A world without pain, sadness, and misery. Everyone is happy and smiley all the time. You only have to take a little, harmless pill called Joy and all your worries go away.
Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? Well, the truth might be entirely different. If stories where the main character exposes the ugly truths of the dystopian world are your thing, then this game was definitely your cup of tea. In We Happy Few, the player explores such a world without taking the magic pill and is surrounded by content people from every side. There are also many similar dystopian games with societal control in it.
Societal control in gaming is a very popular and interesting theme. The idea of everyone being brainwashed or under a government-controlled substance except for the player is thrilling and engaging.
It shows the possible future of society and how endless control can be. Such games are usually filled with action and adventure. The player might have a variety of weapons to use, possess supernatural powers, or have abnormal strength and wisdom.
Many games exploring those themes are inspired by dystopian books and films. Compulsion Games are specialists in societal control as they have developed both We Happy Few and Contrast.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | YT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Control | 2019-08-27 | Action | Remedy Entertainment | |
 | Contrast | 2013-11-15 | Action | Compulsion Games | |
 | Dishonored | 2012-10-12 | Action | Arkane Studios | |
 | Bioshock Infinite | 2013-03-25 | Action | Irrational Games | |
 | >observer_ | 2017-08-15 | Action | Bloober Team | |
 | The Long Dark | 2017-08-01 | Action | Hinterland Studio Inc. | |
 | The Forest | 2014-05-30 | Action | Endnight Games Ltd | |
 | The Sinking City | 2019-06-27 | Action | Frogwares | |
 | BioShock: The Collection | 2016-09-15 | Action | Irrational Games | |
 | Close to the Sun | Action | Storm in a Teacup |
Control
| Release date: | 2019-08-27 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Remedy Entertainment |
Jesse Faden, the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), has to use paranormal abilities to defeat their biggest enemy, the Hiss. The Hiss controls the reality and disrupts the world.
The player can find objects, which have special powers from other dimensions. The map doesn’t have to be explored in a chronological way – it depends on the player. There are also Control Points – the player unlocks them by killing the enemies. They can be used as teleports.
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Contrast
| Release date: | 2013-11-15 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Compulsion Games |
As Dawn, an imaginary friend of Didi, the player has the ability to go into the 2D shadow world. In order to solve the puzzles and platform games Dawn has to manipulate the shadow in the 3D world.
The player plays with shadows and light in the 3D world to manipulate the 2D world – stretches it, expands it, or distorts it. As Dawn was made up of a little girl, the perspective is of a child who tries to understand the adult world.
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Dishonored
| Release date: | 2012-10-11 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Arkane Studios |
Dunwall is a city where the shadows are inhibited by supernatural forces and steampunk technology.
As the bodyguard is framed for murdering the Empress, the player becomes an assassin. What is the truth behind the mysterious death of the Empress?
The player can fight using gadgets, supernatural powers, and combat skills all at once. Depending on how those abilities are used, the games respond to the player’s play style. The supernatural powers allow us to possess other living organisms or stop the time.
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Bioshock Infinite
| Release date: | 2013-03-25 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Irrational Games |
Take on the role of Booker DeWitt, a veteran and an assassin, who rescues a mysterious girl, Elizabeth.
He owns money to some bad people, and Elizabeth was imprisoned her whole life. Together they try to escape the flying city of Colombia.
With the use of rollercoasters in the city, the player can fly through it while still fighting the bad guys. Besides typical weapons, such as guns or fireballs, DeWitt can also control murders of crows or shoot lighting. By drinking Vigors, and special tonics, the player gains different powers.
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Observer
| Release date: | 2020 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Bloober Team |
It’s 2084. The world has suffered from a digital plague and a world war.
Corporations have taken over humanity and implemented their own rules. Daniel Lazarski is a detective working for the Observation police unit. By using a machine called the Dream Eater he can get into people’s brains when interrogating them to reveal their darkest secrets and fears.
Besides scanning people’s brains, the player can also scan objects around him – both alive and dead. Those objects can be used in the game. There are also collectibles, such as radio-controlled cars or patient records.
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The alternatives for We Happy Few, as the game itself, all explore societal control, manipulation, and disrupted reality. Supernatural powers, different weapons, and life as an outcast are amazing features of the gameplay. Being the only sane person in the world has a lot of ups and downs, so why not explore them all?