Atmospheric games are those which allow the player to explore a fantastical world, steeped in ambiance and dripping with character. Often combined with survival and oradventure gameplay, these titles can offer dozens of hours of content to play through and can be entirely engaging.
Manyatmospheric gamesfeature people as the protagonists, but not all. Some games allow the player to take on the persona of an animal, a monster, or even a spirit. The result can often be a unique gaming experience. Game developers are free to exercise their imagination and build a game world that doesn’t need to reflect on reality too closely.
7Shelter
Raise A Litter Of Badgers
In this open-world survival game, the player takes on the role of a mother badger, raising and taking care of her young. The game progresses through a number of different biomes, each with its own set of challenges.
The search for food is a constant requirement inShelter, as is protecting the litter from aggressive predators. With its unique graphical style and fantastic soundtrack,Shelteris a captivating game at times. Through exploration andefficient gathering, the player can ensure that their young live long enough to become adults.
Now and then, a game comes along with a completely unique setting. Bear and Breakfast is such a game. Set in a lush and detailed forest, the player takes on the role of Hank the Bear, with his wilderness bed and breakfast business.
This is a game with a complex strategy layer but with additional gameplay features, such as exploration. The player will need to improve Hank’s business, including construction, expansion, and renovation. They will also have to interact with the clients of the business. This is a humorous game, populated by oddball characters with off-the-wall personalities. Overall, a fun little game, suitable for casual play.
Okamiis based on the setting of ancient Japan. The player takes on the role of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, in her wolf form. The overall goal of the game is to find out why the world is in darkness and to restore an artifact called the Celestial Brush.
The game merges multiple genres into one. This includespuzzle-solving, exploration, and general combat across the stunning world map. A classic story of good versus evil, and well presented,Okamideserves a place on this list.
Set in a mystical forest,Ori and the Blind Forestis a platform puzzle game where the player takes on the role of a small spirit creature, Ori, the guardian of the world. Following a terrible storm, Ori is separated from his mother. The forest starts to turn dark and decay, and Ori and his friend, Sein, set off to solve the problem.
With some great platforming gameplay and intricate puzzles, this is a challenging game, although a somewhat casual one. The world is graphically stunning, and the story is engaging and often quite emotionally charged. This is a great little survival game for players that can’t spend hours playing in one session, and are happy to progress at a more relaxed speed.
Maneatercomes with heaps ofdarkly humorousaspects. Taking on the role of Scaly Pete, an adolescent bullshark, the player must thrive and survive in an often hostile environment. This involves staying alive long enough to grow and evolve into the apex predator that Scaly Pete can eventually become.
The hunt for food is important inManeater, and this can be found in many forms. Other sealife, or even humans, can be consumed to help Scaly Pete grow. As Scaly Pete grows, he will unlock additional abilities and become stronger.The ecosystemin Maneater is fully simulated and can be fascinating at times, and it is this level of detail that earns the game a place on this list.
Not many game developers are willing to go out on a limb and create a game based on a creature that is generally an enemy in a game. This givesManeatera really different flavor, there is a kind of guilty pleasure in chewing up humans for food in this game. Overall, it is well worth a place at the top of this list.
Stunning Nordic World
Spirit of the North
Spirit of the North is a single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland. The story takes root from various pieces ofNordicfolklore.Play as an ordinary red fox whose story becomes entwined with the guardian of the Northern Lights, a magical spirit fox. As you journey over the mountains and under red-stained skies, you’ll discover more about your companion and land left in ruin.Uniquely designed to purposefully have no dialog or narration. Players must breathe in their surroundings to solve various puzzles and speculate the meaning of a lost ancient civilization.Make your way across stunning landscapes, on an emotionally stirring journey.Solve environmental puzzles to change the world around you, using ancient powers bestowed upon you by the guardian of the Northern Lights.Follow the mysterious Spirit Fox across a land left in ruin as you discover more about a lost civilization.Moving orchestral soundtrack featuring 14 original compositions.
This successful indie title is visually stunning, and incredibly atmospheric, set in a highly detailed world that is inspired byNorse mythology. The player takes on the persona of a spirit wolf, as it tries to learn how it relates to the guardian of the Northern Lights.
With its hand-crafted map and environments, focus on exploration and storytelling, and challenging puzzles, this is an excellent game. As the player continues on their journey to find out the secrets of a lost civilization, they will be exposed to some incredible scenery and evocative dialogue. Spirit of the North is deserving of its place at the top of this list.
