10 Best 2023 Video Games Nobody Bought

5. Bramble: The Mountain King

Bramble: The Mountain King is a short but sweet horror romp that is reminiscent of Little Nightmares. Created by Swedish studio Dimfrost Studios, the third-person action-adventure arrived just before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom toward the end of April.

That tricky release window aside, Bramble invites you on a compelling albeit deeply disturbing journey as a little boy trying to rescue his sister.

The game is as grotesque as it is gorgeous. The linear nature of Bramble forces you to push ahead in its side-scrolling environments Limbo-style but what separates the two is the story is told far more explicitly and has much to say about Nordic mythology. Well, that and monsters from Norse mythology trying to remove your tiny limbs from your tiny body. The game features clever environmental puzzles, genuinely frightening encounters, and boss fights that cleverly thread the needle of being challenging without being overwhelmingly difficult.

The attention to detail in Bramble is a treat and it’s enough to steel yourself to a little fear to explore its gorgeously realised environments.

A bundle of classic horror themes embedded in mythology, and a fascinating story featuring character development, Bramble is a hidden gem that you shouldn’t miss out on.