10 Best Reviewed Video Games You Didn't Play

Helmed by the small development team Variable State, Virginia is an atmospheric thriller that’s reminiscent of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.

Playing as rookie FBI agent Anne Tarvar, the plot follows her investigate the disappearance of a small boy alongside her new partner, Maria Halpin. However, the further into this rabbit hole Anne gets, the more surreal it becomes.

With dialogue absent throughout the entire game, the bulk of the emotional storytelling is carried by the breath-taking score by Lyndon Holland. Combined with the game’s use of cinematic editing techniques which expertly takes players from scene to scene, Virginia is an enthralling experience that’s unlike any other game out there.

Like most “walking simulator” games, though, the gameplay itself is as minimalistic as it gets. Each sequence boils down to walking around an area and interacting with the right item to progress the plot. While this simplistic approach isn’t as involved as most modern games (which may have turned perspective players away from picking this title up), it’s the unravelling of this cryptic story which has led to Virginia’s critical admiration.

Playing Virginia is like being at the centre of an intoxicating mystery film which only grows more compelling as it approaches its brain-bending conclusion.