10 Video Games That Messed With The Player

4. The Stanley Parable

BioShock Andrew Ryan
Galactic Cafe

One of the more interesting games on this list, The Stanley Parable is designed to confuse and frustrate its audience. Initially released in 2013, the game lets players control the titular character Stanley, as he explores what has happened to his colleagues who have mysteriously vanished.

The game gives absolute freedom to its players through the use of a narrator giving instructions to Stanley, which the player can obey or ignore. Doing either can lead to unexpected results, with the narrator commenting directly on actions taken through 4th wall breaks, and attempting to lead the player down certain paths.

Looping rooms and infinite corridors can make the player second guess themselves, and the short run time coupled with multiple endings can also confuse players, as they retrace their steps looking for one elusive alternate ending amongst the many. Staying inside your cubicle is also a valid choice, and might be a sensible one if you want to avoid the madness waiting for you when you step foot outside of it.

 
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Matt has been gaming since he was young, and enjoys exploring obscure indie games in between the latest AAA releases. The train sequence from Uncharted 2 still blows his mind.