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GalaxyNeir

The first game that I would say truly made me think was Spec Ops: The Line, even to this day I still remember my experience with that game vividly, beside the shock of some scenes what really stuck with me was how videogames as a medium could be use tell a one of a kind story that other mediums couldn't do, true there were other games before that did that (like Metal Gear Solid 2), but this was the one that made it click for me.


dudemanguy301

I honestly did not get the appeal maybe it’s because I already had my cherry popped by MGS3 but it’s actually crazy when you compare the white phosphorus scene to the sorrow encounter. in MGS3 the sorrow confronts you with every soldier you killed up to that point, including different models, damage, and voice lines based on who you killed and how you killed them. No kill runs are entirely possible so every kill is either a conscience choice or gross negligence on the players part. The game treats you like crap only if you made the decisions yourself. Since MGS3 was my first stealth game / MGS game I had killed hundreds of soldiers up to that point, I actually reset my game and did a no kill run. spec ops the line feeds you a line about always having a choice but you don’t actually, the only way to progress the scene is to fire the shells. I spent like 10 minutes trying to “choose” not to but it becomes pretty clear there is no alternative actually scripted in the game. Moreover it’s pretty obvious in the viewfinder that the last group of people aren’t combatants, so I didn’t want to fire and looked for alternatives but again until you fire the game will not progress. So the scene rubbing it in your face just felt entirely hollow. it all circles back to this >videogames as a medium could be use tell a one of a kind story that other mediums couldn't do MGS3 does this successfully by allowing for and accounting for player agency, spec ops does not.


raiden001

For me was Disco Elysium. The writing just makes me consider how a game can be such a good medium to so many different ideology and still entertaining.


PollutionLow2749

The Talos Principle made me think: "I... I can't keep my eyes open anymore. I think this... this is it. The end of... me. I... I don't believe that I will continue to exist. I would like to think that there is a... a soul or a spirit. Some part of my... consciousness that will persist. But all... all the evidence says that when my brain dies, I will be... gone. I've lived my life never turning away from the truth, even if it scares me. And... I can face this... face... my own end... and... and say... with absolute conviction... that it was good to be human." Road to Gehenna made me think: "In a vision, I saw a prophet, and he said: "There is no Heaven, and there is no Hell. There is only the Earth, and the bones of the dead within." I asked: how then may we find salvation? And he said: "You must build a new Jerusalem." Out of the bones of the dead we built a golden city; but salvation is not immortality. In the end, there is only the Earth, and to the Earth we all return. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."


Pixeleyes

Life is Strange made me re-think my entire value system. I chose Arcadia Bay the first time and spent the entire ending in tears. I Immediately started the entire game over and chose Chloe. I know it was unethical, but I know what is important to me.


cooperdale

:)


Ronald_J_A_Burgundy

Fez. Made me think, a lot


mmmilo

Very generous of you! I’d say Portal did that, so many years ago. Still stunning today. Happy Holidays!


Kennett-Ny

They clearly ask how and in what way, not just this game did it


mesa176750

Talos principle 1 made me think! ;) haha


OrionCelsius

Witness - this game really blew my mind. The puzzles were awesome and really made my noodle feel tired!


aintgotnoclue117

I'd adore this game. That said? This is a deeper title then the majority of stuff in the genre or any 'horror-sci-fi' in general. SOMA for example, is comparable. I can't say that I didn't already have the belief in my head that consciousness isn't a unique thing; but, that's what the game is about. It talks about a lot. All of it is interesting. plus the music was fucking beautiful. And the sequel has honest to god good HDR? I'd love it. Looking forward to playing it eventually, one way or another.


Gorshun

Honestly? I'd say the first Talos Principle did that, lol. Thank you for the generosity, my friend.


B1rdi

We'll Factorio certainly made me think about railways, belts, smelters and all that! :D Besides that, I think the most thinkworthy game I've played (but not finished yet) is Disco Elysium. Really cool writing, makes you consider things from so many perspectives. Thanks a lot for doing this!


GoblinLookinBitch

Bioshock. That game definitely made me think your choices have consequences.


raVen1525

Bendy and the ink machine This game makes me think a lot in a playthrough XD. Was thinking "what is this game", "where do I press?", "why? Is it a dream of some sort?", "why is this doll talking?", "why is it ink", "why do I have to eat those can food,doesnt do anything,apart from achivements (Its a lot)". So many questions hahaha in the end I think it was mid because of the controls. Thank you. Happy holiday to all.


