Steam has a truly mind-boggling number of games. There are around 10,000 games released each year on the platform, so finding some unique games is pretty easy. However, finding unique games that are also good can be more challenging. Hence, I’ve put together a list of some of the most unique games that are actually worth your time.
Grounded
An Xbox Game Studios game that’s also available on Game Pass, Grounded is made by Obsidian Entertainment. The studio behind Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds. If that’s not enough to sell you on Grounded, the game’s concept should do the rest. Grounded is essentially a video game version of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Which begs the question, how did it take this long to get a game like that?
You play as a kid who has been shrunk to the size of an ant, and the goal is to survive the dangerous wilderness of your backyard. You can play on your own or with friends, but this is a game that lends itself very well to a co-op experience. Grounded has a “Very Positive” rating on Steam from over 50,000 reviews.
Lethal Company
An indie game in Early Access, Lethal Company has had the kind of launch that AAA publishers dream of. At the time of writing, Lethal Company has a higher 24hr peak than Baldur’s Gate 3 and Call of Duty.
A co-op horror game where you scavenge abandoned moons for scrap, it’s certainly unique. It’s one of the most fun co-op experiences since Left 4 Dead 2, and with “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews, it’s certainly worth a look.
The Exit 8
Also a recent release but on the opposite end of the popularity scale to Lethal Company, The Exit 8 is about as unique of a game as you can expect to find on Steam. Based on the mazelike corridors of the Japanese subway system, The Exit 8 is all about finding your way out.
It’s only a short game, but at it’s $3.59 introductory price or $3.99 regular price, it’s a good value experience. At the time of writing, The Exit 8 has over 1400 reviews and a “Very Positive” rating.
Dave the Diver
Controversially nominated for the Best Independent Game award at The Game Awards, Dave the Diver might not be an indie game, but it is certainly a unique one. In Dave the Diver, you can explore the depths of the ocean, go fishing, do battle, and manage a sushi restaurant.
The bottom line is that Dave the Diver is a delightful mix of elements that I never knew I wanted to be put together. It currently holds an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam from over 74,000 reviews.
BeamNG.drive
You may recognize BeamNG.drive from the countless YouTube videos it has spawned. It’s a remarkably realistic physics simulator with a bundled driving game to show it off. Cars react pretty much exactly as you’d expect them to, and that has led to people spending thousands of hours seeing what they can make cars do.
If you’re interested in playing with a physics simulator first and a driving game second, then BeamNG.drive is the game for you. It currently has an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam from over 194,000 reviews.
PowerWash Simulator
PowerWash Simulator is another game that gets a lot of traction online. That’s partly down to how unique it is but also down to how gosh darn satisfying it is to clean things with a Pressure Washer.
The cleaning gameplay isn’t the only thing that makes PowerWash Simulator unique, though. There are multiple fun DLC packs for the game that let you wash iconic locations. The most recent release is the Back to the Future pack, where, yes, you get to clean the DeLorean.
PowerWash Simulator has an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating from over 36,000 reviews.
Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb is a distressingly cute game, but that’s not necessarily unique. However, becoming your very own cult leader in this cute yet creepy world is unique. Part roguelike, part colony simulator, Cult of the Lamb is a wonderful mix that is sure to satisfy fans of either genre.
The game has a “Very Positive” rating on Steam from over 55,000 reviews, but recent reviews rate it as “Overwhelmingly Positive” on the strength of the continuous updates that improve the game. It has never been a better time to start a cult.
