Hopelessness isn't often what people are looking to feel while playing video games. It's like the opposite of a power fantasy, stripping away all your power and convincing you beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing you do is going to make a difference. You're not the hero in these stories, and the world isn't going to be saved in the end.

It's not an easy thing to capture while still making a game fun, but these next titles pull it off. Okay, "fun" might be a bit of a stretch, but they're entertaining games that make you want to see them through to the end, even if getting there is emotionally taxing. These are the most hopeless games ever made, and they're perfect for a spooky night in or a challenging month of hardcore gaming.

Hope vanished the moment that London fell to the Neath, but no one knew it yet. Nestled on the edge of a vast underground ocean, your only goal in Sunless Sea is to explore the Unterzee on your small ship, hiring crew and taking on jobs or quests as they come. It's recommended that you avoid combat with other ships or . . . anything else, and try to resist the urge to sail beyond the limits of your ship's fuel. The Unterzee will claim your life if you're reckless.

Curiosity is a solid motivator as you explore the zee, and it will carry you for a bit. Still, you can't return London to the surface world, and even if you find a way to get there yourself, it's probably not as welcoming as you remember.

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