As I’ve gotten older, I find myself caring more about whether a game has good characters and an interesting world to explore. Don’t get me wrong, fun gameplay is important, but I really love when there’s a compelling reason behind what I’m doing in the game.
The game that opened my eyes to this was Mass Effect. Everything about Commander Shepard’s journey through the galaxy felt so real to me. The different alien species, the politics between them, and the looming threat that could destroy everything - it all kept me hooked. I spent hours talking to every crew member just to learn their backstories. The voice work was incredible and every planet felt like it had its own story to tell.
What about you? Which game made you realize that video games could be more than just entertainment?