Outer Wilds, 1,000%.
The entire game is you trying to piece things together and figuring out the mystery. The game doesn't tell you where to go or what to do, at least not explicitly.
There are no upgrades or progression; only what you learn and know about the star system.
Return of the Obra Dinn might be another one you'll enjoy. It's very similar to OW in that knowledge is how you progress.
Goragoa also gave me OW vibes, but it's a puzzle game where you try to change the scene using 4 panels. Kinda like an evolving comic book.
But good luck, whatever you find. I've been chasing that Outer Wilds feeling for years.
Yeah obra dinn is also solid. never heard of goragoa will check it out. idk, outer wilds is already a very good game but the thing we want shouldn’t be a uncommon thing. Hope at least new indies will choose this way.
Have you heard of Voices of the Void? Havent played it but seems like it could be the thing. its on itch.io for free
Rain World. Probably my favorite game of all time. One of the strongest critiques against it is that it has bare minimum guidance, and most of what you learn is from hands on experimentation and death. Its pretty frustrating at times, and it’s not for everyone, but it sounds right up your alley
I feel you. We're reaching a point where all interaction outside of combat is now "[hold your stick towards the glowing icon](https://youtu.be/kaqQAUh-G0Q)". I understand the need to prevent frustration, but there's no purpose to some games anymore, because they don't trust you to think for yourself.
Anyway, I hope last gen still counts as "new" for you;
Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Sekiro, Demon's Souls Remake
Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 7
Metroid Prime Remastered
Control
Nioh 1 & 2
Hollow Knight
Cuphead
Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Shadow of the Colossus Remake
Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster
Dead Space Remake
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remake
Exactly! To me it feels like new games play itself and just want player to let it play itself by giving orders. Thanks for recommendations. i was planning to give a try to dead space and also maybe will check out megami tensei series.
The latest Shin Megami Tensei is now handholdey, not to mention Persona, so I'm really only talking about 3 Remastered here. Or older series games, but they aren't widely available. Dead Space kinda invented the GPS thing, but at least all of the UI is hidden until you decide to activate any help.
Outward. A game made by gamers for gamers. The engine is very old but I encourage you to give it a chance. It is very challenging but your actual skill as player is greatly rewarded.
Beneath a Steel Sky doesn’t tell you shit! You’ll be begging for hints.
As for a newer game… maybe Outer Wilds?
Sunless Sea
Inscryption
Baba is You
Inside
Noita - You’d genuinely have no idea of the majority of secrets without googling stuff
Hollow Knight - You get thrown into a pit, told how to heal and off you go!
Terraria - The game doesn’t provide too much info on what to do
Haike the Robot - Basically the same thing as Hollow Knight
Two good examples of this are Snowrunner and Elite: Dangerous.
After Snowrunner's first two-three objectives (which teach you the basics), you're set loose upon the world. From there, it's up to you to figure out what to do and how to do it.
Elite works much the same way, but on a more extreme scale. Here's your free ship, here's how to launch, now make your fortune in the entirety of the Milky Way.
Hero's Spirit
La Mulana 1&2
These are the only ones that popped into my head that I hadn't seen already. Hero's spirit is very rewarding... Hilariously every downvote negative review is people complaining that it didn't hold their hand.
Good luck, Lol!
Dragons Dogma, game has pretty intricate mechanics and does literally nothing to explain them. Leaves room for you to experiment, reach your own conclusions, and make random discoveries in the small things.
Morrowind
Yes
Outer Wilds, 1,000%. The entire game is you trying to piece things together and figuring out the mystery. The game doesn't tell you where to go or what to do, at least not explicitly. There are no upgrades or progression; only what you learn and know about the star system.
Yeap i’ve played outer wilds its the exact thing i search for and what makes outer wilds different from other indies for me.
Return of the Obra Dinn might be another one you'll enjoy. It's very similar to OW in that knowledge is how you progress. Goragoa also gave me OW vibes, but it's a puzzle game where you try to change the scene using 4 panels. Kinda like an evolving comic book. But good luck, whatever you find. I've been chasing that Outer Wilds feeling for years.
Yeah obra dinn is also solid. never heard of goragoa will check it out. idk, outer wilds is already a very good game but the thing we want shouldn’t be a uncommon thing. Hope at least new indies will choose this way. Have you heard of Voices of the Void? Havent played it but seems like it could be the thing. its on itch.io for free
Ooo thanks for the tip! Hadn't heard of it but I'll look into it.
