Journey

Journey is a 2012 adventure developed by thatgamecompany, a studio known for emotionally focused experiences, and was originally released for PlayStation. It sends a robed traveler across a vast, windswept desert toward a distant, glowing mountain.

There is no dialogue, text, or combat; instead you glide over dunes, surf down sand, solve gentle environmental puzzles, and gradually lengthen your scarf to enable flight as you progress through a wordless, visually stunning pilgrimage. Its most celebrated feature is anonymous drop-in online multiplayer, silently pairing you with a stranger you can only communicate with through musical chimes, creating unexpectedly moving and cooperative connections. Its beauty, emotional resonance, and Austin Wintory's Grammy-nominated score earned it widespread acclaim and numerous game-of-the-year awards.

It has since expanded to PC and other platforms, and it remains a touchstone for artful, atmospheric, and emotionally driven game design.