The Value of Video Games for Storytelling

Video games have come a long way since the days of text-based adventure games and simple pixelated graphics. I adore them as they stimulate my imagination and broaden my horizon.

Today, they are a highly versatile medium that can be used to tell stories in a personal and immersive way.

In fact, one of the defining characteristics of video games is their ability to allow players to actively engage with the story and characters, making choices that affect the game's outcome.

Early Examples of Storytelling in Gaming

One of the earliest examples of storytelling in video games is the text-based adventure games of the 1970s and 1980s, such as “Zork” and “Colossal Cave Adventure,” which featured simple stories and required players to type in commands to progress through the game.

These early games laid the foundation for future developments in the medium, but it wasn’t until the introduction of graphical elements that video games began to truly shine as a storytelling medium.

The introduction of the CD-ROM in the 1990s allowed video games to feature full-motion video, voice acting, and other cinematic elements, which greatly enhanced the storytelling potential of the medium.

Games like “Myst” and “The 7th Guest” used these new technologies to create immersive and atmospheric worlds that players could explore and helped pave the way for more advanced storytelling in video games.

As technology continued to advance, video games began to feature more advanced graphics and sound, which allowed for more complex stories and more immersive gameplay.

Games like “Final Fantasy VII” and “Metal Gear Solid” featured rich and complex storylines, fully-realized characters, and intricate world-building, allowing players to become fully immersed in the story.

These games also introduced the concept of cutscenes, which were used to convey story elements that couldn’t be shown through gameplay alone.

Most Popular Story-Driven Games

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed examples of storytelling in video games is the narrative-driven game, where the player takes on the role of a main character on a personal journey that explores themes of morality, loss, and sacrifice.

Games like “The Last of Us”, “Bioshock,” and “Red Dead Redemption” are great examples of this type of game. These games feature characters and story elements that are relatable and emotional, and the player can experience the story in a personal and impactful way.

Additionally, many games feature non-linear storytelling, where players have multiple paths or decisions to make that change how the story progresses.

This is seen in games like “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt”, “Life is Strange,” or “Mass Effect” series, which have multiple endings based on the choices players make throughout the game.

Non-linear storytelling allows for a high degree of replayability, as players can experience different outcomes depending on their choices. It also allows for a more personalized and unique story experience, as players can shape the story to their own liking.

What is Interactive storytelling?

Another way video games tell stories is through interactive storytelling.

It’s a genre that emerged in recent years; in games like “Her Story”, “Firewatch” or “The Stanley Parable” the player is more of an observer, with limited interaction with the world and story, but they can explore and interact with it.

More recently, games such as “Until Dawn,” “Detroit: Become Human” and “Heavy Rain” have used interactive storytelling as a way of creating a sense of tension and suspense, allowing players to make choices that will determine the fate of the characters and the outcome of the story.

Final Words

Video games have become a powerful and versatile medium for storytelling, capable of delivering complex and engaging stories that can be experienced in a personal and immersive way.

The interactive nature of video games allows players to actively engage with the story and characters, making choices that affect the outcome.

I have personally thoroughly enjoyed playing through multiple story-driven games and am constantly looking forward to new ones to play through.

If you enjoy my posts, please consider following my profile since I post about exciting gaming-related news and talk about technology, design, and social media in my stories.

With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

The original version of this story was published on another platform.

About the Author

I write articles in my field covering gaming, filmmaking, media, technology, and design. You can subscribe to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium and Vocal Media. I support Illumination Integrated Publications as an editor and moderate the Slack Workspace, where you can share your Vocal Stories with thousands of members free of charge. I own and manage two publications, one for gaming and one for YouTube. You may join via my referral link if you are new to Medium. You can also join Vocal Media to share your inspiring stories. I look forward to reading your posts on both platforms.