10 Video Games That Make You Rethink Time And Space
2. Portal
You can't have a feature about games tinkering with time and space without this seminal piece of work.
The concept is simple enough. You have a gun that can open up portals, and you'll be doing that a lot to progress through test chambers.
That sounds normal enough, surely? But then, the game will have you thinking, "How can I increase my speed in a small room to accelerate over a gap with no ramp?". Or how do funnel a laser beam that's aimed a wall, with the switch in another room.
That's where Portal shines.
What started off as a little addendum to Valve's Orange Box soon became a smash hit in its own right. Filled with hilarious and witty dialogue, an [unfortunately meme'd to death] cake joke, as well as some of the finest physics fiddling going, it was deserved.
It went on to inspire Bridge Constructor, as well as a more fleshed out sequel that introduced more brain-melting portal shenanigans.
But to many, the first will always be the standout just for the never-before-seen concept of playing with portals.