We played tons of games at GDC 2024. Put these ones on your wish list

22.03.2024 - 17:15 / digitaltrends.com / Giovanni Colantonio

Every year at GDC, we play dozens of games that are unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It’s usually where we find titles that go on to become some of our favorites of the year, like last year’s show-stealing Viewfinder. And while we love finding those surefire hits, our favorite part of the show is discovering the totally unique projects that we can’t stop thinking about.

There was no shortage of those games at and around this year’s show. Over the course of a week, we’d play a host of creative games with totally innovative ideas. There was everything from a Tomagotchi tribute to a creepy horror game about a streamer on the occult dark web. If you’re the kind of person who worries that the gaming industry is out of ideas, this year’s show should alleviate those fears. To celebrate that, we’ve rounded up our favorite games from this year’s show. You’ll find that no two games here look remotely alike – and that’s what makes them so special.

Dungeons of Hinterberg

If I were forced to choose a “game of the show” (an impossible challenge at a GDC filled with such diverse projects), Dungeons of Hinterberg may take the title. The upcoming action RPG, which was revealed at last summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, is an impressive feat for a game of its scale. The meaty game pulls together fluid combat, smooth traversal, great puzzles, and a Persona-like social simulation into one beautiful package. It sounds like it should be one idea too many, but it all gels together perfectly so far.

What’s especially impressive is just how natural every aspect of it feels. When I get the hang of combat, I find myself easily chaining together slashes, magic attacks, and spells to wipe out arenas full of folklore-inspired enemies. When I explored the mountain biome I tried, I found that I could freely glide around and take in the scenic Alps, painted with graphic novel flair, with no friction. Every single aspect feels like second nature, making for a remarkably smooth game that I imagine I’ll get lost in when it launches this year.

Animal Well

From the moment I first laid eyes on Animal Well during a Day of the Devs stream, I was sold. The animal-filled Metroidvania caught my eye with its alluring art and deeply mysterious ambiance. While I demoed a small slice of it when it was first announced, I’d get to play it again at GDC much closer to its looming May 9 release date. It turns out my excitement hasn’t waned one bit in that time. The new demo I played was just as engrossing as I wandered around a 2D map full of platforming challenges and well-hidden secrets.

What I realized this time around is that Animal Well almost has the same appeal as a classic Atari adventure game. Each individual screen is its own problem to be