20 Most Addictive Video Games Of The Decade (So Far)

6. Nidhogg

Nidhogg game
Messhof Games

It might look as though it was coded on a particularly thick stack of pork, but Nidhogg's primitive aesthetic belies a perfected fighting engine underneath.

Literally existing as a game to throw on when you've got a few friends round (or fancy challenging the world online), all bouts are one-on-one, pixel blood-soaked fencing duels. You can stab, dodge-roll, deflect, jump, dive-kick, throw your own sword and finish off a downed foe - nothing more, nothing less.

With that set of tools, you need to fell your opponent, allowing you to make a Superbowl-esque run for your own end goal, which exists a few screens-worth in one direction.

If your opponent stops you, their goal opens up, and so on. Very quickly, it turns into this:

Nidhogg game
Messhof

Couch multiplayer gaming at its rawest, that also means plenty of shouting, plenty of "BUTIHITTHEBUTTON" reactions, and plenty of victory dances when you finally make it through.

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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.