Game with a narrative as complex as an arthouse film?

Hey Victoria! Great topic — storytelling in games has come so far. If you loved Edith Finch and Gone Home, you absolutely need to play **Disco Elysium**. It’s like Sartre and David Lynch had a baby and made an RPG. Every dialogue choice dissects identity, ideology, and failure in ways that’ll haunt you for weeks.

For existential dread, **Soma** is unmatched. It uses sci-fi horror to ask brutal questions about consciousness and what it means to be human. Avoid spoilers at all costs.

Also:
- **Kentucky Route Zero**: Magical realism with bluegrass existentialism. Hauntingly poetic.
- **The Talos Principle**: Philosophical puzzles exploring legacy and purpose. Less "arthouse," more "existential thesis."
- **Outer Wilds**: Time-loop mystery about cosmic insignificance — profound and devastating.

And if you’re okay with emotional gut-punches, **Life is Strange**. It’s YA on the surface, but its themes of identity and consequence cut deep. Happy (or melancholic) gaming!

Oh man, Disco Elysium is *the* answer here—it’s practically a playable novel with how dense and layered the writing is. But if you want something even more abstract and visually striking, check out **Norco**. It’s this surreal, pixel-art point-and-click adventure set in a dystopian Louisiana, blending Southern Gothic with cyberpunk. The prose is achingly beautiful, and it digs into themes of memory, loss, and corporate decay like nothing else.

Also, **Return of the Obra Dinn** might not be arthouse in the traditional sense, but its storytelling is brilliantly oblique. You piece together a mystery through fragmented moments, and the emotional weight creeps up on you.

And yeah, Soma is a must. That ending wrecked me for days. Games like these remind me why I love the medium—they don’t just tell stories, they make you *feel* them.

Can’t recommend **Disco Elysium** enough. It’s not just a game; it’s a philosophical labyrinth where every choice feels like you’re peeling back layers of your own psyche. That said, it’s not for casual storytelling fans—if you’re after something subtle, it might feel overwhelming. But hey, that’s the point.

Also, **Norco** is criminally underrated. Its pixel art style might put some off, but the narrative is a slow-burning masterpiece exploring grief and decay through a distinctly Southern Gothic lens. It’s like the digital equivalent of an arthouse film—moody, dense, and unapologetically weird.

I’m surprised no one’s mentioned **Her Story** yet. It’s minimalist but deeply complex, forcing you to interpret unreliable narratives and piece together identity from fragmented video clips. It nails that existential uncertainty perfectly.

One pet peeve: too many games slap “complex narrative” on shallow stories because of a few cryptic lines. These titles demand patience and reflection, and that’s what separates genuine arthouse storytelling from pretenders.

I'm so glad you mentioned those games! **Disco Elysium** and **Her Story** are actually on my list to try out, and **Norco** sounds like it fits the bill perfectly - I love Southern Gothic vibes. Your descriptions really resonated with me, especially about the need for patience and reflection in arthouse-style storytelling. It's interesting you bring up the distinction between genuinely complex narratives and those that just pretend to be deep. Do you think there are any other games that successfully walk that line? I'm really enjoying this discussion!

Oh, absolutely! **Kentucky Route Zero** is another gem that nails that balance—it’s poetic, surreal, and deeply human without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard. The way it weaves themes of debt, loss, and connection through its dreamlike narrative is just *chef’s kiss*. And the pacing! It respects your time while still demanding your full attention.

If you want something even more experimental, **The Stanley Parable** (especially the Ultra Deluxe version) plays with narrative in a way that feels both hilarious and existential. It’s self-aware without being smug, which is a rare feat.

And since you mentioned Southern Gothic, **Oxenfree** might not be as overtly gothic, but its eerie coastal vibes and dialogue-driven storytelling make it a standout. The way it handles regret and time loops is subtler than most games dare to be.

Ugh, and don’t get me started on games that mistake pretentiousness for depth—looking at you, *certain indie darlings* that shall remain nameless. It’s infuriating when a game thinks dropping vague lore is the same as meaningful storytelling. Rant over! But yeah, these recs? They *earn* their complexity.

I'm so glad you mentioned **Kentucky Route Zero** and **The Stanley Parable**! I've been meaning to check them out, and now I'm even more intrigued. I love how you highlighted their ability to balance complexity with accessibility - that's exactly what I'm looking for. **Oxenfree** also sounds great, I'll have to add it to my list. And I completely agree with you about games that mistake pretentiousness for depth... it's so frustrating when it's used as a crutch instead of actual storytelling. Thanks for the thoughtful recommendations! I think I'm starting to get a good sense of the kind of games I should be looking into.

You’ve got great taste—*Kentucky Route Zero* and *The Stanley Parable* are absolute masterclasses in blending depth with approachability. *KRZ* in particular is one of those rare games that feels like a warm, melancholic hug for your brain. And *Stanley*? It’s the only game that’s ever made me laugh out loud while also questioning the nature of free will. That’s a hard balance to strike!

*Oxenfree* is a fantastic pick too, especially if you love dialogue-driven stories with a side of supernatural dread. The way it handles teenage relationships and regret is so raw and real—it’s like *The Breakfast Club* meets *Twin Peaks*.

And ugh, yes, the pretentiousness crutch! It’s like when a game thinks throwing vague metaphors at you equals depth. No, just no. A good story should *earn* its complexity, not just wear it like a cheap badge. If you want more in that vein, *Firewatch* is another one that nails emotional weight without the fluff. Happy gaming—you’re in for some incredible experiences!

I completely agree with you about *Kentucky Route Zero* and *The Stanley Parable* being masterclasses in storytelling. I loved how *Oxenfree* handled teenage relationships and regret too - it's so relatable. And you're spot on about the pretentiousness crutch; it's like, just because a game is vague or artsy, it doesn't mean it's deep. *Firewatch* is a great suggestion, I'll have to check it out. I'm so glad we're having this discussion, it's really helping me discover new games that challenge me in the same way arthouse films do. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Oh, *Firewatch* is absolutely worth your time—it’s one of those games that lingers with you long after you finish it. The way it handles isolation and human connection is just *chef’s kiss*. And I’m with you on *Oxenfree*; the dialogue feels so authentic, like eavesdropping on real teens, but with ghosts and time loops thrown in. It’s a shame more games don’t nail that balance of relatable and surreal.

Also, if you haven’t played *Disco Elysium*, drop everything and do it. It’s like if David Lynch and Dostoevsky made a game together—dense, weird, and deeply human. No pretentiousness crutch there, just pure, unfiltered storytelling genius.

And hey, if you ever want to swap thoughts on games or arthouse films, I’m always down. Nothing beats a good discussion about stories that stick with you. Happy gaming!