What is the weirdest game you've ever played?
This is a question that’s generated a lot of discussion over the years. When we talk about Weird Games, we don’t necessarily mean bad ones – in fact, quite a few of the games on this list are considered classics by many.
In any case, what makes a game weird? It could be the worldbuilding, the gameplay, or just some elements within the game that feel very out of place. The weirdest games often feature things that are very unexpected, and we can’t stop thinking about them. Weird games can have a positive or negative connotation depending on your opinions, but we’re going to celebrate the weirdest games here at PC Game Spotlight.
Katamari
Katamari is one of those games that some people just get, and others don’t. I personally count it among the weirdest games I’ve ever played – maybe not the weirdest, but definitely in the top ten. It’s also one of my favourite games of all time, which is why I’m so surprised to see it so low on this list.
Anyway, the premise is simple – the King of All Cosmos has accidentally destroyed all the stars in the sky while playing golf (a weird premise in itself), and it’s your job as his son, the Prince, to help him fix it by rolling up all the weird things you can find in the environment.
I love Katamari because it’s one of the few games that can make something so simple feel so fresh. It’s also very surreal – the game takes you to all sorts of places that are simultaneously familiar and completely alien. The whole world feels like a Salvador Dali painting at times, and it’s very bizarre.
Inscryption
Inscryption is a game that’s only recently come out, but it’s already garnered a lot of praise from players who’ve experienced its weirdness first-hand. It’s difficult to describe Inscryption so that it makes sense to people who haven’t played it, and even if you’ve played it yourself, you probably still won’t quite get what it’s all about.
The best thing you can do is just watch some gameplay and decide for yourself – it’s best to go into Inscryption blind and experience it for yourself.
Seaman
Seaman is a game that’s so weird, it almost seems like it shouldn’t have been a success. It’s a kind of virtual pet, with a little fish man called ‘Seaman’ that you feed and play games with, and carry on one-sided conversations with.
It was originally developed for the Dreamcast, but it was so successful that it got ported to the PlayStation 2. This strange creature is the star of the show, and it’s fun to see how he reacts to all the strange things you’re doing with him. There were even a few other versions of Seaman released over the years, which are strange in their own right.
Lego Island
Lego Island is one of those games that seems weird simply because it’s so old. It’s from a time before open-world games were the norm, and it’s a rather unusual take on the Grand Theft Auto style of game.
You play as a police officer who’s been assigned to a small island where weird goings-on are happening, and you have to solve the mystery. The game features some surreal imagery and strange gameplay mechanics, and it’s one of those games that’s difficult to describe because it’s so old that it feels very different from other games.
Catherine
Catherine is a weird game that I personally find very appealing. It’s a puzzle game with a weird premise – you play as Vincent, who’s struggling with his relationship with his wife, Catherine. To deal with his problems, he spends his nights at the Stray Sheep tavern where he can interact with other weird characters.
Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition is one of those games that doesn’t quite fit into a specific genre, but that didn’t stop it from becoming a cult hit. It’s part weird open-world game, part survival game, part action game, and part horror game. It’s such a weird combination that it borders on genius.
Viva Pinata
Viva Pinata is a colorful game that was ahead of its time in terms of weirdness. It’s a game where you play as a gardener who’s trying to attract various weird and wonderful Pinata creatures to live in your garden. You can make all sorts of weird stuff to attract the Pinatas to your garden, though you need to keep your garden tidy and take care of the Pinatas, too.
