The Greatest Stories Ever Played: Video Games and the Evolution of Storytelling

by Dustin Hansen

In this fun and informative YA Non-fiction title, Dustin Hansen, author of Game On! , a self-confessed video game addict with over 20-years experience in the gaming industry, examines the storytelling skills shown in some of the most beloved and moving games of all time.

We all know that video games are fun, but can a video game make you cry? Can it tell you a powerful love story? Can a video game make you think differently about war? About the environment? About the choices you make?

Whether it's playing through blockbuster-esque adventures (Uncharted, God of War, The Last of Us), diving deep into hidden bits of story and lore (Red Dead Redemption II, Bioshock, Journey) or building relationships that change the fate of the world itself (Persona 5, Undertale), video games are bringing stories to life in ways that are immediate, interactive and immersive.

Focusing on some of the best, most memorable, experiences in gaming, The Greatest Stories Ever Played, examines the relationship between gaming and storytelling in a new way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Video Games, History, Gaming, Adult, Writing

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2022

About the author

Dustin was raised in rural Utah, where his imagination was his most constant companion. A reader, artist, and gamer from an early age, Dustin was encouraged to mine his talents, follow his passions, and find the fun in everyday life.

Dustin studied art in college, and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home.

After spending a year as a director at Habro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty.

Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story all together.

Reviews

[nora · Rating 2 out of 5]

really entry level application of literary theory to video games that manages to simultaneously be dense and confusing. particularly annoying was the lack of attention paid to the role of the player in many of these storytelling experiences; this gets a little better as the book goes along, particularly in the chapters about games like undertale and red dead redemption whose plot outcomes depend upon player choice, but for games such as uncharted and the last of us we get practically a film plot summary or a book report as opposed to a careful analysis of how the narrative is impacted by its interactive medium. i’m all for illustrating the narrative power of games, but i think we’ve gotten to a point as a society where we can move past “video games are art, too!” arguments and start constructing more complex ones.

[Chasity · Rating 2 out of 5]

not for me

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of short narrative reviews of the standard online reviewer's videogame canon. Journey, Red Dead Redemption, Bioshock, Uncharted and so forth.

The book is written at about a 12 year old reading level so it's not a huge surprise when we find out Hansen grew up dyslexic and didn't read books. It's always glaringly obvious when an author doesn't read because it limits their vocabulary and the scope of their cultural references.

Hansen worked as a videogame director and strongly feels video games should ape movies but with some postmodern meta-commentary on free will woven in.

Useful for high school film studies, English, interactive media or software teachers but if you're familiar with videogame design theory and 8th grade English you've read most of this before.

Key terms: chiasmus, in media res, Freytag's pyramid, parallel narrative, deuteragonist.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t agree with all of Hansen’s choices, but I loved the references to The Last of Us, Uncharted 4, and Wild Hunt. All amazing games, right there. I also found the book to be written in a really approachable way, so it didn’t feel like I was reading nonfiction (which is a genre I don’t gravitate to). I wouldn’t mind reading any other books about gaming that Hansen might write - they’re a lot of fun and really interesting.

[aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent book. It was definitely written at a younger level but I don't hate that. I think Hansen's choices were pretty decent and some of them are excellent, ie. Undertale, Hades. Most of my hangup is that it felt like being in a high school English class which while probably was on purpose just didn't resonate with me. His analysis was a little more surface level that I'd prefer but I think a teenager into video games would probably get a kick out of it.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this is geared toward a younger audience, but to me it read more like a summary of major game plots versus an in-depth look at the art of storytelling. I did appreciate the authors commentary and division of the book into condensed summaries as well as longer chapters that were more insightful.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

People complaining about the level of writing and it being entry-level are kind of missing the point that it's supposed to be, since it's written for teens. While as an adult, it's not the most enjoyable to just read cover-to-cover, since it's a lot of summary, I actually want to get a copy to use as a reference in the classroom. I think this could function even as a keystone text in an English course.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a unique blend mixing English class with video games because it can literally be used in a class to demonstrate story. Hansen proves that whatever you are interested in can become more than just a hobby but a way to make money too, he decided to write this book and focus it (as he had been thinking about for YEARS) on highlighting how video game story construction in specific video games can keep our faith in how sharing stories have evolved over the eons and how they will continue to evolve well after video games have been overtaken by another medium.

He shows his passion in the way he writes the book and how he approaches sharing it with everyone else. The book is essentially a love letter to creators of video games, specifically the ones that have a deep story that can be appreciated on multiple levels. I for one knew NONE of the video games but I wanted to read the book anyway. It might be a niche reader but one that knows where he is coming from-- a place of love.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

While an interesting attempt, I think more depth could have been written in to the games and literary devices discussed. At times, it felt like more of a book of reviews rather than application of theory of storytelling. However, I did learn about some games I’ve never heard of and some popular ones I haven’t had the chance to play, which was nice.