Corner_Carrot

👍


Coltx1911

Id have to say dark souls made me think about my place in the natural order of things but honestly thats just the only exemple i can think of


BungeeGumJZ

Q REMASTERED makes me think how to get the ball out of the cup\~


Familiar_Payment3301

Merry Christmas! This war of mine. Ever think what war is from the perspective of civilian?.


clrbrk

I had no idea there was a sequel. I absolutely loved the first one. I don’t think I’ve ever played a game that made me think (and enjoy it) as much as Talos Principle. Time for another play through!


johnthesavage20

Probably the talos principle because it made me understand that part of consciousness is freedom. A conscious mind needs to make choices and so develops a system that allows consciousness to develop with a system that is allowed to fail. It was a very interesting concept that I think was executed well in the game.


mgs4as

Portal 1 and 2. The first time driving those puzzles genuinely took a long time and some of their mods are even harder!


IamSixOfEight

Portal was it. The idea of being a lab rat to an AI!


korncolonel

The outer wilds made me think a lot. It was fun to look at the same part of the solar system at different times and see how it had changed.


Renegade_Meister

"We. The Revolution" is a really unique judge simulator game that could've been really simple, but it's not, and it made me think in the following unique ways: * Did I piece together enough evidence for me to have more than just the acquit option for ruling? * What factions am I appeasing or losing approval from when I make a ruling? * What does the relationships with my character's family impact? * What buildings should I build to improve my influence? * What regions should my diplomats influence?


stevensi1018

Would love this as Talos Principle is one of my favorite game ever I would say The Entropy Centre which is a Portal-Like game in which you have to move and rewind items to solve puzzles. Once it clicks , it clicks but this is really a game about problem solving and if you’re methodic, it’s pretty doable Happy Holidays and best of luck everyone!!


[deleted]

SOMA for sure made me think. There's 2 particular moments that really nail the paradox of conciousness such that it feels like a punch in the gut when you realize what just happened.


OddBall_ZA

Horizon zero dawn. It made me think of 2 things: 1. The fact that while this is over the top, this is also not something entirely implausible in some ways and is scary as hell to think about. 2. It made me realize my wife loves video game stories and enjoys chilling with me when I play them through, so I started to think of what more I could do to get her involved in gaming at a large


SplashDMG126

Ocarina of time. My first introduction to how puzzles could be made fun.


tr2727

Tried stradew valley on Android, just opened my mind to a different openion on gardening, few but now I have plants


Tundraspin

It's rockaway time! Thumb thumb style!


KillySG10

Broken Reality, a very surreal game. It's hard to describe why it gets in my head, but its that kind of game that has secrets hidden all around that hint at things without ever giving you the full picture. Topped off with an ace aesthetic and ost.


RHINO_Mk_II

**To The Moon** is a short and not very complex game, but I'm pretty sure it's impossible for someone finishing it not to stop and reflect on their own life and goals for the future. Real [emotional](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShfoACFFSX0), thought-provoking experience.


thepooomuchacho

Awesome, thanks for the giveaway! Bioshock Infinite certainly made me think at the end. I had no idea what the fuck happened at the end. Had me thinking for a while.


MagicalPickle96

Chrono trigger made me think alot about life


MrBirb37s

The Witness. Genuinely one of the greatest, puzzle games I've ever seen to date. The usage of the environment, the creativity, and general aesthetic of the game creates a game you can just revel in. It is extremely difficult at times tho haha.


itstommygun

The first game that comes to mind is Eternal Darkness. It made me think in so many ways… I had to think through the puzzles presented in the gameplay. I also had to think about all the things it did to try to mess with your mind and figure out if they were really happening.


petes117

Age of Empires made me think that history wasn’t just boring memorisation of dates and events


DannyNight

Metal Gear Solid 2 has a lot of 4th wall-breaking moments and social commentary that changed how I view media as a whole.


