10 Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

With the 90th annual Oscars fast approaching, it’s often that games are overlooked at this period of time. But this should not be the case; games are as valid a form of entertainment as any other piece of cinema available and with the impressive storytelling abilities of some games, they should be nominated for one of the most coveted awards in entertainment, the Oscar. If games could be nominated for Oscars it’s these 10 that would surely be the frontrunners. 

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a stunning example of how to properly execute a dystopian future. Its world is rich, full of depth and memorable characters that you want to stay with until the very end of the story. That alone would be a solid sell for an Oscar, but what makes Human Revolution stand out from the crowd is the biting social commentary on the state of the world now. That’s even more impressive considering it’s told in a universe set over 20 years in the future.

Deus Ex raises questions about the future of technology and what it means to be human while also tackling racism, terrorism, and poverty in a way few films manage to get right. Dystopian films like Blade Runner and Children of Men have had fantastic spells at the Oscars, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution would fit perfectly right alongside them.

This post was originally written by Dawson Roberts.

Alan Wake

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

Psychological thriller Alan Wake takes you on a journey that no other game on this list does, and holy shit is it entertaining. Alan Wake plays out like a cheap B–movie, paying homage to the classic cheesy thrillers of the ’90s. You play as the titular lead as he searches for his missing wife while the events from a book he doesn’t remember writing come to life in front of him.

Alan Wake plays out like many a trippy Oscar films do (think Blue Velvet or Black Swan), with a heavy dose of style in the forefront and subtext in the back. What Alan Wake does is completely subvert your expectations of the story you thought you were getting, and by the end leaves you feeling like you’ve been on an insane journey you don’t quite understand. It may seem like a simple game at first glance, but its deep, consistently unwinding tale of mental illness and mystery drag you into the very depths of its core message. Unexpected journeys like this make films such as Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals stand out at the Oscars, and it’s why Alan Wake stands out too.

The Last of Us

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

It should come as no surprise that Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us would show up on any list revising potential award-winning stories in gaming. Boasting a spectacular world, one of the best ever portrayals of a relationship in any medium, and a narrative so powerful that it can bring you to tears in its opening minutes, The Last of Us is truly special. It presents a world that’s intensely dark yet simultaneously engrossing in a way that rivals even Hollywood’s best efforts. Joel and Ellie’s journey through the harsh realities of an apocalypse that will forever remain in our hearts. Their bond is one so convincing that it’s impossible not to feel totally connected with.

Gone Home

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

2017 saw the release of Moonlight, a story of a gay teenage boy living in the suburbs of Miami. Its portrayal of a young naive child struggling to cope with his own sexuality struck a chord with the awards panels and as such won the coveted best picture Oscar. Gone Home repeats that formula and it does so in an equally impressive manner.

Through narration and exploring of Katie’s old family house, we find out the awful situations she was put in because of her sexual orientation. The intimate way we hear these stories be told mixed with the stark visuals of the completely empty house create a compelling story and atmosphere that pulled at everyone’s heartstrings. Gone Home shines a light on a situation not often portrayed and the way it does so is beyond Oscar worthy.

Spec-Ops: The Line

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

There’s a long history with war films doing fantastic at the Oscars, from Saving Private Ryan to the Hurt Locker, and most recently, Dunkirk. Unfortunately, war games are never recognized anywhere near as highly as their film counterparts. Spec Ops: The Line tried to change that. Its exploration into the morals of war, what it means to survive and the choices that need to be made are all excellently portrayed in this horrific military shooter. To experience the true horrors that Spec Ops: The Line has to offer, you need to experience it for yourself. The way characters shift perspective and grow throughout the story twists your emotions, changing your entire perspective on the story at hand. If that’s not Oscar-worthy, what is?

Uncharted 2

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

It’s often that big-budget action-filled romps like Tomb Raider are completely overlooked at the Oscars, but the story of video gaming’s own spin on Indiana Jones features a narrative so brilliant that it would be impossible to overlook. Each and every action set-piece stands out from the last, the journey you go on with Nathan Drake throughout the game feels meaningful, and the characters you meet all feel real. Uncharted 2’s story is something that needs to be commended. It follows up from an insanely popular first entry and manages to improve in every single way. The Uncharted franchise couldn’t get much more cinematic if it tried and an Oscar nomination for its efforts would be rightfully deserved.

Metal Gear Solid 3

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

It’s no secret that Hideo Kojima is one of the most eccentric and esteemed game developers of our generation. The Metal Gear Solid franchise has stood out as being some of the best examples of stealth games and storytelling of the past 20 years. But why does Metal Gear Solid 3 stand out from the crowd?

Well, its jungle setting and a heavy focus on Guerilla warfare make its story that much more interesting than its predecessors, both of which took place in relatively similar gloomy locales. The story is rife with deception as Snake is double-crossed and manipulated throughout. The way in which it presents changing perspective wasn’t novel to the MGS series, but it’s something that was perfected in the third entry. The entertaining twists and turns totally embrace the spy thriller approach introduced in MGS3. Not to mention, the standalone nature of the story gives it an accessibility where previous games felt intimidating and convoluted. All of this sounds like a surefire recipe for an Oscar in our books.

Half-Life 2

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

There’s a reason that Half-Life 3 is so hotly requested by fans. It all stems from the fantastic Half-Life 2. The unique blend of storytelling and fantastic gunplay made it stand out as one of the greatest games in history, and there’s no doubt that it should certainly be considered for an Oscar. The world of Half-Life 2 is a bleak one, but the characters it portrays are ones full of life and ones begging to be explored in greater depth. Gordon Freeman’s journey through the amazing world of Half-Life 2 is memorable for its detail and world-building. The love and care that’s gone into every corner of the game and the attention to detail to create a palpable and frightening atmosphere are reminiscent of iconic Sci-Fi films such as Blade Runner. We think it should be recognized similarly for its efforts.

Final Fantasy VII

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

There are 15 games in the main series of Final Fantasy, and even more spin-offs. But somehow amidst all of that, one game sticks out more than any other. While Final Fantasy VII may finally be getting the remake it so rightly deserves, it still could do with that little bit more recognition. What made Final Fantasy VII stick out was the ambitious scale of the world, the depth of its story, and the complexity of its characters. Final Fantasy VII makes sure every character is explored in great detail, whether that be its main protagonist, Cloud, or its iconic villain, Sephiroth. All of its characters feel well-developed, each with interesting stories that leave a distinct footprint in the world. It would be unjust to compare FFVII to another film because there is nothing quite like it on the market, and it’s for that reason it would be a worthy Oscar nomination.

Red Dead Redemption

Games That Should Be Nominated for an Oscar

When was the last time we saw an Oscar-winning western film? Back in the ’60s, westerns were to people what superhero films are to us now: an incredibly over-saturated but popular genre led by some huge blockbuster titles. But western films have since declined in popularity, with the last blockbuster western film Hostiles, being a complete box office flop. So what Red Dead Redemption tries to do is bring back everything that made the best western blockbusters work and put it all together into one beautifully executed story. The tale of John Marston is rarely a happy one, but its combination of family and revenge is one that is told so well its nigh on impossible not to commend. By its tragic ending, you can’t help but feel like you’ve lost someone important to you. Red Dead Redemption nailed exactly what it means to make a piece in the western genre and the way it executes that is definitely deserving of an Oscar.