It is seemingly impossible to explain the beauty of Twin Peaks to a friend who has never witnessed the surreal works of the late and legendary filmmaker, David Lynch.
Just like his larger-than-life personality in real life, the dream-like world-building in Twin Peaks had a lasting impact not only on films, anime, and cartoons, but also on the gaming industry.
Speaking of which, Twin Peaks has been a major influence on some of the strangest games, thanks to its iconic narrative structure, atmosphere, sound design, and characters.
These games draw inspiration from several Lynchian elements that remain blatantly or subliminally visible throughout their gameplay.
So, if you love Twin Peaks as much as Special Agent Dale Cooper loves his coffee, here are the best games that match the same vibe, lingering long after the post-credits.
10 Deadly Premonition
Borderline Plagiarism
Deadly Premonition
Survival Horror
Released February 23, 2010 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Access Games Publisher(s) Ignition Entertainment, Marvelous Entertainment, Rising Star Games, Aksys Games, Numskull Games Engine Proprietary Engine Platform(s) PC, PS3, Switch, Xbox 360 Powered by
Expand Collapse
Deadly Premonition is an open-world survival horror that feels like a ripoff or clone of Twin Peaks for its striking resemblances.
Starting with the similarities of the protagonist, Francis York is a well-dressed agent who arrives from a big city, is obsessed with coffee, and habitually talks to an unseen character.
Set in the rural town of Greenvale, this game follows a special FBI agent as he investigates the death of an 18-year-old woman by finding the identity of the Raincoat Killer.
This game has various parallels to the first season of Twin Peaks. There are several locations with similar names to the show, including The Great Deer Yard Hotel, A & G Diner, and the supernatural White Room and Red Room.
However, Deadly Premonition ultimately couldn’t strike a chord due to its offbeat sound design and janky gameplay mechanics. For me, it has always been a game that is so bad that it feels good.
Despite that, there is a high possibility that you will fall for its weird characters, wacky sense of humor, and bleak atmosphere, making it an ideal entry to start the list.
9 Kentucky Route Zero
No GPS? No Problem!
Kentucky Route Zero
Adventure
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 100%
Released January 7, 2013 ESRB T For Teen due to Language, Use of Drugs Developer(s) Cardboard Computer Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Engine Unity Platform(s) PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by
Expand Collapse
Kentucky Route Zero is a point-and-click adventure game that leans into a narrative-based experience. This game is a work of art for players that prefer intellectually challenging storytelling over versatile gameplay mechanics.
You play as Conway, a truck driver who tries to pass the mysterious Route Zero in Kentucky to make his last delivery for the company he works for.
As you search for an address that doesn’t exist on any map, you meet several interesting characters that shape your journey and make it more magical with their conversations.
Deeply influenced by Lynchian themes, this game effortlessly and beautifully turns the mundane into a surreal, otherworldly, and poetic experience that progressively keeps getting better.
8 Disco Elysium
If Coop Had A Mid-Life Crisis
Disco Elysium
RPG
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 96%
Released October 15, 2019 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence Developer(s) ZA/UM Publisher(s) ZA/UM Engine Unity Platform(s) PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia How Long To Beat 23 Hours Metascore 89 PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by
Expand Collapse
Playing an alcoholic and amnesiac detective, Disco Elysium is an indie action RPG set in the fictional world of Elysium.
Compared to the professionalism of Agent Cooper, this game’s protagonist is self-destructive, making him highly unpredictable and deeply tragic.
However, its game progression consistently emphasizes on the paranormal connections that revolve around the case, similar to Twin Peaks.
This game also features a roster of characters, each revealing their innate surrealism and weirdness the more you interact with them.
Focusing less on combat, the game features branching attributes, skill points, skill checks, and dialogue trees, spoiling us with a wide range of player choices and paths.
I appreciate that Disco Elysium masterfully encapsulates themes like bleak hopelessness and nihilism, yet manages to scoop in its funny blink-and-miss moments throughout the game progression.
