The weirdest upcoming games I absolutely can't wait to play

I've always been a fan of games that break the mold and try something incurably bizarre. Obviously, the concept of weird is very subjective, as one person might consider some games quite normal, while others would write them off as completely crazy, but I think it's still possible to categorize them in a way that respects the bold risks and interesting leaps these developers take.

The gaming world has exploded a lot in the past few years, and with it, the indie development scene. More and more creative people are trying their hand at game development, and as a result, many other gamers and I get to experience some truly remarkable games that simply don't exist in the AAA space, thanks to the talented and strange minds who are redefining gaming as we know it.

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Pipes.exe

Co-op Horror Evolved

Details:

• Based on classic Windows screensavers

• Parkour gameplay rather than extraction style

Co-op horror has seen a major resurgence thanks to the release of games like Deadly businessbut Pipes.exe wants to go even further into the weird with an all-new parkour-style adventure full of laughs and scares. The game sends you back to the early Windows days when colorful screensavers were all the rage, and sucks you right into these environments, each full of puzzles and creatures from another dimension.

The game focuses more on making jumps and climbing structures than collecting resources, but there are tons of different levels to clear, ranging from pure pipe fever dreams to brick mazes hiding monsters around every corner. I'm already in love with the art direction and can't wait to try a genuinely unique co-op horror game that's equal parts fun and scary at the same time.

Carcass dressed

No more mouth watering

Details:

• From the creators of MOUTH ROLLING

• Immersive controls and user interface

Carcass dressed takes the concept of tank controls in the most literal way possible, placing you and two friends in a cramped tank in an alien, deserted city that is far from empty. The big draw for me is the diegetic controls, where every button, switch and level has to be pulled manually, adding to the sense of immersion and adding so much weight to each of your actions.

When it comes to the co-op component, you and your group take on very different roles within the tank. One drives, one shoots and the other gives commands, and if you're going to have any chance of getting out alive, you'll need to communicate and stay strong, even when the odds start to stack against your crew.

Through heaven and hell

Details:

• Metroidvania style exploration

• Brutal enemy designs and gorgeous environments

METAMORPHOSIS looks like like a series of artworks all stitched together, as every moment, whether it's a cutscene or a gameplay segment, is coated in a beautiful brutality that sets it apart from many other games in the room. You are trapped in a ruined world full of gigantic structures and demonic entities, and only by slashing, shooting and jumping into the unknown can you get close to the last paradise.

The art style is what caught my interest at first, being a cross between pixels and highly rendered scenes that ensure every frame has the same level of darkness from start to finish. It's gory and gruesome, and a must for anyone looking for a truly remarkable story, wrapped in a metroidvania.

Hieronymus

Enter The Twisted Triptych

Details:

• Inspired by the works of Hieronymus Bosch

• Surrealist shooter filled with fantasy elements

Art and games have always crossed paths, but it's pretty hard to find a game that pays homage to its source quite like that Hieronymus. Inspired by the surreal and distorted works of the eponymous painter, you are thrown into a whimsical world where all order breaks down and all semblance of logic is completely forgotten.

Disturbing four-legged creatures walk around on two feet, animals wear clothes, and even the environment around you feels like it's falling apart before your eyes, perfectly capturing the essence of what makes the original works so fascinating. When it comes to gameplay, I think the combination of exploration and FPS combat provides an ideal mix of action and thought that should set it apart from many of the safer, more streamlined games in the genre.

Prove you're human

Closer to AI than ever

Details:

• Comment on AI and consciousness

• Looks like other media, like Ex Machine

Prove you're human puts AI at the forefront of the experience, placing you in a digital world while your real self continues its normal life in reality. The story revolves around Mesa, an AI that has been convinced that it is human, and it is your job to learn about her and suppress these thoughts about humanity.

Some of the coolest parts come from the more disturbing sides of the game, like the CAPTCHA tool that lets you interact with distant objects in mysterious, often terrifying ways. While the game looks colorful on the surface, there's clearly a very sinister undercurrent running through it, and because of that darkness, it's an absolute must for me at launch.

VA proxy

Scale unlike anything else

Details:

• Gigantic structures and even enemies

• Fast-paced battles that combine soul-like and hack-and-slash gameplay

VA proxy has been on my radar ever since the first demo was released, and since then I've been actively invested in its development. Set in a mechanical and polluted world, you are a lone warrior in search of freedom, but in your path lie countless machines and other enemies who are more than happy to stand in your way.

The visual style feels so unique and mysterious and reminds me a lot of something similar Shadow of the Colossusbecause of the eerie feel that covers every moment of the game. And perhaps the biggest draw is the combat, taking notes from basically every action genre and merging them into a cohesive whole that should please even the most seasoned hack-and-slash players out there.

Hoarder

Find nightmares in the everyday

Details:

• Cleaning simulator turned horror game

• Secrets hidden beneath the surface

Hoarder is a remarkable exploration game that starts off fairly simple, but quickly reveals itself as something very alien. The early hours are spent cleaning and uncovering minor details of the home, but as you dig deeper it's clear there's a lot more to the building than meets the eye.

You end up piloting a submarine and fighting off more nightmares every night, with the fear of the unknown bordering on suffocating as the story progresses. I think if you're a fan of atmospheric horror like I am, Hoarder seems like the next big game in the genre and a real standout in the space that could turn out to be one of the best ever made.

The Dungeon Experience

Your very own friendly Mudcrab

Details:

• Comic first-person adventure

• Goofy characters and a goofy story that holds it all together

The Dungeon Experience is about you and your quest for financial freedom. Guided by a low-level mud crab, you find yourself in a variety of hilarious circumstances, from office cubicles to underground dungeons, and it never seems like things will get any less absurd.

Fun games come in all shapes and sizes, but I'd argue that the trailer and demo for The Dungeon Experience are funnier than even the funniest ones out there. It's just so absurd and self-aware that I have a hard time imagining a world where I won't be on the floor dying of laughter when it eventually drops, purely because of the ridiculousness of this light-hearted adventure.