8. Flower (Thatgamecompany)
Flower is a soothing experience for the senses; an amalgamation of sight and sound that even the grouchiest person can't resist. Controlling the wind, you use the PS3 motion controller to blow a single flower petal across the landscape. The goal is to collect the petals of other flowers and eventually create an endless life-bringing stream of vibrant color. If that sounds very simple, that's because it is.
Flower isn't meant to be complex or even very deep, instead prioritizing feelings and emotion above all else. More specifically, it is meant to generate positive feelings within. It also doesn't boast a narrative in the strictest sense, instead existing in a more subtle, abstract sense. There is no text or voice acting, just sight and sound working together to generate a feeling in the gamer as they play it, and
Flower is incredibly good at doing this. While most levels do indeed feel uplifting and positive, some of the levels, such as those that take place in a violent thunderstorm, can actually feel quite frightening. This is a testament to the game's ability to create emotion within limitation. Of all the entries on this list, this one is most certainly the most obviously "artsy," as you feel like you are watching a painting come to life as you play it. The game also makes a statement about the conflict between natural and urban settings. The menu, displaying pots of whittled flowers within a drab and dull apartment, is a stark contrast to the vibrant and colorful fields of flowers that make up the levels. If anything,
Flower is a profound reminder of the separation we've placed between ourselves and nature. Yet despite this, it never generates negative energy and doesn't wag its finger or talk down to us. It merely seeks to show us how important a part of our lives the natural world is, and it does it utilizing the power of video games.