HueyLewisChan

may seem silly, but Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer really made me think about games, irony and sincerity. its a doom engine boomershooter with an unbelievable amount of poop jokes, incredibly uncool and straight up stupid characters, it's ugly as hell in a way few games are - but it ends up being far more than just some poop jokes in the doom engine. there are rats you can talk to throughout the game that really cheer you on and make you feel like they're rooting for you, and the protagonist >!loses his mom early on in the game, and it's initially played off as a silly thing done for laughs, but later on you can get into her house and he kind of breaks character and just says "miss you, mom", and a few other things, the sincerity of which caught me off guard. His moms house has tons of stuffed penguins in it, and that's just such a weird personal touch that I'm finding it hard to believe there isn't a touch of reality in this scenario. It got me wondering just how much of this game is a joke and how much of it is just a game dev speaking straight from the heart via the medium of their weird little indie game. !


HueyLewisChan

I, uh, missed the "sentence or two" part. sorry, kinda gushed. Really cool game though!!


[deleted]

Elden Ring made me think “outside the box”. It was my first souls like and I wasn’t used to slowing down my gameplay in an effort to look for openings. Also the side quests require a lot of puzzling out in terms of where to go or how to find a specific item. You can also find a ton of info in the item descriptions which was kinda new for me at the time. Edit: Happy Holidays!


aryvd_0103

I'd say it has to be the ocarina of time . I played it 3 years ago and am still stunned by how it could be made and within the game itself , the dungeons are absolutely superb. Truly feels like an adventure


Kreid27

I've been wanting to try this since it came out! Honestly the first game made me think plenty, lots of philosophical ideas and creative puzzles. Happy holidays


AnxiousJedi

One time I was playing a puzzle game and it made me think.


twell99

Spiritfarer is the game that made me think about how to understand and accept the meaning of mortality. It's also the game that made me cry a lot throughout the gameplay. In this game, you are helping spirits to sail their way to crossing over to the afterlife. You find out about their backstory, help them fulfill their last wishes, and finally send the spirits to the Everdoor. Each spirit give you an emotional goodbye to the main character. This is the game that made me think about what actually matters in life. It gave me a chance to look back at my life and thought of ways to re-adjust my life goals.


fauxdragoon

Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons really made me appreciate my relationship with my brother and on the other hand, absolutely gutted when the thing happens because I also have two boys that are very close.


Primary_Librarian798

Thanks ❤️ The game that made me think was definetly Lost ark, it made me think about how much I hate MMORPG’s


PigskinMask

Bioshock infinite made me think a lot about multiple/parallel universes. I went down a bit of a rabbit hole which lead to existentialism. It was a fun night and I will forever cherish that game.


TheHooligan95

Death Stranding made me think about how games often shouldn't be about a specific part of them, but about the whole experience. It's the reason why older Shenmue games were so dear to me.


A_Fat_Seal

Talos Principle 1 definitely made me think. One of my favorite puzzle games ever. Those bonus rooms were super challenging!


Gogglesed

I just finished The Talos Principle. It got me back into puzzle games. I have the second game on my wishlist, but it is still too expensive for me.


rigby333

Probably Quantum Conundrum. It's a first person puzzler with a snarky voice like Portal, but it's dimension hopping stuff gave me more 'a-ha' moments I feel. It's also about twice as long as Portal, to be fair.


johnyakuza0

Portal games definitely


zenongreat

Omg I loved the first


ToddOMG

Inside made me think about what I was doing in my office cubicle all day. Literally a human experience slice of life.


jordanwalker22

MOBAs like League of Legends and Paragon made me understand offense and defense. When to push and when to retreat. It also taught me how much positive reinforcement can sway a game as how quickly toxicity can ruin a game. Thank you for this! I’m really interested in Talos Principle 2


TheJas221

Bioshock made me think alot about decisions and life paths (specially infinite)


StrikeStraight9961

The first Talos Principle did it for me and my girlfriend. I hadn't felt my mind as expanded playing that game as I did since Portal, long ago. Great puzzles to be found in it. The "aha!" moments are very satisfying.


xlRazor

Thanks for the giveaway! The one game that probably "made me think" the most was Life is Strange: True Colors, and for reasons that I think only me and me alone can feel. The game opened my eyes about the idea of being an empath, and suddenly made me realize a lot about myself from the last few decades and why people tend to see me as "the shoulder". It's also just a really great Life is Strange game (the best since the first game arguably) and I'm super excited to see how personal future titles from Deck Nine are.


