8 Essential Video Games To Get You Into A New Genre

3. What Remains Of Edith Finch - "Walking Simulator"

mario rabbid
Annapurna Interactive

"Walking simulators" certainly aren't for everyone, but even those who prefer their games to be a little more active and action-packed should at least give a couple of them a try - you just might be surprised.

And if pressed to pick just one to highlight the artistry and emotion the genre is capable of, there's simply no better than What Remains of Edith Finch. 

This first-person exploration game puts players in the shoes of the titular teenager as she returns to her ancestral home to discover the grim fates which befell her entire family.

The vignettes detailing each family member's demise are both highly imaginative and incredibly varied, enough that you're unlikely to miss the lessened player agency you'll have compared to games from more conventional genres.

That it manages to tell such an affecting and unexpected tale in less than two hours makes it one of the all-time great examples of economic storytelling the medium has ever seen.

Even if you're dead-certain you're not a fan of walking sims, you owe it to yourself to give this one a go. You just might surprise yourself.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.