3. This War Of Mine
In a rare move that surely left many developers going "Why didn't we think of that?!", This War Of Mine focusses on the aftermath of what could be any battle (although it's inspired by the Sarajevo Conflict from the mid-nineties), letting you play as a variety of civilians trying to survive in a bombed out, war-ravaged city. Naturally, the subject matter is immediately harrowing and impactful, but developers 11 Bit didn't stop there; gameplay is an engaging mix of Sim-like people management (looking at happiness levels and ensuring everyone is eating at least once a day), but also a great element of survival as you send out members to scavenge for supplies every night. Leaving more people behind means better defence against the other citizens resorting to increasingly desperate measures, but also means you may not stand a chance against whatever forces you come up against. Suddenly you start thinking of what you'd do in this situation. Do you try and craft a weapon and raid a supermarket, knowing its popularity would mean potential resistance? Target the homes of innocent people and hope you can barter with them; perhaps threaten them to give up their supplies? It's a supremely bleak setup for a game, but manages to dabble in delicate subject matter with just the right amount of weight; the end result being an emotional experience that will make you question your own morality at every turn.