What’s your favorite game that challenges conventional game design?

[killamch89]

I love titles that break the mold whether through unusual controls, non-linear progression, or experimental UI. What’s your favorite game that challenges conventional design norms and still feels coherent and fun? Maybe it’s a first-person puzzler without any text, a rogue-like with no permanent death, or an exploration game that discards objectives entirely. How did these design risks pay off (or flop), and what takeaways do you have for creators looking to push boundaries?

[Scorpion]

My favorite game that challenges conventional design is "Journey." Its emphasis on emotion, exploration, and minimalistic storytelling breaks traditional gameplay norms, creating a unique, immersive experience that focuses on connection and discovery rather than typical objectives or competition.

[killamch89]

Baba Is You revolutionizes puzzle design by making the rules themselves into manipulable objects. Rather than learning fixed mechanics that gradually increase in complexity, you're constantly redefining the fundamental laws of the game world. It challenges your assumptions about how games function at such a fundamental level that it's forever changed how I think about design possibilities.