Great games that look like they were designed for adults

The ESRB rating system exists to help consumers make more informed purchases and to prevent people from being exposed to content that is inappropriate for them. Sometimes it is quite clear that a the game is for adults only. A very rare Adult Only rating has been given to specific titles, such as the PC version of the infamous Manhunt 2too explicit.

However, the cases are not always so clear-cut. Factors such as violence, jumping and the deepest and most tragic themes for adults are present in many games, some of which are also ostensibly for children or younger players. These titles are not nearly as explicit as similar ones Hunt for peoplebut they totally feel like they are made with adult players in mind.

The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask

With a scary little laugh from the happy mask seller, it begins

The Legend of Zelda is a truly magical series, not just because it's one of Nintendo's most consistent success stories, but because it's a typically bright, gorgeous, colorful and whimsical universe to be in. Yes, there are doomsday stakes and climactic battles and quests everywhere, but the unique charm and iconic music of the series has a way of keeping the tone from descending too far into darkness. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Maskhowever, there is something of an exception to the rule.

It's disturbing in a way Zelda games usually aren't, which made it quite a curiosity. Instead of the whimsical world of Hyrule, it takes place in Termina and revolves around Link's battle to stop Candlemas-esque time loop that the empire is trapped in, and of course, to prevent the dreaded Moon from colliding with the world. The adult themes explored here have remarkable depth, and Link has learned valuable perspective from those who see the end coming and seem to accept it. The darkness in Skull Kid and Majora's Mask itself, as well as the reasons behind it, sees the narrative grow darker and darker as we learn more. The series certainly isn't afraid to tackle these concepts, but it's never done it in such a raw and poignant way.

Shadow The Hedgehog

The series has never been more exciting

Shadow is the Wario to Sonic's Mario, a counterpart who exists to mix things up and make unheroic decisions when necessary. In 2005, he got the main role Shadow the Hedgehogan experience unlike anything Sega's main man himself has ever brought to fans. In the game, Earth is invaded by an alien race called the Black Arms, and Shadow's inherent moral ambiguity is used to shape the story as he sees fit. Perhaps the game's greatest strength is that you can choose to side with the invaders or defenders of the planet through your missions. There are almost a dozen different endings depending on the choices made, and the raucous music and non-stop action underscore this darker outlook. Sound title.

The idea was to combine iconic elements of the games, such as super-fast platforming, with elements that reflected Shadow's more mature leanings. This was achieved by arming it with weapons and lending it a layer to suspend projectiles for combat, which was quite new. However, there is a feeling that more could have been coaxed out of the game in this regard; the swear-slinging Shadow would really capture the feel of an adult action movie.

Stray

Far From Cute Cat Story Cat

Stray made waves when it launched in 2022, and it's easy to see why. Generally speaking, we don't need much more than an adventurous feline protagonist to have a good time. This is not a cute and whimsical story Little Kitty Big Cityalthough; there is something dark and extremely disturbing at the heart Straysomething that many people who decided to try the cute viral cat game couldn't expect.

This post-apocalyptic title takes place in an underground city that was intended to be a safe haven for humans until a mysterious disease wiped them out. It is now a dilapidated and incredibly scary place that is inhabited NieR: Automata-esque machines that once served humans. It's a tragic story that unfolds through an environmental narrative and underlying themes of loss, resilience and the will to protect what's left. Stray much deeper than it seems at first glance. Some of the interactions with the Companions are heartbreaking in a way that is probably too much for younger players.

Subnautica

What lies below

This survival title sees the protagonist crash landing on the mysterious water planet 4546B. With a few limited resources, they must constantly venture deeper into the waters and across the planet to piece together more details about the dilemma they face and how they can ultimately escape. An eerie sense of isolation, the unknown creeps in quite insidiously and never leaves as players experiment with its deep base-building mechanics.

Subnautica it is not officially a horror game, but in a way it underlines the atmosphere of one of them. It gradually evolves from encounters with small, harmless creatures closer to the surface to imagining large, menacing horrors in the darkness deep below. It's a game that perfectly achieves the atmosphere of being stranded in a vast ocean and not knowing what kinds of creatures you might be sharing the waters with. It would also make a great premise for a more conventional horror title.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

The horrors of war

World Wars has been a popular setting for many classic FPS titles. The tragic scale of both conflicts means they form an excellent backdrop for the brutal combat, non-stop action and emotional backdrops that so often define the genre. In 2014, Ubisoft Montpellier took the World War 1 setting in a very different direction, focusing primarily on a smaller group of characters and conveying their personal stories.

Brave hearts not a shooter, but a puzzler, similar to point-and-click, but with more direct controls. Dialogue is kept to a bare minimum and it's the visual presentation that tells the story and highlights the route ahead. Fortunately, the graphics are absolutely stunning, a 2D masterpiece created using the UbiArt Framework engine. Players determined to find each little secret will be rewarded with “souvenirs” from each level that provide more heart-wrenching context to the events of the war. The game has a huge emotional depth and despite the almost cartoonish visuals, it is loaded with heavy themes.

Don't starve

Another survival title with a dark side

Of course, survival games are not meant to be friendly and approachable. The whole concept is trying to make it just one more day in a hostile world that knows every possible way to destroy you. It's clear right from the unnerving opening film Don't starve will be unashamedly creepy. Things may not seem so bad when you first start exploring and getting your bearings, but when darkness falls you start to see just how scary things can be.

Again, it's not exactly a horror game, but the creepiness is unparalleled, and it's a title that reveals some of its nastier surprises over time. There are horrible mini-bosses that can appear depending on your actions, and newbies who haven't been spoiled won't even know they've done something “wrong” until one of these hideous things appears nearby. It's a terrifying twist on the survival genre and one of its most enduring games as a result, but it's definitely not for all ages.

Cultist simulator

Mature themes and pure, unapologetic complexity

Some games gently guide you through the process, with every objective marked out, every mechanic explained, and tutorials so long they might actually hurt the game. It is the absolute opposite of that Cultist simulator. Struggling with its obtuse mechanisms, repeatedly failing and gradually gaining (or rather earning) an understanding of how to survive is the name of the game.

At the start of the game, players choose a scenario, essentially a person to play as. They then play various small cards that represent everything from resting to summoning a demon. There's layer upon layer of complexity to it all, including playing cards in the right order for successful actions and making sure you can do what you want when you want (there's a timer system). It all takes place on a game board of sorts, and there's plenty of dialogue to bring the story to life. It's a title that you'll probably either try for fifteen minutes and never touch again, or you'll be completely engrossed. Learn to manage all the moving parts, including your ever-dwindling resources like money, and you'll find yourself in all sorts of fascinating and terrifying scenarios, but there's no denying that the game will be very, very dark and best suited for adults.