Over mid-winter break, much like many of my fellow stressed out classmates, I was seeking a way to unwind and relax. I had gotten sick and tired of social media, reading, and just going out. I sat down with my brother and conveyed this to him, and that’s when he introduced me to something I hadn’t fully appreciated before: narrative-driven games—games that not only offered action and fun but also deep stories, complex characters, and immersive worlds. While I’ve been an avid gamer since I was five, the type of video games I used to play were simpler, focused on stimulating action, and lighthearted fun. Now, as I’ve gotten older, I find that games with real substance—games that tell powerful stories—are what capture my attention.
As technology has advanced, so too has the evolution of video games. We’ve come a long way from the first quick-action video games to games with serious depth and narration. Let’s take a look at the first video game ever: Tennis for Two. This game was created in 1958 by William Higinbotham, who used an analog computer and an oscilloscope, which is an instrument commonly used to display and analyze the waveform of electronic signals, as a display to simulate a tennis match. Players controlled the paddles using knobs and buttons, and it was very successful in its time. Of course, now we can do what William Higinbotham did with his video game, which took him a few months, within seconds.
Video games in this period followed a common theme of “quick action,” as they were the fastest way to let users indulge in easy fun. The first commercially successful video game, Pong (1972), was nothing more than a digital version of table tennis, focused entirely on reflex-based mechanics. Even as gaming advanced into the arcade era, the focus remained on high scores and simple objectives rather than deep storytelling. Games like Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter followed this theme; they didn’t ask players to invest in characters or narrative arcs emotionally. Of course, we cannot blame it on these video game companies—neither the technology at the time allowed for a massive change, nor did the hungry players who wanted the speediest action.
So, what was the first video game to spark the change?
The Legend of Zelda was released in 1986, and it was very distinct from its predecessors. While gaming before then had been largely about quick reflexes, high scores, and simple objectives, Zelda changed the way we thought about gaming. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed by Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda introduced players to a vast, interconnected world where exploration, puzzles, and a deeper story line became key components of the experience.
At the time, video games were still in their early stages of evolution. Video games such as Pong and Super Mario Bros. provided immediate gratification, focusing on fast-paced action. But Zelda stood apart because it asked more of its players. The game encouraged players to explore its world at their own pace, immersing them in the adventure of Link’s quest to save Princess Zelda.
This was a pivotal moment in gaming history because it marked a cultural shift. Zelda proved that video games could tell stories, create emotional connections with characters, and invite players to lose themselves in a richly detailed world. It was one of the first games to show that gaming could be more than just a pastime—it could be an art form, capable of engaging players on a deeper level.
As the gaming landscape evolved, Zelda set the stage for the future of narrative-driven games. It demonstrated that players didn’t just want to win; they wanted to experience something meaningful. This shift in expectations would lead to a cultural change in the way video games were designed, pushing the industry toward more immersive, story-rich experiences. Since then, video games have only gotten better; the high demand for games that consist of depth, narrative, and plot twists has set off their production in unfathomable amounts.
In fact, over the break, I truly did see the immersive land of narrative storytelling in games such as Until Dawn and The Quarry. These games have found a way to connect player choice with traditional horror tropes. In these games, players control the fates of various characters, with every decision having significant consequences. The branching narratives create a sense of tension, as each choice impacts the characters’ fate and the plot’s direction. Even the simplest dialogue can lead to differing relations between the characters. In The Quarry, there were times when I simply chose a random dialogue, which led to heightened tension between characters. The games can also be played numerous times, since Until Dawn and The Quarry have 256 and 186 endings, respectively.
This level of engagement makes the experience uniquely personal for each player, as no two walkthroughs are the same. It’s a thrilling concept—the idea that a player can directly influence the story’s outcome, whether it’s saving a character from death or guiding them into danger. These games use the “choose your own adventure” format, blending it with modern graphics, sound design, and cinematic storytelling, creating a fresh and compelling experience.
It’s not just the dialogue that can impact choices, however; Quick Time Events (QTEs) hold the fate of the characters’ path. QTEs are a gameplay mechanic where players must perform specific actions on their controller within a short timeframe to progress the game or a cinematic sequence. They are thrilling and exciting for players who seek quick action, however, they are very challenging. A simple mis-click or the wrong play stick on the console can mess up the QTE and lead your character to injury or even death. When I was playing The Quarry and Until Dawn, I was often stressed out due to the sheer amount of QTEs, and I would frequently hand my controller to my brother because it was a high-tension situation.
Another game, Ghost of Tsushima, transports players to feudal Japan, where they assume the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai warrior navigating a world on the brink of collapse due to Mongol invasion. Unlike traditional open-world games that focus purely on exploration and combat, Ghost of Tsushima elevates the experience by weaving in a strong narrative about honor, duty, and the cost of war. As Jin evolves from a traditional samurai into a more unorthodox fighter, players witness his personal growth and internal struggle. The game’s story is deeply woven into its world, making it impossible to ignore the emotional stakes as you journey through the beautifully rendered environments.
The journey of video games from quick-action pastimes to rich, story-driven experiences is a testament to how far the industry has come. It started with The Legend of Zelda, which changed the standards by showing that games could offer more than just a thrill—they could immerse players in a world where every decision mattered. Games like Until Dawn, The Quarry, and Ghost of Tsushima continue that tradition today, blending powerful storytelling with choices that make the player feel genuinely invested in the outcome. These aren’t just games anymore; they are journeys—ones that challenge not just your reflexes, but your emotions. As gaming evolves, it’s clear that its future is rooted in stories that don’t just entertain, but leave a lasting impact.
As the gaming landscape evolved, Zelda set the stage for the future of narrative-driven games. It demonstrated that players didn’t just want to win; they wanted to experience something meaningful. This shift in expectations would lead to a cultural change in the way video games were designed, pushing the industry toward more immersive, story-rich experiences.