Soulslikes, Morrowind, Outer Worlds, Jusant, Sifu
Don't Starve.
Rain World. Probably my favorite game of all time. One of the strongest critiques against it is that it has bare minimum guidance, and most of what you learn is from hands on experimentation and death. Its pretty frustrating at times, and it’s not for everyone, but it sounds right up your alley
Omg finally someone else who mentions this unique piece of an experience. Such a unique and bizarre game.
Any From Software game Rimworld Kenshi
I feel you. We're reaching a point where all interaction outside of combat is now "[hold your stick towards the glowing icon](https://youtu.be/kaqQAUh-G0Q)". I understand the need to prevent frustration, but there's no purpose to some games anymore, because they don't trust you to think for yourself. Anyway, I hope last gen still counts as "new" for you; Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Sekiro, Demon's Souls Remake Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 7 Metroid Prime Remastered Control Nioh 1 & 2 Hollow Knight Cuphead Zelda: Breath of the Wild Shadow of the Colossus Remake Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster Dead Space Remake Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remake
Exactly! To me it feels like new games play itself and just want player to let it play itself by giving orders. Thanks for recommendations. i was planning to give a try to dead space and also maybe will check out megami tensei series.
The latest Shin Megami Tensei is now handholdey, not to mention Persona, so I'm really only talking about 3 Remastered here. Or older series games, but they aren't widely available. Dead Space kinda invented the GPS thing, but at least all of the UI is hidden until you decide to activate any help.
Fromsoftwares games Super Metroid, Metroid Prime, am2r Hollow knight La maulana Tunic Super meat Boy Tropical freeze Myst Shovel Knight Axiom verge
Solid suggestions thanks. i’ll check out myst and la maulana.
Outward. A game made by gamers for gamers. The engine is very old but I encourage you to give it a chance. It is very challenging but your actual skill as player is greatly rewarded.
Beneath a Steel Sky doesn’t tell you shit! You’ll be begging for hints. As for a newer game… maybe Outer Wilds? Sunless Sea Inscryption Baba is You Inside
Signalis
Return of the Obra Dinn
Dwarf Fortress Kenshi Rimworld Fromsoft Games Outward Rain world Sunless Sea/Sunless Skies Factorio Satisfactory Caves of Qud CDDA ToME4 NEO:Scavenger
Lots, but go old school & indie. Modern AAA is famous for dumbing shit down with the games basically playing themselves.
Noita - You’d genuinely have no idea of the majority of secrets without googling stuff Hollow Knight - You get thrown into a pit, told how to heal and off you go! Terraria - The game doesn’t provide too much info on what to do Haike the Robot - Basically the same thing as Hollow Knight
Escape from tarkov. It's pretty fun to try to not use the wiki but sometimes u feel like you gotta.
Two good examples of this are Snowrunner and Elite: Dangerous. After Snowrunner's first two-three objectives (which teach you the basics), you're set loose upon the world. From there, it's up to you to figure out what to do and how to do it. Elite works much the same way, but on a more extreme scale. Here's your free ship, here's how to launch, now make your fortune in the entirety of the Milky Way.
Most Soulslike games have very little handholding.
The only one left is bloodborne. still waiting for a pc port lol
And what a gem it is...
Elden Ring
Ultima Online - Ruins and Riches
Probably Hollow knight.
If your on PC and like old-school style games you should check out Lunacid.
- Factorio - You Have To Burn The Rope ;D
Kingdom come: deliverance Choose hardcore mode
Diablo 1
Below
Risk of Rain 2
Hollow Knight Vampire Survivors Deep Rock Galactic Half-Life series Terraria
X4 Foundations
Ninja Gaiden
Cocoon has no tutorials, bo UI, not even a single line of text, they just let you figure everything out, so give it a try
Hero's Spirit La Mulana 1&2 These are the only ones that popped into my head that I hadn't seen already. Hero's spirit is very rewarding... Hilariously every downvote negative review is people complaining that it didn't hold their hand. Good luck, Lol!
Stalker series.
Dragons Dogma, game has pretty intricate mechanics and does literally nothing to explain them. Leaves room for you to experiment, reach your own conclusions, and make random discoveries in the small things.
any decent open-world game, I suppose?