The Future of the Genre
There has been varying success within the genre of Interactive Drama. LA Noire, Testament of Sherlock Holmes, and even Alan Wake are often forgotten releases from the past few years, despite having many of the popular features mentioned previously. With a game depending almost entirely on interesting characters and storyline, an extremely thin line rests between a critical success and a silent release.
With so many popular genres and games released yearly, it’s difficult to see where Interactive Dramas can find room to flourish. Happily, Life Is Strange recently saw a fantastic release, offering a breath of fresh air compared to the less than enthralling debuts of early 2015. But the question remains, where does the genre go from here?
On one hand, many Interactive Dramas never see a sequel, as the games end so powerfully or variably that picking up the story again is near to impossible. Heavy Rain has been confirmed to end with the first title, and Beyond Two Souls seems to be taking the same route. These franchises live and close quickly, and considering the time required to create such fleshed out titles, it is difficult for the Interactive Drama genre to conform to yearly release.
On the other hand rests developers. Developers that have begun to take the risk, releasing something brand new and unique in hopes that a captivated audience will form. With strong techniques, alongside the passion of developers and fans, the world is poised see this corner of gaming grow even further in the upcoming months.
If you’re curious about this growing genre, have a look at our article about Life Is Strange and see why it is destined for greatness.
