10 Great Video Games (With Terrible Storylines)

As previously mentioned, 1993’s seminal first person shooter Doom was severely anemic in terms of narrative. At that time, video games weren’t really considered to be an appropriate medium for storytelling thanks to their relatively rudimentary natures, and that stigma would prevail until titles like Final Fantasy VII and the original Fallout would begin to sway opinions half a decade later.

Yet, fully-fledged or not, Doom’s plot is pretty stupid. Something about demons from hell invading a Martian base, maybe throw in an evil mega-corporation for good effect. The game’s mission briefings may as well just say “shoot stuff”—it would convey just as much meaning.

As a matter of fact, Doom doesn’t even care about it’s plot. In 2016’s Bethesda-backed series reboot, the player-character is literally only there to kill things and actively ignores even the most basic plot points. Much like the player, he’s only there for the mayhem. This may be some sort satirical Freudian parallel on Id’s part, but we’re too busy getting neck-deep in demon guts to care.

This self-aware lack of narrative may hinder the series in the future, but, as of right now, gibbing demons seems to be the only impetus anyone needs.