When the first video game was made in 1958, it changed entertainment forever. “Tennis for Two”, or “Pong”, started a movement that has led to hundreds of thousands of video games being made since. From the Leap Frog games to Ps5 Exclusives, video games have evolved drastically in terms of gameplay, mechanics and graphics. And most recently, there’s also been an advancement in another necessary component: storytelling. Over the past decade, plenty of video games are diving deeper into themes and stories that are darker and more realistic. These themes often come back to human nature, highlighting different grey areas present in the real world.
A great example of this is “God of War: Ragnarök”. Released in 2022 and developed by Santa Monica Studios, the game serves as a direct sequel to 2018’s “God of War” reboot. Ragnarök follows Kratos and his son Atreus, who has aged significantly since that last game. Not only did the game manage to continue the story of father and son established in the 2018 release, but it also added new dynamics that weren’t present in its predecessor. You get to play as Atreus throughout the main campaign, where for the first time, you see the situations of the game playout through the eyes of the previously annoying son of Kratos. Atreus’ arc of growing up coupled with Kratos’ continuous one of redemption and letting go, makes the game one of the best Sony has ever delivered. Story between the two reaches a point while the two are venturing alone, attempting to fix an issue created by Atreus. The both of them have a poignant moment where they admit to each other they make great mistakes when they aren’t honest with each other. This leads them to promise to be the best version of themselves, even when the other isn’t present.
Another game which walks the line of black and white is “Ghost of Tsushima”. Set in feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion, this 2020 release by Sucker Punch Productions rides the line between honor and necessity. Jin Sakai, a lone surviving samurai, is saved by a thief and has to save his uncle from the Mongol Khan and save all of Tsushima from the invasion. Players follow Jin’s story as he slowly leaves behind the honors and teachings that he has learned through the years. Sneaking up on targets, using smoke bombs, and even luring his enemies into tall grass to catch them off-guard are just a few ways Jin changes from the last samurai of clan Sakai to the Ghost of Tsushima. You’re given the option to spare Jin for his work in saving Tsushima or take his life for betraying the code of the samurai. At the end of the day, the slow descent of Jin into less and less honor is in beautiful tandem with the saving of the Island. The game highlights one of the biggest grey areas in life: Is it really justice if the cost is death? If you ask Jin, he will say yes, but it’s up to the player to make their own choices.
These single-player story games have become not only increasingly imaginative, but increasingly introspective. Videogames have become one of the most prominent mediums of delivering stories that are entertaining, thought-provoking, and allow creatives to shine at what they do best.
