Gaming's Hidden Gems Series Continues to Unearth Unique Titles
The 'Hidden Gems of Game Design' series continues its exploration of underappreciated video games. Recent volumes have spotlighted diverse titles ranging from ambitious Metroidvanias and challenging shooters to narrative-driven indies. These features aim to bring recognition to games with innovative mechanics and unique artistic visions that may have been overlooked.
Coverage across 1 outlet
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 51
This article highlights three overlooked games: Phantom 2040, a choose-your-own-adventure Metroidvania with ambitious gameplay for its time; Soukyuu Gurentai, a fast-paced Sega Saturn shooter with a unique lock-on mechanic; and Sky Destroyer, a challenging NES rail shooter with a novel 3D perspective. The pieces celebrate these titles as hidden gems deserving of recognition.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 50
This 50th volume of the 'Hidden Gems' feature highlights overlooked games from the past. It discusses Addams Family Values, Wipeout 3: Special Edition, DoDonPachi, Carmageddon, and Disney's Chicken Little, exploring their unique design elements, commercial struggles, and lasting impact.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 49
This article highlights several underappreciated games, including the solo-developed survival horror Tache Noire, the free roguelite KIBORG: Arena which shaped its full release, a Game Boy Advance port of Crazy Taxi, and the Gothic-inspired adventure The Island of Doctor Morose. It discusses their unique gameplay mechanics, potential bugs, and reasons for their obscurity.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 48
This article highlights lesser-known games, including 'Evolution of Ages: Settlements,' a city builder with RPG elements, and 'Celeste Classic,' the free PICO-8 precursor to the acclaimed platformer 'Celeste.' It also discusses 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest' for the Sega Genesis, comparing its design to modern narrative-driven games.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 47
This article highlights several lesser-known games deserving of attention, including the experimental phonetic adventure 'Ginger,' the six-degrees-of-freedom shooter 'Sublevel Zero Redux,' and the massive multiplayer online game 'PlanetSide 2.' Writers discuss their unique mechanics and appeal to niche audiences.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Volume 46
This article highlights several overlooked games, including Freeride, a choice-driven narrative game exploring themes of redemption and regret. Blazing Beaks is praised as a challenging roguelike with a unique artifact system, available on Nintendo Switch. Caravan SandWitch is a story-based puzzler on PC and PlayStation 5 that tackles colonialism, while Clean Up Earth offers a cathartic environmental cleanup experience with co-op and real-world donation features. Finally, Battle for Troy is presented as a real-time strategy take on the Trojan War era.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 45
This article highlights several underappreciated games, including the puzzle game Spooky Express, the genre-bending Jail Dice: Roll to Break, the challenging roguelike shmup Rick Henderson, and the flawed but ambitious MMO Champions of Regnum. Each game is presented with its unique mechanics and appeal, encouraging readers to discover these hidden gems.