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One of the most important parts of a Best Atmospheric games video game that makes players feel like they’ve been taken to a different world is the atmosphere.
Some games, like horror games, are better at setting the mood than others, but the most engaging video game settings can be found in a wide range of genres.
For me, that means being completely taken away into a striking world. And there are many ways that can happen. Maybe you keep coming back to a game because it has a lot of story. Or maybe it’s the way the art is put together and the colors used. Or maybe it’s the music that sets the mood. If you’re lucky, all of these things will work together to make you feel like you’re really there.
Best Atmospheric games Comparison Table
Game | Setting | Graphics | Single-player |
---|---|---|---|
Sable | Desert exploration | Artistic, cel-shaded | Yes |
Stray | Futuristic city | Realistic, atmospheric | Yes |
A Plague Tale: Requiem | Medieval plague-infested world | Realistic, detailed | Yes |
Isonzo | World War I mountain warfare | Realistic, immersive | Yes |
Firewatch | Wyoming wilderness | Painterly, atmospheric | Yes |
Sable

System Requirement | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 7 or later (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
Processor | Intel Core i5-6500 or equivalent | Intel Core i7-9700K or equivalent |
Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 960 or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 1070 or equivalent |
DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
Storage | 10 GB available space | 10 GB available space |
Sable Best Atmospheric games is an open-world adventure game with a beautiful art style. It was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Debut Indie Game. The game was partly inspired by both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens, especially Rey when she was a scavenger on the desert planet Jakku. The main character is a young woman who goes on a coming-of-age journey.
The coming of age? Sable needs to find a certain mask in the ruins of the desert planet Midden and bring it back to her wandering clan. Sable combines puzzle-solving, platforming, and role-playing elements from different types of games to create a world that is both creative and exciting.
The Good
- Stunning and unique visual art style
- Large, free-form world to explore
- The atmosphere is made better by the music.
The Bad
- Only a few ways to fight
- Changes in quests can get boring
Stray

System Requirement | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 7 or later (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
Processor | Intel Core i3-2120 or equivalent | Intel Core i5-8600K or equivalent |
Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 650 Ti or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or equivalent |
DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
Storage | 5 GB available space | 5 GB available space |
You may have seen on TikTok that Stray Best Atmospheric games, a new game, is one of the most popular games of 2022. Since it’s a cat game, that might come as a bit of a surprise. There’s also a story that’s interesting. The lost cat and its friend, a small drone named B-12, have to get out of a dystopian city and figure out what’s going on there.
There’s a lot to discover between the neon-lit streets, crowded alleys, and empty shops. Best of all, you do this from the perspective of a cat, so you can interact with this Blade Runner-like world in really creative, fun ways.
The Good
- The idea of playing as a stray cat is interesting and new.
- Puzzles and challenges in a city that feels real and is full of details
The Bad
- Some problems with the technology
A Plague Tale: Requiem

System Requirement | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 or equivalent | Intel Core i7-9700 or equivalent |
Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 970 or equivalent | NVIDIA RTX 2070 or equivalent |
DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
Storage | 45 GB available space | 45 GB available space |
The sequel to Asobo Studio’s highly acclaimed action-adventure game lets players go on a heartbreaking journey into a brutal and beautiful world where supernatural forces have messed things up.
The first game was set in medieval France. In A Plague Tale: Requiem, Amicia and Hugo, who are brother and sister, journey far south to explore new regions and lively cities.
The Good
- Story that is both gripping and emotional
- Beautiful places with a lot of atmosphere
- Powerful stealth game mechanics
The Bad
- Pacing problems now and then
Isonzo

System Requirement | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 7 or later (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
Processor | Intel Core i3-2100 or equivalent | Intel Core i5-6600K or equivalent |
Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 750 or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or equivalent |
DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
Storage | 30 GB available space | 30 GB available space |
Isonzo the Best Atmospheric games is the third game in BlackMill Games’ World War I series. It takes players to the beautiful hills, rough valleys, and quiet towns of northern Italy during the war. The first-person shooter is played from the point of view of the Italian Front.
It has brutal battles in the Alps that test players’ tactical skills with truly detailed fighting. The battlefield is just as immersive, with beautiful Italian scenery turned into dangerous warzones with mortar blasts, barbed wire fencing, and dangerous trenches.
The Good
- There are big battles and realistic ways to fight.
- There are different weapons and vehicles to use.
The Bad
- Hard to learn for new players; not much to do on your own.
Firewatch

System Requirement | Minimum Specifications | Recommended Specifications |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 7 or later (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
Processor | Intel Core i3-3225 or equivalent | Intel Core i5-6500 or equivalent |
Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 450 or equivalent | NVIDIA GTX 660 or equivalent |
DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
Storage | 4 GB available space | 4 GB available space |
Firewatch the Best Atmospheric games, a narrative walking game by Campo Santo that won an award, shows that not all naturalistic settings are cruel and harsh. During the summer of 1989, it takes place in the wilds of Wyoming, and you play a volunteer fire lookout who stumbles upon a secret while exploring the area’s wild places.
Like in The Long Dark, players are constantly reminded of how alone they are, but if they need to, they can use a hand-held radio to talk to their boss, Delilah. Subnautica is another survival game that pushes players out of their comfort zones if they want to stay alive.
The Good
- Storyline that is interesting and makes you think
- Beautifully drawn and detailed setting in the wilderness
The Bad
- Playing time isn’t very long
FAQs
A: An “atmospheric” game is one that can create a strong and engaging mood or atmosphere. It often uses things like graphics, sound design, music, stories, and game features to make players feel a certain way and keep their attention. Games with a lot of atmosphere usually do a great job of making you feel like you’re really there, whether it’s through detailed and immersive settings, atmospheric lighting and effects, rich soundscapes, or compelling stories.
A: Absolutely! Atmospheric games can be any type, like adventure, puzzle, shooter, role-playing, or even horror. The atmospheric quality of a game is not limited to a certain type. Instead, it is the game’s ability to create an immersive and captivating experience through its ambiance, aesthetics, and story.
A: In atmospheric games, the mix between how the game looks and how it tells a story can change. Even though beautiful visuals can add a lot to the atmosphere by building immersive environments and evocative atmospheres, storytelling is the most important way to give a story meaning and make people feel something. Many atmospheric games find a good mix between the way they look and how they tell a story, using both to create a unified and powerful experience.