Walking sims might have only gained widespread attention (and a name) in the late 2000s, but non-violent artgames that focused on exploration have been around for decades. One such example was the oft-forgotten 1998 PS1 game LSD: Dream Emulator, which has now been lovingly restored in a fanmade version.
LSD: Dream Emulator came from the mind of Japanese multimedia artist Osamu Sato, who wanted to push back on the idea that games were simply entertainment products. In response, he created arguably the weirdest thingamajig on the PS1, taking players through psychedelic dreamscapes without any concrete objectives. LSD's surreal, hallucinogenic levels and uncompromising vision have since made it a cult classic, despite failing commercially upon release.
