Storytelling is a popular attribute in many video games.
There is no shortage of fantastic story arcs told through games, but with great stories comes a balancing act.
If franchises embrace a story that extends past a single game, they start to run the risk of alienating newcomers while rewarding new longtime fans. This approach can become hard to follow and may make it difficult to jump into a franchise.
On the other hand, longtime fans become more devoted to a series, potentially making up for any lost players.
This approach isn’t always common, but it is there in gaming. So, should video game franchises utilize multi-game narratives?
This question pops up because Trails Into Reverie is set to release in a few days, adding to its long-running Trails series with an epilogue to several arcs. What makes this series so unique is all titles are connected and players should play all of the games to fully grasp the story.
This is really a different approach as other franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Tales of opt for a more standalone approach. Sure, there are sequels at times in these franchises, but each one does a good job at keeping them to a minimum.
The Trails series, on the other hand, unapologetically embraces its long-form narrative despite the risk of alienating newcomers. The payoff, however, is a rich world that is meticulously crafted and fleshed out. This is unique in gaming.
A common complaint in video games is that some titles don’t build out their worlds enough or have skinflint lore. Sometimes, that’s difficult to do in standalone games.
Other games have embraced the idea of keeping the world the same while minimizing connecting story beats so players can enjoy a fleshed out world without playing numerous games.
Looking at both approaches, both have their pros and cons. I’ve always had an interest in the Trails series but every time, I’m intimidated with the sheer amount I have to play to understand the story.
That said, there are times when I’d love to return to a specific world or characters. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is my favorite in the franchise and I’d love to see characters and settings from the game return.
But what about you? Should video game franchises embrace a multi-game narrative similar to the Trails series? Do you prefer the standalone approach with minimal sequels? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Nihon Falcom (via Steam)
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The Boss Rush Podcast – The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, Stephanie, LeRon, and their friends from around the internet come together with other creators, developers, and industry veterans to talk about games they’ve been playing, discuss video game and entertainment based topics, and answer questions solicited on social media and the community Discord.
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