The Best Games Where You Play As An Ordinary Person In Extraordinary Events

Ever feel exhausted by the idea of being the ‘chosen one’? That legendary hero with a predetermined fate, the one who always saves the world before even having coffee? We do too. That’s why there’s something really appealing about games where the main characters aren’t special at all. They’re just… people. Regular folks who find themselves in incredibly difficult situations. These games put an average person in a scenario where the challenges are, quite honestly, absurd.

Whether it’s a desperate struggle to stay alive, solving a truly strange puzzle, or simply taking a peaceful moment to think, here are some excellent games that show us heroism isn’t always about saving the world; often, it’s simply about making it through.

Alan Wake

Writer’s Block, Except The “Block” Is Literal Monsters

I’m a huge fan of Alan Wake, and honestly, the story just grabbed me from the start. It’s about this novelist who’s really struggling – like, a really bad time. He’s a successful writer, but he’s hit a wall with his work, so he goes to this quiet town called Bright Falls hoping to get his inspiration back. But things quickly go south! He ends up fighting these creepy, shadowy creatures that are actually coming to life from the horror story *he’s* writing. What’s so cool is how the game blends a psychological thriller with supernatural horror, and it doesn’t rely on big, scary powers to create tension. Instead, it makes you feel vulnerable, and that’s what’s truly terrifying. You can find more about the game here.

The idea of Alan using a flashlight as his main weapon fits the story perfectly. He’s not a trained, fearless hero; he’s just an average guy with a torch and a gun, up against things that shouldn’t exist. This stark difference between his everyday nature and the terrifying forces surrounding him is what makes his fight so captivating and intense.

Inside

A Boy Against The Unknown

I was completely hooked by Inside. It just *throws* you into the role of this nameless kid, lost in this incredibly depressing, black-and-white world that feels like it’s closing in on you. Seriously, it’s full of creepy, faceless guards, wild dogs, and these really disturbing, underwater experiments. What’s amazing is there are *no* weapons, no helpful tutorials – just pure panic and the need to keep running and stay alive. This kid doesn’t have any superpowers or anything, but the world around him acts like he’s causing total chaos just by *being* there.

The challenges and dangers aren’t enjoyable diversions; instead, they emphasize how easily someone can be crushed when facing a powerful system designed to eliminate individuality. The boy doesn’t transform into a heroic rescuer. He stays a child, overwhelmed by a crushing, unforgiving machine that is indifferent to his survival.

Firewatch

A Walkie-Talkie And A Forest of Secrets

I’m really captivated by this story! It’s about Henry, and he’s basically running from some incredibly tough stuff in his life. He takes this summer job as a fire lookout in Wyoming – it sounds like the perfect place to get away from everything, you know, lost in all that amazing wilderness. What I find interesting is that the most important thing he has isn’t some high-tech equipment; it’s just a simple walkie-talkie. And on the other end of that walkie-talkie is Delilah, his supervisor. She’s just a voice at first, but she quickly becomes his only connection to the outside world, and it sounds like she’s involved in some kind of deepening mystery. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!

Firewatch transforms the peaceful experience of hiking in the woods into a suspenseful and thrilling mystery. You’ll encounter eerie sounds, reports of lost hikers, and peculiar events. Throughout it all, Henry stays grounded as an everyday person – a man with binoculars and a map, attempting to unravel secrets that may not even have a solution.

Little Misfortune

Childhood Wonder Meets Darkness

This game appears charming and innocent, but it’s surprisingly unsettling. You play as a young girl named Misfortune, who is led by a strange, invisible voice on a seemingly enchanting journey to find lasting happiness for her mom. Misfortune isn’t particularly strong or skilled. She relies on her sweet personality, a touch of courage, and her habit of sprinkling glitter on negativity to try and improve things.

What makes Little Misfortune so special is its dramatic shift between lighthearted fantasy and truly disturbing horror. The game constantly throws bizarre elements – like talking foxes and creepy cults – and the ever-present threat of death into the life of a young girl. Experiencing the story as Misfortune powerfully illustrates how vulnerable a child can be when faced with a world they can’t comprehend, but her strength makes even small achievements feel incredibly important. It’s a strangely humorous and deeply saddening adventure all at the same time.

This War Of Mine

Survival Without Glory

I’ve been playing This War of Mine, and it’s unlike anything else. Instead of being a soldier or a hero, you control a group of regular people – civilians stuck in a city that’s being attacked. It’s not about powerful warriors, but about everyday folks like teachers, cooks, and fathers just trying to find enough food, medicine, and ways to stay warm to make it through the night. It really shows the terrible impact of war, but from the perspective of the people who are hurting the most.

Each decision feels incredibly heavy. Players might face situations like stealing essential medicine from an older couple to save their own group – or choosing to stick to their principles even if it means risking everything. It’s a game built around difficult choices, making players truly understand the desperation of everyday people in an unbelievable conflict. Simply surviving is the best outcome they can aim for.

Pathologic 2

A Plague With No Cure

Pathologic 2 puts you in the role of Artemy, a country doctor who comes back to his hometown only to find it overwhelmed by a strange, supernatural disease and deep-rooted beliefs. Artemy isn’t a hero with all the answers; he’s simply a doctor trying to help people, even though it’s nearly impossible. He’s struggling to save lives while his own health and standing in the community are quickly declining. Everything is in short supply, the locals are wary of him, and unfortunately, death is… pretty unavoidable.

This game isn’t about fighting big bosses. It’s about the really heavy feeling of facing a disease that almost feels… alive. Instead of guns, you use conversations and trust to get by – and honestly, those are way more useful than any weapon you might find in an old, falling-down building. Every single day is just about trying to survive, trying to keep going. And the funny thing is, the more you try to be a hero, the more the game shows you that you’re just one person, and you’re completely powerless against what’s happening. It really gets to you.

Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture

Quiet End Of The World

In Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, you wander through a beautifully detailed, yet deserted, English village. You’re an invisible observer, trying to figure out what happened to everyone who lived there-they’ve all mysteriously disappeared. The only clues are glowing orbs that show short, broken memories of the villagers’ last moments.

There isn’t any immediate danger or combat, but there’s a deeply unsettling feeling that comes with exploring deserted houses – hearing the faint remnants of everyday arguments and touching farewells from people who are now… vanished? It’s truly remarkable. In this game, players aren’t heroes saving the world; they’re simply silent observers of its quiet, sorrowful decline.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

A Home Turned Into A Nightmare

Unlike most heroes we’ve seen before, Ethan Winters isn’t one. He’s not a police officer or a soldier with special training. He’s just an average guy looking for his wife, and his search takes him to the abandoned plantation of the Baker family in the Louisiana bayou. It’s this ordinariness of Ethan that makes facing the terrifying, seemingly indestructible Bakers so frightening.

Ethan struggles with his weapon and becomes panicked when he’s trapped. He acutely feels every scratch and wound. By centering the story on someone so completely unready for such intense horror, the game powerfully renews the Resident Evil series’ feeling of fear. Ethan is simply a husband, and his unwavering love for his wife is all that keeps him going through a terrifying ordeal that would overwhelm most people.

2025-09-30 07:36