Urdnot Wrex, Clementine, Elizabeth, Claptrap, HK-47: these video game companions all conjure up distinct memories for the people who met them and played alongside them. Those close-shaves, those funny moments, those last minute saves. These complex pieces of code have transcended their unreality by tapping into our emotions from the very primal to the deeply complex.
Which brings us to the games I’m thinking about at the moment. To me, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the closest thing to VR without wearing a headset. I didn’t just ‘play’ it: the world and narrative of Arthur Morgan completely absorbed me. But it’s not the only game I’m obsessed with right now. Cinematic and panoramic, Read Dead seems to offer a huge contrast to the turn-based tactical finesse of XCOM 2, my other current go-to, but while these games initially appear very different they have one thing in common:
I’m talking about family. Companionship, friendship – the best kinds of ships.