7 Persona 4
Perfectly Strange
Persona 4
JRPG
Released July 10, 2008 ESRB M for Mature: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence Developer(s) Atlus Publisher(s) Atlus Engine RenderWare Franchise Persona Platform(s) PS2, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS Vita How Long To Beat 73 Hours Powered by
Expand Collapse
Persona 4 is a JRPG where the main protagonist is sent into a rural town from a big city for a short time like Agent Cooper.
As soon as you get settled in the small town of Inaba and start making friends, you are plunged into a string of unexplained murders linked to a supernatural force.
Taking control of a teenage student, you carry on their daily tasks while clearing out dungeons filled with shadow monsters.
Inspired by the Black Lodge, Persona 4 features the Velvet Room, which is a recurring location throughout the Persona series and a subtle nod to David Lynch’s Blue Velvet.
This room has a caretaker called Igor who appears similar to the Man From Another Place.
Personally, I enjoyed its slow-burning pacing and instances when the characters weren’t doing anything related to its plot, like a few similar episodes of Twin Peaks.
6 The Darkside Detective
Paranormally Fun
The Darkside Detective
Adventure
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 76/100 Critics Rec: 68%
Released July 27, 2017 ESRB t Developer(s) Spooky Doorway Publisher(s) Spooky Doorway Engine Unity Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
Expand Collapse
The Darkside Detective is a pixelated point-and-click adventure and puzzle game that offers Twin Peaks references filled to the brim. I mean, the game is even set in the fictional town of Twin Peaks.
You play Detective Francis McQueen, accompanied by his partner Patrick Dooley, as they investigate multiple criminal activities all over the town.
These acts have been happening due to the ghost world known as the Dark Side, which is a supernatural reflection of the town. Sound familiar?
Despite the apparent dark narrative, this game is exceptionally lighthearted and satirical in nature, offering multiple pop-culture references, weird characters, and a Twin-Peaksy art style.
Although Darkside Detective falls short for some due to the janky controls and short runtime, it compensates with its satisfying linear puzzles, satirical humor, and distinct sound design that make it worth exploring.
5 The Evil Within 2
One Coffee Mug, Please
The Evil Within 2
Survival Horror
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 80/100 Critics Rec: 73%
Released October 13, 2017 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language Developer(s) Tango Gameworks Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine STEM Engine Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC How Long To Beat 15 Hours PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium OpenCritic Rating Strong X|S Optimized No File Size Xbox Series 29 GB (October 2022) How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 30 Hours Powered by
Expand Collapse
Having Lynchian themes sprinkled throughout and serving as a sequel, The Evil Within 2 is a survival horror game where you play as Detective Sebastian Castellanos, who lost his daughter, Lily, in a fire.
When a former partner and Mobius agent informs him that Lily is alive, he must deal with the simulated town of Union to rescue his daughter.
Even though the place appears to be an ideal American town, it is filled with nightmarish monstrosities as you progressively interact with other inhabitants to find Lily.
The Evil Within 2 sweeps in several references to the universe of Twin Peaks, offering eerie and outlandish visuals. Plus, your health is replenished as you drink coffee, which is a nod to Agent Coop’s love for caffeine.
In addition, there is an achievement called Fire Walk With Me that connects so masterfully with the plot that I couldn’t stop myself from mentioning it.
4 Life Is Strange
What Butterfly Effect?
Life is Strange
Adventure
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 76%
Released January 30, 2015 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol Developer(s) Dontnod Entertainment Publisher(s) Square Enix Engine unreal engine 3, unreal engine 4 Franchise Life is Strange Platform(s) Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One How Long To Beat 15 Hours PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
Expand Collapse
Life is Strange is a choice-based and episodic puzzle title that places you in the role of an 18-year-old Max Caulfield with her ability to rewind time. As you progress, you must unveil the dark secrets behind the disappearance of your missing friend with the help of your pal, Chloe.
