Most modern games have a pacing problem, mainly because they try to stuff everything possible into their games to target a wide audience. This leads to issues where games with bombastic moments are interspersed with a ton of filler that bogs down the experience.
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Open-world games and JRPGs are notorious for this, although other genres also suffer from filler content that adds nothing to the experience. The same can't be said for these titles, which do a great job of letting players enjoy fun gameplay and engaging plots without any fluff detracting from the experience.
Return Of The Obra Dinn
Lucas Pope's Mystery Game Is A Masterpiece Where No Moment Is Wasted
Return of the Obra Dinn
- Released
- October 18, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
From the moment players step onto the abandoned Obra Dinn, it's clear that something horrible happened to the crew. With a supernatural stopwatch, players find corpses and use this item to witness the moments preceding their demise.
The mystery slowly balloons into something nightmarish as players uncover everything from mutinies to Lovecraftian monsters. They must figure out the names of people, the cause of their deaths, and the perpetrators (if any) in a tightly-wound experience that doesn't waste a player's time and makes it clear why Lucas Pope is a master of his craft.
Titanfall 2
The Story Campaign Is Off The Charts
Titanfall 2
- Released
- October 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Most linear FPS campaigns make it a point to let players enjoy one set-piece after another without adding anything to bog down the experience. Titanfall 2 encompasses this in spades, addressing the complaints regarding the former game by integrating one of the best single-player campaigns of all time.
The set-pieces in this campaign are off the charts, with each level being wildly riveting in its own right. By the end of this game, a robotic mech will have more of an emotional impact on players than actual humans in other drawn-out experiences.
Half-Life 2
Every Level Is A Blast To Get Through And Doesn't Waste The Player's Time
Half-Life 2
- Released
- November 16, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Half-Life 2 is one of the greatest FPS titles of all time that fans can't get enough of. This game is a massive evolution over its predecessor, introducing a revolutionary physics engine and ensuring that every level feels distinct and different from what came before.
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With the lack of any cutscenes, players will see the story flow at an organic pace as they use everything from the Gravity Gun to the various weapons in Gordon's arsenal to take out the Combine and Xen enemies alike. All of this ensures that Half-Life 2 ages like fine wine and hammers in just how engaging this title is.
Hotline Miami
An Ultra Violent, Fast-Paced Game Where Every Level Is Incredible
Hotline Miami
- Released
- October 23, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Strong Language, Crude Humor
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Hotline Miami is one of the first indie breakout hits for Devolver Digital that put this publisher on the map. Each level in this game is a celebration of violence as players control Jacket in deadly missions where a single hit can take them out.
The bursts of gameplay in this title are a ton of fun as players try to get their hands on weapons (both melee and ranged) to make their kills as efficient and fast-paced as possible. These explosive levels feature moments of much-needed downtime in between as players take a breather and see the story unfold before the next engaging level captures their attention.
Katana ZERO
Powering Through Levels And Slicing Up Enemies Is Straightforward And Very Entertaining
Katana ZERO
- Released
- April 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action
Katana Zero is a game that prides itself on its challenging gameplay, with players controlling an assassin who wears a bathrobe and is so skilled with a katana that he can deflect bullets. However, this skill is something that players must earn, since the levels are so hard that a single mistake can be costly.
Players will eventually become masters of this game as they tear apart everyone standing in the way of their target, dying over and over again until they finally manage to complete a stage. Just like Hotline Miami, these explosive moments feature moments of much-needed quiet that let the story breathe before Zero embarks on yet another challenging mission.
Portal
A Well-Crafted Puzzle Game That Respects The Time And Effort Invested By The Player
Portal
- Released
- October 10, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
Portal is one of the best video games ever made, with its focus on a simple yet revolutionary mechanic, making each level a joy to get through. Connecting portals may seem simple, but it's clear that GLaDOS test chambers are far from simple as she puts Chell through a bunch of dangerous trials.
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Eventually, the mystery surrounding Aperture Science, Inc. Comes to light as Chell outsmarts GLaDOS and takes her out in a scintillating boss fight. Portal is a tightly paced game with little to no filler, something that is echoed in the sequel too (barring some minor segments that aren't as tightly crafted).
Furi
Players Beat A Boss, Walk To The Next Arena, And Repeat This Over And Over Again
Furi
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Arcade, Shooter
Furi is one of the greatest boss rush games players can get their hands on. Ever since the Stranger is freed by the Voice, they must escape their elaborate prison by taking on the several wardens tasked with preventing the Stranger from going back to Earth.
Each boss fight is a test of the player's skill and patience as they memorize their enemy's patterns and figure out the best way to overpower their foe. Conquering every boss feels great, and it helps that the game doesn't waste the player's time. Players beat a boss, walk to the next encounter as the Voice builds up the encounter while revealing more details surrounding the story, and repeat this over and over again until they reach the end.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Every Set Piece Houses A Great Puzzle That Helps The Story Move Forward
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
- Released
- June 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
As great as the Ace Attorney games are, there's no denying that the Investigation segments have a fair bit of filler. The same can't be said for Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, which is arguably the best game this talented director has developed.
Players control Sissel's spirit as he uses supernatural powers to prevent the death of important characters by solving puzzles. He is joined by several ghostly allies as he tries to piece his memories together, culminating in what might be one of the greatest plot twists in video game history.
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