Games tend to surprise players when they hilariously go meta. To help the uninitiated, games “going meta” means acknowledging their nature as a video game. Examples of “going meta” can includebreaking the fourth wall, talking about their own mechanics, and acknowledging their presence as characters in a story. Albeit sounding ordinary at first, games that successfully pull off going meta end up becoming vastly entertaining experiences.
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While common in other media, games that go “full meta” aren’t a surprise to many. And for games that do go meta, not a lot end up giving players a wild time. Players on the lookout for a meta video game that transforms their playthrough can find some titles in vastly unique genres.
Updated July 11, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:Ordinarily, video games are designed to tell a particular self-contained story, immersing players in their own world separate from the real one. However, there are quite a few occasions when video games go out of their way to become meta - either by communicating directly with the player or by revealing their knowledge that they are, indeed, playing a video game. Aside from some modern gems becoming meta as more of a gimmick, other fourth-wall-breaking games belonging to older consoles like the NES have dwelled upon the idea of being meta as well.
14StarTropics (Nintendo Entertainment System)
Being one of the more underrated gems of the Nintendo Entertainment System,StarTropicstells the story of Mike Jones, a high schooler from Seattle, as he visits his archeologist uncle Dr. Steven Jones on the fictional C-Island. However, trouble ensues when Mike learns that not only is his uncle missing, but he’s actually been abducted by extraterrestrials. It’s up to Mike and his trusty yo-yo to save his uncle, all the while encountering monsters and odd allies that include talking parrots and dolphins.
Where things get a little meta is in its packaging.StarTropicscomes packaged with a letterthat sets up the course of the story’s events. However, players shouldn’t throw this letter away, as it’s also relevant to the plot. At some point in the story, the game asks players to dip the actual letter in water to reveal a secret code. Later releases would have the code included in the manual instead.
13The Mother Series (Various)
Sometimes, the best way for a game to break the fourth wall is to become entirely philosophical, and this is perhaps the best point of theMotherseries. Told throughout a trilogy of games,theMotherseriesoffers up an odd tale set in the modern world. The games star various protagonists in different towns as they try to solve supernatural crises with a mixture of modern weapons and psychic abilities.
At its core, the series makes out as though players are playing an RPG, but each of its climaxes sets players up for a surprise. In the second game, the boss’s death animation is akin to a television screen turning off after displaying static - as though it’s only the player’s outside influence that can truly defeat this evil. In the third game, it’s implied that the actions of a supreme being can determine the world’s fate - with the ending implying that it’s the player who is actually the supreme being.
12Spec Ops: The Line (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Linux, MacOS)
At its core,Spec Ops: The Lineseems likeany other military shooter, with the protagonist starting as a patriotic American soldier doing his duties to protect the country from various threats. However, the game starts going meta as the main story progresses. WhileThe Linedepicts the story of how the elite Delta Force was tasked to infiltrate a wartorn Dubai after a devastating sandstorm.
Aside from its multiple endings, the developers ofSpec Opswanted players to see some of the more horrifying events that could happen during actual wartime events. At some point, stages in the game feel staged, repetitive, and extremely violent. This becomes apparent when even the loading screens are stating how much of a horrible person the protagonist - or perhaps even the player - is for “enjoying” such an experience.
11Pony Island (PC, MacOS, Linux)
It’s not uncommon for video games to take place as a game within a game, andPony Islandis one such experience. Players take on the role of an arcade player of a game named “Pony Island.” Soon enough though, they’ll discover cracks within the code that allow them to game the system itself - only to realize that this was all within the machinations of the game. Soon, a devil-like figure further encourages the playerto mess around with the game, with a lot of consequences ensuing.
At some point,Pony Islandwill cause some “files” in the player’s system to mess around with them. Some instances of the game will even mess with the player via their Steam interface, as though entities from the game are trying to communicate with the player directly. The only way to stop this madness is to beat the game, which is easier said than done.
10Doki Doki Literature Club! (PC, Linux, OS X)
Spoiler Alert!Anyone who’s ever searched for a visual novel to play would have heard of the infamousDoki Doki Literature Club!Granted, this game boasts a cheerful and wonderful premise typical of a dating simulator. Unfortunately, the game slowlyunravels its true nature- that of being a psychological horror title with its unique ways of haunting players.
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Moreover, the meta aspect ofDoki Doki Literature Club!does happen throughout the course of its story. Players will soon learn that each main character has ways to tear the fourth wall down. In particular, one character can actually mess with the game’s actual files.
9Bravely Second: End Layer (Nintendo 3DS)
Spoiler Alert!Taking place after the acclaimedBravely Default,Bravely Secondtasks playersto handle a set of new protagonistson a journey throughout Luxendarc. Being an RPG from the creators ofFinal Fantasy, Bravely Seconddoes feature a comprehensive Job System and a unique take on medieval fantasy.
However, perhaps things go crazy by the time players are approaching the end of the game. After all, the main antagonist will actually attempt to delete the player’s Save File! Through the intervention of another character, the player gets enough firepower to defeat the Big Boss and achieve a good ending.
8OneShot (PC, MacOS, Linux)
Fans of indie titles will fondly rememberOneShotfor its delightful take on its metafictional elements. At its core, the game brings the player and the protagonist Niko to a world without sunlight. They need to work together and replace the world’s sun, a light bulb, on top of a tower.
Unlike other meta-games,OneShotnaturally incorporates the meta into its mechanics. Players need tosolve the game’s puzzlesusually by tinkering with the OS outside the game. Moreover, many game elements acknowledge the player’s presence and separation from Niko as an entity.
7The Magic Circle (PC, OS X, Linux, PS4, Xbox One)
What better demonstration of a meta-game than a game built around being meta? InThe Magic Circle, players take on the role of a QA tester that needs to help a dev team complete a game and bring it out of hiatus. Meanwhile, a rogue AI will teach players everything they need to manipulate the game in their favor.
Aside from being meta on the get-go, the gameplay itself is largely sandbox. Players can trap game elements to modify them or assume their functions. These can then be given to other elements to overcome numerous tasks. Unlike other games, these small elements contribute largely to the game’s ending - something that can encourage players to see the entire game through.
6Undertale (PC, OS X, Linux, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Spoiler Alert!Gamers who playedUndertalewill already understand its critical acclaim. However, fanswould fondly remember the meta mechanicinvolving save files themselves. At its core,Undertaledoes let players save and load files at their whim. However, characters in the game can also remember that the players did save or reload files.
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In fact, the save mechanic can affect the way players can pursue NPCs and other bosses. Moreover, some characters can even utilize save files in unique ways - including a final boss that can use save slots against the player.
5Disgaea (Various Platforms)
Adding to the already crazy premise and gameplay ofDisgaeawould be its active breaking of the fourth wall. Thing is, unlike other games,Disgaeadoesn’t necessarily make “going” meta special - but rather something ingrained into its setting. Taking place in the Underworld, eachDisgaeagame would have the main character go toe-to-toe to a vastly powerful supernatural threat.
Thankfully, the game does allow players to go over the top with character progression itself. After all, the game lets players achieve hundreds’ worth of levels, unlimited “regrowth” via a Reincarnation mechanic, and even adding dungeons inside items. Moreover,even the characters themselvesactively acknowledge their presence in a video game. Characters regularly reference their roles, their levels, and even the fact that their respective game’s stories are both serious and ridiculous.
