Imagine, you’re savoring a bold, complex craft beer, its layers unfolding with every sip, while immersed in a video game narrative so gripping it feels like living a novel. Just as craft beer invites us to explore unique flavors and styles, gaming offers its own world of stories, emotions, and experiences waiting to be uncovered.
Video games, much like craft beer and artisanal food, come in a variety of styles designed to cater to diverse tastes. Some of the most celebrated games of the 21st century captivate players with immersive storylines, detailed character development, and incredible depth. Game studios often take one of two creative paths during development: designing action-packed or sports-centric titles, like Madden or EAFC, or crafting expansive open-world experiences with vibrant characters and dynamic environments, as seen in the Grand Theft Auto series.
Revisiting the Redemption Arc
It’s hard to hate a character on a journey of self-development and redemption. Often, video games feature a character who made a tragic or dumb mistake in the past and is now working hard to fix their wrongs and make things better. Redemption arcs are almost always emotional because these characters rarely realize their errors until they lose someone or something they care about. Losing a parent, spouse, friend, or child who offered unconditional love and support throughout a character’s “dark days” can drive them to the edge. With redemption stories, some characters start out being hated by players, but as time passes, they become revered and loved.
Unfortunately, there has been a reduction in the “quality” of redemption arcs in recent times. Players are interested in action-packed games and sporting franchises, meaning that the art of emotional storytelling in games consistently diminishes over time. Gaming studios need to make unpopular decisions by investing in more titles with excellent storylines. The key is balance. The casino gaming industry changed the narrative of online casino gaming by balancing the quest for profits and the needs of players. Storytelling needs to become more of a focus while developing games.
Revenge Based Plots
Few emotions are as intense and consuming as revenge. A character-driven by vengeance becomes unpredictable and relentless, evoking a powerful emotional response from the audience. The John Wick franchise is a prime example of this, where the protagonist’s journey to avenge his dog’s death captivated viewers with its raw emotion and purpose. Similarly, great storytelling in video games relies on building strong emotional connections, yet many modern titles fall short, delivering rushed and disjointed narratives.
Revenge stories, much like a carefully crafted beer, require a balance of intensity and depth. Players need to feel the weight of the character’s “why.” Why is the character so deeply invested in their quest for vengeance? What are the stakes, and what happens if they fail? Without this emotional grounding, games risk feeling like little more than mindless action.
Crafting a compelling revenge plot is about brewing the perfect storm of backstory, stakes, and emotion. Just as a bold, complex beer invites enthusiasts to savor its layers, a well-written revenge story pulls players into the character’s world, making every decision and action resonate. Some of the most iconic revenge-based games released over a decade ago still stand out because of their gripping narratives—a reminder of how essential storytelling is to a truly immersive experience, rather than relying on mindless shooting and violence.
Building a Story
It would be unfair to place the majority of the blame on today’s gamers and what they prefer. The quality of video game writing and storytelling has left much to be desired for a while now. Many studios focus all their efforts on incredible graphics, famous voice actors, and marketing; they do all this while neglecting the storyline and plot. It has worked so far, but gamers are beginning to demand more, and they give votes of confidence with their wallets.
Wonderful graphics will never be a replacement for great plot and storytelling. Graphics and plot are two sides of a coin that must be expertly balanced. There’s a serious demand for games with amazingly immersive storytelling, but studios are too scared to invest in such titles because it might be harder to make it work with the new business model focusing on in-game purchases.
Some titles have set the standard, blending compelling narratives with immersive gameplay, much like a perfectly brewed craft beer paired with a thoughtfully prepared story.
- GTA San Andreas: Few games have captivated players quite like GTA San Andreas. The game has had detailed storyline plot and well-drawn characters that have made the players to be engaged thus just like taking a bold IPA beer. Gears is a perfect example of how good narrative can make gameplay itself into something that bubbles in your mind long after you turn off the game.
- The Last of Us: The Last of Us takes in-game storytelling to new heights. Its emotional depth and character development draw you in, much like savoring a rich stout with every layer revealing something new. The attention to detail in character interactions and story progression enhances the entire experience, reminding us that quality and depth can elevate any experience—whether in a game or a beer.
- God of War: God of War takes a different approach but is equally remarkable in how it handles storytelling. With an epic narrative and a protagonist that evolves with each moment, it’s as satisfying as a perfectly aged barrel-aged beer. The seamless integration of plot and action makes it stand apart, much like how a unique craft brew can set itself apart from the crowd.
We Need Better Stories
The gaming industry often blames shorter attention spans and a supposed appetite for violence for the lack of compelling narratives. But as with beer or a meal, it is the story that lies at the base of a good experience.
Well, it has been high time to leave these cliches for developers and start making games with important and interesting plots that will stay well-received by gamers. And, after all, as craft beer cannot be depicted as the essence of taste and non-trivial brewing, the heart of a great game cannot be depicted as the desire to tell a story.
