Imagination is a funny thing. We all have it, but for many of us its primary function is to produce anxiety. For a few intrepid creators, imagination is a wellspring of art and inspiration. We revel in their movies and video games. Imagination is widely celebrated for what it does for us, but rarely do we get to celebrate it for what it is. It’s tough to capture the inner workings of the human mind, let alone turn them into a genre-defining game that inspired creators for generations. But 20 years ago, Double Fine Studios did just that.
Psychonauts launched in 2005, but it didn’t set the sales charts ablaze. In fact, it teetered on the edge of commercial obscurity. But in the years since, it’s become one of the most beloved cult classics in video game history. Fans and critics alike point to its boundless creativity, emotional depth, and surreal design as a trifecta of near-perfection. It’s a platforming collect-a-thon in the vein of Jak and Dexter, but loaded with empathy and rich metaphors alongside the manic Saturday morning energy you’d expect.
