As someone completing the creative writing minor with a longstanding interest in storytelling, I found the concept of passive/narrative games like Journey very interesting after reading the assigned article. Given its glowing reviews, I decided to playtest Journey, developed by Thatgamecompany and available on platforms like iOS. The game has a broad appeal, suitable for everyone from younger children to adults alike.
The game starts off with no instructions, just an aesthetic video illustrating your arrival to a vast desert. At first, this vague introduction was slightly disorienting, but as I began my journey wandering towards the peak in the distance, I came to recognize how a game driven purely by walking could be a powerful tool for storytelling. In Journey, walking allows gives users the illusion of complete and utter freedom (something that sometimes isn’t true in the real world), while providing them with enough structure in the form of visual cues or clues to create a story that is simultaneously user driven, unique, and yet in pursuit of the game’s overarching goals. The key to this is planting small features that users can “learn” from, and creating an immersive walking trail that changes and adapts as the player progresses.
As I ventured further, the environment itself began to unfold as a character. The rolling dunes, ancient ruins, and mysterious symbols etched in stone all hinted at the history of this world, and inspired me to prod around to discover new abilities. Each element I encountered seemed deliberately placed to evoke curiosity and propel my journey forward. Additionally, while the game is entirely player driven, Journey pulls you into a few key points to anchor the story – like when you reach the first building and scrolls swirl around you, unlocking your ability to fly for short bursts, or when the game’s title screen appears after you’ve summitted the first small hill that overlooks the peak in the distance. While there’s no script used here, it is abundantly clear that this mountain is the focal point of the game. This clever environmental storytelling is a testament to the game’s design, where the landscape serves not only as a backdrop but as a dynamic participant in the narrative.
One of the most profound experiences occurred when I met another player. Journey’s multiplayer aspect is subtly integrated; you encounter other players randomly, and there is no way to communicate other than your chime/noise function This limited interaction fostered a unique bond as we navigated challenges together. The way our characters’ scarves twirled in harmony or guided each other to hidden paths fostered a sense of camaraderie despite the fact that I knew nothing about the other player. Integrating this human experience with the simplicity of the game mechanics in Journey—mainly walking and the occasional chirp to activate certain features or communicate—enhances the storytelling rather than detracting from it. These mechanics support the game’s central narrative by making every action meaningful. They encourage exploration and play, making Journey not just a game, but a playground of sorts.
I also found that in order for a walking game to be impactful, sweeping, dramatic visuals and audio helped immensely. The sweeping vistas paired with a soaring soundtrack amplified the emotional weight of each step. Capturing screenshots of moments where the sun dipped below the horizon or where mysterious figures appeared in the distance helped solidify the emotional and narrative depth these visuals provided. I felt like I was on a quest and doing important work, making the minutes that slipped away as aI played feel worthwhile. Journey makes you feel like a main character, a feat that is achieved thanks to all of the features I have described above, but is hammered home thanks to the immersive, beautiful sensory experience the game creates on your phone screen.
Journey exemplifies how walking can tell a story in video games. By allowing players to traverse a beautifully crafted world at their own pace, it uses passive engagement to make each person’s journey unique yet interconnected with the universal themes of exploration and connection. The game balances freedom with narrative structure, using the environment and minimalist interactions to guide the storytelling, creating an environment for players to live any kind of adventure they’d like without getting lost in the weeds. 
