The prompt for this one might seem wildly unexpected. To start with: Yes, some libraries let people borrow video games. Generally, the easiest system for them is just to buy Switch / Playstation carts/discs for people to borrow and return.
However, many great indie games have never really had the publishing resources to put out physical releases, especially with the Switch’s printing expenses. Even those that have, don’t always have them widely available. But, it’s now common for many libraries to offer DRM-driven, digital services to account for their gaps and failings (and so people don’t need to make so many trips in the dead of winter). Hoopla and Kanopy are examples of such services: Content providers can give bulk licenses for media, with an agreed price the library pays (presumably often just per item for infinite borrows)
So to bring back to the original point, if the logistic hurdles were cleared so that a solo dev could take their Steam-only Unity game, and sell it to libraries as well, so that lower-income gamers could run them anywhere, what games do you think could have the best societal impact for people to be able to play? It’d be great to have plenty of mindless, pure-fun games on offer, but I’m also thinking about introspective, social-literacy games that most people wouldn’t pay money for just looking at the thumbnail.
Here would be my list of games that I think are either enriching or artistically so noteworthy they have to be shared as much as possible, and also that would run on fairly basic hardware :
Factorio (with the space age DLC) : This is a game about logistic and automation. It teaches a lot and could even open new paths for younger players. It teaches you to itterate, to optimize and to scale things up. I think it’s very much educational. It’s not for everyone but for some it might be a great opportunity to learn.
Hades : Great game to discover the Greek mythology. Beautiful artistic direction and outstanding music.
Ball X Pit : Less educational or artistic but a great game for all to have some Arcady fun. I think it would fit well for a game to be borrowed for a few hours of fun.
Hifi Rush : Am amazing rhythm game that should run on modest hardware.
Dredge : A beautiful game about fishing. Great story and art.
Stray : 🐱
Outer wilds : Do I really need to explain why ?
Dispatch : A story game that would fit very well to be borrowed in a digital library.
So a bit of an eclectic list with some games that requires to have at least an old gaming setup or at least slightly modern integrated graphics but I believe many people would at least like one of these game and grow from it.