We have all been there: Either without the game itself or without the proper hardware that could play the game, so we just have to go up YouTube and find a good walkthrough. While for some other, you may not have the patience, time, or the skills to play video game. But you found yourself in love with the graphic or the plot-line of a certain video game, so you, like many others, also found yourself on YouTube searching for a walkthrough.
A lot of people might consider that watching, rather than actually playing a game can be tedious and boring. But there are actually some games out there that are, somehow, cinematic enough that it’s entertaining for both the players and the spectators. For example, the 2018’s God of War, with its fluent storyline, beautiful graphic, and the overall cinematic sense of it all just gave off an attracting aura that glues you to the screen even if you’re not the one playing the game.
Interested? If you want to go on a YouTube-escapade for games, here are 10 games that are just absolute pleasure to watch.
Uncharted 4
There are two things about Uncharted 4 that makes it stand out as a game worth watching. First, the protagonist Nathan Drake has an emotional depth in him that’s surprisingly relatable. His story is all about common themes and aspects of life, fatherhood, brotherhood, and the different shades of love. Ultimately inculcate into the bond and love for one’s family. No matter where you come from, as you watch his adventure unfolds, you will be able to find at least one aspect in Drake that you could see yourself in. And that’s one of the reason why he’s so great of a character to watch.
The second thing is, of course, the graphic and the cinematic sense. The cinematography and narrative of Uncharted 4 is neither linear nor bland. You will feel like you’re watching an expertly shot, A-grade action thriller instead of a video game.
Of course, I’m not trying to say that Nathan Drake is the best character in the entire history of video game, or Uncharted 4 the most cinematic. But the perfect blend between them can make for a title that’s fun watching just as it is fun playing.
Street Fighter V
The thing about Street Fighter V is that there’s really no plot in it all, so you don’t have to worry about any sort of ‘cinematography’ involved.
It’s just pure action from top to bottom, and it can be very fun to watch similar to watching a sport on TV. In the fighting genre, there are not a lot of games that can match the icon that is Street Fighter. And Street Fighter V has really managed to stay true to the quality and the reputation of its legendary lineage. Although veteran players of the series must admit that it’s quite far from being the best game that has the Street Fighter name. The developers have done quite a good job at building the fighting game experience.
The game has a pretty good blend between fantasy and realism. There are plenty of things in-game that aren’t physically possible, but … the only thing matter is the fun, right?
Nioh
If you’re a casual gamer, Nioh can look and feel pretty intimidating. But if you’re already committed to discovering the world of video game, why not go all out? Don’t just stick to your comfort zone, step out of it! And Nioh’s quite a good way to start. Just be patient, and it might just become one of the best PS4 games you could ever hope to spectate.
There’s a sense that Nioh was specifically created for ‘Let’s Play’ videos. Its plot line has enough substance for you to be invested emotionally into the characters and the world within, while the gameplay itself is fun to watch for hours on end. And when it’s often considered as a rather difficult game to play, there’s no shame at all to just sit down and watch others run it through.
Red Dead Redemption II
For a long time, the gaming industry hasn’t seen a masterpiece quite as finely crafted as Red Dead Redemption II (Or RDR2, as it’s often known). The game’s drawn out and long, considering the massive world that’s in. Not everyone has that kind of time, patience, nor have the commitment to watch through a chain of walkthrough videos that could easily take the hour hand of the timer to the double digits.
Being able to watch the gameplay as a video allows you to skip through the unnecessary parts. Although the smaller moments are part of the entire experience that serves to make RDR2 so alluring, in the grander scheme of thing, they’re dispensable. So feel free to watch through the key moments in the game.
The Last of Us
If I was to describe it to a gamer, I’d say that it’s Uncharted … but with zombies. The Last of Us has one of the greatest storyline in modern gaming. You’d find yourself in love with the game and its characters in just a couple of minutes: The game draws you to invest emotions into it from the very first few moments. And the writers along with the developers maintain the pace really well. Well enough that it’s often praised by the community for character development and the well-developed character arcs. The familial chemistry between Joel and Ellie is palpable, so by the time the game ended, many a player, streamer, and game commenter found themselves in tear as the adventure drew to a heart-rending close.
In term of gameplay, the gunplay is fairly straightforward along with the mechanics. There aren’t a lot of new things to be seen in this department, but that hardly makes a difference in a player or spectator’s enjoyment of the game. Level design is beautiful, mixed with gripping plot and gameplay makes for a cinematic experience that’s wholly to pleasurable to watch.
I’m not going to deny it, my first ‘playthrough’ of the game was through YouTube walkthroughs. And I have no regret at all.
Yakuza 0
This is the kind of game that even those who had played it before would love to watch it again. The game contains so many different details that for a single playthrough, one might not be able to discover all there are to it. It’s the kind of game that you would find details you didn’t even know exist on your playthrough when you watch gameplay videos. And that’s what makes it so fun to watch.
It helps greatly the status of the game when the protagonists are brilliant - Kiryu and Majma have this dynamic that could easily make them one of the best characters in gaming. Especially Majima.
No matter if you’re a gamer or not, you can find yourself in love with it.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Every season of Telltale’s The Walking Dead feels special. Furthermore, with the game centralising heavily on plot rather than actual gameplay (It is essentially a point and click game with limited gameplay mechanics), it’s a game that can be entirely enjoyed as a video unlike others. The plot is extremely compelling and genuinely attractive, it can get to the point of being gut-wrenching at some parts.
It’s also a game that capitalises on player’s decisions. So even for those who had played the game before but not wanting to spend time just to replay the story-line, it’s perfect opportunity to find out different outcomes on YouTube. The first season is the high point of the game, and even though the rest of the series cannot stand to the quality of the original season, they’re all part of an unforgettable experience.
Nier: Automata
Just like Nioh, Nier: Automata is not a game that casual gamers can easily digest. It all set up an interesting premise that demands the attention of the player and the spectator, yet it does not require it too much that it’s impossible to figure out what’s happening even if you found your mind wandering at some points of the game.
Plot aside, it’s a game really worth watching. 2B is an extremely intriguing character, and the world that the game takes place in is interesting to watch - gradually becoming better and more detailed as the game progresses. Just like Telltale’s The Walking Dead, the game also contains many endings and for the recurring players, you can view all of the different endings without having to play through the game again for yourself.
Resident Evil 2
All of all of the genres, horror is a pretty tough thing to tackle. Many people literally don’t have the heart power to be able to stomach sudden jump scares and would rather spend an entire hour gathering courage in a safe room rather than venturing into a dark corridor in a horror game. That’s why the thought of watching a completely safe, pause-able, and skippable horror game walkthrough is so appealing to many.
The graphical engine of RE7 offers great aesthetic for the game when it comes to the look department. The designers took great care to blend and compose all of the sceneries together into a comprehensive, eye-catching composition that delivers well the experience and the story. If you’re faint-hearted, watching Resident Evil 2 is the way forward.
Devil May Cry 5
Possibly, Devil May Cry 5 (Or DMC5) might be one of the most stylish game on the market right now. All of the characters in the game, along with every of their movements are so fluent that it’s difficult to fault them for anything.
The combat is visceral, and each boss fights are incredibly well-choreographed. And the level design makes for plenty of opportunities for skilled players to put their skills to the test, plenty of videos on YouTube that show jaw-dropping actions you couldn’t possibly even think of doing. And it’s safe to say that even if you’re a casual gamer, it’s going to be something that you would enjoy watching.
DMC5 is also quite difficult, so it’s further incentive to recline the chair and watch it through.