Summary
Some games excel with their narratives, others with gameplay, and a number of them manage to balance both to great success. However,an immersive atmosphere can be an important factorfor many players, and not every game is capable of nailing down a consistent ambiance.
However, there are a number ofgames that are worth playing just for their atmosphere. These games are often immersive regardless of their gameplay or narrative, though the best of them use their atmosphere to support the rest of the title.
Dredgeis an open-world fishing game that can provide true moments of calm on its bobbing, soothing waters. The complete accessibility of its fishing mechanics helps tremendously with the overall atmosphere,allowing players to easily wind downas they sail about the game’s archipelago in search of new fish.
However,Dredgealso features a Lovecraftian horror twist, with plenty of eldritch creatures lurking in its world. This turns the atmosphere on its head during the night, offering a tense and creepy ambiance that’s sure to drive players back to the nearest port.
Despite its age,BioShockis still worth playing today, if only for its deeply immersive atmosphere. The game’sawe-inspiring underwater settingis truly memorable, but it’s the effortless combination of sound design, art-direction, and music that allowsBioShock’s atmosphere to be so immersive.
BioShock’s cast of talented voice actors and deftly-woven narrative are the driving force, but it’s the environmental storytelling and distinctive environments that fuel the experience. Arriving in Rapture amid complete chaos offers a particularly unique atmosphere that’s almost sickening, especially as players begin to uncover the variety of horrors taking place. Supporting this is an expert combination of licensed music and original score, being brought to life through immersive sound design that provides a grounded sense of place.
Pacific Drivecenters aroundan extraction-based gameplay loop, tasking players with driving through a variety of environments plagued by supernatural hazards. There’s no combat inPacific Drive, and much of the game is based around exploration and car maintenance, making the title’s immersive atmosphere one of the primary reasons to play.
Players who enjoy lightweight simulation and survival game mechanics will likely enjoy the vehicle maintenance and resource management ofPacific Drive. However, it’s the game’s immersive sound design, alternative soundtrack, and careful art direction that make it tick.
Althoughthis classic survival-horror gamefeatures gameplay that may feel a little clunky to modern audiences,Resident Evilexcels with its tense atmosphere. Furthermore, these old-school controls make each of the game’s slow and methodical scraps with the dangerous undead all the more intense.
It’s not just the rate of play, though;Resident Evil’s careful sound design and, more importantly, its sparse but effective use of music make for a truly atmospheric experience. The game’s safe rooms, in particular, grant an overwhelming sense of relief thanks to the tranquil atmosphere that they provide, offering a memorable tune that signals a rare and complete safety.
Animal Wellis an exploration-focused puzzle game with the structure of a Metroidvania, providing players with a frequent and rewarding sense of discovery. The game’s dense and unique atmosphere, however, offers a consistent backbone to the experience.
With its dense forest of neon pixels, exotic animals and enchanting plant-life, and ambient synth-based soundtrack,Animal Well’s synergistic presentation is in of itself a reason to play, especially for players looking to immerse themselves in an alien environment.
The Wolf Among Usisa narrative-driven adventure gamethat follows the typical Telltale formula. However, it’s elevated by its cast of colorful characters and distinctive neo-noir atmosphere, immersing players in the unique underworld of Fabletown.
This dense atmosphere is brought to life via a combination of distinctive art-direction and expert mise en scene, offering players a truly cinematic experience. This is further supported by the game’s throbbing, ambient synth-based soundtrack.
Hollow Knightis a modern classic Metroidvania that takes place in an interconnected underground world, populated with dangerous creatures and charismatic NPCs alike. It’s the game’s enigmatic atmosphere, however, that makes it such a joy to explore.
The soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting, butHollow Knightis supported by excellent art-direction and evocative sound design that brings each of its distinctive locales to life. There’s great gameplay at the heart ofHollow Knight, but nothing beats the sense of place its ruined kingdom facilitates.
Kentucky Route Zerois unlike any other game. In fact, it’s hard to describe it as a game;Kentucky Route Zerois more of an experiment, a tour de force in interactive fiction, an emotional road trip that provides as much heart as it does surrealist imagery.
Offering a string of truly memorable vignettes,Kentucky Route Zeroprovidesa melancholic journey that blends tragedy and kindnessto great effect. The emotional weight of its narrative and the frequently revealing character moments are made all the more memorable thanks to the game’s soundtrack, which combines ambient synths with bluegrass tunes. In combination with the evocative writing and cinematic art-direction,Kentucky Route Zerois able to provide an experience that’s all about the atmosphere, slowly letting players into its world without ever quite explaining it.
