Best non-AAA games of this generation

[gamernerdtg2]

Well, the easiest way to find these are by looking on PSN, or 360 Live - Shadow Complex was hands down great. Bastion for sure. I enjoyed The Legend of Han Tao. The Maw was pretty fun, but I'm still stuck on that one. Castle Crashers - I'm stuck on that one too. Trine. PixelJunk Shooter. I loved Blade Kitten and I hope they come back with a sequel.

As for console titles:
Folklore - I have to go back and finish it, but that's a great game.
Dragon's Dogma - if that's a "AAA" title, then we can scratch that off, but it's an amazing game.

I have yet to try Dark Souls or Demon's Souls. Honestly, the action in those games seems very slow. They look like PC games (which is fine), but the action is too stiff for me. I understand that you're supposed to be in armor, but maybe it's not for me.

I know that they are considered a "cult classics" but why am I seeing those games in stores (on and offline) if they're so old, and cultish? There has to be something about them because the buzz has actually done something for both games. I wish there were like TEN other games (that I can think of) that benefitted from consumer cult fetishes.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

Zeno Clash is great simply because it's so bizarre. Torchlight II is a very solid game with a lot of content.

DUDE Zeno Clash should have been on my list. Good looking out.

I think Zeno Clash Ultimate is ground breaking for a game in its genre. The weirdness can be taken or left IMO.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

It'd be more interesting if this thread was asking about non-AAA but also non-indie titles. One of the things I feel like had been the most jarring change with this generation is that the middle ground between indie and AAA is getting smaller and smaller. The PS2 era had a plethora of games that occupied this middle ground. The soar in developing costs seemed to have polarized these games somewhat. Indie hits to me feels like it occupies an entirely different market for some reason.

FTL is the poster child of indie hits - born out of a Kickstarter success story. Minecraft of course with its non-standard delivery/purchasing method.

In terms of non indie though I think all the Platinum games count (Bayonetta, Vanquish). Binary Domain was good, does Spec-Ops: the line count?

Oh and El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. That game was never destined to sell well but man did that game have some beautiful landscapes and imageries.

I have to get back into El Shaddai - would you believe that 360 Live had it available for 2 or 3 bucks as a download? I missed that, but I'm wondering how El Shaddai actually plays beyond the demo. You say it was never destined to sell well because of the gameplay, or some other factor?

 

[SweetLemonTea]

Another vote for the binding of Osaac I died in that game too many times to count.

I also loved Thomas was alone its probably the best non AAA game story-wise of this generation

 

[yamy]

It'd be more interesting if this thread was asking about non-AAA but also non-indie titles. One of the things I feel like had been the most jarring change with this generation is that the middle ground between indie and AAA is getting smaller and smaller. The PS2 era had a plethora of games that occupied this middle ground. The soar in developing costs seemed to have polarized these games somewhat. Indie hits to me feels like it occupies an entirely different market for some reason.

FTL is the poster child of indie hits - born out of a Kickstarter success story. Minecraft of course with its non-standard delivery/purchasing method.

In terms of non indie though I think all the Platinum games count (Bayonetta, Vanquish). Binary Domain was good, does Spec-Ops: the line count?

Oh and El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. That game was never destined to sell well but man did that game have some beautiful landscapes and imageries.

I have to get back into El Shaddai - would you believe that 360 Live had it available for 2 or 3 bucks as a download? I missed that, but I'm wondering how El Shaddai actually plays beyond the demo. You say it was never destined to sell well because of the gameplay, or some other factor?

It was never destined to sell well because of so many things. First of all its squarely aimed at the Japanese market (for example- the effeminate character design ). The name is awkward as hell and platformers are out of fashion at the moment. Basically everything about it is the antithesis of what a typical western Cod player would be looking for in a game, couple with the small budget and the lack of advertising, of course.

 

[redmoretrout]

What is considered AAA? I never knew . I know CoD is AAA cause of the budget and money. Maybe World of Tanks and WoW for the same reason. What about the rest? is STALKER AAA? Starcraft is, I am almost certain.

I think you pretty much got the right of it, non-AAA does not necessarily mean indie. STALKER is not AAA but Starcraft is. Look at it this way, if you see a game being advertised a lot its probably AAA. You wouldn't see STALKER advertisements plastered all over webpages, but you would for Grand Theft Auto or Starcraft.

 

[Virgilthepagan]

Mount & Blade: Warband would be my pick.

It has sucked over 1,000 hours of my life, both in its single and multi player modes. It's also very, very original in its ambition and game mechanics, and so far its the only good game of its kind bar two sub-par knock offs (namely War of the Roses and the slightly better Chivalry). I'm looking very forward to Bannerlord (which at this rate will arrive at 2020!).