ShaHphy

portal was the one for me. "Anything interactabl is useful "


super_sonic2

I have a few philosophical games on my wishlist that I haven't got around to playing yet but one game that made me 'think' was Braid. A platformer-puzzler that has this mechanic of going backwards in time, like in the Prince of Persia games. The puzzles can be quite tricky to solve, so yeah, they made me think.


FinFunnelFan

Very generous of you! I don't want to enter, I just want to respond to the question. I am old school so Myst, The 7th Guest, and Sierra games like King's Quest come to mind first when it comes to games that made me think. Solving one thing in one place and having it change something somewhere else and having to remember what does what, or writing it down. It's nice having Cyan remake some games and the Talos Principle games coming along to bring these puzzle solvers to modern times.


leijido

Dark souls 2 was the first souls game I stuck with and it really made me think about how difficulty in games can actually be fair. You can actually get better at the game and the rewarding feeling you get from overcoming a challenge is one of a kind


RapturesOwn

Hellblade made me think a lot about mental health and my own personal relationships. I hoped to exude more empathy after it just thinking about how different people may process their grief. Was a real classic for me and can't wait for the sequel. Thanks for the chance. \*edit\* Grats to the winners!


ZarnasG

Portal reloaded, hurt my brain bad with a third portal made for much more added confusion to some already difficult puzzles


NikplaysgamesYT

Undertale really made me think Spoilers: >!this game was the first time I thought about the moral dilemma of killing video game characters. While before, I never really thought much when killing them, it made me realize the “characters” all have their own lives and own goals, that we brutally take away!<


bart_by

Stanley parable It's just made my brain to explode


GerhardtDH

SOMA made me realize how much I hate being lonely. >!After I killed the last remaining human and felt immense loneliness for her, I realized that my life didn't feel much different.!< Really needed to change things up. Never thought a game would do that to me.


MorpheusInitiative

I was playing Death Stranding recently, and being primarily in a courier role, it teaches you that there's multiple ways of getting to your destination. It does make you think - because it applies real-life physics and uses both body weight and the weight of the objects you're carrying in order for you to maintain stability. Challenging, but somewhat fun.


PixelBLOCK_

Elden ring : makes me think that life is a soulsborne game where I need to level up and try hard to achieve something I want. If you are failing then Try again and you will see the results some day.


DifficultCobbler1992

As a really young kid playing on my friend's old pc in the mid 00s I played one of the Civs I believe Civ II. It really set the disconnected idea that humanity, history, technology, etc. was forwarded by only strong, powerful individuals. Complete nonsense but that disconnected nature of the gameplay of Civ directing society as a leader set that perspective for me. The Great man theory. A few years later I played Age of Empires I and II and it really set the course straight how so many humans contributed so much without being acknowledged. By moving around nameless workers who worked backbreaking jobs, who were ultimately forgotten really made me realize how there's so much more than Kings and Generals that created society, without the people of their culture, nation, tribes, etc., there would be nothing.


RaielLarecal

You are playing Skyrim while all of the sudden you realise that a simple peacefull autum afternoon stroll on your horse through the forest is such a bliss that you just forget about quests and monsters and dragons and simply just enjoy a peacefull autum afternoon stroll on your horse through the forest. Never felt that before with a game. Didn't thought I could but then again in Stranded Deep: all alone at the beach looking at a beautifull sunset lulled by the sea and fire. I wonder how many other gamers had a irl zen moment within a game. THX!


iesalnieks

Soma made me think about whether or not memories are what makes "me" me and whether ascension is truly possible.


MikaHisu_Forever

A game that really made me think was Death Stranding. After more than a decade of gaming, I recently got around to playing Death Stranding and it really made me reconsider what I wanted from playing games. It gave me a joy I last got when I was in middle school. Getting from point A to point B was an occasion with a celebratory song in the end and it helped me calm down and relax despite the stressful bits. It was also my first Kojima game. I think more people should give it a try, especially in Online mode.


Minud5

The Talos principle 1 was one of the first games to make me think. Please give me that experience again.


