every medium has its works to provoke nuanced discussion and reflection and
nuanced discussion and reflection and
nuanced discussion and reflection and gaming is no different where is Conrad
gaming is no different where is Conrad
gaming is no different where is Conrad welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 video games that will make you think for
video games that will make you think for
video games that will make you think for more gaming videos check out our new
more gaming videos check out our new
more gaming videos check out our new spinoff channel mojo plays for in-depth
spinoff channel mojo plays for in-depth
spinoff channel mojo plays for in-depth reviews thoughtful video essays detailed
reviews thoughtful video essays detailed
reviews thoughtful video essays detailed character origins and insightful
character origins and insightful
character origins and insightful commentary mojo plays games smarter here
commentary mojo plays games smarter here
commentary mojo plays games smarter here we’re looking at games which are by
we’re looking at games which are by
we’re looking at games which are by design intended to persuade the audience
design intended to persuade the audience
design intended to persuade the audience to contemplate a deeper meaning or grand
to contemplate a deeper meaning or grand
to contemplate a deeper meaning or grand philosophical quandary x’ or focus is
philosophical quandary x’ or focus is
philosophical quandary x’ or focus is not on games that challenge its audience
not on games that challenge its audience
not on games that challenge its audience by way of puzzles thus we must exclude
by way of puzzles thus we must exclude
by way of puzzles thus we must exclude the likes of 2007 s portal number 10
the likes of 2007 s portal number 10
the likes of 2007 s portal number 10 Deus Ex y contain it let it spill over
Deus Ex y contain it let it spill over
Deus Ex y contain it let it spill over to the schools and churches let the
to the schools and churches let the
to the schools and churches let the bodies pile up in the streets
bodies pile up in the streets
bodies pile up in the streets conspiracies and toppling of fascist
conspiracies and toppling of fascist
conspiracies and toppling of fascist governments oh my the original Deus Ex
governments oh my the original Deus Ex
governments oh my the original Deus Ex arrived on the scene bearing a deeper
arrived on the scene bearing a deeper
arrived on the scene bearing a deeper emphasis on philosophy and
emphasis on philosophy and
emphasis on philosophy and socio-political theory the many of its
socio-political theory the many of its
socio-political theory the many of its peers but it handles such subject matter
peers but it handles such subject matter
peers but it handles such subject matter with great aplomb a bunch of pretentious
with great aplomb a bunch of pretentious
with great aplomb a bunch of pretentious old men playing at running the world
old men playing at running the world
old men playing at running the world plays took the role of fresh-faced
plays took the role of fresh-faced
plays took the role of fresh-faced United Nations operative JC Denton whose
United Nations operative JC Denton whose
United Nations operative JC Denton whose role shifts from the loyal government
role shifts from the loyal government
role shifts from the loyal government employee to resistance fighter as the
employee to resistance fighter as the
employee to resistance fighter as the winding narrative unfolds Denton status
winding narrative unfolds Denton status
winding narrative unfolds Denton status as an outsider slowly drawn into world
as an outsider slowly drawn into world
as an outsider slowly drawn into world affairs allows Deus Ex to explain and
affairs allows Deus Ex to explain and
affairs allows Deus Ex to explain and expand upon themes of government
expand upon themes of government
expand upon themes of government overreach the threat of unchecked
overreach the threat of unchecked
overreach the threat of unchecked corporate machinations and the necessary
corporate machinations and the necessary
corporate machinations and the necessary extremes of revolutions we’ve had to
extremes of revolutions we’ve had to
extremes of revolutions we’ve had to endure much you and I but soon
endure much you and I but soon
endure much you and I but soon ordering number 9 braids built to
ordering number 9 braids built to
ordering number 9 braids built to resemble the classic side-scrolling
resemble the classic side-scrolling
resemble the classic side-scrolling platformers of yore Jonathan blows
platformers of yore Jonathan blows
platformers of yore Jonathan blows braids uses players fondness for the
braids uses players fondness for the
braids uses players fondness for the genre to his advantage the games
genre to his advantage the games
genre to his advantage the games examination of how time manipulation can
examination of how time manipulation can
examination of how time manipulation can be implemented into a variety of puzzles
be implemented into a variety of puzzles
be implemented into a variety of puzzles serves to draw the player in leaving
serves to draw the player in leaving
serves to draw the player in leaving them receptive to the game’s deeper
them receptive to the game’s deeper
them receptive to the game’s deeper themes braid fixates on the efforts of a
themes braid fixates on the efforts of a
themes braid fixates on the efforts of a man named Tim seeking to rescue a
man named Tim seeking to rescue a
man named Tim seeking to rescue a princess with each step of the journey
princess with each step of the journey
princess with each step of the journey accompanied by an allegory and snippets
accompanied by an allegory and snippets
accompanied by an allegory and snippets of backstory each new piece of
of backstory each new piece of
of backstory each new piece of information slowly clarifies the game’s
information slowly clarifies the game’s
information slowly clarifies the game’s true intent to highlight and critique
