- The time period of most games is the distant past or future, with a handful being set in modern times.
- Games set in modern times quickly become outdated, with some references to the present being unsavory for people playing in the future.
- Games with extravagant time periods have more character and atmosphere, which is why most developers incorporate them into their projects.
We all have played games that are set in some dystopian future or a medieval fantasy setting, but the frequency of games being released with a modern timeline is surprisingly low. Read along to see our reasons for why this is so!
The Exceptions
Of course, there are a few exceptions to this claim of few games being set in modern times. One of the most popular game franchises of all time, Grand Theft Auto, has been set in a time period close to its release date.
Other games, like WatchDogs and Heavy Rain, are also set close to modern times. But that’s beside the point. What we’re claiming today is that there are few games set in current times, not none at all.
The Reasons
In this part of the article, we will explore the reasons why we believe that games set in different periods are more desirable to both market and play.
Becoming Outdated
It’s a well-known fact that games set in the modern day can become outdated within a few years as trends and changes rapidly occur. This can have both positive and negative impacts on the game.
On one hand, it can invoke nostalgia for players as they revisit a past era of their lives. On the other hand, it may alienate younger gamers who find the trends of that time cringe-worthy or embarrassing.
Games set in the distant future or a mystical past are more timeless, as the setting feels like it is showing something new and exciting to the user instead of something that people might have experienced firsthand.
Not The Focus
Even when games like Marvel’s Spiderman and It Takes Two are set in modern times, their focus is never on the time period. While games like The Order 1886 can use their historical setting as legs to stand on, modern games have to add in some mystical and engaging aspects that draw away from it.
Let’s take the game mentioned above as an example. The first Spider-Man tells the story of Peter balancing his life between being an average Joe and a superhero.
There are some sprinkles of utilizing the period to help tell its story (MJ and Peter’s texts come to mind), but it is rare to see an integration of a game’s modern setting as well as Spiderman did for a brief scene. Most of the game is distracting from the mundanity of modern times to show fantastical superheroes brawling it out.
Less Character
Dark Souls, Skyrim, and Cyberpunk 2077, what do they all have in common? An oozing atmosphere. We have reasons to believe that this atmosphere stems from the fact that their worlds are so different from ours, yet they feel so complete.
There are countless examples where the medieval setting, a dystopian future, or the wild-west makes games feel more exciting and explorable. The same could not be said for games set in modern times.
There is something about a tavern that makes it more exciting to explore than a bar, something about a Victorian pathway that makes it feel more intriguing to peek around than a modern alleyway. I can’t put into words the charm oozing out of a game set a millennia ago compared to something that is more modern.
To put it simply, we romanticize the past and are excited by the prospect of a future, which makes the present seem more dull by comparison.
The Verdict
Games set in the future or past are more marketable because the present seems less exciting. However, media set in the present can be compelling, too. For example, “Synecdoche, New York” is a favorite of mine for its existential take on the present.
I hope a game will someday capture that same magic. Given the rapid growth of gaming, I’m confident we’ll eventually see an engaging game set in our mundane modern-day.
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[Comparisons Expert]
Ali Tauseef is an experienced writer and computer enthusiast with a passion for graphics cards and processors. With a wealth of knowledge in the field of computer technology, he regularly publishes blogs and in-depth comparisons on Tech4Gamers.
Get In Touch: ali@tech4gamers.com
