Summary
Video games and documentaries seem like oil and water. However, there are quite a few games that take on the chronicle format and do it exceptionally well. They blend storytelling and game design intuitively, while giving players agency to experience a unique form of enjoyment. Another remarkable feature about these types of titles is that they’re set in different genres, so they’re not one-trick ponies here.
Most games of this style have theirroots in the indie gaming space— these devs love making games that push boundaries. However, some mainstream blockbuster AAA devs have incorporated it into their games as well. It just goes to show that the video game medium still has a lot of avenues to tap into for creative inspiration.
Outlastis for players who love a raw, gritty, and uncomfortable documentary-esque video game — few can top its menacing vibe.Being the first game in the series,Outlasthad players constantly in panicmode from a host of hostile enemieswith no way of fighting back. The game is set in a run-down psychiatric hospital with little illumination, so players must rely on a camcorder. Unfortunately, using the camcorder’s night vision mode drains batteries, so there’s constant pressure to manage and scavenge for them.
With tense, pulse-pounding audio design and well-timed jump scares, players will feel the thrills as they unfold.Outlastdoesn’t shy away from gore and violence, and the first-person perspective magnifies the documentary-style aesthetic.
7South Scrimshaw, Part One
Beautiful, Thought-Provoking, & Absolutely Tear-Jerking
South Scrimshaw, Part Oneoffers players a soothingyet emotional video gameexperience that is more akin to traditional documentaries. The developer is clearly passionate about the game, and players can experience it through the game’s captivating visuals that mix colorful and dull art. The linear visual novel follows a mutated baby whale that sprouts from an egg. Players follow the growth cycle and the strange evolution of the calf whale while also uncovering its tragedy.
South Scimshaw, Part One,depicts meaningful, heartfelt connections with minimal speech. The majority of the text on the screen describes the actions through the lens of the observers watching the calf whale. The documentary style fits this type of game to the letter.
Return Of The Obra Dinnwill satisfy players who want more interactivity and agency to explore the documentary aspect of a video game. It’s amystery puzzle game with a clever exploration aspect. A mysterious missing ship, the Obra Dinn, resurfaces after five years, and players must investigate its crew’s final whereabouts — whether missing or dead.
The graphics and point-and-click gameplay evoke a throwback feeling to old-school PC games.Return Of The Obra Dinnnalso features Memento Mortem, a plot device that allows players to see and hear the final moments of a corpse. As the story progresses, the game leans into its “documentary style” with a gripping plot twist that turns to the supernatural.
Horror and documentary-style games are a natural fit, andAlan Wakeexecutes both flawlessly. The player character is a novelist experiencing his horror stories come to life, along with the abduction of his wife.Alan Wake’sstorycenters around surviving the sentient darknessand rescuing his wife while piecing together what is going on. The game’s episodic nature gives breathing room to process everything like in a documentary.
It’s a non-stop rush to find light sources and flares, creating nail-biting transitions between scenes.Alan Wakealso brings a sense of isolation and a feeling of being watched in the in-game meta-style TV show ‘Night Springs.’ The story is a masterclass in dropping bombshell revelations that tie everything together in a surreal documentary-like tale.
Unlike most other documentary-style games,Deadpoolbucks the trend with its meta, mockumentary flavor.Deadpoolis a love letter to fans of Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth. Players will either roll their eyes or laugh uncontrollably at the game’s humor and self-awareness. The game uses Looney Tunes physics with exaggerated violence and crassness that fit the character’s traits.
The story is a hodgepodge mess not to be taken seriously — it’s just for enjoyment, without putting too much thought into it.Deadpool’scombat is addictive, with button-mashing fun that doesn’t feel old. The best surprises are the finisher animations and Wade Wilson’s wisecracks. The whole vibe and energygives off the mockumentaryfamiliarity dialed up to 11.
3Rake
Play Out The Events Of A Fictional Documentary
Rakeis an underrated video game that feels like a documentary because there is a documentary in-game. Players takecontrol of a scientist with the goal of findingproof of otherworldly creatures. The gameplay involves setting up traps and recording equipment to capture the different entities in the act. Of course, such a task involves risk, so players must always mind their surroundings.
Rakemight not have the best graphics, considering the visuals are dated. However, it’s because of the grainy aesthetic that the game works. Players must learn the movement of different creatures, including the mysterious Rake, an illusive humanoid entity. There is aFive Nights At Freddy’svibe toRake,and the documentary format gels well with the whole concept.
P.T.is the biggest case of what could have been. Konami and gaming icon Hideo Kojima parted on poor terms before the full game’s development,and theP.T.demo is no longer playable. The game kickstarted the trend of looping hallway horror titles that many indie devs latched onto.
P.T.has players walk through a seamlessly repeating hallway while exploring the subtle clues and solving puzzles to progress. Every loop becomes more zany and wild, with horrific and grotesque imagery catching players off guard. The purposefully slow pace and repetition break the players down, then spring surprises. Players can’t fight back or take any action either, fittingly trapped in the documentary-style video game and living its events.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxeshould be a case study on making a video game that feels like a documentary.Players take control of Stanley, an office worker givenspecific tasks to complete by the narrator. It’s up to the players whether they choose to follow the instructions or not. Depending on player choice, the narrator’s tone will change from cordial and friendly to outright cruel and demented.
After straying too far, Stanley will be brought back to his desk in a time loop. But the twist is that there will still be remnants of the player’s past actions.The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxehas many different routes and just as many epilogues. The game’s fun factor is in the witty, sarcastic commentary. Like in any captivating documentary, the themes of discovery and unpredictability set this game apart.
