Get ready to delve into the bizarre, exciting, and downright ‘odd world’ of Abe and friends as we check out the best Oddworld games of all time!
Yes, Abe is one of those characters that is instantly recognisable to hardcore gaming fans, and one specific fan in particular at Retro Dodo has helped me to write this article.
I mean, we all like Abe, but our video producer Rob has a special affinity with this sewn-lipped Mudokon that goes, dare I say it, into the realm of the super fan.
So, I guess you could say that this is a team effort. Just call us Abe and Elum, although I’m not really built for carrying anyone anywhere long distances, so maybe Abe and Munch instead.
The Oddworld series has brought joy to millions of people worldwide since Abe’s first outing back in 1997, and with the success of Soulstorm on the PS5, we doubt that the series will be slowing down anytime soon, especially after talk of a TV show in the works!
So, without further ado, let’s crack on check out the best Oddworld titles catalogue! And don’t worry, you’re not going mad; every title below has the word ‘odd’ in it as much as possible.
Table of Contents
1. Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus (1998)
The Mudokons have spoken, and Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus is officially the best Oddworld game of the series.
I know that many of you might have expect to see Abe’s Oddysee up here in the top spot, especially seen as though it’s the 23rd best-selling PS1 game with 3.5 million sales under its belt.
Still, as so often is the case with sequels, they add to the winning formula of the first title in the series and give gamers the things that they were missing the first time around.
In essence, and although we love Abe’s Oddysee with a passion, Exoddus is just a better game. The quick save mechanic and checkpoint system are designed in a much better way, and the variety of enemies on offer really provides much more fun while playing.
What’s more, Abe can take control of a greater range of Oddworld inhabitants as well as calling multiple Mudokons to him at any one time.
The game is massive too, over twice as long as Oddysee and coming split over two PS1 discs. I mean, that’s double the value for money, right?
2. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee (1997)
Don’t worry, folks; Abe’s Oddysee is taking second place in our list!
It’s an amazing title from start to finish and almost got everything right on the first try, which isn’t bad for a debut game, is it?
The universe it presents is dark and foreboding but retains just enough of a light hearted and comedic element through it’s slapstick humour that it keeps things from getting too depressing.
Let’s talk about the graphics too – they’re some of the best on the system and use beautiful pre-rendered in-game backgrounds to create some amazing level settings for players to get lost in.
And those FMV cutscenes; unlike the messy clips in Sewer Shark, these clips look amazing today and are a true credit to the might of the PS1.
I know it’s obvious to say that we hadn’t seen anything like this before as Abe’s Oddysee was the first game in the series, but it still stands. The Rupture Farms, the Paramites and Scrabs, the Slogs, and Abe himself.
Oddysee is one of the Best PS1 Games ever made and the perfect title for fans of fantasy/sci-fi books and lovers of the weird and wonderful…
Which kind of explains a lot about why Rob is like his is, and he’s not here to contest this comment, so I’m going to get away with it scot free!
3. Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath (2005)
Strangers Wrath isn’t part of the Oddworld Quintology (and that’s if you go by the original 5 games or the updated series after the reboot in 2014). Instead, it’s an accompanying spin-off title, with this game taking place in the Western Mudos.
And with a new spin off comes a new character, and what’s interesting about Strangers Wrath is that it has FPS elements in it as well as 3D platforming features.
Guns are a little too obvious for an Oddworld title, however with The Stranger opting for crossbows on his wrists that fire wild animals instead of bolrs
Yes, that ticks the ‘odd’ criteria alright!
The Stranger could well be the oddest (I’m just giving in here and going with the odd thing) bounty hunter in any game that we’ve played too.
Still, the premise of his job is the same as any bounty hunter you might have seen in films or games – get your quarry dead or alive and earn cash. You’ll get more if they’re alive, but that’s not always going to be possible… or as fun.
4. New ‘n’ Tasty! Oddworld: Abes Oddysee (2014)
New ‘n’ Tasty takes the 4th spot in our list and restarts the newer layer of the Oddworld Quintology.
Even with all of those 4.5 and 5 star ratings on the front cover, it’s not enough to get this game to the top of a Retro Dodo tried-and-tested compendium. We’re hard people to please!
So what differences are there in the remake?
Well, this version of Oddysee comes with the much-requested quick-save function that we saw in Exoddus. It also took away the screen-by-screen gameplay and brought in a seamless scrolling camera that made us appreciate the original gameplay.
The thing is, it might look ‘new ‘n’ tasty’, but it’s a little ‘loose ‘n’ lacking’ if you ask us.
The controls aren’t as tight as the original game and it lacks the same level of atmosphere presented in the original. The music, graphics, cinematics and even the animations are nowhere near as polished as the original, but it is still good and features some DLC in the form of Alf’s Escape which wasn’t present in the original.
Still, if you’re an Oddworld fan that never owned a PS1, then this is a great way to get your hands on the original story that started it all!
5. Oddworld: Soulstorm (2021)
Oddworld: Soulstorm is the last game to come out in the series, dropping 24 years after Abe’s Oddysee. We had to wait a heck of a long time for Soulstorm, with the original idea being announced in 2015.
