The ESRB's rating system exists to help consumers make more informed purchases and to prevent people from being exposed to content that's inappropriate for them. Sometimes, it's abundantly clear that a game is just for adults.The very rare Adults Only rating has been awarded to specific titles, like the PC version of the infamous Manhunt 2, for being far too explicit.
Cases aren't always so clear-cut, though. Factors such as violence, jump scares, and the deepest and most tragic adult themes are present in many games, some of which are ostensibly for children or younger players, too. These titles are far from as explicit as the likes of Manhunt, but they absolutely feel as though they were created with adult players in mind.
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
With An Eerie Little Laugh From The Happy Mask Seller, It Begins
The Legend of Zelda is a truly magical series, not simply because it's one Nintendo's most consistent success stories, but because it's typically a bright, wonderful, colorful, whimsical universe to be in. Yes, there are world-ending stakes and climactic battles and set pieces throughout, but the series' unique charm and iconic music have a way of keeping the tone from descending too far into darkness. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, however, is something of an exception to the rule.
It's unsettling in a way that Zelda games usually aren't, which has made it quite a curiosity. Instead of the whimsical world of Hyrule, it's set in Termina, and the plot revolves around Link's battle to stop the Groundhog Day-esque time loop that the realm is trapped in, and, of course, to prevent that horrifying Moon from colliding with the world. There's a remarkable depth to the adult themes explored here, with Link learning some valuable perspective from those who can see their end coming and, seemingly, accept it. The darkness in Skull Kid and Majora's Mask itself, as well as the reasons behind it, sees the narrative become increasingly grim as we learn more. The series certainly isn't afraid to tackle these concepts, but it's never done so in such a raw and affecting way.
Shadow The Hedgehog
The Series Has Never Been Edgier
Shadow is the Wario to Sonic's Mario, the counterpart who exists to mix things up and make the non-heroic decision when necessary. In 2005, he was given a starring role in Shadow the Hedgehog, an experience unlike anything Sega's main man himself has ever brought fans. In the game, Earth is invaded by an alien race called the Black Arms, and Shadow's inherent moral ambiguity is used to shape the narrative as he sees fit. The game's biggest strength, perhaps, is that you can choose to side with either the invaders or the defenders of the planet through your mission choices. There are almost a dozen different endings, depending on the choices made, and the thumping music and non-stop action punctuate this darker take on a Sonic title.
The idea was to combine iconic elements of the games, such as the super-speedy platforming, with elements that reflected Shadow's more adult leanings. This was accomplished by arming him with guns, lending a projectile-slinging layer to the combat that was quite novel. There's a sense, though, that there was more that could have been coaxed out of the game in this regard; an expletives-slinging Shadow would have really captured that adult action movie vibe.
Stray
Far From A Cute Kitty Cat Story
Stray made waves when it launched in 2022, and it's easy to understand why. Broadly speaking, we don't need much more than an adventurous kitty protagonist to have a good time. This isn't a cute and whimsical story like Little Kitty Big City, though; there's something dark and extremely unsettling at the heart of Stray, something that many jumping in to try out the cute viral cat game could not have anticipated.
This post-apocalyptic title takes place in an underground city that was intended as a safe refuge for people until a mysterious illness wiped them out. It is now a decaying and incredibly eerie place, populated by NieR: Automata-esque machines that once served humans. It's a tragic tale that unfolds through environmental storytelling, and the underlying themes of loss, resilience, and the will to protect what remains make Stray far deeper than it seems at first glance. Some of the interactions with the Companions are heartbreaking in a way that is probably too much for younger gamers.
Subnautica
What Lies Below
This survival title sees the protagonist crash-land on a mysterious watery planet, 4546B. With just a few scant resources, they must steadily venture deeper into the waters and around the planet to piece together more details on the dilemma that faces them and how they can ultimately escape. The dreadful feeling of isolation, of the unknown, creeps in quite insidiously and never leaves as players experiment with its deep base-building mechanics.
Subnautica is not officially a horror game, but somehow, it nails the atmosphere of one. It gradually ramps up from encounters with tiny, harmless creatures nearer the surface to presenting great looming horrors in the darkness far below. It's a game that perfectly achieves the atmosphere of being stranded in a vast ocean and not knowing what kinds of creatures you may be sharing the waters with. It also would've made an excellent premise for a more conventional horror title.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
The Horrors Of War
The World Wars have been popular settings for a lot of classic FPS titles. The tragic scope of both conflicts means that they make an excellent backdrop for the brutal combat, non-stop action, and emotional set pieces that so often define the genre. In 2014, Ubisoft Montpellier took the setting of World War 1 in a very different direction, turning the spotlight primarily on a smaller group of characters and conveying their personal stories.
Valiant Hearts is not a shooter, but a puzzler, akin to a point-and-click but with more direct control. With dialogue kept to an absolute minimum, it's the visual presentation that tells the story and highlights the route ahead. Fortunately, the graphics are absolutely stunning, a 2D masterpiece created using the UbiArt Framework engine. Those players determined to find every little secret will be rewarded with "souvenirs" from each level, providing more heart-wrenching context for the events of the war. There's huge emotional depth to the game, and despite its almost cartoonish visuals, it's loaded with heavy themes.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
