„Why are stories in games so often so bad?” Daniel Vávra asks about lack of games with stories on The Witcher 3, RDR, MGS, and KCD 2 level

Daniel Vavra, a member of Warhorse Studios, laments the scarcity of games with compelling narratives and shares his thoughts on why this might be the case.

The leader of the Czech team frequently engages on social media platforms, often posting content related to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and celebrating its achievements (which, by the way, serves as a counterpoint to those who persist in arguing that KCD 2 is a failure). The developer also doesn’t shy away from highlighting favorable criticisms, viewing them as catalysts for human ingenuity.

Is the product instead of the artist the cause of poor narration in games?

Vavra emphasized, in a slightly distinct yet complementary manner, the aspects he believes make Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 particularly engaging for players – “genuine characters and plot.” As a connoisseur of games boasting such narrative depth and characterization, Vavra aimed to replicate this experience with his team.

In this specific scenario, the developer posed the query: “Why are game plots frequently of poor quality and seldom reaching the standard set by games like Red Dead Redemption, Metal Gear Solid, or The Witcher 3?

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share an interesting perspective by Vavra: he believes the reason lies in the shift in focus. Instead of being viewed as a platform for creative expression (or ‘art’), games are increasingly treated as commodities, with a greater emphasis on manufacturing processes, involving ‘teams and management.’ This contrasts sharply with my understanding of the film industry, where the director and screenwriter, guided by their vision, hold the reins throughout a project’s evolution.

As a gamer, I jumped right into the discussion about the gaming landscape. Players were quick to weigh in, expressing their thoughts mainly around the theme of “greedy game publishers” and the negative impact of current trends like games-as-a-service and an overemphasis on massive open worlds.

While many share Vavra’s viewpoint about the significance of story-driven games, they don’t all believe that the film industry is equally prone to the same pitfalls. Instead, some argue that both mediums have their unique challenges and successes.

Despite varying preferences among internet users, there’s a common sentiment: many games are made for the general public and what’s currently popular. People often point out – as we’ve mentioned before – the hefty budgets of modern games, which discourage publishers from taking risks, exploring fresh ideas, and creating more complex stories that might not appeal to the typical audience.

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Is the product instead of the artist the cause of poor narration in games?

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