As the title suggests: I’ve had it with open worlds with dozens of things to do and checklists to complete. What are your favorite, delightfully simple, linear games?
This question is sparked by the discussion in the Final Fantasy thread, were I disclosed that I actually kind of like XIII because of its linearity. Other linear favorites of mine include: Half-Life series, Portal series, Uncharted series, some COD campaigns, Undertale, Journey, Super Mario 3D World, Plague Tale, Spec Ops: The Line
A shout out to A Way Out in the co-op catergory!
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The Thief series are linear and awesome. The third game, Deadly Shadows are the easiest to get into (with an almost mandatory patch mod called Sneaky Upgrade) and if the story whets your appetite go back and play the others in order.
Brok The Investigator. There are multiple endings, but each different ending has a linear enough progression, even if the first time you have no clue as to what ending you’ll get. The only thing you need to do for different endings is making different choices.
Simple enough game set in a world where the poor, slummers, live in the polluted, rundown slums while the rich, drummers, live under the high quality dome. You play as a crocodile (alligator?) who is a detective, a slummer named Brok who lives with his teenage cat son Graff. Not saying much more because spoilers, even though the drummer and slummer and the polluted world thing are kinda minor spoilers despite learning about them real quick in chapter 1.
The occasional puzzles aren’t too hard to figure out, at least I thought so for all but one. And if you don’t like the combat mode, I’m pretty sure there is a way to turn it off, though I’m not sure how it affects gameplay/choices. Though, the upcoming DLC (whenever it releases) doesn’t look like it’s gonna be linear since it’s all about the games combat system and adding bonus challenges to fights. So I’d probably avoid that if you aren’t playing the game for the combat.
People listed Mirrors Edge, and I would like to also recommend it. It might take some time to adjust to the controls but it’s fun! I replay it a lot. I’ve lost count but I’ve been replaying it since release.
Titanfall 2 was a fun campaign. Also cool movement mechanics.
One game that I think got average ish scores but I enjoyed was Pneuma: Breath of Life. Idk why but I thought the puzzles were kinda fun and it was pretty enough.
The Stanley Parable
Catherine
(Kinda visual novel ish) AI Somnium files was fun.
Arcadium 1 is about as linear as it gets. Its kind of like that game Aero Fighter from the 90s, mixed with Space Invaders. Just shoot the aliens and dodge their shots. On the way, there are gems and power ups that can make your future forays more rewarding.
This is a mobile game – it’s available on iOS and Android.
I would count Sifu as being pretty linear and very good. Probably the best martial arts fantasy-ish game out there that’s single-player (for that but multiplayer take Absolver, the same devs’ first game)
firewatch is a personal favorite.
The Last Campfire is delightful, and feels like being read a bedtime story. God, it’s good. I could listen to the narrator read the back of a shampoo bottle.
Planet of Lana is a drop dead gorgeous side scrolling puzzle platformer with a beautiful soundtrack and world building.
Beacon Pines isn’t technically linear, in that you can complete some stuff in an order of your choosing. But the overall experience is quite linear. Its an exquisite experience, I can’t recommend it enough.
If you enjoyed Undertale, play OneShot. No question. Its splendid.
Night in the Woods is a joy as well, it makes me nostalgic for a childhood I never had. Must-play.
Stray - you are a cat doing cat things in a broken future. Splendid experience.
Mirror’s Edge is a game I think everyone should experience at least once. It’s beautiful.
Celeste - it has the best tuned difficulty curve I’ve seen in any game, and it wants you to succeed. It also tells a really beautiful story. God the platforming is good. Its so good. By the end of it, you are doing things you never thought you’d dream of doing. You’ll feel like a speedrunner with all the little movement tricks you’re able to do.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a thought provoking masterpiece and a little spooky.
It doesn’t get more linear than “Limbo” and “INSIDE”.
A Plague Tale is a great one
Katana Zero
Celeste
Cuphead
Opus Magnum- Celeste
- Most Kirby games. Skip Amazing Mirror I guess, and for Super Star you can play every mode except Great Cave Offensive.
- Metroid Fusion (I do feel somewhat bad putting it on this list though)
- OneShot
- Persona series
- Punch-Out!! series
- Rhythm Doctor
- Rhythm Heaven series
- The World Ends With You
- Any stage-based arcade(-style) game. I’ll name Puyo Puyo (Tsu, 20th, Chronicle specifically), Panel de Pon, Puzzle Bobble 3, Twinkle Star Sprites just for a few.
- Any visual novel
The Last of Us Part I.
I generally dislike games on rails, but I loved this one.
American Arcadia
Quantum Break
Hellblade
God of War series
Sniper Elite series
Talos Principle
I found out recently that Portal has some free mods, I’ve just started reloaded and its pretty good so far.
- Portal Reloaded
- Portal Stories Mel
- Thinking with Time Machine
Portal Pro I remember being great. So good that Portal 2 was a disappointment for me when it landed.
I needed to cheat on a few solutions, iirc, too; not because they’re badly designed, just because I couldn’t wrap my head around the solution.
It should be noted that a couple of the portal solutions need reasonably quick portal placement, so I don’t think it would be as good without KB+mouse. It took me a few tries to nail one of the techniques.
I second Quantum Break. When I first started that game, I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but it was fantastic!
Talos Principle
Is not linear.
I’m currently playing through this game. At one point, it totally hit me that the non-linear structure and even the way secrets are scattered throughout the world is very reminiscent of Super Mario 64.
You are not wrong… I guess in both instance they came from the desire never to break the immersion through any kind of loading.
The weirder think to me is that it was made by the guys behing “Serious Sam”, that basically mastered the open field shooter genre, which is kinda like the opposite of this game?
Yes, exactly! Coming from one of the best-made mindless game series to essentially gaming high art is quite the transformation. There has always been a lot of talent at Kroteam, but I’m glad they have finally found their true calling.
The small handful of nods to Serious Sam in The Talos Principle are quite amusing, by the way. I almost got a heart attack from suddenly hearing the sound of the headless kamikaze…
I had a good fun with Bulletstorm. Kind of a game where you can put your brain on hold and enjoy the ride.
Half-Life 2