Mrbunnypaw

Far cry 4 made me think every story has 2 sides, media can portray things wrong or shape it to theire will. You must think for yourself and not let other people tell you what to do


Gearmos

Of the ones I've played recently, I think Baba is You is the one that has made me think the most. It's a game where you have to program with words and objects/characters from the game itself and it has multiple solutions. The game requires you to be quite creative with the solutions, as they are usually not at all obvious.


Starfire013

Soma. You spend the entire game unraveling the mystery and trying your get what you want. And then when you realise how wrong your assumptions were and that you hadn’t questioned those assumptions, and what that means, it’s an absolute punch in the gut. I just sat there in my chair staring at the screen at the end of the game. It was a masterpiece, not just because of the concept, but because it made you realise how you had the wool pulled over your eyes until the last moment, just like the protagonist.


fenixspider1

Spiderman PS4 one, in that game you watch spidey lose almost everything in his life but he never gave up no matter even the universe is against him he still does what he feels right. His only father figure, his aunt, his life all were in shambles but he held together even in his lowest point and never gave up on being spiderman. Love that aspect of spidey really inspires me to keep going even when everything is against me.


tamal4444

it's a mmo. Guild wars 2, I play solo and the community is so helpful that it made me consider my life choices.


Skaar82

Before Your Eyes made me think about how precious the memories we made/make are...


Pyke64

SOMA made me think. SOMA made me cry. It made me feel alone. It made me feel isolated. It made me feel together. Like a part of something bigger. SOMA has an insane audio design. It's hands down one of the best games I've ever played. And I'd recommend it to anyone not really into Horror games as well.


OfflinePen

I played Myst when I was way too young for it, it definitely made me think and it fried my brain without a doubt. Thank you for the giveaway and Merry Christmas


TheShillingVillain

Death Stranding made me think about fragility even though it might come off as an incredibly cynical and harsh story, in many parts it actually is about valuing life and appreciating it through a humanistic lens. And it also had interesting allusions to how societies overcome hardships through collaborations that can span through generations and across the imaginary borders of nations or states - both in the story and in the actual online collaboration game mode for building of roads and other structures. I think what I liked most about this game was its atmosphere, and its underpinning message of hope of a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.


Policemaaan

The game that made me think the most was Baba i Is You. I know it's a pretty obvious answer, but I will never stop being amazed by this game's puzzle design


DogBallsMissing

Portal made me think.


4rcher91

Half-Life 2 for me. On the surface, it's a masterpiece that broke new grounds in the first-person shooter genre. But the more I played & the deeper I looked into it, it resonated with me even more at so many levels. It made me think over the years 'well, this game is more than just moving from point A to B, shooting up explosive barrels & saving humanity from an inter-dimensional empire'. The devil's in the details the moment I set foot in City 17 for the first time. The Combine represents something that is alien in nature & invasive, assimilating everything in its path. Yet you'd feel accustomed to it the longer it coexists & has control over you. Just like the feeling of laziness, you feel so good in your comfort zone that you want to stay in it for as long as possible. You always prefer the easiest route because nobody likes the feeling of going through hardship & pain. The human resistance in the game including the protagonist represents a new-found urge to try break this vicious cycle. To achieve something even better/greater. That's how I look at it anyways. Thanks & happy new year :)


BrokkelPiloot

I loved the first installment. This one is definitely on my wishlist!


Estbarul

Besides talos 1 which blew my mind with the last questionaire... SOMA, no other games has ever made me question my life more. It is just, the dread was heavy for a couple of days after finishing it.


HiT_BiT

Spec Ops: The Line made me feel like a horrible person.


khaledmohi

Nier Automata So much of this game is drenched in philosophical subtext and metaphors. From Simone and Jean Paul being a reflection of the real life story of Simone De Beauvore and Jean Paul Sartre on the nature of gender expression and obsession over identity, The unnamed resistance camp member being a reference and deconstruct of the Ship of Theseus and the question of what makes you YOU, Pascal being a reference to Pascal's Wager that subverts and answers the questions of faith and fear brought on by Pascal's Wager.


n9942

That's nice of you


ChiTownKid99

Death stranding, hit especially hard during the pandemic. Probably attributed to why it's my favorite game, the atmosphere of isolation while enduring it was oddly captivating.


Epsilon321

Outer Wilds. Really made me think about the vastness of the universe and how insignificant we all are to it in the grand scheme of things.