This coming-of-age title borrows tons of Easter eggs, references, and influences from the show. The most direct nod would be the grim fate of a main character, who has many parallels to Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks and serves as a major MacGuffin.
As someone who watched the show before getting into Life is Strange, I noticed and jumped on these parallels immediately.
What made Life is Strange worth playing for me was its unusual art style, moving soundtrack, and seamless time-traveling mechanics that make it all the more captivating.
3 Control
Just The Right Amount Of Weird
Control
Action Third-Person Shooter Supernatural
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 84/100 Critics Rec: 89%
Released August 27, 2019 ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment Publisher(s) 505 Games Engine Northlight Engine Steam Deck Compatibility Verified Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One How Long To Beat 12 Hours PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by
Expand Collapse
The creative director of Remedy Entertainment, Sam Lake, has always openly acknowledged his love for Twin Peaks and how big of an influence David Lynch has been on him. This influence is evident in Control, where the game’s setting, visuals, and storytelling mirror the elements of the show.
Control is an action-adventure game that follows the new director of a secret U.S. government agency, Jesse Faden, as she explores the hidden secrets of the facility.
Taking control of Jesse, you must defeat an unknown entity corrupting the reality of all humans, including yours.
What follows through the progression feels like a love letter to Twin Peaks for its references, including a Black Lodge-like location, its art style, characters, and the concept of doppelgängers.
However, what made Control stand out for me was its dreamlike, non-linear, and fragmented storytelling that remained consistent throughout its progression.
2 Silent Hill 2
Anxiety-Inducing Visual Treat
Silent Hill 2
Survival Horror
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 87/100 Critics Rec: 95%
Released September 25, 2001 ESRB Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence Developer(s) Team Silent Publisher(s) Konami Engine Unreal Engine 5 Prequel(s) Silent Hill Franchise Silent Hill Number of Players 1 PC Release Date December 2, 2002 Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC How Long To Beat 8 Hours OpenCritic Rating Mighty How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 15.5 hours Powered by
Expand Collapse
Silent Hill 2 is one of the greatest psychological survival horror video games of all time. And it charmingly expands on the best elements of Twin Peaks, invoking a true sense of existential dread.
More than Twin Peaks, this sequel’s atmosphere consistently reminded me of the other films by David Lynch, including Inland Empire and Lost Highway.
You play as James Sunderland, an ordinary guy and widower, who arrives in the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter.
From the game’s disorienting artistic style to its soundtrack and emotionally charged narrative, I admire this game for its abstract symbolism exploring inner demons.
With the recent trailer for Silent Hill f, it could be a great time to start with a gaming marathon to dive into its twisted world if you haven’t started with the series already.
1 Alan Wake 2
Champion Of Light And Darkness
Alan Wake 2
Survival Horror
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 93%
Released October 27, 2023 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment Publisher(s) Epic Games Engine Northlight Engine Franchise Alan Wake Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X How Long To Beat 17 Hours Metascore 90 PS Plus Availability N/A OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by
Expand Collapse
Taking the top position on the list, Alan Wake 2 is an action-adventure survival horror game that masterfully explores the fractured psyche and emotional turbulence of two different characters.
You gain control of FBI agent Saga Anderson as you take on the investigation of the ritualistic murders by a cult rampant across Bright Falls. With a branching narrative, you also switch to Alan Wake, who’s desperately been trying to get out of the Dark Place for 13 years.
From the moment you step into Bright Falls, it feels like a crumbling version of Twin Peaks due to its persistent and unsettling horror themes. Even the prologue of Alan Wake 2 was something too unexpected for me.
Not to spill any beans, the sequel title draws heavy inspiration from Twin Peaks: The Return and coherently connects the Remedy-verse with its multi-layered storyline.
Personally, Alan Wake 2 feels like a spiritual successor to the third season of Twin Peaks for reasons you can grasp only once you have completed the game.
