Games with extraordinary "wow" moments - an IFDB Poll
by J'onn Roger
RSS FeedIf there is a moment in a game that stands out to you with vivid clarity, a moment of extraordinary beauty with writing that makes you really makes you see what is taking place, list the game here. Since surprise may play a part in the "wow" of the moment, you may want to be careful about reading comments on games you haven't played. EDIT: After seeing how discreetly Emily handled surprise moments, I rewrote my original comments in an attempt to do the same.
| Photopia, by Adam Cadre 9 votes "I know it gets mentioned a lot, discovery by the crystal maze is really wonderful." [+]"I know it gets mentioned a lot, discovery by the crystal maze is really wonderful." --J'onn Roger... "Because Photopia." [+]"Because Photopia." --Mostly Useless... "The maze discovery" [+]"The maze discovery: The moment that really convinced me that some stories could only be told interactively." ( ) --prevtenet... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --schifter... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Felix Pleșoianu... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --DJ... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karlok... "There are plenty..." [+]"There are plenty of "wow" moments in this game but here is one for you: Salvaging the ruined Martian colony before finding a single seedling in the wreckage. You take it, enter your spaceship, and then leave." () --Kinetic Mouse Car...  Vote for this game | |
| Spider and Web, by Andrew Plotkin 6 votes "Set of combinable tools that provides a focus for problem-solving while still allowing a lot of scope to experiement" [+]"Set of combinable tools that provides a focus for problem-solving while still allowing a lot of scope to experiement: The transition from memory to real-time was both a superb plot-centered puzzle and a superb literary device." --Mattlistener... "The moment in..." [+]"The moment in this game when you realize what's really going on has been cited by many people as one of the stand-out most memorable moments in IF. There's a subtle build-up of anticipation about finding out what the deal is with the cloth-wrapped package, and the truth is breathtaking and unexpected." --baf... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --DJ... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... "People rightfully..." [+]"People rightfully mention The Puzzle, but the sinker in the opening is beautifully done, too." --prevtenet... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karlok... Vote for this game | |
| Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 6 votes "Clever, subtle and absorbing." [+]"Clever, subtle and absorbing.: There are many reasons I'd recommend this, but one reason that stands out in particular for me is the way the game's finale is put together. Many games purport multiple endings, but in the end there's usually only one that anyone is expected to aim for: the ending that the game's creators have decided is the true and correct one, typically signposted with goodies such as additional plot resolution or bonus challenges to complete. Blue Lacuna's ending, on the other hand, stands back and truly lets the player decide what outcome he or she prefers, and how far he or she is willing to go to achieve it." ( ) --Ryusui... "A number of such..." [+]"A number of such moments, but right now I'm thinking of one involving rain and a tree." () --Emily Short... "There is a..." [+]"There is a certain event in the game that comes about at a nearly random point ... the first time I played through it I was dumbfounded and had no idea what was going on until the game spelled it out for me." --JLlewellynDuke... (No comment) [+](No comment) --schifter... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| De Baron, by Victor Gijsbers 6 votes "The moment you realize the truth." [+]"The moment you realize the truth.: Warning: not necessarily a moment of beauty, but you'll sit back from the keyboard and take a deep breath." ( ) --aaronius... "Much more than a typical fantasy game." [+]"Much more than a typical fantasy game.: Starts out like a normal, fantasy game; but doesn't end that way. Never before have I seen a surprise so emotional and powerful in IF as I have seen here in De Baron. A very original work." () --Mark Jones... "A dark twist that's never really explicitly said, allowing the player to come to the horrifying realization on their own terms." [+]"A dark twist that's never really explicitly said, allowing the player to come to the horrifying realization on their own terms." --seryph... "That twist which..." [+]"That twist which is the heart of the game: it left me floored. Completely floored." () --verityvirtue... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karl Ove Hufthammer... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... Vote for this game | |
| All Things Devours, by half sick of shadows 4 votes "Awesome puzzle mechanic" [+]"Awesome puzzle mechanic: Figuring out the game mechanic is just "wow"" ( ) --Carlo... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --DJ... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) --DAB... Vote for this game | |
