When anyone thinks about cults, they usually get the image of zombie-like Ganados from Resident Evil 4 in their minds. Cult Classics video games have nothing to do with Ganados or bugs in anyone’s head but rather have to do with video games that are enjoyed for being outside what’s being presented in the mainstream.
The cult classic nature of a video game can be due to its obscure choices in storytelling, the artistic style that it portrays, or the way that the game is played. These are games that are loved for being themselves while taking concepts of previous video games and bending them to create artistic integrity within the experiences they provide.
10/10 Beyond Good And Evil
Beyond Good and Evil is brushed over by a lot of people, but those who have played it adore it with every fiber of their being. The game is a huge mesh of genres that will keep players wondering what the next mission in the game will have them do, though it largely focuses on adventure.
How the main character, Jade, takes on enemies also feels very natural, like the concept for the controls in the Batman Arkham series. It has a lot of players wanting a sequel but whether that’ll happen is in an odd gray area at the moment.
9/10 Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb has an artistic style that contrasts the tone of the game, and though that’s said lightly, it also weighs down on the game heavily. The game has heavy satanic themes that deal with the players starting cults as a cute character that survived its death sentence by doing deeds for an imprisoned prophet.
The story and premises are all so spooky, yet the way they are presented is cute and action-packed with rogue-lite elements in its progression. Players will need to manage a cult while also farming different materials in the battle to make it larger and more sustainable. It’s a beautiful yet creepy experience to behold.
8/10 Demon Souls
Demon Souls was originally a PS3 exclusive, and though many people now know what this game is, it wasn’t always that way. The game revolutionized how people saw RPGs, as the game did not make the players feel as though they were becoming an all-powerful god when they leveled up. Instead, the game pushed the players to try and get better at the game.
The controls of the game were simple, but the enemies that the game presented were extremely difficult. Demon Souls lets players deal with hard situations without much ability to over-level the bosses. It was a game that felt impossible to beat, but its well-thought-out exploration felt fully worth it.
7/10 Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a cute yet twisted game about a Squirrel who has the worst day imaginable. It takes risks by having a lot of style in the way it presents itself, and that’s what many people love about it. It additionally includes different platforming elements and puzzle-like boss fights. The game is full of jokes that feel like they don’t belong in the game yet hilariously keep the player invested.
Not all the jokes land, but there are several funny moments like Conker convincing a guard that a squirrel is actually an elephant or death getting mad at cats for having nine lives.
6/10 The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac achieved a lot of success when it was first released as an adobe flash application. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth continued that and kept on growing the game’s audience as a lot of people felt close to the story that was heavily tied into biblical themes. The gameplay also heavily amplified this as it is an extremely difficult roguelike with a lot to do.
The game offers a system where they have to restart the entire run if they die,. This is offset by the fact that every room is randomized and that there are hundreds of items for the players to get, which keeps changing the gameplay experience. It’s a game where players can invest tens of, if not hundreds of hours.
5/10 Earthbound
Earthbound is an RPG that changed the regular pace of the genre by not placing itself in a setting that was too fantastical but very heavily influenced by the world that the developers lived in. There are hospitals and burger joints that help the main character, Ness, or whatever players name him, throughout the story.
The story is where this game shines, as there are a lot of lovable and quirky moments that unfold throughout its telling. The game has turned-based combat, but it respects the player by allowing them to feel a true sense of power in how they can get through easier battles. It’s a game that puts a lot of time into being enjoyable to sit through.
4/10 Okami
Okami won the game of the year when it was first released. It added an artistic style that has yet to be replicated as stunningly as what Okami has presented in the dungeon crawler genre. The gameplay is a blend of puzzle solving and fast-paced action that can be slowed down with the player’s paintbrush.
The use of unlocking different brush techniques opens up many avenues in the gameplay as players will have to flatten the environments and draw on them to figure out different puzzles. It’s an interesting take on unlocking abilities and uncovering new areas.
3/10 Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is a playable work of art. The amount of empty land to get lost in is unbelievable and adds to the loneliness that the tragic journey entails. A player’s search for answers will begin to get them lost, and–with the killing of each Colossus–more questions will arise.
Taking down each Colossus feels like the players are trying to figure out a giant scaling puzzle where they must learn to climb and save stamina. Each Colossus will test the players to see if they can think as much as they can act. Everyone who has experienced the game has come to love and deeply appreciate it for all that it is.
2/10 Catherine
Catherine has a lot of different facets that leave players wanting more. The story is deeply intriguing as it is told in a dating sim type of way and with gorgeously animated anime cutscenes. The art style is impeccable, and the subject matter deals with the touchy yet interesting theme of adultery in a relationship that seems to be going nowhere.
The characters have unlikable personalities, yet the game is so well written that it will make players want to root for them. It’s equally one of the best puzzle games out there, with block-based puzzles that will have players learning how to satisfactorily and quickly complete levels.
1/10 Psychonauts
Psychonauts changed the platforming genre by creating a game that focused entirely on mental health in a heart-warming and caring way. The game allows players to traverse through the different minds of characters that have been struck by some sort of trauma. It was such a loved game that a lot of the sequel was funded by fans, and though the game was released 16 years after it was a massive success, it still managed to sell millions of copies.
The game knows how to get a player to laugh but also allows them to feel hope in their own traumas. It allows players to see the light if players do the inner work that needs to be done to fix traumas that affect their daily lives.
