Unity is one of the best engines for game development. It's not that it's photorealistic or complex, like Unreal or Source, but its appeal comes from the fact that it's easy for newcomers to game development to use. Plenty of great games like this year's The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe used this engine.
Its ease of use has made it a bit of a black sheep, though. Because almost anybody can pick up and use Unity, it's gained a bit of a reputation for only running bad games. This couldn't be farther from the truth, as the software has been used to make tons of classics and many great games from different genres and art styles have also used the engine.
Ori And The Blind Forest (2015)
Originally an Xbox exclusive, Ori And The Blind Forrest was the first in a wave of indie Metroidvania-type games. The game stars a small glowing animal called Ori and their wispy light pal. They explore a giant forest that opens up gradually more and more. It's a fun loop, but the real draw of the game is its art style. Most Unity games are 3D, but this game uses mind-blowing 2D.
The game has an extremely impressive lighting engine. Blue and red light casts believably on Ori from bioluminescent plants and dangerous fire. It really sets up both the wondrous tone and tense moments of the game. It received a sequel years later called Ori and The Will Of The Wisps, which is also fantastic.
Pokémon GO (2016)
companion websites and apps for Pokémon GO, as well. The game's core gameplay loop is just walking, and yet it's become a massive phenomenon. Not bad for a mobile game developed on Unity.
Originally released in 2016, the game used augmented reality technology to put Pokémon in the real world. The gameplay loop wasn't complex, but it was effective. Physically walking increases a player's likelihood to see a Pokémon. Checkpoints are set up around neighborhoods that give out items that make encounters easier. It's a fusion of gaming and reality that's super addictive and fun.
Disco Elysium (2019)
Inspired by the likes of Planetscape: Torment, Disco Elysium is a classic western RPG. It uses a complex series of stats that can be rolled like a typical tabletop game. Players explore a world full of Eastern Block imagery and political theory. These familiar elements all come together to create an unforgettable experience.
Disco Elysium bills itself as an RPG, but it goes further than that label usually suggests and players have a wide variety of political alignments and locations to explore.
Beat Saber (2018)
Beat Saber isn't just one of the most visually impressive VR games ever made. It's also one of the most visually impressive rhythm games ever made. This VR hit generates a series of incoming blocks that coincide with the beat of the song. The player must flash at these beats as they come flying in.
It sounds more complex than it really is. The sabers and beats are color-coded, so players easily know what and when to slash. The game is available on pretty much all VR platforms, from Oculus to Playstation VR, and it is undoubtedly the biggest VR hit.
Kerbal Space Program (2011)
Kerbal Space Program is one of the earlier games to be fully made in unity. The game was originally presented as a space physics simulator. It features a robust system that allows for complicated orbits and orbital maneuvers. This realistic space physics engine earned it praise as one of the best video games about space.
There were two other factors that helped it stand out, though. One was its mascots, the adorable Kerbals; green space men who staff and run the game's space program. The other was its modding scene, which was very vibrant and allowed for tons of customization. This unassuming Unity game was such a success that technicians at NASA even recommended it, according to Penny Arcade.
Hollow Knight (2017)
One of the most anticipated games of the next few years is Hollow Knight: SIlksong, the sequel to the original Dark Souls.
Fittingly, the game was incredibly difficult and had a steep learning curve. The lore in the game was delivered similarly, in pieces that left the player wanting more. The dark alcoves and hidden locations of the game made it feel both impossibly big and tiny at the same time. Just like Ori, this Unity title proved 2D could be beautiful.
Hearthstone (2015)
There are a lot of great card game video games. Plenty of popular fantasy-based card games like Hearthstone.
The game is free-to-play and features characters and themes from the Warcraft series. Two players face each other using decks of 30 cards and a hero with a unique ability. The goal is to destroy the opponent's hero, and winning creates a deluge of rewards. The game has been a big success for Blizzard and has been ported to multiple platforms, proving Unity's flexibility.
Inscryption (2021)
Inscryption is another video game centered on a card game. Unlike Hearthstone, though, this game has tons more to it. The game begins with the player sitting down to play a rogue-like deck-building game with a mysterious figure. After a while, though, the player will realize they can get up from the card game.
This is when the true horror of the game kicks in. Escape the room, adventure, meta, and ARG elements are added to the core gameplay loop. The game takes on a completely different and mind-bending tone in contrast to the benign card game it initially seemed to be.
Cuphead (2017)
Cuphead has to be one of the most successful franchises started on Unity. The original indie game took years to release, but its classic cartoon-inspired art style really took off. Players got really attached to the cups and the wacky boss characters. They would end up spending a lot of time with them because of the game's high difficulty, after all.
This led to a bunch of different spin-offs like toys and comics. Most famous is Netflix's Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Not bad for the little Unity cups.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (2020)
In 2020, the battle royale genre was waning and needed something to firmly kick it in the pants. The Unity-developed party game sensation Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout was the one to offer a new and refreshing take on the genre. Up to sixty players are funneled into giant obstacle courses until only one is left. It's one of the few online battle royale games to be a platformer.
The variety of mini-games on display is massive and more are constantly being added. There are more typical obstacle courses like in Wipeout, but also team-based ball games and memory challenges. The most infamous final game is a series of hexagons that vanish as players step on them. There are tons of variety to the game and also tons of costumes and extras to be found and bought as DLC. The game switched over to a free-to-play model recently, so there's no reason not to try it out.