true intent to highlight and critique
true intent to highlight and critique the damsel in distress narrative device
the damsel in distress narrative device
the damsel in distress narrative device that was a significant part of early
that was a significant part of early
that was a significant part of early game storytelling number 8 SpecOps the
game storytelling number 8 SpecOps the
game storytelling number 8 SpecOps the line we’re here to help – stay with me
line we’re here to help – stay with me
line we’re here to help – stay with me all right
all right
all right at first glance that doesn’t appear to
at first glance that doesn’t appear to
at first glance that doesn’t appear to be much remarkable about game studio
be much remarkable about game studio
be much remarkable about game studio jäger developments 2012 reboot of the
jäger developments 2012 reboot of the
jäger developments 2012 reboot of the SpecOps series it’s initially framed as
SpecOps series it’s initially framed as
SpecOps series it’s initially framed as a typical military shooter set in Dubai
a typical military shooter set in Dubai
a typical military shooter set in Dubai and then the curtain drops to reveal a
and then the curtain drops to reveal a
and then the curtain drops to reveal a much nastier more pointed game
much nastier more pointed game
much nastier more pointed game phosphorus I swear if I never see this
phosphorus I swear if I never see this
phosphorus I swear if I never see this shit again it’ll be too soon the line
shit again it’ll be too soon the line
shit again it’ll be too soon the line uses extreme violence and familiar
uses extreme violence and familiar
uses extreme violence and familiar action game beats to slightly comment on
action game beats to slightly comment on
action game beats to slightly comment on a number of issues from modern American
a number of issues from modern American
a number of issues from modern American intervention ISM to the problems
intervention ISM to the problems
intervention ISM to the problems inherent with its own genre the game
inherent with its own genre the game
inherent with its own genre the game doesn’t hold back in criticizing and
doesn’t hold back in criticizing and
doesn’t hold back in criticizing and deconstructing the interests of its
deconstructing the interests of its
deconstructing the interests of its audience either and doubtlessly left
audience either and doubtlessly left
audience either and doubtlessly left players reeling from the nature of its
players reeling from the nature of its
players reeling from the nature of its revelations I never could escape the
revelations I never could escape the
revelations I never could escape the reality of what happened here
reality of what happened here
reality of what happened here that was my downfall number seven Daisy
that was my downfall number seven Daisy
that was my downfall number seven Daisy never before is the true nature of
never before is the true nature of
never before is the true nature of humanity been more clear starting out as
humanity been more clear starting out as
humanity been more clear starting out as a mod for armor – before spinning off
a mod for armor – before spinning off
a mod for armor – before spinning off into its own separate game
into its own separate game
into its own separate game Daisy takes the concept of zombie caused
Daisy takes the concept of zombie caused
Daisy takes the concept of zombie caused apocalypse to a logical extreme the game
apocalypse to a logical extreme the game
apocalypse to a logical extreme the game setting of gen’rous is a harsh landscape
setting of gen’rous is a harsh landscape
setting of gen’rous is a harsh landscape of abandoned towns and barren terrain
of abandoned towns and barren terrain
of abandoned towns and barren terrain occasionally interspersed with the
occasionally interspersed with the
occasionally interspersed with the undead most of the time though players
undead most of the time though players
undead most of the time though players must contend with the selfish and often
must contend with the selfish and often
must contend with the selfish and often cruel instincts of their peers driven to
cruel instincts of their peers driven to
cruel instincts of their peers driven to violence by their experiences
violence by their experiences
violence by their experiences Daisy is very much a game about the
Daisy is very much a game about the
Daisy is very much a game about the flaws and failings of humanity and it
flaws and failings of humanity and it
flaws and failings of humanity and it conveys that theme in brutal fashion
conveys that theme in brutal fashion
conveys that theme in brutal fashion number six prey Arkane Studios
number six prey Arkane Studios
number six prey Arkane Studios reimagining of the prey series
reimagining of the prey series
reimagining of the prey series noticeably deviates from the original
noticeably deviates from the original
noticeably deviates from the original 2006 game in a great number of ways most
2006 game in a great number of ways most
2006 game in a great number of ways most notably in its philosophical intent 2017
notably in its philosophical intent 2017
notably in its philosophical intent 2017 spry uses the freeform role-playing
spry uses the freeform role-playing
spry uses the freeform role-playing design of works like System Shock to
design of works like System Shock to
design of works like System Shock to craft a world in a narrative rooted in
craft a world in a narrative rooted in
craft a world in a narrative rooted in questions of identity the limits of
questions of identity the limits of
questions of identity the limits of human morality and other existential
human morality and other existential
human morality and other existential crises we’ve been testing a new kind of
crises we’ve been testing a new kind of
crises we’ve been testing a new kind of neuroma based on the type and organisms
neuroma based on the type and organisms
neuroma based on the type and organisms mapping their neural patterns onto ours
