8 Video Games That Did More With Less

Portal is perhaps the example of a game that, despite being developed and published by one of the biggest gaming outfits on the planet, has the spirit, ethos, and economic design philosophy of a scrappy indie.

Portal is basically the antithesis of a bloated, verbose open world game, given that it's an intensely constrained experience where every single moment feels wholly purposeful and motivated.

Across its mere three hours, Portal has players working their way through a series of ingenious physics-based puzzles, which prove so enthralling that the aggressively stark, minimalist - some could say "boring" - environments somehow work against the odds.

The game is also a masterclass in sprinkling lore and characterisation throughout the play-time, managing to be intensely memorable even though the focus is primarily on mind-bending puzzles.

It's easy to picture a version of Portal that's far "meatier" and yet decidedly less iconic, bogged down with other gameplay mechanics, longer levels, and a more involved story. 

Instead, it's a fiercely efficient romp without a shred of fat on it.