20 Games That Chose GAMEPLAY Over GRAPHICS

Thought this was a reupload for a sec 😅

Perfect companion piece to the Graphics over Gameplay. Thanks Jake and crew.

First game I thought about when I read the title: Valheim. That game has nailed the building system, leveling progression, exploration, environment, atmosphere and reward system. The creature design varies, but it's not bad imo. I've spend soo much time playing Valheim during a more difficult time and I can really recommend the game.

20: BattleBit Remastered (2023) 19: Fallout: New Vegas (2010) 18: Cruelty Squad (2021) 17: Valheim (2021) 16: Vampire Survivors (2021) 15: Salt and Sanctuary (2016) 14: Dragon Age: Origins (2009) 13: RimWorld (2013) 12: God Hand (2006) 11: Nidhogg (2014) & Nidhogg 2 (2017) 10: Demon’s Souls (2009) 09: Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass (2018) 08: DUSK (2018) 07: Geneforge 2 (2024) or any Spiderweb Software game 06: Hotline Miami (2012) 05: Pizza Tower (2023) 04: Kenshi (2016) 03: Deus Ex (2000) 02: Stephen’s Sausage Roll (2016) 01: Dwarf Fortress (2002)

If you were born in the 1970s, all of these games look like photorealistic unimaginable witchcraft we could have only dreamed of whilst playing Arkanoid and Frogger etc. Tetris has got to be the best gameplay over graphics.

Dragon Age origins had a great narrative and world building, Great medieval fantasy

A game doesn't need to have realistic graphics to be good as long it's fun it will be a good game. That's the problem with modern AAA games.

Crazy that Dragon Age is here. It never occurred to me that its graphics back in the day wasn't great. I thought it was fine.

I went back to Dragon Age Origins after finishing Baldur's Gate 3. Even with outdated graphics it's still one of the best RPGs out there.

I can't believe you didn't mention Rogue. It's about as graphically simple as it gets, but the gameplay was so engaging and entertaining that it inspired entire genres which are still producing best-sellers nearly fifty years later. It has to be the undisputed king of this list.

I see a "New Vegas" thumbnail, I click it! Every damn time!

Fallout New Vegas didn't need graphics, It's one of the most beloved games ever

11:06 - Dragon Age: Origins was released in late 2009, not late 2010. I remember playing and completing it in summer 2010, so when I heard the date you mentioned, I was confused and had to go check. It might seem trivial to mention, and I know that the graphics are not the greatest even by 2009 standards, but one year was still a substantial difference even back then.

7:48 Literally in the middle of hell... The game: You feel cold.

I love what Dragon Age Origins accomplished and wish more games took their approach with role playing elements and focus on story. The gameplay was satisfying with utilizing abilities in combat. One of the more underrated games in my opinion

actually crazy how DA: Origins ended up being the peak of the franchise.

It's a newer one but El Paso Elsewhere from last year. Simple graphics but a great shooter, bullet time and all. It also has a surprisingly deep story and the music absolutely kicks ass. A really great game that deserves a lot of love.

Dragon Age Origins' having a bunch of different beginnings was such a great idea and the polar opposite of the much more common "play the same forced intro and tutorial 50+ times" cough Skyrim* and I have no idea why it isn't more popular other than it must be more work

bethesda doesn't choose gameplay or graphics. they choose modders

I recently reinstalled Thief Gold to play the recent fan-made full campaign mod Thief: The Black Parade. The graphics are definitely dated, but that classic Thief style stealth gameplay is as good as ever. This all new campaign is just as good as Thief: the Dark Project, and includes the classic style mission briefings, cutscenes, . . .everything. Definitely a can't miss for Thief fans.