mapping their neural patterns onto ours
mapping their neural patterns onto ours be in the choice of upgrades or in
be in the choice of upgrades or in
be in the choice of upgrades or in deciding between compassion or contempt
deciding between compassion or contempt
deciding between compassion or contempt prey centers itself and exploring player
prey centers itself and exploring player
prey centers itself and exploring player interpretations of lead character Morgan
interpretations of lead character Morgan
interpretations of lead character Morgan you we may not have necessarily been
you we may not have necessarily been
you we may not have necessarily been asking for this game but we’ll never
asking for this game but we’ll never
asking for this game but we’ll never forget the ideas and imagery it left
forget the ideas and imagery it left
forget the ideas and imagery it left with us
with us
with us number 5 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of
number 5 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of
number 5 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Jack I never thought I’d see you
Liberty Jack I never thought I’d see you
Liberty Jack I never thought I’d see you again
again
again whatever else can be said of Hideo
whatever else can be said of Hideo
whatever else can be said of Hideo Kojima he’s certainly no stranger to
Kojima he’s certainly no stranger to
Kojima he’s certainly no stranger to toying with intriguing ideas and
toying with intriguing ideas and
toying with intriguing ideas and inspiring important conversations Metal
inspiring important conversations Metal
inspiring important conversations Metal Gear Solid 2 opens with a seemingly
Gear Solid 2 opens with a seemingly
Gear Solid 2 opens with a seemingly straightforward mission undertaken by
straightforward mission undertaken by
straightforward mission undertaken by the series protagonist Solid Snake
the series protagonist Solid Snake
the series protagonist Solid Snake setting up how the game uses convention
setting up how the game uses convention
setting up how the game uses convention to throw off its audience’s expectations
little by little the story reveals
little by little the story reveals itself to be an act of willful
itself to be an act of willful
itself to be an act of willful subversion aiming to showcase how
subversion aiming to showcase how
subversion aiming to showcase how limited information can be used to
limited information can be used to
limited information can be used to control both the characters and the
control both the characters and the
control both the characters and the audience from the usage of widely
audience from the usage of widely
audience from the usage of widely recognized tropes as part of
recognized tropes as part of
recognized tropes as part of misdirection to questioning the notion
misdirection to questioning the notion
misdirection to questioning the notion of objective reality itself Metal Gear
of objective reality itself Metal Gear
of objective reality itself Metal Gear Solid 2 doesn’t like for meaningful
Solid 2 doesn’t like for meaningful
Solid 2 doesn’t like for meaningful subject matter the clues to the Patriots
subject matter the clues to the Patriots
subject matter the clues to the Patriots inside GW are bill erased but there are
inside GW are bill erased but there are
inside GW are bill erased but there are other traces
many came once you’ve the player to
many came once you’ve the player to believe that you have a choice in what
believe that you have a choice in what
believe that you have a choice in what to do
to do
to do electing to defy that illusion of
electing to defy that illusion of
electing to defy that illusion of freedom and expose its status as an
freedom and expose its status as an
freedom and expose its status as an illusion is part of what makes Bioshock
illusion is part of what makes Bioshock
illusion is part of what makes Bioshock such a powerful and thoughtful
such a powerful and thoughtful
such a powerful and thoughtful experience choosers every moment spent
experience choosers every moment spent
experience choosers every moment spent in the decrepit ruins of the underground
in the decrepit ruins of the underground
in the decrepit ruins of the underground city of Rapture reinforces a sense of
city of Rapture reinforces a sense of
city of Rapture reinforces a sense of manufactured Liberty of a more
manufactured Liberty of a more
manufactured Liberty of a more restrictive and controlled world lying
restrictive and controlled world lying
restrictive and controlled world lying in wait important questions about player
in wait important questions about player
in wait important questions about player agency and games and the manner in which
agency and games and the manner in which
agency and games and the manner in which a narrative is used to manipulate an
a narrative is used to manipulate an
a narrative is used to manipulate an audience take center stage especially as
audience take center stage especially as
audience take center stage especially as Bioshock builds to its faint twist
Bioshock builds to its faint twist
Bioshock builds to its faint twist nothing can ever be quite the same after
nothing can ever be quite the same after
nothing can ever be quite the same after this would you kindly
this would you kindly
this would you kindly powerful phrase number three this war of
powerful phrase number three this war of
powerful phrase number three this war of mine
inspired by the siege of Sarajevo during
inspired by the siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian war this war of mine evokes
the Bosnian war this war of mine evokes
the Bosnian war this war of mine evokes feelings of horror and dread at every
feelings of horror and dread at every
feelings of horror and dread at every turn it puts you in command of a group
turn it puts you in command of a group
turn it puts you in command of a group of survivors and ask you to keep them
of survivors and ask you to keep them
of survivors and ask you to keep them alive be it by digging for useful items
