# Recommend me some awesome, but little known PC games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617 "2008-11-07T10:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/21 "2008-11-10T12:23:30Z")
The Ur-Quan Masters (formerly Star Control 2). It’s fun just as a space exploration sim from a pre-3D accelerator days, but the fact that the aliens you interact with are hilarious both in what they actually say and the voice acting in which they say it makes it a treasure. > **[The Ur-Quan Masters - News](https://sc2.sourceforge.net/)** > > Multi-platform Open Source port of the classic sci-fi game > Star Control 2, based on the original source code of the 3DO version, with new features > including network play and remixed music. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/22 "2008-11-10T14:20:35Z")
I just found one of my favorites from a few years ago.[http://www.fun-for-free.com/moorhuhn.htm](http://www.fun-for-free.com/moorhuhn.htm) I can’t download here from work, but as soon as I get home - It’s Moorhen night! ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/23 "2008-11-10T15:18:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is it available via direct download somewhere? I found it on [Atari.com](http://Atari.com), but they’re only selling it on CD. Sadly, no, unless my google-fu is failing. Its in that limbo where its not new, but also not yet a classic, so that Atari page is likely the only place to get it, unless you Ebay(which is how i got my replacement copy). Oh! Another game i remembered. Not old, but little known. Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space. Its a small Indy space exploration/RPG game built on the premise of low time commitment.. Games only last a half hour at most. The universe always has the same set pieces, but they are randomly placed every time so you don’t know where things will be. It also has a quirky sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/24 "2008-11-10T19:28:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > If by “pretty amazing” you mean “not there at all”, then I agree with you. > > Lamest 40 seconds of a video game. Ever. You must be a lot of fun at parties. ---
**Author:** ![Tixenfleaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Tixenfleaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tixenfleaz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/25 "2008-11-10T19:47:00Z")
For survival- horror FPS I’d offer a guarded recommendation for **S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl**. Guarded, because the game needs to be modded for you to get the most out of it. I’m playing it with the Oblivion Lost mod which fixes a lot of things that were wrong with the original. There are still a few glitches which may or may not break the game, but it’s worth it for the creepiness alone. There is also the recent sequel **S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky** but it’s less creepy and more shooty, and still quite buggy. ---
**Author:** ![motomoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@motomoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motomoon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/26 "2008-11-10T19:59:07Z")
I have an unhealthy fascination with the atmosphere and design of [S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl](http://www.stalker-game.com/en/?page=news&item=47) and the modding community really extends the game’s replay value, for that I recommend the [Oblivion Lost](http://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=2&thm_id=12491&sec_id=17), a good “realistic” mod with many added/reintroduced elements to gameplay or [Priboi Story](http://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=1&thm_id=13182&sec_id=17) mod, which completely rewrites the game’s story. ETA: That’s amazing! Not really a simul-post but pretty close given my internets slooowness. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/27 "2008-11-10T20:16:26Z")
Only the greatest game in the history of mankind: [Sea Rogue](http://www.links.net/dox/warez/games/microprose/searogue/) ---
**Author:** ![Tixenfleaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Tixenfleaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tixenfleaz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/28 "2008-11-10T20:22:35Z")
> [@motomoon](#): > > I have an unhealthy fascination with the atmosphere and design of [S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl](http://www.stalker-game.com/en/?page=news&item=47) and the modding community really extends the game’s replay value, for that I recommend the [Oblivion Lost](http://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=2&thm_id=12491&sec_id=17), a good “realistic” mod with many added/reintroduced elements to gameplay or [Priboi Story](http://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=1&thm_id=13182&sec_id=17) mod, which completely rewrites the game’s story. > > ETA: That’s amazing! Not really a simul-post but pretty close given my internets slooowness. 🙂 Great minds and all that. 😃 It really is the atmosphere that makes the game. There have been a few times where I went to boot it up, only to decide that I didn’t want to deal with the ensuing jitters. I’ve only played a little of **Clear Sky** , but it seems positively sunny by comparison, and I keep putting it aside. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/29 "2008-11-10T20:52:11Z")
