10 Awesome 2021 Video Games You Missed (So Far)
4. Before Your Eyes
One of the most innovative games of 2021 so far, Before Your Eyes appears on the surface to be another artsy, dreamlike walking sim, but it's actually something very different.
Without going too much into narrative detail, the game is a first-person adventure through a soul's memories as it ventures towards the afterlife.
Rather than using a controller or keyboard to progress through the game, Before Your Eyes is designed to be controlled by the player's own blinks with the use of a webcam to track their eye movements.
Though you can play the game more conventionally without a webcam, that's not really the way it's intended to be played.
Rather, blinking is used to skip from one memory moment to the next, and while the tracking isn't always perfect - this will depend on your equipment and lighting setup - it does lend the game a mesmerising level of immersion.
You'll find yourself intentionally trying not to blink in order to linger on certain memories and moments for longer, and the result is a heightened connection between the player and their character.
It won't be for everyone, but if you're desiring a game that takes a unique and creative approach to the contemplative indie formula, this is a must-play.