Pocket Mirror

Japanese games have always been good at showcasing and dealing with the entire spectrum of human emotions, depicting them in a way that seems authentic without feeling exaggerated. One good example is how Visual Novels (or at least, the good ones) deal with the idea of love, regardless if it's between you and a crush or you and your family. An even better example would be Pocket Mirror, a hybrid between a Visual Novel and a puzzle game, all wrapped up in a veil of darkness, mystery, and horror.

The art style used during Pocket Mirror's cut-scenes are of the highest quality, and you can't help but even fall for the main protagonist because of how innocent she looks through her various facial expressions. As for the graphics during actual gameplay, everything is rendered in beautiful 8-bit graphics almost on par with titles such as Stardew Valley, even if everything is indeed done to be a bit gloomy.

As far as the story goes, you play as a little girl that finds a pocket mirror, and you must guide her through various rooms, but the transition between the rooms is done solely via solving puzzles. Pocket Mirror is filled with symbolism scattered throughout all levels, and finally finishing the game and realizing what it all meant will make you feel empty inside once it is all finished.

The game isn't suited for people with a nervous disposition for things such as horror and graphical horror such as blood and brutal deaths, but you don't have to worry about playing it at night with the headphones on.  The game is a rollercoaster of emotions because it blends these mature moments with funny moments throughout and there are several characters to get to know during the story.

Few indie developers manage to ship finished full games that are on par with Pocket Mirror as far as quality goes, regardless if you're referring to visuals, story-telling or gameplay. This makes it one of those games worthy of an evening in front of the PC screen, where you just want to see what it is like to feel something.