Edit 2: got a notification about Cronos: The New Dawn as I was launching Steam and decided to go for it. So far… holy hell, yep! Soo much yep! Just, uuh… turn off ray-tracing…
Edit: thanks so much to everyone who chimed in, there are some awesome recs in this thread! Also, really sorry to hear so many of you can relate to such games, good thing we have’em!
I apologise if I missed anyone’s comment.
OP: So, going through It™ again and my mood’s really gloomy. Anyone got any good recommendations to go with my mood?
To specify, PC-only, and I’m mostly asking for atmosphere, though some mechanical goodness will not go unappreciated. Thinking of stuff like Observer, Silent Hill, Darkwood, Arx Fatalis, Fallout: NV, Bloodborne, Dark Souls, Elden Ring, etc. Played most of these except Bloodborne, gathering the patience to deal with emulation.
Edit: oh, and if the story’ll shred my soul to pieces, all the better! Hit me with your best shot!
I’m reluctant to suggest What Remains of Edith Finch.
It will shred you.
That’s what I was going to recommend too. And very short too. It’s just a rainy afternoon.
Good! Hope it does thin slices, thank you!
Limbo
Inside is great as well
Limbo and Inside, noted! Thank you both!
I say Inside. Mostly because I never beat Limbo because I got stuck, and Inside was graphically superior and super gloomy.
Oh, I don’t mind outdated graphics, grew up in the 90s and it’s all we had:)) Mechanical difficulty isn’t a problem, either, because it plays into my masochistic tendencies!
How about The Long Dark? A struggle to survive in a cold, dead world. The atmosphere is superb and I think it pairs well with a melancholy mood. Sorry to hear you’re dealing with crap.
Came here to post this, as well.
Dying Light
Hardspace Shipbreaker (Solid story, Hating on a Doloris Umbridge type character)
Dredge
Last of us is an obvious answer I think if you haven’t played either of those games. The exact opposite of your request, when I am feeling as you describe I really recommend wandersong. The game is like therapy, it looks campy and stupid at first but the dialogue has incredible depth and uplifting vibes.
Hollow Knight (more so than Silksong tbh)
Night in the Woods (not the same vibe as the games you mentioned but absolutely a “had a bad day” vibe)
I immediately thought of NitW too!
Hollow Knight looks absolutely gorgeous, but I’m intimidated by it:))
Night in the Woods is on my list, likewise looks gorgeous, and from the few things I’ve heard about it, it sounds deeply thoughtful!
It doesn’t have much of a pre-defined story to it, but I would say Project Zomboid is pretty moody and has a lot of gameplay depth.
Really does look moody, and I love the strategy bits! Thanks, definitely wishlisted!
Awesome! If this is your type of thing, you may be in for some amazing experiences, particularly if you can play it multiplayer with friends or on a good server. Look up some good Project Zomboid video reviews or fan trailers to get an idea.
Sunless Sea is moody, gloomy, weird and beautiful. Music is hauntingly disturbing and nostalgic at the same time. It’s a weird mix of roguelike, trading&combat sim that’s heavy on choose your own adventure narratives while exploring lots of unique locations.
Thomas Was Alone
It’s not at all like the examples you give but it is such a good game that I think fits nicely here.
Never heard about it until now, but it does sound very interesting from the Steam blurb! Thank you!
I’ve heard Spiritfarer is quite emotional.
It is. Its also maybe not the best game to play when you’re struggling. I played it when I lost a close family member and I became a wreck for weeks
It helped me process the loss, but it drew all of my emotions out in the process
Well, that’s what I’m looking for, honestly. Trying to burn the hurt out in a way, and it’s easier to process when in a context where such issues are analysed.
Oh boy, this is a game that absolutely ripped my heart out. I’ve never been great at saying goodbye, I did everything I could before the first goodbye and then I quit. I loved the game, but it hits me in a strange soft spot.
Brothers is kinda similar to provide a recommendation.
Ooh, and it looks so sweet and wholesome!❤️ Thank you, will give it a whirl!
Maybe the little nightmares games?
I’ve had my eye on them for a while, but they look so cute to me that I feel I need a better mood to really enjoy them.
I suppose they could be looked at in that way…
I found them to be both thrilling and frightful.
Have you played Control? It was on sale recently on Steam
Just finished that one, I fucking loved it, but that story just sort of brick walls at the end in a way that made me want a sequel really bad. I want more SCP inspired games like Control, the setting and anomalous items alone make for a great game.
Yepyep! On my NG+ currently, it’s my form of Story Mode:))
Blasphemous (only the first one), This War of Mine, Valiant Hearts, Papers Please, Pathologic
Edit: Strange Horticulture, Arctic Eggs, and Lies of P
Thanks so much, this is certainly a lot of material!
I have an off-and-on playthrough of Blasphemous going on my Deck, I love the atmosphere and the story, plus the art direction is gorgeous!
Have played a bit of Papers Please and Pathologic, but didn’t have the proper mood for the first, and found it hard to get over the traversal hump in the latter.
Is Blasphemous 2 not as good? I haven’t played either but they’re on my wishlist
The second game feels to me much less unique, compared to the first, especially the atmosphere. It’s still a good game, just not what I expected from the sequel
Gemini Rue is a great point’n’click with a wonderfully somber and dark atmosphere, and a tremendously good story.
I’d also recommend Night in the Woods, and Sally Face.
The first two Thief games are also very dark (literally), and are some of the finest stealth games ever made, with good stories to boot.
I’ve played Gemini Rue on my phone obsessively, great game!
Night in the Woods and Sally Face both look like the kind of games which one underestimates then ends up sobbing after 12 non-stop hours, like SIGNALIS. Thank you!
Oh, I’ve “used” the first two Thief games so much that I’ve sanded off any matte they had left:))
Cat Lady, if you like adventure games, or Oxenfree?
I’ve been morbidly attracted to Cat Lady for a very, very long time now, but what I’ve heard about it makes me feel like it’d be too much in times of crisis. That feels more like a “I’m feeling ok, let’s hurt myself a bit” kinda’ game to me.
Oxenfree looks really cool, looks like it’d make for a comfy bed game! Thank you!
Cat Lady has a dark story, but not in a way that made me feel powerless or depressed. To me, it’s the story of a person who has almost given up, finding genuine friendship and developing the strength to face and deal with her past traumas. I found the ending powerful in a life-affirming way. It is intense, though. And affected by your own choices. Maybe something for a better time.
