Like with the Republia Times, you might be inclined to let everyone in and out, regardless of documentation, but doing so will inflict a penalty. The goal is simple: to spot inconsistencies in people's travel documentation and only allow access to those with all the right paperwork. In the game, players assume the role of an immigration officer working at a border stop under an oppressive, dystopian regime. It's a complete overhaul, capturing the spirit of the original while innovating in new and exciting ways.ĭeveloped by Lucas Pope – the creator of Return of the Obra Dinn and the Republia Times – Papers, Please was released in 2013 to near universal acclaim. Not only have the visuals been greatly improved, but even those awkward, dated sections – like the train cart and the Xen stuff – have been reworked in interesting new ways. Originally published in 2012 and developed by Crowbar Collective, Black Mesa sees players return as Gordon Freeman in a fan-created remake of the classic original. Thankfully, there's an alternative available exclusively on PC. I mean, the game's a classic but, compared to more modern first-person shooters, just doesn’t hit the same way it used to. Unfortunately, in 2022, the original – and even the Source version released in 2004 – just don't hold up.
It represented a watershed moment in the history of PC gaming, perfecting the formula established by earlier FPS like Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM. The original Half Life – released in 1998 – defined the genre by combining fast-paced combat and puzzles with, at the time, top-of-the-line physics. Why this hasn't ever been released on consoles is unclear but, what is clear, is that it's an experience like no other and definitely worth checking out. Sufficed to say, you shouldn’t always do as you're told. The Stanley Parable isn't something you want to ruin for yourself. Everything gets wrapped up in a nice bow and the game just, sort of, ends.Īnd then, the whole thing restarts. Offer no resistance and you'll be guided carefully towards a somewhat cliché, yet narratively satisfying conclusion.
You can "complete" the game in under ten minutes, providing you obey the omniscient, Stephen Fry-esque narrator's every instruction and avoid deviating from the pre-set path. Created by Davey Wreden and William Pugh and released in 2013, the Stanley Parable is a narrative-driven walking simulator in which players assume the role of Stanley – a random, non-discrete office worker – who's tasked with uncovering a sinister corporate conspiracy.