Pretty much, I’m looking for a game where I’m not the hero, I’m not the protagonist, I’m just a pawn in the big picture.
Preferably a game with a big open world too, one that feels real and isn’t just a predetermined path for my player.
I also like games where you aren’t clearly stronger than all your opponents like you’re some sort of God so they actually feel intimidating and there is a fear of dying
All suggestions are welcome
Thanks :>
Subnautica!
You feel pretty damn small when that reaper grabs you
Perhaps Outer Wilds? You zoom around in a small space ship in a solar system and when you approach different phenomenas and see how big they get it gets pretty amazing.
I’m playing this right now (no spoilers please!) and find this game kind of scary! Fear of the unknown, etc.
There’s 0 danger in the base game (aside, you know, the sun…), so you can progress, fail, and retry without any stress.
The DLC though, it radically changes that and there are actually jump scares. It’s a whole different vibe.
There’s an option to turn off the jump scares. I didn’t think it detracted from the plot.
Wasn’t it called “reduce frights”? Unless is has changed in the recent weeks, that option doesn’t turn off jump scares. They would have to redesign half of the DLC to be able to turn that mechanic off.
It is and I think it makes them into not jump scares. But here’s a good description. Slight spoilers for a small section of dlc.
In the DLC, there are stealth sections. Alien creatures patrol certain areas that you need to sneak by. Normally, if they notice you, they will turn on their lights to get a better look at you, creep up slowly, then charge you with a scary sound effect very quickly. Spooky music starts playing, and you get killed. With this setting on, they will no longer turn on their lights. This means they will only see you if you have your light on. Secondly, they will no longer charge you. Instead, they walk VERY slowly towards you. It’s quite easy to avoid them like this. Finally, if they do catch you, no scary music, and no creepy sound effects will play. They still kill you, but the animation leading into it is much more gentle and it’s not scary at all. The “killing” animation is just them blowing out a candle you’re holding.
Sometimes it can feel that way, but try to keep pushing if you can. It’s a very rewarding experience and left me with good memories.
Dark Bramble is somewhat anxiety inducing (especially at that one point), but the rest it’s more just learning to ignore the timer. There’s no rush ever. You can always come back.
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Fear and hunger.
It has enemies that are tougher than they should be. You are just a small part of the story. It’s pretty good.
Real life
Project1999.
kinda a weird game but it definitely fits your request : everything
ETA: This review from polygon explains it well!
I love how multiple gaming magazines do clickbait when this game goes on sale. Articles titled “Everything on Steam is 60% off for the next week!”
Omg right? I’ve bought this game on switch and steam and still get tricked on both
Outward is really good for this. You aren’t the chosen one, you aren’t special, you’re just a person trying to get by and the game really makes sure you know it haha
You just described Shadow of the Colossis.
Elite Dangerous is like that. You’re small in a literal sense, it has a 1:1 recreation of the entire Milky Way galaxy. You can land on a planet and walk into any direction for hours and see nothing but rocks. In terms of gameplay it fits your description as well, there is no predetermined path, you’re just one pilot and you can try different professions and make a fortune, but you will not change the history of the galaxy.
Seconded elite dangerous, especially if you have VR. If you also have the joysticks for 6DOF control it is super super super fun docking at stations and having dogfights.
It’s a shame that they half-assed VR support for Odyssey. Elite really shines in VR.
How do you land on planets? I never found a way to get out of the spaceship except at ports
Landing on planets used to require the Horizons expansion. Since 2020 it’s included in the standard edition. Maybe you tried it a long time ago without the expansion ?
Nowadays getting out of vehicles to walk around requires the Odyssey expansion.
As your ship gets closer to ground, there should be a marker at some point, you press whatever button it is and it auto lands. Try to slow down as you lower the ship
I feel like Valheim fits this to a certain degree
- The Longing: a really subversive experience
- Kingdom Come Deliverance: open world medieval game with a moderate emphasis on realism. You start out as a peasant who knows how to use a sword and finish the game being not much more than that.
- Dark Souls 1, 2, 3: these games make you feel pretty unimportant, unlike other FromSoft games like Bloodborne or Elden Ring. The bosses and environments will certainly make you feel challenged and powerless all the time.
these games make you feel pretty unimportant
You’re literally addressed as the “Chosen Undead” by a goddess in DS1 and tasked with saving the world.
Yet that doesn’t matter much as the two endings of the game are that you either refuse to link the fire and walk away, leaving the world to die, or you do link it to keep it going for a little bit longer but in the end it won’t matter much as it will die down eventually.
You could say that about any other story where you save the world. You only ever save it from the present danger, you never make it safe for all time. Otherwise there could be no sequels (of which DS has received a couple). “Happily ever after” is figurative.
I second Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Seems like it ticks all of OP’s boxes.
Arma 3
Does Don’t Starve fit your bill?
Also second Submautica.
