With many video games becoming increasingly cinematic as technology advances, it makes sense that there’s been a growing interest in the medium in recent years, especially amongst film buffs. In fact, video game storytelling has arguably become much more versatile than cinema in a lot of ways, with its interactivity opening up whole new avenues of storytelling possibility.
It’s no coincidence that accomplished actors, writers, and filmmakers have begun to lend their talents to video games in increasingly large numbers, with even popular director Christopher Nolan expressing interest in the medium. There are already plenty of video games that feel like they could have been made by Christopher Nolan, however, and here are ten you should play if you’re a fan of the filmmaker.
Batman: Arkham City
Getting the obvious pick out of the way early, Rocksteady’s beloved Arkham series of games is an absolute must-play for fans of Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Out of the franchise’s three core entries, however, Batman: Arkham City is arguably the strongest.
Combining stealth-based predator scenarios and clever puzzles with a robust and refined beat-em-up combat system, Batman: Arkham City’s compelling story rivals that of most Batman movies. The game also boasts a wide array of side quests and unlockables, making Batman: Arkham City feel like perhaps the most complete superhero game ever made.
Quantum Break
With video games leaning into their cinematic elements more and more as technology advances, it makes sense that the industry as a whole has started to become more experimental in its storytelling. Remedy’s Quantum Break is a notable example of this, with the game interspersing its third-person action with a live-action series.
Although this was arguably the most criticized element of the high-concept game, it was interesting nonetheless, and the game’s time-stopping mechanics were a lot of fun to play around with.
Psychonauts
Five years before the release of Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking blockbuster Inception, Tim Schaffer’s trippy platforming masterpiece Psychonauts explored the idea of dream invasion, albeit in a much more humorous fashion. The game follows a young psychic named Raz, who attends a summer camp where gifted children are trained into psychic spies.
Psychonauts didn’t gain a lot of traction upon its initial release but it's since become one of the most widely celebrated games of its generation, developing a large and ionate fanbase. A sequel to the game is currently in development.
Outer Wilds
2019’s Outer Wilds is a charming space exploration game that drops players in the middle of a fully traversable solar system while tasking them with breaking a deadly 22-minute time loop that culminates in the sun’s explosion.
Since the game gives players the freedom to explore the solar system in their own direction, Outer Wilds’ central mystery can be unraveled in any order, while still making complete sense narratively. Sure, the game is less dramatic than most Christopher Nolan movies, but its brilliant concept and unique gameplay loop have shades of both Interstellar.
Spec Ops: The Line
Taking heavy inspiration from the likes of Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, the generic title and seemingly cliched plot of Spec Ops: The Line are entirely by design. Lulling players into believing they’re playing a typical, run of the mill third-person shooter, Spec Ops: The Line later reveals itself as a deeply disturbing morality tale that focuses on the horrors of war, essentially placing players in the shoes of the game’s unwitting villains.
It’s the kind of narrative complexity that’s usually reserved for cinematic experiences, but Spec Ops: The Line also uses its status as a video game to tell its story in a unique way.
Death Stranding
The master of cinematic games, legendary game director Hideo Kojima’s latest effort Death Stranding is perhaps the most divisive game of this generation. Featuring big Hollywood names like Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux, Mads Mikkelsen, and Guillermo Del Toro, the game tells a somewhat abstract post-apocalyptic story exploring themes of human connection and selflessness.
While its finicky and tough-to-master traversal mechanics are sure to test the patience of even the most seasoned gamers, Death Stranding eventually evolves into one of the generation’s most unique and compelling games – making it a high-concept trip well worth taking.
Alan Wake
One part In the Mouth of Madness, Remedy Entertainment’s brilliant Alan Wake is a survival horror game that drops its titular author into the small town of Bright Falls, Washington, to search for his missing wife – only to find that his latest novel is coming to life around him.
With its woodsy, atmospheric setting, and gripping mystery echoing Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia, Alan Wake serves as a great fit for fans of the filmmaker.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Arguably amongst the most groundbreaking first-person shooters of all time, 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved kicks off the legendary saga of Spartan super-soldier Master Chief and his battle against a fanatical alien race known as the Covenant.
Many filmmakers have tried (and failed) to adapt the Halo’s sprawling story for the big screen. In fact, even Jonathan Nolan – writer and co-creator of HBO’s Westworld as well as the brother of Christopher Nolan – claims that he and his brother became enthralled by the game when it was first released.
Mass Effect 2
Often considered the best entry in the sprawling Mass Effect series, Mass Effect 2 is also regarded as one of the best games ever made. Continuing the story of Commander Shepard as he attempts to save the galaxy from the Collectors, the story’s impressive scope also feels deeply personal, with each member of Shepard’s crew feeling fully fleshed.
Another game that’s been praised by Jonathan Nolan, Mass Effect 2 is video game storytelling at its very best.
Control
The latest game from Remedy Entertainment, Control puts players in the shoes of Jesse Faden – the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Control – who’s tasked with exploring the extra-dimensional ‘Oldest House’ in order to put a stop to a menacing paranormal force known as the Hiss.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Twin Peaks and the S Foundation creepypasta, Control’s dreamlike logic and surreal setting are perhaps even more bizarre than Inception but remain just as gripping. Boasting some incredibly fun combat mechanics, a compelling central mystery, and a bold, kaleidoscopic game world, Control is one of the most inventive shooters in years.
