills guaranteed.

• But still : All Gone to the Rapture, Oxenfree, Firewatch, What Remains of Edith Finch, Martha Is Dead