, and a lot of that is due to their interactivity.
By experiencing these adventures almost firsthand, the sensations are seared into our minds, turning us into true protagonists of impossible journeys
Related
10 Forgotten Indie Game Hits That Need A Sequel
These independent gems have to be brought back into the spotlight.
Typically, this is achieved through constant exposure, which explains why long games generate greater passion—you invest more time learning about their world and becoming part of it, so the connection is more meaningful.
However, not all titles need dozens of hours to leave their mark on you. Numerous video games can deliver a lasting imprint after just a few minutes. Dive into these, and don't say we didn't warn you.

- September 9, 2021
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Annapurna Interactive
- Unreal Engine 4
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Beethoven & Dinosaur
- 5 Hours
- Strong
Unfortunately, the coming-of-age genre isn't as popular in video games, but it has provided us with valuable experiences like The Artful Escape.
Although the gameplay is basic and can even be tedious, it's ,.
This psychedelic journey of self-discovery, both personal and professional, takes place in a dreamlike setting where reflections on make you reconsider your existence.
While I admit its mechanical shortcomings are painful to me, The Artful Escape is much more than its basic gameplay. It's a thought-provoking piece that leaves you thinking for hours after finishing it, and that's more important.

October 9, 2024 | |
2OO2 | |
2OO2, VN | |
PC, Android | |
30 minutes |
Although you're probably unfamiliar with it, Bad Parenting is an extremely short horror game that packs a punch.
Not only because of its striking aesthetic and ominous atmosphere, but particularly because of the way.
Blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, the title takes just half an hour to tell a powerful story that leaves you feeling uneasy due to its rawness.
Bad Parenting makes up for its mechanical and plot simplicity through the emotions it generates, as .

A Short Hike
A Short Hike is a marvelous climbing game that truly exemplifies how strong a story can be when it has the perfect length.
Unlike many of its kind,, desires, and needs, allowing you to quickly identify with them.
The game narrates a series of simple, relatable events, told with a sense of organic, natural, and even humorous quality that makes you feel right at home.
I don't want to spoil anything, but if you're someone who loves your family deeply or struggles with self-confidence, .

Despelote
I'm a lifelong soccer fan, which is why Despelote left its mark on me in the best possible way.
Not only because, but because it does so while combining it with the Latin American realities of the time.

Related
10 Best AAA Games With Short Runtimes
These big-budget games may not be around for a long time, but they're definitely here for a good time.
With a distinctive aesthetic and immersive narrative, Despelote takes you on an intense journey that explores the importance of culture and communities, also touching on the nostalgia of being a carefree child again.
Despelote will have less of an impact if you're not a soccer lover or aren't from the region, but .

Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk
- November 11, 2022
- t
- Ren'Py
- Nintendo Switch, PC
- Nikita Kryukov, Nikita Kaf Productions
- Missing Calm; Forever Entertainment
- 20 minutes
The ability of video games to communicate experiences that otherwise couldn't be understood is truly evident in Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk.
I'd say I've never understood the difficulties of a person with painful psychological episodes more than through this video game, which
Not only because it's audiovisually shocking, but even more so because of its ability to teach you a world of depth with just a few dialogues and visual novel sequences.
Everyday things are routine for most of us, but Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk makes you recognize that .

Florence
As you grow and interact with other people, you realize more and more how difficult life is, and no video game explains this better than Florence.
Between the heartbreaks, sacrifices to achieve dreams, depression, and more circumstances we've all experienced at some point, it's .
Although it's just a series of puzzles designed for mobile, the title has the necessary interactivity to justify its nature as a video game, taking only 40 minutes to leave its mark.
It's a story as beautiful as it is heartbreaking and realistic, serving as a mirror to the reality of many lives. Florence is impressive, but also quite harsh, given how authentic it is.

March 25, 2025 | |
ARTE France | |
Pierre Corbinais, The Pixel Hunt, exaheva, Christophe Galati | |
PC | |
3 hours |
Video games are an opportunity to convey messages of all kinds, and in this context, Wednesdays is a creation as unique as it is courageous.
In just a couple of hours, , even despite its hopeful overtones.
The pace, dialogue, and characters in this title are perfectly designed to create a powerful story, capable of .
I've rarely cried during a video game, much less one so short, but what Wednesdays achieves is to raise awareness while offering an unforgettable narrative.

Before Your Eyes
- April 8, 2021
- e
- Skybound Games
- Unity
- PC, Mobile, PS5
- GoodbyeWorld Games
- 2 Hours
- 79
- N/A
- Strong
Before Your Eyes is a video game filled with sad moments, but that's precisely why I love it so much.
Being an emotionally linear person, it's rare for me to experience such significant bursts of heartache, but.
I wasn't able to fully use the idea of blinking in real life, but the mechanical concept is exceptionally innovative, complementing the larger message the game wishes to share about the afterlife, memories, and impossible expectations.
If you've experienced recent loss or are in personal grief, .

GRIS
Not all video games need dialogue to tell a groundbreaking story, and GRIS is the best example of such a statement.
Using music, colors, and animation to share its adventure, , showcasing the story of a young woman dealing with a painful experience.

Related
10 Criminally Underrated Video Game Developers
Despite having incredible releases, these studios have gone unnoticed and deserve much more love.
The game speaks to the player constantly, giving them cues through every perceptible means to help them genuinely understand what they're experiencing.
After one of the most emotional endings I've ever witnessed,. Its artistic and musical beauty will make you sensitive at first glance, but the overall picture will leave you with a lasting impression.

- April 25, 2017
- T For Teen due to Violence, Blood, Drug Reference, Language
- Giant Sparrow
- Annapurna Interactive
- Unreal Engine 4
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, iOS
- How Long To Beat
- 2 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
What Remains of Edith Finch boasts one of the most spectacular, unpredictable, and engaging stories of recent years, with as many layers of depth as humanly possible.
The game shifts genres mechanically and visually to tell a tale of a tragic family and a young woman who only wants to understand the reason behind such inexplicable events.
Along the way, the short stories of each family member, along with their respective gameplay sections, bring you closer to a rather melancholic overview that's very difficult to detach from thanks to the game's profound immersion.
With a mind-blowing setting and a memorable soundtrack, What Remains of Edith Finch only asks for a Sunday afternoon to never leave your memory.
Between laughter, tears, pain, fury, empathy, and other sensations, this game is a roller-coaster that makes you feel everything dozens of games can't, even after hundreds of hours.

Next
10 Best Subversive Video Games
If you thought you'd seen it all in video games, these experiences show you there's always room for surprise.