10. RiME (PC/PS4/X-Box One/Switch)
RiME is a game following a child and his magical fox companion as the boy regains his memory and explores the mysterious island he washes ashore on. This game has a very similar feel to ABZU with the way you learn about everything in time with your character , the very simple but still gorgeous art that allows you to focus on the story. , The soundtrack for the game is similar to ABZU but still has its own style that really makes you feel what the character feels. RiME has a lot of similar mechanics as ABZU, such as using bird calls to activate different puzzles or carrying and moving objects out of the way. RiME in the best ways possible feels like a land/earth themed version of ABZU with its own lessons and meanings.
9. Firewatch (PC/MAC/Switch/PS4/X-Box One)
Firewatch is a game about a man named Henry working as a fire watcher in Wyoming. The game takes you through scenic wilderness as you slowly uncover a mystery that’s not as it first seems. You explore the wilderness, seemingly being tracked by someone unseen out in the wild, with only Delilah, your coworker, on the radio for company and assistance. Like ABZU, the wilderness is the domain of the game, while ABZU may take place underwater the exploration of the forest and areas around it is still beautiful and makes uncovering the truth all the more satisfying. There isn’t the same emphasis placed on wildlife, but the way it looks into human behaviors and relationships creates an enticing mystery..
8. The Last Guardian (PS4 Exclusive)
The Last Guardian is a third-person action-adventure puzzle game. You follow a young boy who encounters and cares for a creature that your character names Trico. You and Trico explore and attempt to return to the boy's home village after getting lost and losing your memory, facing many obstacles, puzzles, and enemies along the way. This game is similar to ABZU with the beautiful scenery and graphics for its time. Each cave, cliffside, ruins, and abandoned building has an immense amount of beautiful detail making each one feel as real as the last. The movement of every creature flows naturally as if they were based on real ones, just like with ABZUs immersive flow and grouping of the fish, sharks, and other animals. .
7. Never Alone (PC/MAC/iOS/Android/PS4/X-Box One)
Never Alone is a platformer set in an icy tundra. Both ABZU and Never Alone use their stories to spread awareness around certain issues while still creating interesting plots and gameplay. ABZU focuses a decent bit on the consequences of how we treat the planet and oceans, meanwhile Never Alone focuses on the importance of both caring for the environment but also protecting sacred Native cultures. In Never Alone you follow a young girl and her fox companion as they withstand the cold while attempting to save her village from an unending blizzard. Never Alone was inspired by Alaska Native elders' stories and legends that have been passed from generation to generation. Upper One and E-Line worked with specifically the Iñupiat Natives to develop the storyline and make it as accurate as possible, even including the narration in their native spoken language. The music is beautiful and fits the environments perfectly, the animation and art is very well done using an interesting mix of more realistic and something that you’d find from an elders book of legends.
6. EXO One (PC/XBOX)
EXO One is a game about playing as an alien spaceship, transforming between disc and ball shapes to traverse the landscapes, gliding and rolling to get height, distance and momentum. This game is special compared to ABZU with the interesting mechanic of being able to explore the land, air and water of each planet you explore. The game is pretty relaxed, with a sweet soundtrack and narration to accompany the gameplay, but welcomingly different from other games I’ve played. Definitely one to keep your eye on, PS4 is slated to come out this fall 2022, if the rumors are to be believed.
5. OSMOS (PC/MAC/iOS)
OSMOS is about playing a microorganism, trying to absorb smaller cells, propelling yourself through the primordial soup by ejecting your own mass. Careful, this game is deceptively a physics puzzle game, with one of the most relaxing soundtracks on this list compared to the sometimes hectic gameplay. There are a variety of levels, objectives, and ‘enemies’ some will avoid you, others will aimlessly float around, and some may hunt you. The devs have also released a multiplayer feature that allows you to play against others, with local and online play so you can play against anyone or just your friends.
4. Flow (PC/MAC/PS4)
The website for Flow with a video to shwo you the game.
Flow is a game about growing an organism in a chill, relaxed environment. You move around and devour smaller organisms, while trying not to be consumed by larger ones. A very simple game, set in the water, and a chill soundtrack to accompany the experience. You will choose one of five organisms, with their own unique traits and environments, and try to survive in the depths of the ocean alongside other bioluminescent organisms. Similar to the previous game on this list, OSMOS.
3. Flower (PC/PS4/iOS)
The website for FLower with a game trailer.
Flower is one of the games that was an inspiration for ABZU, though its exploration and beauty comes solely from the serene atmosphere rather than from implicit gameplay as well. As you take the role of the wind, you blow through flowers, their petals accompanying you on a ‘Journey’ across the ever changing landscape.As you progress through the level the petals you collect along the way can allow you to open up new areas to explore. Flower is like ABZU, where you focus on restoring the land to what it once was, a beautiful vibrant landscape with lots of color.
2. Sky: Children of the Light (iOS/Android/Switch)
The website for SKY with the trailer for it.
Sky is much like ABZU in its design, running around, exploring, and having fun with your friends is what this game is all about, like Journey on steroids. It’s free on all available platforms, so there’s no real reason not to check it out! Sky is like ABZU in the sense of the floaty and relaxing atmosphere, along with completing puzzles to assist with the restoration of the natural spaces. The basic mechanics of the game are running around, jumping, and gliding around to solve puzzles or complete quests. You get more ‘wing flaps’ as you explore, complete quests, and play with others, allowing you to explore more and encouraging cooperative play and just having fun with pals or strangers alike! Sky, along with having a chat feature, has quite an expansive emote system, including little noises you can make to communicate. Another interesting feature has to do with candles, in Sky you use candles in a couple different ways. The main use is as currency, they can also be used for adding friends and expanding your spells and expressions as well as customizing your character.
1. Journey (PC/PS4/iOS)
The website for Journey with its trailer.
The game Journey was a huge inspiration for the devs of ABZU, so of course, it’s going to be number one on this list. Journey is a game about traveling a vast, desert landscape with a partner. You may not know this person, and that’s the point. With a little chirp, you can communicate with your anonymous partner, and share discoveries together, coordinate puzzle solutions, and use it to locate each other if you get lost. At their cores, both Journey and ABZU are about exploration and puzzle solving with friends or even strangers, and neither disappoint in that aspect. The exploration in Journey is phenomenal, the graphics are stunning, and the theming is spot-on. Overall, I’d recommend anyone looking for an exploration experience like ABZU to pick this one up.
