Video games have become one of the most powerful storytelling mediums, and a lot of that is due to their interactivity.
By experiencing these adventures almost firsthand, the sensations are seared into our minds, turning us into true protagonists of impossible journeys
10 Forgotten Indie Game Hits That Need A Sequel
These independent gems have to be brought back into the spotlight.
Typically, this is achieved through constant exposure, which explains why long games generate greater passion—you invest more time learning about their world and becoming part of it, so the connection is more meaningful.
However, not all titles need dozens of hours to leave their mark on you. Numerous video games can deliver a lasting imprint after just a few minutes. Dive into theseten best short games with huge emotional impact, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.
10The Artful Escape
A Journey of Self-Discovery
The Artful Escape
Unfortunately, the coming-of-age genre isn’t as popular in video games, but it has provided us with valuable experiences likeThe Artful Escape.
Although the gameplay is basic and can even be tedious, it’sa marvel on an audiovisual level,but also in terms of story and characters.
This psychedelic journey of self-discovery, both personal and professional, takes place in a dreamlike setting where reflections onpersonal identity, social expectations, and life’s meaningmake you reconsider your existence.
While I admit its mechanical shortcomings are painful to me,The Artful Escapeis much more than its basic gameplay. It’s a thought-provoking piece that leaves you thinking for hours after finishing it, and that’s more important.
A Lasting Aftermath
June 10, 2025
Publisher(s)
Developer(s)
Platform(s)
PC, Android
How Long To Beat
30 minutes
Although you’re probably unfamiliar with it,Bad Parentingis an extremely short horror game that packs a punch.
Not only because of its striking aesthetic and ominous atmosphere, but particularly because of the wayit portrays domestic abuse from a child’s perspective.
Blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, the title takes just half an hour to tell a powerful story that leaves you feeling uneasy due to its rawness.
Bad Parentingmakes up for its mechanical and plot simplicity through the emotions it generates, asit hits home with an ease that longer titles simply can’t achieve.
8A Short Hike
A Climb to Remember
A Short Hike
A Short Hikeis amarvelous climbing gamethat truly exemplifies how strong a story can be when it has theperfect length.
Unlike many of its kind,this charismatic experience lasts exactly as long as necessary to familiarize you with its iconic characters, desires, and needs, allowing you to quickly identify with them.
The game narrates a series of simple, relatable events, told with a sense of organic, natural, and even humorous quality that makes you feel right at home.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re someone who loves your family deeply or struggles with self-confidence,A Short Hikeis powerful and commendable.
7Despelote
Soccer is Culture
I’m a lifelong soccer fan, which is why Despelote left its mark on me in the best possible way.
Not only becauseit perfectly represents the feelings of being a follower of the sport as a kid, but because it does so while combining it with the Latin American realities of the time.
10 Best AAA Games With Short Runtimes
These big-budget games may not be around for a long time, but they’re definitely here for a good time.
With a distinctive aesthetic and immersive narrative,Despelotetakes you on an intense journey that explores the importance of culture and communities, also touching on the nostalgia of being a carefree child again.
Despelotewill have less of an impact if you’re not a soccer lover or aren’t from the region, butit’s a magnificent opportunity to see a foreign reality that’s as valid as it is widespread.
6Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk
The Mind is a Labyrinth
Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk
The ability of video games to communicate experiences that otherwise couldn’t be understood is truly evident inMilk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk.
I’d say I’ve never understood the difficulties of a person with painful psychological episodes more than through this video game, whichonly took 20 minutes to scar me for life.
Not only because it’s audiovisually shocking, but even more so because of its ability to teach you a world of depth with just a few dialogues and visual novel sequences.
Everyday things are routine for most of us, butMilk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milkmakes you recognize thateven the most basic of actions can be a privilege for sadly disturbing reasons.
Reality Hurts
As you grow and interact with other people, you realize more and more how difficult life is, and no video game explains this better thanFlorence.
Between the heartbreaks, sacrifices to achieve dreams, depression, and more circumstances we’ve all experienced at some point, it’sa heartwarming title that’s extremely relatable.
Although it’s just a series of puzzles designed for mobile, the title has the necessary interactivity to justify its nature as a video game,taking only 40 minutesto leave its mark.
It’s a story as beautiful as it is heartbreaking and realistic, serving as a mirror to the reality of many lives.Florenceis impressive, but also quite harsh, given how authentic it is.
4Wednesdays
Raising Awareness
August 08, 2025
ARTE France
Pierre Corbinais, The Pixel Hunt, exaheva, Christophe Galati
Video games are an opportunity to convey messages of all kinds, and in this context, Wednesdays is a creation as unique as it is courageous.
In just a couple of hours,the title manages to portray child abuse in an excessively direct and sincere way, even despite its hopeful overtones.
The pace, dialogue, and characters in this title are perfectly designed to create a powerful story, capable ofleaving you speechless and bringing tears to your eyes due to how heartwrenching it can be.
I’ve rarely cried during a video game, much less one so short, but whatWednesdaysachieves is to raise awareness while offering an unforgettable narrative.
3Before Your Eyes
Life in a Blink
Before Your Eyes
Before Your Eyesis a video game filled withsad moments, but that’s precisely why I love it so much.
Being an emotionally linear person, it’s rare for me to experience such significant bursts of heartache, butthis brief journey made me feel many feelings thanks to its fantastic innocence.
I wasn’t able to fully use the idea of blinking in real life, but the mechanical concept is exceptionally innovative, complementing the larger message the game wishes to share about the afterlife, memories, and impossible expectations.
If you’ve experienced recent loss or are in personal grief,Before Your Eyesis a wonderful channel that first destroys youbut then lifts you and makes you believe in a more hopeful future.
A Silent Loss
Not all video games need dialogue to tell a groundbreaking story, andGRISis the best example of such a statement.
Using music, colors, and animation to share its adventure,this title is a masterclass in how showing does more than telling, showcasing the story of a young woman dealing with a painful experience.
10 Criminally Underrated Video Game Developers
Despite having incredible releases, these studios have gone unnoticed and deserve much more love.
The game speaks to the player constantly, giving them cues through every perceptible means to help them genuinely understand what they’re experiencing.
After one of the most emotional endings I’ve ever witnessed,it’s difficult to finishGRISand not praise it as a video game masterpiece. Its artistic and musical beauty will make you sensitive at first glance, but the overall picture will leave you with a lasting impression.
1What Remains of Edith Finch
The Will to Live
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finchboasts one of the most spectacular, unpredictable, and engaging stories of recent years, with asmany layers of depthas humanly possible.
The game shifts genres mechanically and visuallyto tell a tale of a tragic family and a young woman who only wants to understand the reason behind such inexplicable events.
Along the way, the short stories of each family member, along with their respective gameplay sections, bring you closer toa rather melancholic overview that’s very difficult to detach from thanks to the game’s profound immersion.
With a mind-blowing setting and a memorable soundtrack,What Remains of Edith Finchonly asks for a Sunday afternoon to never leave your memory.
Between laughter, tears, pain, fury, empathy, and other sensations, this game isa roller-coaster that makes you feel everything dozens of games can’t, even after hundreds of hours.
10 Best Subversive Video Games
If you thought you’d seen it all in video games, these experiences show you there’s always room for surprise.
