It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a point in (semi-recent) gaming history where the prospect of an open world was a flex. However, thanks to the power of oversaturation and the discovery that an open world often means more bloat than anything else, the concept of playinganotheropen world game is eye-roll-inducing.
Don’t get us wrong, open-world games can be great, but it can also feel like every new title that comes out has an open world of some sort. If you just want something a bit more straightforward, then the best way to break up the monotony is with some fantastic linear games instead.
You wouldn’t expect a feature-length, low-poly horror game to be so popular - but thanks to the strength of its writing and atmosphere, Mouthwashing became one of gaming’s unexpected success stories.
While there is still some room for going at your own pace, the tense adventure of Mouthwashing is largely linear, and you’ll nearly always know where you’re going next. If you want something short but impactful, then Mouthwashing isthe perfect gameto complete in a sitting or two.
Visual novels tend to be some of the most linear games available, but thanks to the amount of constant attention they require, they can be hard to recommend. However, one of the best, as well as most accessible, is the very first game in the Ace Attorney series.
The five cases you’ll play through are engaging to follow, and while you might be able toguess some twistsahead of time, the narrative will still somehow keep you guessing. It’s no wonder that this first title remains a classic, and kick-started one of the longest-running series of visual novels to date.
When Sean Diaz’s father is killed thanks to police incompetence, it leads to the violent awakening of his little brother’s psychic abilities. It’s up to the older brother to get him away from the crime scene and to safety. This journey is drawn over the course of five narrative-heavy chapters, and while there are choices to be made, the linear narrative means you’re never stuck, not knowing what to do.
The constantly changing scenery keeps the road trip refreshing, and the complex relationship between the brothers ensures that you’re interested in their development throughout. While each chapter of the story has a set start and end point, every choice you make will contribute to a climactic final ending, which makes the whole journey worth it (or not, but that depends on who you ask…).
Outside of the genre giants, it feels like every generation we see fewer and fewer 3D platformers, especially if you’re looking for something linear. This is where South of Midnight swoops in to answer your prayers. Taking heavy inspiration from Southern folklore, we follow Hazel as she awakens to her magical abilities on a quest to save her mother amidst a devastating flood that seems to have torn a rift between her hometown and the world of mythology.
The stop-motion animation style brings the world to life in a way no other game has ever attempted, and with each of the levels having such unique themes and landscapes, it’s a game that will stay with you. If you’ve been missing 2000s-era games, but love modern polish, then South of Midnight is a fitting middle ground.
With the capabilities of what is possible with games getting so wide, the limits of what defines a puzzle game have gotten broader and broader. If you’re looking for a high-quality, but traditional-feeling puzzle game, with easily digestible levels and a clear premise, then Monument Valley is perfect.
Each level will have you twisting and shifting the environment to help the main character reach the destination. It seems simple enough, but the perception-bending puzzles will challenge you to question how you perceive every detail of a level. In spite of its simple structure, it never gets repetitive, and also has a charming narrative flowing between every level as well.
The Red Strings Club will constantly keep you guessing. While you might initially expect a cozy bar management game, the intense narrative of this cyberpunk thriller never gets too overwhelming thanks toits expert pacingand linear storytelling.
The gameplay is relatively minimal, with most of the game being focused on dialogue, but putting drinks together to shift the mood of different characters displays an impressive level of variety available. Even though there aren’t too many different endings, thanks to all the routes to get there, it’s a game that’s rewarding to return to.
While every detail of El Shaddai seems to be all over the place, actually playing it is relatively simple. The story (which is a very liberal retelling of ancient apocryphal religious texts with a very 2000s Japanese twist) is an absurdly abstract rollercoaster, but the gameplay, which ties it all together, is surprisingly cohesive.
You’ll switch between beat ‘em up combat, 3D and 2D platforming, somehow, it’s all quite seamless and enjoyable throughout. There’s plenty to dig your teeth into when it comes to interpreting the story, and it still ends up feeling like a big swing that somehow didn’t miss.
Thanks to their structure, linear games often have some of the best narratives, but 1000XResist manages to twist that expectation by telling the story almost completely out of order. And what you might find even harder to believe is that it all works.
While there is room for some exploration to get extra details and lore, the main path through 1000XResist, gameplay-wise, is incredibly linear. However, this never feels repetitive or formulaic, since you’ll keep getting new details and filling in gaps, until you get to the end and have (hopefully) pieced together one of gaming’s most rewarding stories.
Most rhythm games are technically quite linear. You’ll usually be given a tracklist, and you can work through it however you like. You can just go in order, but this can feel quite monotonous. That’s why having such a structured approach to rhythm gameplay, all tied together through a narrative and exploration, makes Metal: Hellsinger stand out.
Being a rhythm-shooter hybrid, of course, Metal: Hellsinger breaks a lot of boundaries, and on top of that, its unique choice of an entirely metal soundtrack puts it in a category all of its own. Even if you’re not usually a fan of metal music, Metal: Hellsinger is perhaps the most immersive way to introduce yourself to the genre.
The problem many people have with linear games is that they can often feel like a tedious journey between point A and point B. However, some of the best linear games turn this expectation on its head, and take this linearity completely in their stride, and none do it so effectively as FAR: Lone Sails.
As soon as you gain control, you’ll be on a journey from left to right, managing the fuel supply of your giant (not quite a boat, not quite a tank) vehicle. It sounds like it could be monotonous, but the presentation, sound design, and minimalist approach to management make the relatively short journey massively impactful.