[Imperium Galactica II: Alliances](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperium_Galactica_II) - This game is by far the best I’ve tried in the Galactic empire building genre. It doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. [Centurion: Defender of Rome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=4545242) also goes way unappreciated. My roommate rented [The Warriors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warriors_(video_game)) as a joke and we ended up buying it, then buying and seeing the actual movie it was made from. I have a lot more, I’ll come back when I remember them. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/30 "2008-11-10T20:56:44Z")
Yeah, **The Warriors** is not a PC game, I need to learn to read for comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/31 "2008-11-10T21:10:50Z")
> [@CutterJohn](#): > > If space shooters are your thing, I can’t recommend Independence War 2 highly enough. A beautiful game still, despite having come out in 2001, and imo is the greatest simulation of open space ever while still being fun. It is semi freeform, with a large open world to fly around in, but the storyline is pretty much linear. > > It also has almost no trade aspect, if that is your thing(The game sets you up as a pirate, so there was no market or anything.. instead you get offers off of a black market for loot you pick up). > > There are only 3 ships to choose from, but they are heavily customizable. Along these same lines, **Freelancer** , **Space Rangers** , and **Space Rangers 2** may be worth a look, though SR 1&2 uses Starforce protection – though Starforce didn’t have any noticable effect on my own system, and it was easy enough to get rid of once I was done playing, there are many horror stories out there about it from other less fortunate people. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/32 "2008-11-10T21:31:17Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > Want to buy a monkey? 😃 Now I’m going to have to dig it out and see if I can get it to run on Vista. Thanks 😛 Oh, youtube video of the scene I spoilered above: [Epic low-speed chase](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2scpc_N5w) ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/33 "2008-11-11T04:22:40Z")
**Planescape Torment** is one of the best games I’ve played in any genre on any platform. Ever. It’s an RPG but with a very heavy emphasis on story telling, but not in an “interactive slide show” JRPG way (which I hate). If you can find it I recommend you check it out, it’s simply amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/34 "2008-11-11T05:43:37Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > 😃 > > Now I’m going to have to dig it out and see if I can get it to run on Vista. Thanks 😛 > > Oh, youtube video of the scene I spoilered above: [Epic low-speed chase](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2scpc_N5w) I’ll see your tricycle chase, and raise you the link to the scene which I was referring to: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4BDoUx33SU&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4BDoUx33SU&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/35 "2008-11-11T06:09:32Z")
Some of you guys have interestesting ideas about what “little known” means 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/36 "2008-11-11T06:24:55Z")
Babo Violent 2 is quite simply the best multiplayer game ever. Ever. ETA: Except Quake 1 and _maybe_ Unreal Tournament 2003. No story or plot, though. And I do mean **no** story or plot. ---
**Author:** ![Aghris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@Aghris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aghris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/37 "2008-11-11T08:38:45Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > Some of you guys have interestesting ideas about what “little known” means 😃 Well, to be honest, I knew of the **No On Lives Forever** games, but I’ve never given it much thought of playing. Now that I saw the tricycle chase, I simply _must_ have it. I’ve downloaded **Ghost Master**. It looks nice, and had me entertained for a few hauntings, but I fear that the game gets a it repetitive. Should I hang on to it, or can I expect to see more hauntings where I bind my ghosts to certain areas and up their powers until every sorority girl has run away? **PS:T** I played so much that I think I know each quest by heart. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/38 "2008-11-11T08:54:15Z")
Certainly not the most obscure game out there, but if the idea of a text-based pro football management simulation interests you (that is, if you really enjoy Franchise Mode in the Madden games), I absolutely recommend [Front Office Football](http://solecismic.com/index.php). Taken as a whole, the FOF series is probably my favorite game ever, PC or console. I’ve spent literally months of my life building NFL dynasties, managing Hall of Fame careers, scouting prospects, etc. There’s also a vibrant multi-player community, which is \*huge \*fun. Their college football sim is also great fun, but is badly in need of an update. ---
**Author:** ![placebo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@placebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/placebo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/39 "2008-11-11T10:13:48Z")
If old-school text adventure games are more your speed, check out [Photopia](http://adamcadre.ac/if.html). It’s really more of an interactive novel than a game, but the way the story unfolds is truly a work of art. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617/40 "2008-11-11T12:46:01Z")
> [@placebo](#): > > If old-school text adventure games are more your speed, check out [Photopia](http://adamcadre.ac/if.html). It’s really more of an interactive novel than a game, but the way the story unfolds is truly a work of art. I played that about a year after it came out. It’s a truly beautiful “game”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-awesome-but-little-known-pc-games/471617.md?page=3)