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The 5 Most Unexpectedly Great Games That Will Give You a Rush

We all know the feeling of expecting a lot from a game and then being let down once we actually start. Somehow, the game feels shallow or fake, or the gameplay just doesn’t get us into a flow. It’s especially disappointing in those cases where we’d been anticipating the release and find we don’t actually like the game.

On the opposite side of things, we sometimes get much more from a game than we thought we would. Oftentimes, these are games that seem deceptively simple, but once we start playing, we can’t get enough. This is the type of game we’re talking about today – games that might not look so exciting, but are actually so fun you never want to stop playing.

We’ve picked out 5 of these games today – a couple of which you might already know, and others that will likely be new to you. Whether it’s the first time or a replay, here are some unexpectedly exciting games to play!

1. Papers, Please

Where It’s Available:
Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation Vita, Linux, GeForce Now, macOS

Why It Sounds Boring:
The game is about being an immigration inspector, and your job is to control the flow of people crossing borders. It’s a puzzle-style game where you essentially inspect documents. To most people, paperwork doesn’t sound terribly exciting.

Why It’s Actually Great:
The game definitely has a totally new concept, yet the game mechanics have been executed so well. The tasks become much less mundane as moral judgment comes into play, creating tension and emotional investment in the story. And as there are 20 different endings, your choices really do affect what happens next.

It has an incredible 5 stars on Steam and nearly 40,000 reviews.

“Buy, study, and share this game as an example of video games as true art,” writes one of the many enthusiastic reviewers.

2. Euro Truck Simulator 2

Where It’s Available:
Windows, Linux, Geforce Now, MacOS

Why It Sounds Boring:
Being a truck driver sounds boring and repetitive enough in real life to many, let alone in a simulation. A truck simulator sounds like it would be easy, slow, and uneventful.

Why It’s Actually Great:
While, as expected, the pace of the game really is quite slow, it turns out more relaxing than boring. Some players have even described it as hypnotic! You can easily get drawn into the calm flow of the game and patiently keep playing for hours. The concept still isn’t the most exciting, but it’s executable so well that it’s still enjoyable.

“There are titles in the simulation market which can be sold on the novelty factor alone, but tend to be disappointing games. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is not one of them; it is strangely cathartic, engaging, and relaxing,” a review from True PC Gaming praises.

3. The Fish Party Slot by Microgaming

Where It’s Available:
On any device with a modern web browser.
Why It Sounds Boring:
Slot games often have glamorous themes like luxury, diamonds, treasures, and ancient Egypt, adding the thrill of spinning the wheel for many. No one really imagines a game where your winning symbols are fish is going to be half as immersive as that. Sea creatures don’t really make us think of hitting the jackpot.

Why It’s Actually Great:
The theme is so playful and colorful that it’s easy to get into the groove of it. Since the theme is also quite simple, it really allows the player to focus on the real thrill of the game, which then gives slot lovers an even better experience.

Players can find this slot (and a bunch of other slots with strange themes) on these casino sites regulated by Australian authorities, picked out by Esportsinsider. The casinos on the list are verified to be safe and of high quality, so any one of them is a good choice for exploring bizarre slot games.

4. Farming Simulator

Where It’s Available:
iOS, iPadOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2

Why It Sounds Boring:
Well, it’s about running a farm. The small tasks of farming, like plowing, watering, and harvesting, hardly sound like a rollercoaster ride. The Guardian has noted that it’s surprising that millions have bought a game in which the “main challenge is to harvest a successful wheat crop.”

Why It’s Actually Great:
Ever played and enjoyed Farmville? It’s kind of like that, except much more complex and strategic. The game features realistic tractors, a complex environment, and strategic and creative freedom to choose how you want to expand your farm, what investments you want to make, and which crops would be best to grow each year. While the pace is calm, you’re slowly building something all your own as you’re learning how to care for your farm.

As one Farming Simulator reviewer says: “Very addictive and fun to play. So many things to do, so little time!”

5. Cookie Clicker

Where It’s Available:
On any device with a modern web browser.

Why It Sounds Boring:
As the title suggests, the game is pretty much just about clicking and cooking. Producing an increasing amount of cookies by upgrading the cursor and buying grandmas and cookie farms sounds quirky, but lame and quickly tiresome.

Why It’s Actually Great:
There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching the numbers soar, choosing how you invest your cookies, and gaining new achievements and upgrades as you increase in level. Weird events and jokes are also part of the gameplay. In spite of how simple the game is, some players literally have hundreds of hours on it!

One reviewer explains the appeal by writing, “It starts simple, you click a cookie, then suddenly you’re running a cosmic bakery, employing grandmas, and bending time itself for more cookies. It’s absurd, addictive, and way too funny for a game about clicking.”

Final Thoughts

These are the games we had prepared today, but it’s certainly not the end of the list. There are lots of indie and weird games that deserve a spin, although some of these games are, while surprisingly fun for many, not very enjoyable for everyone.

Do you have any weird favorite games that are a lot more fun to play than they sound? Share them in the comments below.