15 Best AA Games That Did Something DIFFERENT

Whether it’s because of colossal development budgets or prolonged development cycles or any number of other factors, AAA games are all too often a bit too afraid to take risks or do anything that is even slightly experimental.
It stands to reason, however, that the less money you spend on your game, the more willing you’ll likely be to take risks- which is why the AA gaming space is such an excellent breeding ground for creativity. This is the place where we have so often played some of the most unique games of our lifetimes over the years, games that we are going to remember forever for how singular they were. Here, we are going to honor fifteen such games that we feel will always live on in memory.

[@markarend8226]

No timestamps ,(

[@zagon8692]

Sad for you and your tiktok brain

[@jasonbriceno3483]

Womp womp

[@mateosimon4237]

Don't you have a few minutes to enjoy the video?

[@shannonbayley3684]

Oh no! The horror! The first world problems. What ever should you do!?

[@pixeljauntvr7774]

So you can skip through and not watch the video? Yeah. No timestamps.

[@Snaaake_Beater]

Every single game that's Sony Japan Studios made

[@Rainbowhawk1993]

Best AA game:
The Talos Principle 2

[@StandingUpForBetter]

What a great list! For some reason I missed many of these gems and I am fixing that right now. It helps that many are on the Steam sale that ends tomorrow (7/11/24). Outer Wilds is on sale right now on both Steam and the Nintendo e-shop. Great timing with the video! Thanks again.

[@James_Winter27]

A Plague Tale Innocence, Control, Vampyr, Evil West aren't those AA games too that did something different?

[@mateosimon4237]

Its a great list. I would add SOMA, Stories Untold, Firewatch, The Long Dark etc

[@DoomsdayMayBeOkay]

Great list

[@SS501Fan101]

Concrete Genie was touching and sweet! I couldn't stop playing it and so much so I got the platinum for it, I'm glad it was on PS Plus

[@Sheamcdonnell]

is pikmin AA?

[@josue9926]

Every nintendo Game is

[@tobiclarence5236]

I'd also ab Pacific drive

[@perrydaciuk6308]

The BIG problem with the recent announcement of Game Pass changes and price increases is they nerfed Game Pass for Console, and only giving Day One Releases + Cloud Gaming to console users with Game Pass Ultimate. This is BS. Game Pass Standard SHOULD include Day One releases. I have always seen Ultimate as the COMBINATION of the best of both console and PC. I would prefer to see:
- Game Pass Core = Xbox Network + either 25 Games or Back Catalogue + Deals @ $9.99 per month (or $69.99 Annually)
- Game Pass Standard = Xbox Network + Back Catalogue + Day One Releases + Deals @ $14.99 per month
- Game Pass PC = Back Catalogue + Day One Releases + Deals + EA Play @ $11.99 per month
- Game Pass Ultimate = Combination of Game Pass Standard & Game Pass PC + Cloud Gaming + Perks @ $19.99 per month
Only Ultimate would include Cloud gaming natively. I would then create Xbox Cloud Gaming as a separate item that could be added to either Core, Standard, or PC for $1.99 extra per month. Bottom line: There needs to be a Tier for console that includes Day One Releases without having to go to Ultimate (where console gamers are paying for PC access and Cloud gaming they may not want or ever use).
And YES! Online access should be FREE on consoles!

[@NextGenGamezz]

No timestamps :(

[@Snaaake_Beater]

Astro bot has no character.
He just sits there and looks cute.
He lives from other franchises.
Jak and daxter sly cooper and ratchet are all better because they have a lore

[@Snaaake_Beater]

Bro im so happy to see Psychonauts here.
Sadly the 2nd game was to long and not so random. That made it feel like work to play through while the first game just went nuts and you didnt know what happens next

[@Snaaake_Beater]

Shadow of the colossus 😊❤

[@aaronatkinson177]

Don't forget about ico and the last guardian 😭

[@midwestyle]

Everything Tango Gameworks made. RIP

[@ContinuePlayMag]

Apart from Ghostwire Tokyo. I'll never get that time back 😢