My biggest critique though is that Sans’s song is “Megalovania” not “Megalomaniac!”

[Cristóbal Sepúlveda Cobo · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

I am quite possibly the least qualified person to review this book, even though I enjoyed this author's Game On! tremendously. While I was able to appreciate a history of games, with brief descriptions of the games and the impact on popular culture, I struggled a bit with this since I have very littel experience with video games. In short, I have only had all of my dinosaurs die in Dino Park Tycoon, had my city burn down repeatedly in SimCity even when the first thing I built was a fire station, and been stuck with a pig swimming around a rock lined pond in Minecraft. This has made me equate video games with frustration and boredom. I wasn't even aware that games had stories.

Do they ever. Not Minecraft, per se, because that's a game that is just action. Hansen's description of games that are only action and those that have more cerebral components was helpful. What I struggled with was the deep dives into the construction and meaning of plots of video games of which I had never heard. Which would be just about all of them. It was sort of like trying to follow a critical analysis of, say, soap opera plots. I can appreciate the background that Hansen brings to the book, the breakdowns of quality of storylines based on well established criteria and the emotional impact they have on him personally, and his links between the stories in video games and the process of creating stories in general, but I couldn't fully understand what was going on.

Language arts teachers who try to get their students to come up with story ideas could use this book to good effect. There are sections that would go right along with the curricular standards. Major camps of narrative styles! Personification! Juxtaposition! The plusses and minuses of storytelling mediums. It's all here, and set against the background of video games like Grim Fandango. The part that I really could appreciate was the fact that the games that were highlighted were briefly explained, with the year of introduction noted, and suggestions for where the games might be played today. Most of the games premiered before 2017, and Hansen notes that there is no way to keep up with the constant barrage of new games.

For avid game players who themselves would be interested in writing, this would be the perfect book. I have just the student in mind, which means that I am completely justified in purchasing this title for my library! I just pitched it to a language arts teacher who walked into the library as well. This a great choice for game connoisseurs who want a critical overview of the intricacies of storytelling in video game construction. Hansen is a master at turning his knowledge and enthusiasm into informational books that I can enjoy even when I don't understand them.

[John Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one writes a book about video game storytelling, there’s a few potential angles it can take. Analysis of video games have become common in places like YouTube, and as these games grow in complexity, so does their analysis. They can approach games from a design standpoint, an emotional one, where it fits in the history of its genre, or how a skeptical audience (“non-gamers”) might respond to it.

Surprisingly few of them have actually approached their storytelling, whether from a standpoint of how stories work, or what they’re about. Mostly it’s just cheesy lore or theory videos, which... let’s say they’re not that nutritious.

Dustin Hansen’s The Greatest Games Ever Played approaches several story-driven games, modern and classic, indie and big-budget, across a few different genres. He introduces a narrative concept at the start of each chapter, like chiasmus, Freytag’s pyramid, etc. There are a few diversions into larger concepts, like POV and theme, as well as some more game-specific game narrative theories. In between these larger chapters are “book reports” to expand the list of story-rich games, even if they’re not used to demonstrate a larger narrative theory.

The book’s voice is a bit “how do you do fellow kids” here and there, and Hansen lays it on a little thick for some games, but this is a singular, compelling work about a facet of narrative media that ought to be explored more than it is. Its intended audience of young people will find it a slick introduction to features in these games they’ve played, to show them why it hit a little harder than they expected. Other readers, who are into games and may have a wider purview of game stories they know, will be enthused by recognizing common threads they and Hansen have seen, as well as reflecting on their own experiences.

Everyone from bedroom programmers to massive entertainment conglomerates are making more involving games, and integrating the ancient ideas of storytelling as the technology advances. The scholarly discussion of this medium will advance in kind, from popcultural fluff to dense academic works like Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces , but this volume sits pleasingly between the two. It’s best to get in on this paradigm shift early, and this is a sound introduction to it.

