Topic

Existentialism

Freedom without instructions, and the anxiety that comes with it.

3: in games
9:26: average
28 min: in total
106: across the network

Existentialism across the network →

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9:18

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

Atlus · 2003

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is a PlayStation 2 RPG developed by Atlus and directed by Katsura Hashino. Released in 2003, it was the first main-series Megami Tensei game released in the United States (2004). Its design centres on a weakness-driven 'Press Turn' battle system, demon negotiation and fusion, and navigation across a symbolic 2D world map and grid-based 3D dungeons with automatic mapping and first-person 'Look' functionality. It sets difficulty at the start (Normal or Hard) and features a silent protagonist named during the opening.

10:15

Steins;Gate

5pb. · 2009

Steins;Gate is a visual novel built around two precise, low-friction inputs — answering calls and selecting words in texts — that drive tightly wound branching narratives about causality and consequence. It demands sustained reading and rewards attention to detail, not dexterity or speed. Its design reflects its themes: small actions ripple across time, but only if you’re paying close enough attention to notice the trigger.

8:46

Disco Elysium

ZA/UM · 2019

Disco Elysium is a narrative RPG where dialogue and skill checks replace combat. Its 24 skills — grouped under Intellect, Psyche, Physique, and Motorics — speak autonomously during interactions. Checks use two six-sided dice and can trigger negative effects or quirks. Clothing modifies skills. The Thought Cabinet lets players internalise thoughts over in-game hours, granting benefits but occasionally drawbacks.

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11:06

1080° Snowboarding

Nintendo · 1998

1080° Snowboarding is a Nintendo 64 snowboarding game released in 1998. Players control one of five snowboarders in third-person across eight levels. Core gameplay splits between racing (Race, Time Attack, 2 Players, Match Race) and trick-based scoring (Trick Attack, Contest). Tricks — 24 standard and 5 secret — fall into grab or spin categories and require circular stick motions plus R, Z, and B inputs. Scoring rewards complexity, combos, and timing. Characters and boards have distinct stats affecting technique, speed, weight, balance, and edge control. The game emphasises realistic physics and responsive controls.

9:13

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Intelligent Systems · 2003

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising is a Game Boy Advance turn-based strategy game released in 2001 by Intelligent Systems. It refines the Wars series’ core loop with non-linear campaign progression, Super CO Powers, and terrain-specific objectives like capturing Black Cannons. It asks players to sequence actions across turns with precision, not flair. Its rigour is its strength—and its limit.

8:39

Alone in the Dark (1992 video game)

Infogrames · 1994

Alone in the Dark (1992) is a 3D horror adventure game set in 1920s Louisiana. The player selects Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood and begins trapped in the attic of the haunted Derceto mansion. Escape requires exploration, weight-managed inventory use, and puzzle-solving—some enemies demand ritual solutions; others must be avoided entirely. Fixed camera angles and mixed 2D/3D visuals create deliberate tension. It received international attention upon release.

10:46

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

Capcom · 2007

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is a DS courtroom game built on three fixed actions — Press, Present, Perceive — and one hard constraint: you cannot move forward until you trigger the correct response. It works because every phase feeds the next. It falters because it offers no deviation from that feed.