But was it worth it? Sort of…
The cutscenes are what gives this game a massive boost in our rankings. With over 40 minutes of cinematic clips to watch, Soulstorm has a narrative that drives forward at full pelt and helps to keep you gripped.
These cutscenes have sparked talks about Abe hitting our TVs or possibly the big screen too. But with so much emphasis on the visuals, some things ended up being missed.
For starters, the controls aren’t very tight, and it lacks the same level of immersion found in the original games due to Abe having a health meter and being able to double jump. It also feels extremely unfair at multiple points, leading to having to brute force your way through certain areas which don’t really feel like they have a clear cut solution for navigating through.
The original plan was for the game to have more bosses and a panic system that played a bigger part in the way that enemies were released as you move through the levels.
If we could mix those problems and get more cutscenes in the next game, then Exoddus could be knocked off the top spot!
6. Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee (GBA) (2003)
Handheld ports of games sometimes get lost by the wayside when there are so many console versions in the series to play. Don’t get me wrong; we love handhelds more than we love members of our own families, but sometimes it’s true, and it’s a real shame.
Munch’s Oddysee on the GBA is a prime example, and both Rob and I agree that it’s actually better than the original Xbox alternative.
Hear us out…
As you might expect from a 2003 GBA title, it’s viewed from a top-down perspective and sees Abe and Munch shutting down a facility called Evenwurst Weiner Co.
Nintendo Games always champion puzzle solving and teamwork, and this port is no different. Abe and Munch have seperate skills they can use that players must utilise accordingly in order to get ahead.
Munch can control mechanical enemies, whereas Abe can possess organic enemies. Munch can swim, while Abe can jump higher. You get the idea.
It might not be as impressive graphically as the previous titles in this Oddworld games list with it being a handheld port, but at least it sticks true to the original ‘feel’ of the series, which unfortunately can’t be said for its console counterpart…
7. Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee (2001)
Developers have to stick with the times, and 2001 was the time to take Oddworld into the 3D world.
If you’re as into the series as Rob is (or if you have to work around him and get constant facts about the making of Oddworld games), then you’ll know that the production of Munch’s Oddysee was pretty turbulent at times.
And it seriously shows in the game; it’s like the developers poured their stress into this title rather than their love for the series, with enemies just running at you like an impending panic attack instead of interacting with the player like in previous titles.
Imagine if you were reading The Witcher, and then suddenly it turned into a Mr Bean story. That’s how Munch’s Oddysee feels in comparison to the series thus far. It’s all a little slapstick with all the dark humour and intricate plot points gone.
Don’t get me wrong, it starts off very well and we love Munch as a character, but it all quickly goes downhill.
Nothing screams ‘wow’; not the levels the gameplay or the new characters that arrive after Munch. It feels thrown together out of necessity rather than as something that a team has created out of passion.
8. Oddworld Adventures 2 (2000)
We’re going handheld for the remainder of our list now, with the GBC port of Abe’s Exoddus taking the 8th spot.
And just like the GBA port of Munch’s Oddysee, it all works very nicely. And considering the hardware limitations, it plays very well and features lots of the same level designs.
It is, however, very short, with only a couple of levels from the original game making the cut.
It’s difficult as heck too, with no save mechanic and checkpoints that are about as forgiving as Arnold Schwarzenegger being your gym trainer on leg day.
For all intense and purposes, this is a hair-tearing-inducing, harder, shorter, demake of the console version in the top spot of this article. It’s only really for people like Rob who live and breathe Abe, and there’s no real reason for the other gamers like us to add this to our collections.
9. Oddworld Adventures (1998)
I don’t like speaking ill of DMG games; after all, they are the founders of the Nintendo handheld movement (which sounds like a cult that I would love… and probably am a part of).
Still, this is the Game Boy port of Abe’s Oddysee and it’s by far the worst looking game in the franchise due to the hardware it was made for.
There, I’ve said it… it never gets any easier!
This port just doesn’t work at all, and to be honest it was always going to be a long shot demaking the original game and porting it down to the Game Boy. There’s only one area from the original game with zero interest to first-time players.
Why they chose the Paramonian Temple after you’ve already escaped Rupture Farms is something we’ll never know, but the fact that the second half of the game uses some brand new level designs is pretty cool and enough for Abe fans to want to pick up a copy.
But still, it’s taking 9th spot in our list as its barely a game and more like a demo of the first game.
10. Abe Speak (2013)
And then there’s this monstrosity. Abe Speak takes the final spot in our list as it is a mobile game, but more of a novelty that you would play with for 15 minutes and never use again.
Abe Speak is essentially a memory game where Abe Speaks and you have to repeat his lines back. Superfans won’t have a problem remembering his iconic lines, but if you’re new to the original quintology or any of the games in this list, it won’t really mean a thing.
The game isn’t available on iOS anymore but still dwells on the Google Play Store. So, if you’re really wanting to prove to the world that you are the ultimate Abe fan by reciting his lines at parties, then you can still fulfil that dream.
