Summary
Thegrimdarksubgenre is packed with dystopian ideas, harsh and unforgiving worlds, and morally gray characters. Fictional universes such asWarhammer: 40,000(from where it could be argued the subgenre spawned), and gritty fantasies such asGame of Thronesare just a couple of strong examples.
While grimdark worlds and themes are certainly popular in fiction, especially in film, television, and books, the subgenre is less represented in video games. That is, outside of games set in the world ofWarhammer: 40,000. It could be argued that because indie games are less focused on catering to broad audiences, they are free to present players with darker, grittier worlds. These examples offer just a handful of grimdark indie experiences.
Thissoulslike RPGfeatures unforgiving, slow-burning combat complete with an active healing item, dodge roll, and the ability to parry.Tails Of Ironalso innovates with its color-coded attacks that keep players on their toes and help greatly with enemy telegraphing.
Tails Of Irontakes place in a war-torn world in which the Rats are suffering from an invasion of horrid Frogs. Players take on the role of Redgi, who, following the brutal death of his Father, the King, must embark on a treacherous journey. The game’s world is dark and gritty and perfectly contrastsits anthropomorphized characters.
This turn-based strategyRPG features a brutal roguelike structureand permanent death mechanics that makeevery dungeon crawla perilous journey. The game features a dark and gritty hand-drawn art style, appropriately dark dungeons to explore, and a variety of unforgiving mechanics that complement its grimdark atmosphere.
The characters that make up a party inDarkest Dungeonare all flawed, and as they become stressed while exploring dungeons, these flaws begin to show themselves in extremely detrimental ways. This constant unknowing, as well as the lack of trust between the player and their party, further adds toDarkest Dungeon’sgrimdark nature, and the Lovecraftian horrors that players are tasked with facing are particularly grimdark, too.
3Quasimorph - A Survival Extraction-Shooter Roguelite
Steam User Rating: 78%
Quasimorphtakes place in a dark dystopian science fiction future in which corporations control space, and an abundance of horrific creatures plague space stations. The world ofQuasimorphis downtrodden, gritty, and unforgiving, and its gameplay reflects that in more ways than one.
Quasimorphtasks players with delving into horror-infested space stations to retrieve valuable items before attempting to extract with as much loot as humanly possible. Dying inQuasimorphdoesn’t mean the end, but it does mean players lose everything on their person. Thisbrutal, unforgiving gameplay, as well as the game’s survival mechanics, perfectly matchQuasimorph’satmosphere and tone.
This brutal Metroidvania features action platformer gameplay with hack-and-slash combat mechanics and light RPG systems. The game features dark religious themes, a gritty fantasy setting, and an abundance of unsettling visuals and character designs.
Blasphemousfocuses its gameplay on exploration, brutal and unforgiving combat, and spectacular boss fights against horrific creatures. While the gameplay and lack of hand-holding won’t be for everyone,Blasphemousis a rich, grimdark fantasy experience set in a distinctive world.
Thisside-scrolling action RPGfeatures elements of soulslikes and Metroidvanias, particularly the former.Salt And Sanctuarysees players exploring a heavily stylized world with stark colors and Gothic character designs, discovering new locations and improving their character along the way.
Hanging corpses, vicious enemies, and dark environments are a common occurrence in the world ofSalt And Sanctuary, and the game’s Gothic art style is an ideal match. For fans ofDark Soulsand Metroidvanias alike,Salt And Sanctuaryis a reliable choice.
6Infernax - An Action Platformer Inspired By Old-School Castlevania
Steam User Rating: 92%
This action platformer takesclear inspiration from oldCastlevaniatitles, tasking players with exploring the world and looking for key items to progress, all while defeating an abundance of enemies and bosses. The game takes place in a dark fantasy setting, in which the player’s home has been ravaged by a mysterious plague.
Infernaxfeatures a hefty dose of gore, bloodthirsty creatures to defeat, and even story decisions to make that can have major consequences.Infernaxwill at times ask players to decide between killing an NPC or saving them, and this helps to boost the game’s already grimdark atmosphere and tone.
