Moreover, publishers are also more cautious with the money they invest, especially when it comes to risky investments in bold game ideas. Fortunately, there are many exemplary cases that show this kind of investment can be profitable, if not extremely so. It may not initially stand out much, but gradually, it gains recognition from the community and receives a lot of praise. Here’s a list of 10 weird ideas that led to some amazing games.
Turning the Main Character into a Sidekick – Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft’s Rabbids game did not receive a warm welcome from the gaming community, and frankly, it probably shouldn’t have existed. However, Nintendo took a gamble with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, and it paid off tremendously. This game plays like a child-friendly version of XCOM, with rabbits turned into characters instead of alien monsters like in XCOM. As the main character in a standalone game, Rabbids couldn’t shine, but when they play the sidekicks behind Mario and his friends, they become much cuter and more lovable.
In terms of gameplay, it is similar to other turn-based strategy games, so players will feel familiar and easy to adapt. As a spin-off game in the legendary Mario series, it brings a fresh breeze that suits the majority of players. For XCOM fans, it’s a lighter and more comfortable version; for Rabbids fans, they must be happy that more people now know about Rabbids.
An Easy-to-Play Bike Game That’s Hard to Master – Lonely Mountains: Downhill
While 2D racing games like Trials, Pumped BMX, and Urban Trial Tricky are all the rage, Lonely Mountains: Downhill feels like a complete outlier. The graphics are nothing special, the physics simulation system is almost non-existent, and the background music is hardly inspiring. However, its gameplay is incredibly easy to get used to but extremely difficult to master, unlike other games.
You can play Lonely Mountains: Downhill in a casual manner, enjoying the scenery, or you can tryhard, aiming to complete all the courses in the shortest time possible. This game is quite quirky; it looks easy but once you play, you realize how complex it can be. Each course has multiple turns, and each curve has shortcuts that can save you a few seconds. Once you start pedaling, it’s hard to get off the bike.
Letting Players Farm – Stardew Valley
Instead of letting players manage large cities or civilizations, Stardew Valley allows players to… farm, waking up at dawn to take care of livestock and poultry. Inspired by the classic game Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley has learned from its predecessor and improved by allowing friends to join in the farming fun. It enables up to four friends to manage a shared farm together, building a collective bond that few games can achieve.
This is both an indie game and targets a niche market, so it might have seemed like it would flop, but on the contrary, it has become one of the best-selling games, with sales reaching 10 million copies by 2020. Of course, it can’t be compared to farming simulation games, but it remains a fun game for relaxing on the weekends.
A Farming Simulation Game – Farming Simulator
In contrast to Stardew Valley, Farming Simulator is a true farming simulation game. This series has lasted nearly 12 years and has sold a total of 25 million copies. It sells so well because it is very relaxing, unlike the loud and chaotic Call of Duty; the only downside is that buying farming equipment can be a bit… costly. It not only relaxes you but also lets you reap what you sow after days of hard work, quite literally. You can then sell your harvest to buy new equipment to expand your operation.
Of course, not everyone enjoys this game, but the feeling of being a farmer tending to the fields is very soothing. It’s slow-paced yet captivating, especially for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of a busy city. When you buy that new tractor, you’ll know you’ve been hooked on the game.
A Walking Simulator with a Deep Story – Oxenfree
The walking simulator genre may sound dull, making it hard to convince gamers to spend money on it. However, gradually, the gaming community has shown increasing interest in this genre, leading to many great “walking simulator” titles like Oxenfree. This game is not just a simple walking simulator; it has a very engaging story. With a unique twist on the sci-fi genre, Oxenfree creates an intriguing narrative with every step. It’s hard to describe this game without spoiling its content, but imagine it as a grand movie with an incredibly simple trailer that piques your curiosity, compelling you to get up and watch it, leaving you overwhelmed with emotions from a deeply satisfying experience.
Borrowing Ideas from Many “Predecessors” – Huntdown
Games inspired by “predecessors” often have some details borrowed from those predecessors, or they try to cram everything that the predecessor had into the game so that players can immediately relate. Huntdown, however, is different. The gameplay is not particularly innovative, but it adheres to the saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The game has a style reminiscent of 90s platformers with many elements taken from earlier games, including the soundtrack.
This game shouldn’t have been successful. Retro games typically come and go quickly, but Huntdown has come and remains in the minds of gamers. When you experience Huntdown, you can feel the passion that the developers poured into it: the game features a run-and-gun mechanism similar to Hotline Miami, combined with truly outstanding elements of violence.
A Walking Simulator with Breathtaking Scenery – Death Stranding
There are many mixed opinions about this game, but it cannot be denied that Death Stranding is a meticulously designed game. The result of this investment is an incredibly unique and novel game. Along with the storyline, the world within the game has many things to explore. The game balances the aspect of walking simulation in a stunning environment with action elements when combating BT. Hideo Kojima has chosen a different direction from the Metal Gear series, instead opting for a more relaxed game with a broader approach, which will undoubtedly surprise gamers.
Although the story is somewhat cumbersome, the experience of moving across vast lands with breathtaking scenery is something you should try when looking for a new game to refresh your experience.
Deep Geometric Shapes – Thomas Was Alone
The idea for this game is quite bizarre: a platformer featuring a four-sided geometric shape as the main character. Even more interesting, the characters you control in the game are all squares or rectangles. With such an outlandish idea, it truly is a daunting gamble for the publisher. However, once you dive into the game, you’ll discover the charm of Thomas Was Alone.
You’re not just a regular box; you’re part of an AI program experimenting with self-awareness. At first glance, it may seem like a typical platformer, but this game stands out due to the care the developers took in crafting the world and the narrative. So when you play, be sure to pay attention to the details within the game.
Being a Truck Driver – SnowRunner
Inspired by Spintires and MudRunner, SnowRunner expands on it with many exciting elements. Similar to Farming Simulator, you’ll find satisfaction in completing tasks in the game. On paper, these tasks seem dull, such as delivering fuel to a stuck truck or moving an oil rig from one place to another. Just reading about it is enough to make you sleepy, but once you undertake those tasks, you’ll understand why they’re so engaging.
Much like saving up to buy a new tractor, in this game, you’ll find joy in spending the money you earn to purchase a more powerful truck, making life and work easier. Gradually, your tasks will expand; it’s no longer just about rescuing stuck trucks, but also about rebuilding trade networks and communities. When one person cannot manage, you can team up, bringing along a convoy each time, how cool is that?
A Game About… Sitting at a Desk – Papers, Please
This is a game that allows you to do the… desk job, specifically working as an immigration officer. Just hearing that is enough to drive you crazy; isn’t it tiring enough to do it in real life without having to do paperwork in a game too? Theoretically, it does sound insane: sitting in a booth all day, stamping passports, and if you see someone looking shady, just deny their entry.
But once you play, you’ll realize how wrong you were. The game, created by Lucas Pope, is incredibly detailed, requiring you to engage in intense psychological struggles when deciding whether to allow someone to immigrate. Initially, everything is straightforward, but gradually, each of your decisions carries significant weight, becoming increasingly “heavy.” Is the person standing in front of you being honest? Are they a refugee? Do they oppose the government and plan to bomb the embassy? Refusing them can be tough when they seem so pitiful, but if you allow someone entry and something goes wrong, your life will never be peaceful again.
Source: What Culture