Weirdest Upcoming Games That I Absolutely Cannot Wait To Play

I have always been a fan of games that break the mold and try something unapologetically bizarre. Obviously, the concept of weird is very subjective, as one person might consider certain games to be pretty normal, while others would write them off as completely bonkers, but I think it is still possible to categorize them in a way that respects the bold risks and interesting leaps these developers are taking.

The gaming world has exploded a lot over the past few years, and with it, the indie development scene. More and more creative people are trying their hand at game dev, and as a result, many other players and I are getting to experience some truly remarkable games that simply don’t exist in the AAA space, thanks to the talented and strange minds who are redefining gaming as we know it.

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Pipes.exe

Co-op Horror Evolved

Details:

Based on classic Windows screensavers

Parkour gameplay rather than extraction style

Co-op horror has seen a major resurgence thanks to the releases of games like Lethal Company, but Pipes.exe is looking to push even further into the realm of the weird with a brand new, parkour-style adventure full of laughs and scares. The game sends you back to the early Windows days when colorful screensavers were all the rage, and sucks you straight into these environments, each full of puzzles and creatures from another dimension.

The gameplay focuses more on making jumps and climbing structures than collecting resources, but there are plenty of different levels to clear, ranging from pure pipe fever dreams to bricky mazes hiding monsters around every corner. I am in love with the art direction already and can’t wait to try a genuinely unique co-op horror game that is equal parts funny and horrifying at the same time.

Carcass Clad

No More Mouthwash

Details:

From the creators of MOUTHWASHING

Immersive controls and UI

Carcass Clad takes the concept of tank controls in the most literal way possible, placing you and two friends in a cramped tank within a strange, deserted city that is far from empty. The big draw for me is the diegetic controls, where every button, switch, and level needs to be pulled manually, heightening the sense of immersion and adding so much weight to each one of your actions.

When it comes to the co-op component, you and your group take on very different roles within the tank. One drives, one shoots, and the other commands, and if you are going to have any chance of making it out alive, then you need to communicate and stay strong, even when the odds start to stack heavily against your crew.

Through Heaven And Hell

Details:

Metroidvania-style exploration

Brutal enemy designs and gorgeous settings

METAMORPHOSIS looks like a series of artworks all stitched together, as each and every moment, whether it be a cutscene or a gameplay segment, is coated with a beautiful brutality that sets it apart from many other games in the space. You are trapped in a ruined world full of gigantic structures and demonic entities, and only by slashing, shooting, and leaping into the unknown can you come close to the last paradise.

The art style is what caught my interest at first, being a cross between pixels and highly rendered scenes that ensures every image has the same level of darkness from start to finish. It’s bloody and horrific, and a must-play for anyone searching for a truly remarkable narrative, encased within a metroidvania.

Hieronymus

Entering The Twisted Triptych

Details:

Inspired by the works of Hieronymus Bosch

Surreal shooter infused with fantasy elements

Art and games have always crossed paths, yet it is pretty hard to find a game that pays homage to its source quite like Hieronymus. Inspired by the surreal and twisted works of the eponymous painter, you are thrust into a whimsical world where all order breaks down, and any semblance of logic is completely forgotten.

Disturbing four-legged creatures walk around on two feet, animals wear clothes, and even the environment around you feels like it is falling apart before your very eyes, perfectly capturing the essence of what makes the original works so fascinating. When it comes to the gameplay, I think the combination of exploration and FPS combat makes for an ideal blend of action and thought that should set it apart from many of the safer and more streamlined games in the genre.

Prove You’re Human

Closer To AI Than Ever

Details:

Commentary on AI and consciousness

Looks similar to other media, like Ex Machina

Prove You’re Human brings AI to the forefront of the experience, placing you in a digital world while your real self continues her normal life in reality. The story centers on Mesa, an AI that has become convinced it is human, and it is your job to learn about her and suppress those thoughts of humanity.

Some of the coolest parts come from the more unsettling sides of the gameplay, like the CAPTCHA tool that lets you interact with distant objects in mysterious, often terrifying ways. Though the game looks colorful on the surface, there is clearly a very sinister current running through it, and because of that darkness, it is an absolute must-play for me at launch.

V.A. Proxy

Scale Unlike Anything Else

Details:

Gigantic structures and even enemies

Fast-paced combat combining soulslike and hack-and-slash gameplay

V.A. Proxy has been on my radar ever since the first demo dropped, and since then, I have remained actively invested in the development. Set in a mechanical and tainted world, you are a lone warrior in search of freedom, but in your way lie countless machines and other enemies that are more than happy to stand in your way.

The visual style feels so unique and mysterious and reminds me a lot of something like Shadow of the Colossus, due to the eerie feeling that coats every moment of the gameplay. And perhaps the biggest draw is the combat, taking notes from basically every action genre and merging them into one cohesive whole that should please even the most veteran hack-and-slash players around.

Hoarder

Finding Nightmares In The Mundane

Details:

Cleaning simulator turned horror game

Secrets hidden beneath the surface

Hoarder is a remarkable exploration game that starts out pretty simple, but quickly reveals itself as something far stranger. The early hours are spent cleaning and uncovering minor details within the home, but as you dig deeper, it is clear there is much more to the building than it initially appears.

You end up piloting a submarine and fighting more nightmares every night, with the fear of the unknown becoming borderline suffocating as the story progresses. I think if you are a fan of atmospheric horror like I am, Hoarder seems like the next big game in the genre and a real standout in the space that could turn out to be one of the best ever made.

The Dungeon Experience

Your Very Own Friendly Mudcrab

Details:

Comedic first-person adventure

Silly characters and a silly story holding it all together

The Dungeon Experience is all about you and your quest for financial freedom. Guided by a low-level mudcrab, you find yourself in a variety of hilarious circumstances, from office cubicles to underground dungeons, and at no point does it ever seem as though things are going to get less absurd.

Funny games come in all shapes and sizes, but I would argue that the trailer and demo for The Dungeon Experience are funnier than even the most hilarious ones out there. It’s just so absurd and self-aware that I find it hard to imagine a world where I won’t be on the floor dying with laughter when it eventually releases, purely due to the ridiculous nature of this lighthearted adventure.