| All Roads, by Jon Ingold 3 votes "The scene at the..." [+]"The scene at the beginning, right after you wake up, to your first escape." ( ) --Molly... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Karlok... Vote for this game | |
| Hoist Sail for the Heliopause and Home, by Andrew Plotkin 3 votes "This short game is all but made of "wow."" [+]"This short game is all but made of "wow."" ( - Full review) --Ghalev... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... "Finding the..." [+]"Finding the alternate ending." () --Kinetic Mouse Car... Vote for this game | |
| The Act of Misdirection, by Callico Harrison 2 votes "The single most..." [+]"The single most vivid part of any Interactive Fiction game I have played has got to be the end of the magic act." ( ) --Floating Info... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Ant-Fan... Vote for this game | |
| The Dreamhold, by Andrew Plotkin 2 votes "For the hot and..." [+]"For the hot and cold berries." --Emily Short... (No comment) [+](No comment) --verityvirtue... Vote for this game | |
| Cragne Manor, by Ryan Veeder, Jenni Polodna, Adam Whybray, Adri, Andrew Plotkin, Andy Holloway, Austin Auclair, Baldur Brückner, Ben Collins-Sussman, Bill Maya, Brian Rushton, Buster Hudson, Caleb Wilson, Carl Muckenhoupt, Chandler Groover, Chris Jones, Christopher Conley, Damon L. Wakes, Daniel Ravipinto, Daniel Stelzer, David Jose, David Petrocco, David Sturgis, Drew Mochak, Edward B, Emily Short, Erica Newman, Feneric, Finn Rosenløv, Gary Butterfield, Gavin Inglis, Greg Frost, Hanon Ondricek, Harkness Munt, Harrison Gerard, Ian Holmes, Ivan Roth, Jack Welch, Jacqueline Ashwell, James Eagle, Jason Dyer, Jason Lautzenheiser, Jason Love, Jeremy Freese, Joey Jones, Joshua Porch, Justin de Vesine, Justin Melvin, Katherine Morayati, Kenneth Pedersen, Lane Puetz, Llew Mason, Lucian Smith, Marco Innocenti, Marius Müller, Mark Britton, Mark Sample, Marshal Tenner Winter, Matt Schneider, Matt Weiner, Matthew Korson, Michael Fessler, Michael Gentry, Michael Hilborn, Michael Lin, Mike Spivey, Molly Ying, Monique Padelis, Naomi Hinchen, Nate Edwards, Petter Sjölund, Q Pheevr, Rachel Spitler, Reed Lockwood, Reina Adair, Riff Conner, Roberto Colnaghi, Rowan Lipkovits, Sam Kabo Ashwell, Scott Hammack, Sean M. Shore, Shin, Wade Clarke, Zach Hodgens, Zack Johnson 2 votes "The water fountain" [+]"The water fountain" ( - Full review) --MathBrush... "The meatpacking plant" [+]"The meatpacking plant: Boneless horse fun for all ages." ( - Full review) --Lance Cirone... Vote for this game | |
| Spellbreaker, by Dave Lebling 2 votes "Several in this..." [+]"Several in this one, but what I remember most vividly is (oddly) the zipper carry-all." ( ) --Emily Short... "The girgol..." [+]"The girgol scroll!" ( - Full review) --Mike Ciul... Vote for this game | |
| Rameses, by Stephen Bond 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --DAB... Vote for this game | |
| Worlds Apart, by Suzanne Britton 1 vote "A discovery involving the dragon took my breath away." [+]"A discovery involving the dragon took my breath away." ( - Full review) --J'onn Roger... Vote for this game | |
| Robin & Orchid, by Ryan Veeder and Emily Boegheim 1 vote "Finding the cat's..." [+]"Finding the cat's backstory and the real truth about the ghost. And no, do not confuse this with the ending. It is more subtle." ( ) --Kinetic Mouse Car... Vote for this game | |
| The Statue Got Me High, by Ryan Veeder 1 vote "A dinner party..." [+]"A dinner party takes a surreal turn." ( ) --Molly... Vote for this game | |
| The Space Under the Window, by Andrew Plotkin 1 vote "The ending always leaves an indelible impression in my mind of a moment in time lost. The window shatters." [+]"The ending always leaves an indelible impression in my mind of a moment in time lost. The window shatters." --J'onn Roger... Vote for this game | |
| Kaged, by Ian Finley 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Denk... Vote for this game | |
| Trinity, by Brian Moriarty 1 vote "Reading the book in the cottage" [+]"Reading the book in the cottage: Trinity has many beautiful and mind-bending moments, but reading the book is a standout." --prevtenet... Vote for this game | |
| Lost Pig, by Admiral Jota 1 vote "magnificent implementation " [+]"magnificent implementation : The magic is really magical. The NPC could almost pass the Turing test. The objects are extremely manipulabe." ( ) --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| The Primrose Path, by Nolan Bonvouloir 1 vote "For a certain..." [+]"For a certain moment involving time and rain." ( ) --Emily Short... Vote for this game | |
| Dual Transform, by Andrew Plotkin 1 vote "The 'chase' scene..." [+]"The 'chase' scene at the end." ( ) --Molly... Vote for this game | |
| Ad Verbum, by Nick Montfort 1 vote "The rooms..." [+]"The rooms upstairs are what shocked me. The code must be pretty well written to handle this." --cpuguy... Vote for this game | |