[Rebeca F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and interesting although light and easy reading about the evolution of storytelling in video games with a ranking with what the author considers some of the greatest stories in this medium. It talks in a lot of detail about certain games, so it's a book for gamers and it has lots of spoilers in case you haven't played the games he covers, although most of them are really well known titles and there's a big change you already played them or if you haven't done so far, you will not do in the future for your own reasons. Some of them are pretty old, so it's not a book for too young readers, even though the tone and all seems to be directed at young people, which is a contradiction as most young players are casual players in my opinion.
Obviously, when writing a book about such a personal subject there's bound to be some disagreement and although I could agree with most of the list the author compiles, he excluded all souls games and that's unforgivable for me. I know many say soulsborne titles don't have a story only lore, but that's just crazy, the only difference is that the story isn't told in dialogue or cutscenes but you have to dig and figure it out yourself, it's written not only in every item description, but also the same architecture of the games, the scenery, etc. In fact, in a book about storytelling techniques in video games, souls games are really innovative and should be a must, but well, that's my opinion. Maybe the author just isn't a fan of the genre, like many out there.
The other thing that bothered me is that I felt, although interesting, the reflection remained quite superficial, I mean, I've read a lot of books about video games studies in so much more depth, though I have to admit usually they focused on one video game in particular or series or author (YT, HM, etc.) which by extension allows a lot more depth. But I think this book was made to be this way to appeal probably to a younger audience and due to the structure with longer chapters about a storytelling element with an example and then short chapters about recommended video games almost like files with their basic info. Still it's a fun book and recommended for gamers, specially those interested in story driven games.

[Samantha Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction, gaming

I have mixed emotions on what to rate this. Personally, having played almost all of the video games mentioned in this book, I loved it. But if I was looking to recommend it?...I struggle because I'm not exactly sure who/what age range this book was written for.

The writing itself is simple and the book is broken up into sections of a story (POV, Plot, Themes, etc) and yet, it has random "book reports" thrown in at the end of most chapters. Also some chapters don't have any story elements and are just focused on a singluar game, so the formating of this book was weird. I'm thinking this is for teenagers or kids based on the writing and what it should be teaching us, but also a few of these games are rated M for Mature (Red Dead, Uncharterd, The Witcher, Last of Us, God of War) and while I was raised with parents who didn't care about that, a few of these games seem to be for the older crowd but the writing is for a younger crowd. Even some of the games that are more kid friendly are just so dated that I don't see kids going back and replaying them. So I'm really just confused a bit on who this written in mind for. Adults that don't normally read? Or kids who play mature video games? A guy who is just trying to share his favorite games?

Also while there's definitely spoilers in this book (and Hansen gives warnings about it in advance), this kinda seems like more of a summary of the video games and maybe (sometimes) how it relates to the story part he's trying to teach about. But most times they read a bit like a wikipedia article on the game, giving a general overview of the plot.

I enjoyed it because it kinda let me go back and remember these awesome games I loved playing, while also recommending a few new ones to me. But would I actually play some of the older ones he referenced? Probably not (tho I do like that he gave the platforms where you could buy the games) just because some of his games are from the early 00's or '10s and gaming has just evolved so much since then that even "GREAT" games just don't do it in comparison to the games out now.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
Hansen puts forth more than 20 games as the “greatest” and offers his reasons for the claim of each of them to be worthy of the superlative. While he includes several spoiler warnings, Hansen does not spoil every video game he talks about – some are simply recommendations of which he gives enough information to intrigue gaming readers. But whether or not you’re a gamer, each reader can appreciate the celebration of well-told stories.
Hansen says specifically that he’s writing to gamers, but I found it insightful for me as a non-gamer story-lover. I love the idea of seeing video games from a story standpoint when I have seldom imagined them that way. The descriptions and explanations of the games chosen by Hansen have me convinced that I need to give this medium of storytelling a try. The mature content and violence ratings are for brief descriptions of adult language, innuendo, gore, suicide, and murder within some of the video games mentioned. Note: this book is considered YA non-fiction, so I hope that means all the video games recommended are appropriate for that audience, but I don’t know that for sure (Hansen himself offers warnings for content of two of the included games).
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Sidney Hildebrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying that I am in no way shape or form a gamer. In fact, the only game I’ve played outside of super Mario cart and super smash bros or dare I say... donkey Kong... is Call of Duty.

Despite my weak knowledge of the video game world (and weak is putting it nicely) I still enjoyed this book. I believe it is enjoyable to anyone who picks it up because, at its core, it’s a love letter to storytelling. It’s more about what makes a story worth reading (or in this case, playing). As readers, that’s something we can all get into.

Again, I have no credentials to make my opinion worthwhile but I’ll say it anyways, this author really seems to know what he is talking about. His passion shines a light on the beauty that is behind the scenes in even the goriest, violent games. I really truly enjoyed learning through the lens of someone so passionate. His joy for this topic was infectious.

A good book always teaches you something new and this one pretty much gave me a lesson on a world I was alien too.

My favorite was his last sentence after explaining how using the word “greatest” in his title was to be taken lightly. Because in an ever changing world, sayings like “the greatest of all time” isn’t meant to be a never-changing list.

His last sentence reads: “What comes after great?”

