Best Game Genre for Storytelling

[Yelmurc]

Do you think certain types of games are more suited to tell certain stories? For example, is a RTS the best way to tell the story of a military campaign? Or a FPS the best way to tell the story of the troops on the ground? I've been thinking about this for awhile and wanted to get others opinions.

[therealstegblob]

No. Any genre of game, when constructed correctly, is a good vehicle for conveying story. Genre doesn't matter.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

No. Any genre of game, when constructed correctly, is a good vehicle for conveying story. Genre doesn't matter.

Pretty much this. It's pretty much going to come down to what story your trying to convey and how. There's never going to be a one-size beats all answer.

[Tech614]

No. Any genre of game, when constructed correctly, is a good vehicle for conveying story. Genre doesn't matter.

/thread

such a silly question. Story is completely un related to genre. Look at something like Valiant Hearts that told a better war story then any CoD ever did in a 2D adventure game.

[May90]

I think both genres are well suited for telling the story, just in different ways. RPGs have worked best for it so far, but I think the reason for this is that the developers in other genres have rarely touched story-telling much.

[HumbleDuck]

No. Any genre of game, when constructed correctly, is a good vehicle for conveying story. Genre doesn't matter.

This.
However I often find my self more attached to the atmosphere when playing a fps.

[Jester Joe]

/thread

such a silly question. Story is completely un related to genre. Look at something like Valiant Hearts that told a better war story then any CoD ever did in a 2D adventure game.

Technically though, visual novels have the upper hand.

But yes, there is no ultimate end all of course, all have their upsides and downsides that pretty much balanced it out.

[GennGreymane]

RPGs have an easier time due to length and requirement of good characters to even be considered a good game , but any genre can make a great story.

[Tech614]

RPGs have an easier time due to length and requirement of good characters to even be considered a good game , but any genre can make a great story.

Eh, rpg length usually comes down to a lot of padded time elements added to the game that don't have much to do with the story. There are obvious exceptions like Persona or Witcher which have very little padding but they're pretty much the exception.

RPGs are usually more known for stories as most make an effort at good character development, not because of the play time which is usually padded.

[melodramocracy]

Any genre can be a good vehicle for it. Single player games have a distinct advantage in my eyes.

[The Phone]

Gears of War (3rd person shooter) has a very good story line filled with plenty emotions. Is my favorite story line of any game(s) The campaign tends to the stories eeriness. (Mutilated bodies, destroyed vehicles & buildings, abandonment, shadows and darkness, creepy cut aways) The solutions to their problems are a fix, but they also bring more tragedy, which then needs to be fixed. Can't wait for Gears of War 4.

In terms of what genre is better at telling story, I think it really matters how it's delivered. With Gears of War you're on the ground and you see the horrors every where and the sacrifices that have been made all around you.

[Verdugo]

With Gears of War you're on the ground and you see the horrors every where and the sacrifices that have been made all around you.

Strange, all I remember are chest high walls and iron sights.

Although one can consider that to be a horrific sight of the future of shooters.

[Arrashi]

Visual novels duh. Especially the ones with alot (and big) plot.

[Pull My Finger]

Visual novels technically aren't really games though.

[Arrashi]

Visual novels technically aren't really games though.

Have you ever played monstergirl quest ? Its as much of a game as you can get.

[Deleted]

Sure, any genre can be used to tell a story, but the genre needs to work with, and strengthen the story. Alien: Isolation wouldn't work as a strategy game, since the story alone doesn't work, the overall atmosphere is an inseparable part, and it's achieved with specific gameplay mechanics.

Have you ever played monstergirl quest ? Its as much of a game as you can get.

I think this thread is about video games, since OP is exploring and asking about first person and real time strategy genres. Your suggestion is not a video game.

[Arrashi]

I think this thread is about video games, since OP is exploring and asking about first person and real time strategy genres. Your suggestion is not a video game.

How exactly isn't it video game ?

[Fencers]

No such thing.

One of the most effecting and thoughtful narratives in a game was communicated by simple line and block graphics on black with no text at all. So effecting was the game, it's designer couldn't sleep at night after having created the game. It's a game still used as an example of the art form par excellence.

Gameplay is everything. If a game can be played, the designer can create a metaphor in any context regardless of genre.

[Tech614]

Visual novels technically aren't really games though.

Depends on the VNs, 90% of them which offer branching story paths and doing specific gameplay mechanics to advance the story most certainly are games. Especially when you consider the fact Qauntum Break and Telltale works are considered games.

[StrawberryZebra]

I don't think there is a best genre for story telling. Games are, by their very definition, interactive. Stories on the other hand are not. Trying to tell a complex story in a game ends up with it getting in the way at best, or outright conflicting with the games mechanics at worst. Especially when players have no interest in saving the princess/kingdom/world and just want to stab things.

While we're at it, including "choices which affect the story" is one of my personal gripes with modern gaming. No, my choices do not affect the story in any meaningful way. I may get to see the consequences of that choice, but I've still got to follow the plot one way or the other. If you really gave me "choices which affect the story" I'd choose to tell you where to shove your plot while I see how far I can push your game world before it breaks.

Story telling is best left to novels and film, both of which do it far more justice then a video game ever will. Where video games do shine however is in allowing the player to create their own narative to fit the mechanics, as is the case with Missile Command which someone brought up earlier. Narative told entirely through game play is the exclusive domain of games and hands down beats any seperate narative the devs decide their game needs.