Summary
Atmospheric video games come in all shapes and sizes. However, one thing is true about all of them. They manage to transport you to another realm, not just through gameplay but also through sound effects. These elements make it easy to get lost in each realm, especially with headphones on.
So, which games offer the best atmosphere? This can range anywhere from a deadly horror ambiance to a peaceful stroll through nature. Whichever genre you choose, you are sure to be immersed in the vibe and never want to leave again. These are the ten most atmospheric video games.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit one of the greatest national parks, then Firewatch lets you patrol the woods. Firewatch is a story-driven game that can turn a peaceful walk into an emotional trip as you communicate through your walkie-talkie and uncover the truth behind some disappearances.
The game is one ofthe best walking simulators, with no real enemies. This means, besides the sound of your character and Delilah on the other line, there aren’t that many voices to clutter the ambiance, whether it be the leaves rustling or the sound of twigs snapping under your feet.
Who says the Elder Scrolls can’t build an atmosphere? Sound effects are on point as you explore Skyrim. From frosty mountains to flowing creeks, the sights and sounds of Skyrim are perfect to get lost in.
Why bother fast-traveling when going on foot or on horseback gives you so many interesting sights and sounds? The night sky is always welcome while adventuring in the dark, and the music for both combat and simply roaming the world gives you a relaxing sensation.
Have you ever wanteda post-apocalyptic game without monsters? It’s just you vs nature in The Long Dark. After a geomagnetic storm, your character finds themselves in the Canadian wilderness. Fighting off the cold, hunger, and wildlife, players will have their hands full, trying not to die.
The game has a survival mode that tests how long you may last in the frozen wilderness. However, if you want something with a narrative to follow, a story mode is also available, divided into five different episodes, four of which are available.
One of the best games to take place in outer space is Alien Isolation. It also has one of the best enemy AI ever made. When you’re not running for your life on the space station, it can actually be quite serene.
Everything about the environment helps sell the illusion that you’re really in the furthest reaches of space. From sci-fi computers, space suits, and windows that show you the stars outside, it can be easy to forget that there’s an alien Xenomorph lurking in the vents above you.
The leaves are falling, andAutumn is in the air. However, things are getting a bit spooky at Possum Springs. When Mae the Cat returns home after dropping out of college, she must face how much her hometown has changed since her absence.
The atmosphere of Night in the Woods ranges from cozy to nostalgic, almost making you feel as if you’ve come home as well. The characters you reunite with are all friendly, even if other townsfolk have a thing or two to say about Mae’s shady past.
Journey tells its story entirely through visuals and musical cues. It’s the perfect game to turn off the lights as you travel through the sandy deserts, enter the ancient ruins, and climb up the snowy mountainside. Between stages, you even get snippets of the storyline.
The best way to describe the atmosphere is as if you were watching the beginning of a legendary event. It’s a path and cycle that you’re never truly walking alone. It can be mystical, hopeful, or even downright somber.
The heart of Endless Ocean is discovery. Endless Ocean: Luminous is the latest title in the undersea diving series that has you collecting data on different fish species. To do so, you will need to explore coral reefs, the open ocean, and even the darkest trenches imaginable.
The game is as atmospheric as it gets, with a serene soundtrack to soothe you into the depths of the sea. It’s a calming experienceperfect for anyone obsessed with marine biologyand the wonders of the ocean.
The Tetris effect is known as a state of mind when you concentrate your fullest on an activity, resulting in an alteration of thoughts and even dreams. This side effect will have you placing blocks at an elevated level of consciousness in Tetris Effect: Connected.
Every button press you make to change the direction and trajectory of your blocks always lands to the beat of the music. Meanwhile, the colorful backgrounds will send you into a trance as you begin relying on instinct over thought to reach a high score.
Turning back time and gettinga second chance at making hard decisionsisn’t something you can do in every game, let alone in real life. Life is Strange gives you that chance for a do-over with Max’s time-turning powers.
As you traverse through Max’s school life and her reconnection with Chloe, you notice a strange sense of nostalgia surrounding the presentation of the game. From the stylized graphics to the song choices for the soundtrack, it takes you back to a time when you were still deciding on your own future.
Gris brings color back to a colorless world. It follows the story of a girl named Gris as she tries to regain memories of a woman from her past. It also has her trying to regain the ability to sing, which is vital to restoring the world around her.
Gris is an atmospheric 2D platformer that has you restoring constellations and outrunning the darkness that follows you. The soundtrack is both whimsical and haunting at the same time as you explore the ruins of the world. Yet despite everything, there is still that sense of magic remaining.
