Tastes in games differ dramatically from person to person, and that's the beauty of playing them. They can cater wonderfully to different age ranges, interests, and, just as importantly, the level of complexity desired. Sometimes, adjusting the latter is simply a case of tweaking difficulty settings, but other games are inherently as deep as the Mariana Trench.
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There are titles with absurdly deep base-building mechanics, with movement systems that require their own specialized controllers to accommodate, or which have such realistic physics you'd almost think you were actually sending a rocket into space in real life (almost). Let's take a closer look at some of these absurdly deep titles.
5 Balatro
Almost Endless Hidden Depth
On the surface, Balatro may look extremely simple. Beneath its minimalistic, fun and cartoony presentation, though, players find layers upon layers of strategic options and nuance. As you start to experiment with different joker combinations, strategies, hand types and so much more, you learn a fundamental truth: There's a gigantic difference between simply surviving your way through eight antes to 'complete' the game and absolutely breaking it to pieces.
Watching players achieve infinite scores is truly astonishing. It's a feat of seed manipulation, carefully selected options, and painstakingly cultivated expertise over the game's mechanics. Players probably remember the first time they devised a seemingly brilliant strategy involving Blueprint (the coveted effect—copying Joker) and scored over one million points in a single hand, but that wasn't even beginning to scratch the surface. Pursuing ever-higher scores, it'll slowly dawn on you exactly what's possible in this game, and that's what the Balatro rabbit hole is all about.
4 Eve Online
The Infinite Possibilities Of Space
When No Man's Sky launched, it fell afoul of its own hype. An explore to your heart's content in almost endless space simulator was an ambitious promise that it took some time after launch for Hello Games to be able to deliver on. It just goes to show, though, that there's no setting that offers more space to expand, and to explore more complex mechanics, than outer space. Eve Online is another iconic example of just that.
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We often hear that MMORPGs are like descending into a whole alternative world, but how about several thousand star systems? The persistent world of Eve Online has been growing and evolving since 2003, introducing players to the New Eden Galaxy and the five different civilizations that emerged there in the distant future. You choose one of the different playable races to be a part of, tweak your character to your liking, and then set about making your unique impact on this shared experience as you wish. The depth is so astonishing, it's almost a little frightening. In June 2023, CCP Games CEO told Bloomberg: "We had this weird imposter syndrome about whether we were making a real economy because we were a game." Traders, explorers, miners and just about everyone else are all critical cogs in the machine, and you can actually see items you purchase go from raw materials to its finished Form. Complex movements and calculations govern spaceship flight, from a single craft to a vast battle Star Wars would envy.
3 Steel Battalion
How Do You Steer This Thing?
Realistic sims are some of the most complex games you could ever hope to play. In evoking the real-world equivalent of the experience as much as possible, they sometimes implement their own special controller with a plethora of buttons and keys. That's how many functions you need. Steel Battalion is iconic because its controller is an elaborate confection of joysticks, pedals, and buttons, the better to really give the player control of the mech the game revolves around.
Metroid Prime was astonishing because it gave us the view from behind Samus's visor. In the same way, you are absolutely a mech pilot (or rather, a Vertical Tank pilot in the game's parlance) in Steel Battalion. The war against another mechanized force plays out mission by mission, and you're in the thick of things. First there's an in-depth mission briefing, then you're into the cockpit. It's detailed enough to be absolutely real, and every read-out and sensor you can see is actually telling you something. It's one of the most immersive games ever made, and while the controller may seem ludicrous at first, the game could only do everything it does by using it. There's a button to use your fire extinguisher, a multi-functional gear change, and a radio, and you can buy increasingly sophisticated VTs as you progress. There are some other fantastic games that let you build mechs, but none quite as immersive as this one.
2 Darkest Dungeon 2
Another Potentially Doomed Quest Into the Abyss
The original Darkest Dungeon was not a game for those who like to charge headlong into combat without thinking. There was the party composition to consider for a given quest, managing the skills and trinkets they have for the foes you're expecting to face, how those negative quirks might harm your efforts, and the amount and types of supplies to bring. And that's before you've even set off, without even getting into the many layers of battle strategy. In this area, perhaps, Darkest Dungeon 2 is a step even further in terms of challenge and complexity.
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Red Hook's decision to change the entire structure of the sequel was controversial, but it certainly makes for a unique experience. Here, you make a party of four heroes and ride for the Mountain in your wagon, passing through certain districts and different points of interest (in classic roguelike fashion) along the way. The ultimate aim is to deliver the last of your meager light and banish the horrors that await there. It's quite an ask, though, because this is an incredibly complex roguelike. There are so many moving parts to consider. Sustaining too much damage to the wagon from traps will instigate a battle one battle can't help in, because they're making repairs. The Loathing meter can build up and torchlight can drain, both of which can have debilitating effects in battles. You have multiple types of 'currency' to spend, and when you get to an Inn, you've got to be very careful with your purchases to provide the right buffs in the right places.
Between all of this, outfitting the stagecoach and planning your route, the slightest mistake can set you up to fail later on. Meanwhile, when battle is joined, the systems are more complex than the previous title. While the positioning-based skill use system is still in place, the token mechanic has been added, with different status tokens buffing or hindering your party or the enemies for a set number of turns. Synergy between your party members is more important than ever, because the likes of Combo tokens encourage using the right skills in sequence. Hugely powerful plays are possible, but it's almost overwhelming to learn enough to get to that level. Just wait until you see the unique tricks that the bosses have in store this time around.
1 Dwarf Fortress
One Of The Most Complicated Games Of All Time
How much detail in a video game is too much? Telling you exactly which of your warriors' tendons and ligaments have been damaged in battle, perhaps. Still, that's Dwarf Fortress for you. It looks incredibly simplistic, but in its own way, there's more going on under the hood here than in many grand strategy games. The game tasks you with, funnily enough, building a fortress for an expanding group of dwarves, though you can also venture out for yourself in Adventurer mode.
What's so remarkable about this title is the sheer extent of it all. As expected, you'll collect resources, expand, and ensure your dwarves continue to be fed as you do so. They have minds of their own, though, and behaviors will emerge that you can't control but must try to react to. It's such an in-depth world that weather systems are realistic, and particular minerals and resources can spawn in rock types that they would in real life. You'll also see your dwarves begin to specialize not just in jobs, but specific areas within those broader trades. Before long, your small settlement could be a city and then a nation, accommodating visitors, nobles, even a whole army if your metalwork division is up to par. It'll have to be, because your increasingly enticing fortress will have enemies to fight off. Unlike an experience like Civilization, a round of Dwarf Fortress doesn't have a conclusion to work towards, so it's a case of experimentation and trial and error to build your fortress your way. You'll learn a little more of how everything works with each attempt, so keep these beginner tips in mind, consult a guide if you're hopelessly lost and good luck!
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