

The presentation is beautiful, the writing and voice acting are top-notch, and the story is engaging and well thought out. Firewatch ( PS4/ PC/ Xbox One/ Switch): This game may only be a few hours long, but it’s a few hours well spent.They don’t all hit the mark, but these are the ones that definitely do. These are the games about walking and not much else, which may sound boring, but if executed properly this genre can be the source of some of the best experiences you’ll have in a video game. There are plenty of secrets to find and tricks to figure out, with a unique time mechanic tying the whole game together.įirst Person Games / Walking Simulators Campo Santo This game’s expertly design world is hand-crafted to deliver a constant feeling of discovery. Outer Wilds ( PS4/ PC/ Xbox One): Outer Wilds received heavy praise after its release last year, and it’s well deserved.A bit strange for sure, but soaring through these dilapidated buildings is both fun and breathtaking. AER: Memories of Old ( PC/ Xbox One/ Switch): AER is about the peaceful exploration of floating ruins by using the main character’s ability to turn into a bird.Just run through this wide-open world admiring the beautiful vistas and creatively designed creatures. There are no enemies, no crafting, and nothing to distract you. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles ( PS4/ PC/ Xbox One/ Switch): This game is about exploring and nothing else.All while enjoying wonderful cel-shaded graphics and small inklings of plot and lore. RiME ( PC/ Xbox One/ Switch): Inspired by the dungeons in The Legend of Zelda series, RiME is an open-world puzzle and exploration game about unlocking the secrets of the island Rime.The name, and the game itself, are very simple and self-explanatory, but that doesn’t stop this hike from being one of the most charming and relaxing experiences in all of gaming. A Short Hike ( itch.io/ Steam): This is a game about taking a short hike up a mountain.You can venture through this desert with a random co-op partner given to you by the game and, which leads to some truly unique experiences. Journey ( iOS/ PC/ PS4): Journey has been praised since its original release back in 2012 for its beautiful visuals, minimalistic but captivating story, and interesting multiplayer mechanic.All with a minimal story that, while not amazing, is enough to get your adventure started. ABZU ( PS4/ PC/ Xbox One/ Switch): The ocean is vast and begging to be explored, and while you may not get too far with a scuba mask in the real world, ABZU makes it simple (and beautiful) to explore the watery depths.


That feeling is great, and these are the games that capture it the best. You spend a large amount of your time just traveling, soaking in the world around you, until you find something truly unique that fills you with a pure feeling of discovery. Exploration Games thatgamecompany, adamgyruĮxploration, assuming it’s not accompanied by swarms of enemies, is inherently relaxing. So without further ado, let’s talk about some games.
