Games with extraordinary "wow" moments - an IFDB Poll
by J'onn Roger
RSS FeedIf there is a moment in a game that stands out to you with vivid clarity, a moment of extraordinary beauty with writing that makes you really makes you see what is taking place, list the game here. Since surprise may play a part in the "wow" of the moment, you may want to be careful about reading comments on games you haven't played. EDIT: After seeing how discreetly Emily handled surprise moments, I rewrote my original comments in an attempt to do the same.
| Photopia, by Adam Cadre 9 votes "I know it gets mentioned a lot, discovery by the crystal maze is really wonderful." [+]... "Because Photopia." [+]... "The maze discovery" [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... "There are plenty..." [+]...  Vote for this game | |
| Spider and Web, by Andrew Plotkin 6 votes "Set of combinable tools that provides a focus for problem-solving while still allowing a lot of scope to experiement" [+]... "The moment in..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... "People rightfully..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 6 votes "Clever, subtle and absorbing." [+]... "A number of such..." [+]... "There is a..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| De Baron, by Victor Gijsbers 6 votes "The moment you realize the truth." [+]... "Much more than a typical fantasy game." [+]... "A dark twist that's never really explicitly said, allowing the player to come to the horrifying realization on their own terms." [+]... "That twist which..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| All Things Devours, by half sick of shadows 4 votes "Awesome puzzle mechanic" [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| All Roads, by Jon Ingold 3 votes "The scene at the..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Hoist Sail for the Heliopause and Home, by Andrew Plotkin 3 votes "This short game is all but made of "wow."" [+]... (No comment) [+]... "Finding the..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| The Act of Misdirection, by Callico Harrison 2 votes "The single most..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| The Dreamhold, by Andrew Plotkin 2 votes "For the hot and..." [+]... (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Cragne Manor, by Ryan Veeder, Jenni Polodna, Adam Whybray, Adri, Andrew Plotkin, Andy Holloway, Austin Auclair, Baldur Brückner, Ben Collins-Sussman, Bill Maya, Brian Rushton, Buster Hudson, Caleb Wilson, Carl Muckenhoupt, Chandler Groover, Chris Jones, Christopher Conley, Damon L. Wakes, Daniel Ravipinto, Daniel Stelzer, David Jose, David Petrocco, David Sturgis, Drew Mochak, Edward B, Emily Short, Erica Newman, Feneric, Finn Rosenløv, Gary Butterfield, Gavin Inglis, Greg Frost, Hanon Ondricek, Harkness, Harrison Gerard, Ian Holmes, Ivan Roth, Jack Welch, Jacqueline Ashwell, James Eagle, Jason Dyer, Jason Lautzenheiser, Jason Love, Jeremy Freese, Joey Jones, Joshua Porch, Justin de Vesine, Justin Melvin, Katherine Morayati, Kenneth Pedersen, Lane Puetz, Llew Mason, Lucian Smith, Marco Innocenti, Marius Müller, Mark Britton, Mark Sample, Marshal Tenner Winter, Matt Schneider, Matt Weiner, Matthew Korson, Michael Fessler, Michael Gentry, Michael Hilborn, Michael Lin, Mike Spivey, Molly Ying, Monique Padelis, Naomi Hinchen, Nate Edwards, Petter Sjölund, Q Pheevr, Rachel Spitler, Reed Lockwood, Reina Adair, Riff Conner, Roberto Colnaghi, Rowan Lipkovits, Sam Kabo Ashwell, Scott Hammack, Sean M. Shore, Shin, Wade Clarke, Zach Hodgens, Zack Johnson 2 votes "The water fountain" [+]... "The meatpacking plant" [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Spellbreaker, by Dave Lebling 2 votes "Several in this..." [+]... "The girgol..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Rameses, by Stephen Bond 1 vote (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Worlds Apart, by Suzanne Britton 1 vote "A discovery involving the dragon took my breath away." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Robin & Orchid, by Ryan Veeder and Emily Boegheim 1 vote "Finding the cat's..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| The Statue Got Me High, by Ryan Veeder 1 vote "A dinner party..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| The Space Under the Window, by Andrew Plotkin 1 vote "The ending always leaves an indelible impression in my mind of a moment in time lost. The window shatters." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Kaged, by Ian Finley 1 vote (No comment) [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Trinity, by Brian Moriarty 1 vote "Reading the book in the cottage" [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Lost Pig, by Admiral Jota 1 vote "magnificent implementation " [+]... Vote for this game | |
| The Primrose Path, by Nolan Bonvouloir 1 vote "For a certain..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Dual Transform, by Andrew Plotkin 1 vote "The 'chase' scene..." [+]... Vote for this game | |
| Ad Verbum, by Nick Montfort 1 vote "The rooms..." [+]... Vote for this game | |