The weirdest upcoming games I absolutely can't wait for

I've always been a fan of games that break the mold and try something unapologetically bizarre. Obviously, the concept of weird is very subjective, as one person might find certain games quite normal, while others would write them off as completely insane, but I think it's still possible to categorize them in a way that respects the bold risks and interesting leaps these developers take.

The gaming world has exploded a lot over the past few years and so has the indie development scene. More and more creative people are trying their hand at game development, and as a result, many other gamers and I are experiencing truly remarkable games that simply don't exist in the AAA space, thanks to the talented and special minds that are redefining gaming as we know it.

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Pipes.exe

Co-op Horror Evolved

Details:

• Based on classic Windows screensavers

• A parkour game rather than an extraction style

Co-op horror games have seen a big resurgence with the release of games like Deadly companybut Pipes.exe seeks to push even further into the realm of the weird with a brand new parkour-style adventure full of laughs and scares. The game takes you back to the early days of Windows, when colorful screensavers were all the rage, and draws you right into these environments, each filled with puzzles and creatures from a different dimension.

The game focuses more on jumping and climbing structures than gathering resources, but there are plenty of different levels to clear, from pure tube fever dreams to brick mazes hiding monsters around every corner. I've already fallen in love with the art direction and can't wait to try out a truly unique co-op horror game that's equal parts fun and scary at the same time.

Carcass Clad

No more mouthwash

Details:

• From the creators MOUTH WASHING

• Immersive controls and user interface

Carcass Clad takes the concept of tank control in the most literal way possible, placing you and two friends in a cramped tank in a strange abandoned city that is far from empty. The big draw for me is the diegetic controls, where every button, switch and level has to be manually pulled, which adds to the sense of immersion and adds so much weight to each of your actions.

When it comes to the co-op component, you and your party have very different roles in the tank. One drives, one shoots, and the other commands, and if you're going to have any chance of getting out of this alive, then you have to communicate and stay strong even when the odds start to stack up against your crew.

Through heaven and hell

Details:

• Metroidvania style exploration

• Brutal enemy designs and gorgeous settings

METAMORPHOSIS appearance like a series of artworks stitched together, as every moment, be it a cutscene or gameplay segment, is covered in a beautiful brutality that sets it apart from many other games in the universe. You are trapped in a ruined world full of gigantic structures and demonic entities, and only by slashing, shooting and jumping into the unknown can you get closer to the last paradise.

The art style is what initially caught my eye, it's a cross between pixels and highly rendered scenes, ensuring that every image has the same level of darkness from start to finish. It's gory and terrifying and a must play for anyone looking for a truly remarkable story set in a metroidvania.

Jerome

Entrance to the Twisted Triptych

Details:

• Inspired by the works of Hieronymus Bosch

• A surreal shooter full of fantasy elements

Art and games have always intersected, yet it's pretty hard to find a game that pays homage to its source. Jerome. Inspired by the surreal and twisted works of the painter of the same name, you are thrown into a whimsical world where all order collapses and any semblance of logic is completely forgotten.

Unsettling four-legged creatures walk on two legs, animals wear clothes, and the environment around you feels like it's falling apart before your eyes, perfectly capturing the essence of what makes the original works so fascinating. In terms of gameplay, I think the combination of FPS exploration and combat makes for an ideal combination of action and thought that should set it apart from many of the safer and more efficient games in the genre.

Prove you're human

Closer to AI than ever

Details:

• A Commentary on AI and Consciousness

• It looks similar to other media, e.g Former Machina

Prove you're human it brings AI to the forefront of the experience, placing you in a digital world while your real self goes about its normal life in reality. The story centers around Mesa, an AI who has come to believe that she is human, and it is your job to learn about her and suppress thoughts of humanity.

Some of the coolest parts come from the more disturbing aspects of the game, such as the CAPTCHA tool that allows you to interact with distant objects in mysterious, often terrifying ways. While the game looks colorful on the surface, it clearly has a very sinister undercurrent to it, and that darkness makes it absolutely necessary for me to launch.

VA Proxy

A scale unlike anything else

Details:

• Gigantic structures and even enemies

• Fast-paced combat combining soul-like gameplay and hack-and-slash

VA Proxy it's been on my radar since the first demo dropped, and I've been actively involved in development ever since. Set in a mechanical and tainted world, you are a lone warrior in search of freedom, but in your way are countless machines and other enemies who like to stand in your way.

I find the visual style so unique and mysterious and it reminds me a lot Shadow of the Colossusbecause of the eerie feeling that covers every moment of the game. And perhaps the biggest draw is the combat, taking notes from pretty much every action genre and merging them into one cohesive whole that should please even the most seasoned hack-and-slash players around.

Hamster

Searching for nightmares in the world

Details:

• Cleaning simulator turned into a horror game

• Secrets hidden beneath the surface

Hamster is a remarkable exploration game that starts out pretty simple but quickly turns into something much more unfamiliar. The early hours are spent cleaning and uncovering small details in the house, but when you delve deeper it becomes clear that there is much more to the building than meets the eye.

You end up piloting a submarine and battling more nightmares every night, with the fear of the unknown becoming borderline over the course of the story. I think if you're a fan of atmospheric horror like I am, Hamster it looks like the next big game in the genre and a real cutting edge in the space that could turn out to be one of the best ever made.

Dungeon Experience

Your very friendly mud crab

Details:

• A first-person comedy adventure

• Stupid characters and a stupid story that holds it all together

Dungeon Experience it's all about you and your pursuit of financial freedom. Guided by a lowly mud crab, you find yourself in a variety of hilarious situations, from office cubicles to underground dungeons, and it never seems like things are about to get any less absurd.

Fun games come in all shapes and sizes, but I'd say the trailer and demo for Dungeon Experience they are funnier than the funniest. It's so absurd and self-aware that it's hard to imagine a world where I won't be on the floor dying of laughter when it finally comes out, purely because of the ridiculous nature of this hilarious adventure.