alive be it by digging for useful items
alive be it by digging for useful items or raiding homes for supplies every
or raiding homes for supplies every
or raiding homes for supplies every moment and every choice has to be
moment and every choice has to be
moment and every choice has to be weighed carefully against the needs of
weighed carefully against the needs of
weighed carefully against the needs of the survivors with personal morals
the survivors with personal morals
the survivors with personal morals crashing up against issues of resource
crashing up against issues of resource
crashing up against issues of resource management and the cost of survival
management and the cost of survival
management and the cost of survival experiencing the pain of losing allies
experiencing the pain of losing allies
experiencing the pain of losing allies amid an increasingly desperate situation
amid an increasingly desperate situation
amid an increasingly desperate situation isn’t exactly fun but it does help to
isn’t exactly fun but it does help to
isn’t exactly fun but it does help to raise awareness for what real wars do to
raise awareness for what real wars do to
raise awareness for what real wars do to our fellow humans
number two the Stanley parable orders
number two the Stanley parable orders came to him through a monitor of
sometimes having fun and having a point
sometimes having fun and having a point a girls that can operate hand in hand
a girls that can operate hand in hand
a girls that can operate hand in hand such is the case for the Stanley parable
such is the case for the Stanley parable
such is the case for the Stanley parable which helps to target and tear into the
which helps to target and tear into the
which helps to target and tear into the notion of play a guided storytelling any
notion of play a guided storytelling any
notion of play a guided storytelling any bizarre yet witty fashion he knew it was
bizarre yet witty fashion he knew it was
bizarre yet witty fashion he knew it was his duty his obligation to put an end to
his duty his obligation to put an end to
his duty his obligation to put an end to this horrible place and to everything it
this horrible place and to everything it
this horrible place and to everything it stood for a variety of story paths await
stood for a variety of story paths await
stood for a variety of story paths await the player changing how the game
the player changing how the game
the player changing how the game progresses based on one’s decisions to
progresses based on one’s decisions to
progresses based on one’s decisions to follow or break off from the
follow or break off from the
follow or break off from the single-minded narration yet these paths
single-minded narration yet these paths
single-minded narration yet these paths consistently result in intentionally
consistently result in intentionally
consistently result in intentionally underwhelming or off-kilter conclusions
underwhelming or off-kilter conclusions
underwhelming or off-kilter conclusions which underlined the game’s message it’s
which underlined the game’s message it’s
which underlined the game’s message it’s possible the story is back where we just
possible the story is back where we just
possible the story is back where we just came from the player ultimately has no
came from the player ultimately has no
came from the player ultimately has no meaningful freedom and is at the mercy
meaningful freedom and is at the mercy
meaningful freedom and is at the mercy of the game maker it does wonders to
of the game maker it does wonders to
of the game maker it does wonders to illustrate how important the Creator
illustrate how important the Creator
illustrate how important the Creator player relationship is to our experience
player relationship is to our experience
player relationship is to our experience of games and then number one papers
of games and then number one papers
of games and then number one papers please
writing the line between compelling and
writing the line between compelling and deeply disturbing is a tough act but
deeply disturbing is a tough act but
deeply disturbing is a tough act but somehow this game was up to the task
somehow this game was up to the task
somehow this game was up to the task papers please ask the player to run a
papers please ask the player to run a
papers please ask the player to run a border checkpoint for a fictional nation
border checkpoint for a fictional nation
border checkpoint for a fictional nation not unlike the real ex-soviet States
not unlike the real ex-soviet States
not unlike the real ex-soviet States come
come
come with escalating security measures and
with escalating security measures and
with escalating security measures and violent resistance efforts it’s
violent resistance efforts it’s
violent resistance efforts it’s deliberate and unrelenting in its desire
deliberate and unrelenting in its desire
deliberate and unrelenting in its desire to provoke discomfort made all the more
to provoke discomfort made all the more
to provoke discomfort made all the more apparent when the surrounding nation
apparent when the surrounding nation
apparent when the surrounding nation reveals itself more and more to be a
reveals itself more and more to be a
reveals itself more and more to be a totalitarian states the links to which
totalitarian states the links to which
totalitarian states the links to which papers please goes to inspire its
papers please goes to inspire its
papers please goes to inspire its audience to think critically about the
audience to think critically about the
audience to think critically about the tension of such an oppressive existence
tension of such an oppressive existence
tension of such an oppressive existence or as bold as they are quietly
or as bold as they are quietly
or as bold as they are quietly horrifying do you agree with our picks
horrifying do you agree with our picks
horrifying do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from
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