Summary
Open-world video gamesoften approach writing in a different light than other genres due to their designs being structured in a more non-linear way. The player has complete freedom to explore giant maps and interact with NPCs how and when they please, meaning they can start specific quests or side missions at any point. The writing has to take this into account and carefully weave a narrative together in a manner that flows and makes sense.
Therefore, it’s impressive when games manage to pull off deep and engaging narratives whilst giving the player complete freedom to explore and adventure in their own time. The open-world genre is highly saturated at this point, and a handful of the games that have come out in recent years feature some of the best writing in the entire industry. They will forever be highly regarded for their intricately detailed writing and design.
It’s never easy to start a new IP in the current era of oversaturated franchises and the industry’s obsession with games as a service. However, when Guerrilla Games releasedHorizon Zero Dawn,it was met with critical acclaim. This came in large part due to the unique premise of robot dinosaurs (which are insanely cool), and some strong writing which established the world and the now iconic character of Aloy.
The writing inHorizon Zero Dawnoften takesinspiration from cultures around the world, from tribal themes and references to writings and reflections on modern society. Guerilla Games told a powerful story of legacy and hope and successfully established the IP as one of the best new additions to the medium in recent years.
Speaking of new IP’s, Sucker Punch managed to pull off a similar success story with the launch ofGhost of Tsushima. This is a beautifulopen-world samurai gamethat introduces the character of Jin Sakai, who becomes theGhost of Tsushimaon his quest for revenge. It’s an excellent exploration of the capabilities of video games, taking clear inspiration from the filmography of Akira Kurosawa, and carefully crafts a great samurai narrative.
The writing follows an emotional and compelling narrative of Jin’s struggle with the harsh realities of war, and his desire to protect his country and family. It’s a thoughtful exploration of the traditional samurai code and blends this with the all-too-familiar brutality of war in a masterful manner.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordoris a gameset in the world ofThe Lord of the Ringsand takes place between the events ofThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringsfilms. It’s highly respectful of the source material and players can immediately feel the passion that the developers put into this game through their excellent storytelling.
Shadow of Mordoralso introduced the ground-breaking Nemesis System, a unique mechanic where the enemies remember the player and make snarky remarks on their next encounters, which allowed for rivalries between the player and NPCs to naturally come about through gameplay. It features some excellent writing and further immerses the player in the world through the establishment of these parasocial relationships with their enemies.
TheMetal Gear Solidfranchise features some of the most complex writing and storytelling in the video game industry. Hideo Kojima, the creator of the franchise, is now a household name and is well-regarded for his unique approach to narrative design.The Phantom Painis the franchise’s most recent entry and features an immersive, if slightly confusing, narrative of political intrigue, espionage, and revenge.
It’s a thought-provoking story achieved through masterful writing where each character has a fully developed backstory and the player understands their motivations. Venom Snake is the game’s protagonist, and he alone goes on a wild journey of twists and turns, undergoing serious personal challenges. It’s all presented in the classic Kojima style of writing, and it’s truly excellent.
It seems likethe fantasy genreand excellent writing often go hand in hand, andThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimis no different.The Elder Scrollsas a franchise features some of the most detailed lore in the whole medium, and players can easily get lost in various texts and books found in the game, unraveling the backstories of the world and its characters.
The game’s voice actingsometimes lets the writing down, but putting that to the side,Skyrimfeatures some of the best writing in terms of world-building in any video game. It’s so highly detailed and never falls short of explaining histories, battles, and fantastical creatures and beings. It’s the writing here that truly enables the player to feel so immersed.
WhilstBatman: Arkham Asylumestablished the world of Rocksteady’s excellent franchise, it’sBatman: Arkham Citythat threw players into an open-world Gotham City. The characters are excellent, and the atmosphere perfectly recreates Gotham in a brooding, unforgiving light.
The developers pay homage to the source material, and playingArkham Citydoes feel like playing a graphic novel in video game format. The writing helps toestablish Batman’s motivationsin a dark and compelling narrative that unravels a sinister plot with high stakes for both sides of Bruce wayne’s life. It’s superhero writing at its finest.
Another game developed by Hideo Kojima,Death Strandingfeatures one of the weirdest yet most intriguing narratives ever. It’s a testament to Kojima’s writing thatDeath Strandingmanages to be such a great game, but that should be expected coming from the creator ofMetal Gear Solid.
This is a narrative that weaves themes of science fiction, terrorism,existentialism, and environmentalismall into a video game that follows the story of Sam Bridges.Death Strandingis all about connecting. It’s about living and dying, and it’s about having hope and giving up. It’s highly philosophical and extremely poignant.
Widely considered one of the best games ever made,Grand Theft Auto Valso features some of the best writing in any video game. It follows thestories of three separate characterswho all interact as their stories overlap. It’s highly entertaining and often humorous, but it’s also tragic at points.
The dialogue draws similarities to what’s found in Quentin Tarantino’s movies with its sharp, natural, and highly satirical tone. It’s not often that video games pull off satire effectively, butGrand Theft Auto Vis one of the rare examples. This is a highly precise example of video game writing, and it’s a large part of why the game became one of the most popular releases in the world.
Games that are based on books might have a slight advantage when it comes to writing. In the case ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red managed to respectfully adapt the contents of Andrzej Sapkowski’s books while further expanding on the world and characters within.
The Witcher 3’snarrative is rich and mature. The world is dark and brutal, and the game is violent and filled with malicious characters, but that doesn’t stop the writing from crafting a complex story about Geralt’s search for his adopted daughter, Ciri. Of course, he must try to find Ciri whilst handling delicate political tensions, conspiracy plots, and complex characters with morally gray choices.
Red Dead Redemption 2tells the story of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. It explores the gang and their exploits and dives into each character’s motivations and lifestyles. The writing depicts thedecline of the Wild Westas government forces attempt to bring order to the frontier, presenting a conflict between the gang members and the government agents on their tail.
It’s a carefully crafted meditation on trust, friendship, and betrayal. Arthur is one of the most compelling characters in gaming, and it’s a testament to the writing that players become so invested in the climax of his story, and the fallout that comes after.