[Abby Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d never thought of gaming as storytelling and now I want to be a gamer. Love books that teach me something and make me feel hopeful about new technology and evolving ways of learning.

“The speed at which game development and video game storytelling have evolved is unprecedented. In no other time—from prehistoric to modern—have we experienced a change in how we tell and enjoy stories as we have in the last forty years.”

“Regardless of the mechanic or literary device used to craft a story, it is important to remember that characters show change. They are not the same person at the end of the tale that they were when the story began. When it comes to story, change is king.”

“We passed down stories for millennia, warning of physical dangers and, perhaps more important, of sociological and psychological dangers to persevere the human race. As technology advanced, so did our techniques to use that technology to tell stories.”

“When technology advanced, stories advanced, too. They adapted to our circumstances and became vehicles to help people navigate difficult social problems, societal ills, morality issues, as well as keep us on our toes physically…Stories moved from cautionary tale to a more complex idea allowing us to enter a unique worldview.”

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I really expected to be bored, because I don't consider myself much of a gamer, only recognized a few of the games discussed and haven't played all of those. (I only knew Uncharted was a game because I saw the movie and then my son told me on the way out). But Hansen's passion is contagious -- he's interested in story for its own sake, and spends as much time talking about types of story elements and structures and then dives into a game that illustrates that aspect in an amazing way. He's willing to get personal and talk about his emotional responses and how the various games elicited them.

The illustrations are a definite weakness; they are black and white and I could rarely see any details. Also, there was no mention of my son, who is a big name in Hades speedrunning circles. Of course, as my sons tells me, speedrunning and story are pretty antagonistic.

[Cameron Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at storytelling, and how it has evolved through the gaming medium, mixed with a collection of game reviews.

I loved how the author believes that the future of storytelling sits in what games will become in the future. The breakdown in storytelling aspects, and how they change between games, movies, and books was really interesting.

Some of the game reviews were a bit long and I found myself skimming over them. That said, a lot of said games were titles I've never played.

An interesting read for anyone that enjoys games and stories.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for kiddos who love video games and are ready to dip into the storytelling aspect but I couldn't help but want more. Felt kinda like surface level plot summaries with some explanation of literary themes (tho mentioning Undertale, Journey, the Witcher 3 and FFVII did give it extra points). Didn't go deep enough for me personally, but it's maybe inspired me to write an essay/paper/article??? lol so kudos to that. And I do know some middle schoolers who'd probably like this.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conceptually, I like the idea of this book. It was an entertaining read as a fan of writing and video games. But it wasn't a history on storytelling so much as the author geeking out over his favorite games and recapping the plots of them. I learned a bit more about some games I'll never play. I do want to replay some of my favorites now. But you really have to search for the evolution of storytelling part of the book.

[Marinda Misra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Everything he said about storytelling was right on. I did not read the sections for the games I haven’t played yet, but that just makes me excited. Like I have homework of playing these games so I can then come back and read his analysis! Having a game have a good story is super important to me and pretty much the main think I look for, so I now have a ton of recommendations. This book is one I’m going to buy.

And Potral is the best. Stay alive everyone!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a gamer but I love video game stories, so much that sometimes I will just watch playthroughs to witness the story. This book was a fascinating look at why some video game stories are amazing and others are not. I loved hearing the stories of the games and dissecting them to see why they worked so well. Highly recommend if you are a gamer or love stories.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading the book so I can understand the video games that my kid was playing, I have a new appreciation for Red Dead Redemption II. I can now understand what's going on the video game, without having to get dizzy by playing it. I found a game that I would like, 'Journey' so no I can also try and be a part of this world.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

With a subtitle that mentions the “evolution of storytelling”, I was expecting this book to show how each game mentioned built progressively on the games that came before (which would thus probably be pretty chronological) but instead the chapters felt a bit disjointed, like they had no connection to each other beyond being video games that the author likes.

[David Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entry level, teen focused book for teens on major game narratives. The concept itself sounded extremely weird, but it is time to admit that the older games are both culturally relevant and both will be out of reach to young audiences.

Of course, for adult person with game studies/ narrative backgrounds this is far too simple, but hey, it is what it is.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that is right in my early-40s wheelhouse. Breaks down the concept of storytelling in the purview of 21st century video games and analyzes their contributions.

Only thing I would change is adding the writing credits for the different games covered. Other than that, great read!

[Starr ❇✌❇]

This is actually so up my alley I may ACTUALLY be able to read a nonfiction book all the way through!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, for the wonderful insight of the games you've played.

www.cleowulf.com

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few books share the background and "back-side" of th4 revolution of digital games. this would be a wonderful gift book for young folks (or anyone) who has interest in developing video games.