Amen. Did you try the Game of Thrones Mod? That pulled me back in for at least another fifty hours...

I'd also throw in Metro 2033, as others have already mentioned Dark Souls and the STALKER series. Atmospheric, tense, and compelling all around.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

If we're talking about strictly non-AAA games then:

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Yakuza 3-4
Bayonetta
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
The Walking Dead
Bastion
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
Minecraft
Transformers: War/Fall of Cybertron

You could argue that some of those games had a big budget, but they certainly did not have the marketing that most AAA games do. They certainly didn't get the media exposure, even Ni no Kuni, which had Studio Ghibli involved. I consider them to be B-list games. A decent budget, a little marketing, but nothing as crazy as what today's AAA games get.

If we're talking strictly low budget games, then just throw out anything that isn't indie on that list.

 

[redmoretrout]

What is considered AAA? I never knew . I know CoD is AAA cause of the budget and money. Maybe World of Tanks and WoW for the same reason. What about the rest? is STALKER AAA? Starcraft is, I am almost certain.

I think you pretty much got the right of it, non-AAA does not necessarily mean indie. STALKER is not AAA but Starcraft is. Look at it this way, if you see a game being advertised a lot its probably AAA. You wouldn't see STALKER advertisements plastered all over webpages, but you would for Grand Theft Auto or Starcraft.

So its kinda like a high profile game that gets a lot of marketing? So, Alienc Colonial Marines is AAA too?

You'd never know by playing it, it feels so cheap and buggy, but yeah I would consider it AAA.

Anyways, here is a good a place to ask as any. Did anyone try that Mars game that just came out recently?

 

[Sprinal]

I have a list. Mostly PC games as that is what I play mostly. So here goes:

The Witcher series

Dwarf Fortress (despite it still being in Alpha. It is by far the game that has the most depth that I have ever played)

Mount and Blade (Warband) (I'm not sure if that's in this generation but it most certainly is impressive complex)

Minecraft (mods and gameplay make it an instant classic. Especially with its different approach to gameplay that we don't see often enough these days)

The Stalker series was very impressive with what it did

Arma 2 and Day z mod ( Not triple A, successful and contained a realistic take on war {unlike most "realistic" shooters out there})

and now I'm out. There are many more but I can't think of them.

 

[rasputin0009]

Minecraft!

All the discovery, and creativity is amazing!

Minecraft opened up a whole new game market. That's pretty iconic. I'd define this generation's biggest success as Minecraft.

 

[DonTsetsi]

Kerbal Space Program! It's just awesome!

 

[TwoHeadedBoy]

Personal Favourites:
- Limbo
- Telltales' The Walking Dead
- Lone Survivor (Seriously, anybody who misses classic Resident Evil or Silent Hill should get this)
- Super Meat Boy
- Binding of Isaac
- Ridiculous Fishing
- Minecraft
- Deadly Premonition

I'm sure there's more but my mind's blank.

 

[TaintedSaint]

Bastion
Dark souls
oh and Day Z its a mod with a million players nuf said

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Torchlight series, Super Meat Boy, Binding of Isaac are the first to come to mind. Binding of Isaac might have one of the best cost to replay value ratios of all time. Also League of Legends comes to mind, though I haven't played it, but it has certainly become one of the biggest games in the industry, and that doesn't happen for no reason.

 

[thespyisdead]

gonna be way indie and say... Path of Exile! this here is a game that sticks it to its AAA counterpart... as a bonus, it's totally free(with ethical micro transactions)

 

[Entitled]

Okami
World of Goo
Europa Universalis III
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Torchlight
Crusader Kings II
Katwa Shoujo

Oh, and Portal.

 

[Muspelheim]

I have a list. Mostly PC games as that is what I play mostly. So here goes:

The Witcher series

Dwarf Fortress (despite it still being in Alpha. It is by far the game that has the most depth that I have ever played)

Mount and Blade (Warband) (I'm not sure if that's in this generation but it most certainly is impressive complex)

Minecraft (mods and gameplay make it an instant classic. Especially with its different approach to gameplay that we don't see often enough these days)

The Stalker series was very impressive with what it did

Arma 2 and Day z mod ( Not triple A, successful and contained a realistic take on war {unlike most "realistic" shooters out there})

and now I'm out. There are many more but I can't think of them.

Oh, for heaven's sake, I was just about to roll 'em all out, myself. Spares me the work, though!

It's been a good generation in all, I think. At least in the weird little PC games-department.