Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (1997). Play online

Summary

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee hit PlayStation as the debut title of the wildly quirky Oddworld universe. I’m still amazed at how the game forces you to think like a scared factory worker rather than a fire‑breathing hero; Abe can run, jump, tiptoe, and even chant to stun or possess Slig guards, turning their weapons against themselves.

The atmosphere is a strange mash‑up of pre‑rendered backdrops and CG cut‑scenes that keep the story moving without a single weapon in sight. Rescuing the fellow Mudokons using the GameSpeak mechanic feels rewarding, and the hidden Shrykull transformation adds an unexpected burst of power when you finally need it.

Beyond the gameplay, the title sold over three million copies and earned an 88% aggregate rating, scooping awards like the E3 Showstopper in 1997. A secret ‘Guardian Angel’ FMV only appears if every Mudokon is saved, a perfect incentive for perfectionists. Its later releases on PSN let new generations still enjoy this iconic, unforgiving platformer.

Storyline

Abe, a first‑class Mudokon floor‑waxer at the RuptureFarms meat‑processing plant, overhears Glukkon CEO Molluck the Glukkon plotting to turn Mudokons into a new "Tasty Treat" as meat supplies dwindle. Shocked, he flees the factory before the guards can catch him.\n\nDuring his escape, the shaman Big Face appears in a vision, warning Abe that he must rescue his fellow Mudokons and shield all of Oddworld’s creatures from the predatory Magog Cartel. Abe is marked and sent on spiritual trials across the lands of the Paramites and Scrabs.\n\nAfter surviving arduous temple challenges and traveling a wasteland with his friend Elum, Abe earns the power of the Shrykull. Armed with this ability, he returns to RuptureFarms, shatters the slaughterhouse, and frees as many Mudokons as possible.\n\nIn the climactic showdown, Molluck floods the plant with poisonous gas and orders Abe’s execution. If enough Mudokons have been rescued, they summon a lightning storm that destroys the factory, knocks Molluck unconscious, and lets Abe survive to a hero’s welcome; otherwise, the gas kills him, resulting in the bad ending.